WTSP (Tampa Bay's News Leader) recently reported that the February LSAT answer sheets were lost for "54 perspective law students" (sic) at the University of Tampa. There's even a video.WTSP reports:
[W]hen Cohen went online to check his scores he got an e-mail that he thought was a joke. It was from Admissions saying:
"As of this date, the answer sheets and test-related documents from that test center have not arrived at the Law School Admission Council. We have declared the answer sheets to be lost. To protect the integrity of the scores, we will not score these answer sheets even if they are found."
For the past three years, UT has administered the LSAT three times a year. In this case, once the exam was over the test administrator Janis Law followed the precise instructions prescribed by the LSAT and shipped back the test booklets with the questions in one packet and the answers in another package and sent via UPS. A couple of days later, she got a call informing her the booklets had arrived but the answers never made it.
We shouldn't jump to blame LSAC for this - how could they know that the test administrator or UPS wouldn't properly deliver the answer sheets? My guess is that the fault lies with the test administrator - UPS isn't exactly known for losing packages. As such, I wouldn't be surprised if the University of Tampa became the least-popular LSAT test center after this fiasco, but I suppose that should really depend upon whether Ms. Law continues with LSAC (Seriously? An LSAT test administrator with the last name "Law?").
If she doesn't, the University of Tampa might be the test center that's *least* likely to suffer a screwup, as they'll likely be on their game more than ever.
So, what happened to these poor test-takers? They were given the option to take a make-up test administered this past weekend, on March 10th (or to retake the LSAT at no additional charge anytime during the 2012-2013 testing year).
Here's the full text of the email these test-takers received, instead of getting their actual LSAT scores along with all the other February LSAT takers:
Dear Test Taker:
I am writing regarding a situation relating to the February 11, 2012 Law School Admission Test administered at Test Center #5715, University of Tampa.
As of this date, the answer sheets and test-related documents from that test center have not arrived at the Law School Admission Council. At this point, we have declared the answer sheets to be lost. To protect the integrity of the scores, we will not score these answer sheets even if they are found.
You will be receiving a full refund of your February LSAT registration fee (this does not apply to fee waivers). In addition, you have the option of taking a make-up test at no additional charge, to be administered on March 10, 2012.
If you choose not to take the make-up test, you may retake the LSAT at no additional charge at any of the scheduled administrations in the 2012-2013 testing year. Submit your request by completing the attached form, then sign it and fax it to 215.***.**** or scan and e-mail it to LSACinfo@LSAC.org for receipt at LSAC by March 14, 2012, 5:00 pm (ET).
If you wish to take the make-up test, report to the following address no later than 8:30 am on March 10, 2012:
***
To be admitted to the make-up test, you will need to present this letter, proper identification (see LSAC.org), and the required passport-type photo. An admission ticket will be provided to you at the test center.
If you take the make-up test and then decide to cancel your score, your score-cancellation request must be received at LSAC no later than Sunday, March 11, 2012, 11:59 pm (ET).
If you take the make-up test, a letter will be included with all score reports sent to law schools to which you apply. The letter will explain that the score attributed to the February 2012 test administration was earned at a make-up test given on March 10, 2012. The letter will indicate that you were in no way responsible for the delay of your score report.
If you do not take the make-up test, your file will reflect an LSAC cancellation (+) symbol for the February 2012 LSAT. An LSAC cancellation indicates that you took the February 2012 test but LSAC could not report a valid score for that administration because the answer sheets from that test center were lost in transit. A letter will be included with all reports sent to law schools to which you apply. The letter will indicate that you were in no way responsible for the cancellation of your score due to the loss of the answer sheets.
Only one make-up test is being offered so that we can process the answer sheets and provide scores as quickly as possible. We will include a letter in your law school application file explaining why the score was delayed and making sure that the law schools know that it was through no fault of yours. We expect that the scores will be available less than a week after the published score-release date of March 7, 2012.
Loss of answer sheets in transit is an extremely rare occurrence. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes you.
Sincerely,
Daniel Bernstine
President, Law School Admission Council
Here's hoping the affected test-takers rocked the LSAT this past weekend!
I don't think we can or should blame the administrator until we know if she has the proof that it was sent. I feel bad for the test-takers having to take it again but things get lost. It's a fact of life.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad. Does this mean these students have to postpone applying to schools this cycle? That could potentially unravel all of their plans; what about the students who cannot be out of school for more than 6 months because they cannot afford to begin paying back student loans? There are so many circumstances where some irresponsible person seriously screwed up someone's life.
ReplyDeleteAny law school that takes students with a February LSAT score (for matriculation in the same calendar year) will still likely allow these students to apply this cycle since the delay is due to circumstances outside of the students' control.
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