Yield Protection: Fact or Fiction? (Ep. 433)

Thinking LSAT

Feared by some, loathed by others, “yield protection” remains a steadfast reality in law school admissions. This week, Nathan and Ben discuss why law schools justifiably use yield-protecting strategies in admissions. The guys also share the story of a listener who successfully petitioned their college to expunge a semester of failing grades. They compare law schools’ debt-to-income ratios for recent graduates. And they offer practical tips to a student seeking ways to avoid underperformance on test day.

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2:26 - Word of the Week - Avoid zoonotic diseases like the plague.

5:24 - Appeals - Persistence pays off. Ben and Nathan hear from a listener who convinced their community college to withdraw a semester of failing grades. They also discuss another listener’s successful appeal to LSAC for a fee waiver. The conversation then shifts to considering the chances of an international student procuring an extra test attempt.

18:48 - Debt-to-Income Ratio - In a recent blog post, a Notre Dame law professor compares the median debt-to-income ratios of recent graduates from different law schools. Nathan and Ben explain why the numbers are even more alarming than they first appear.

30:38 - Yield Protection - Ben and Nathan react to—and mostly agree with—Dean Z’s explanation of yield protection. Every facet of the admissions process is part of a negotiation over how much you’ll pay for law school.

56:26 - Scoring Below PTs - LSAT Demon student Katie scored significantly lower than her practice test average on her official test. The guys describe some common causes of underperformance on test day, and they instruct Katie to treat the official LSAT like any other practice test. This topic is featured in LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 690: Don’t Let Test Anxiety Become an Excuse.

1:02:21 - Senior Year Grades - Yes, K-JDs have to maintain good grades in their senior year of undergrad.

1:05:52 - LOR Timeline - Listener Pat plans to apply to law school in 2025. Nathan and Ben agree that getting a head start on requesting letters of recommendation is a wise move.