Registered for LSAT but didn't show up

[rukiddin]

in Feb of '05. It shows up on my LSDAS report at "absent." Do you think law schools will look down on that?

[Boss]

Yes.  It shows that you committed to something and didn't follow through.  If you cancel or postpone, at least you put thought into it instead of blowing it off.

But, too late now.  If you have a good reason, I think you should write an addendum explaining why you didn't show.

[rukiddin]

I was afraid of that.   

I registered but then kept postponing the test and by the time Feb rolled around, I had forgotten about it! What was I thinking?!

[Vick]

I was afraid of that.   

I registered but then kept postponing the test and by the time Feb rolled around, I had forgotten about it! What was I thinking?!

"Please disregard my absence for the February LSAT.  I forgot about it."

Um, ok.  Maybe you shouldn't write an addendum. 

[zerofact0r]

It's not going to hurt you, dont owrry about it.  write an addendum that simply says you failed to request the date change.

They're not going to look at and think "OH he's uncommitted."

[Boss]

I was afraid of that.   

I registered but then kept postponing the test and by the time Feb rolled around, I had forgotten about it! What was I thinking?!

"Please disregard my absence for the February LSAT.  I forgot about it."

Um, ok.  Maybe you shouldn't write an addendum. 

Yeah, I was hoping more for "Because my house burnt down the week of the LSAT, I was more concerned with finding shelter for my family and forgot about the LSAT."

Anna Ivey talks briefly about it.  I know some people hate Anna Ivey, and I did at first.  But when I actually sat down to fill out my apps, I realized that her chapter on addendums is really good.

[futebol4]

To the OP, I had the same thing happen to me on my LSAC report so hopefully my story will provide you with some peace of mind.  I didn't realize I had an "absent" on my report until about 2.5 months after I submitted all my apps.  I frantically called all the schools I applied to and submitted an addendum (I did have a legitimate reason for my absence).  Two of the people I spoke too specifically asked what the nature of the addendum was and they both laughed when I told them it was to address an "absence" for the LSAT on my LSAC report.  Both individuals assured me it would not affect my admission decision as did the law school counselor from my undergrad university.  It wouldn't hurt to submit an addendum in the spirit of full disclosure but in the end I don't think it will make a difference.

[Boss]

That's good to know -- and great to hear it didn't affect you!

Maybe this is proof that Anna Ivey is geared towards the HYS crowd, where one small thing like an "absent" can hurt you when you're in a crowd of 175/4.0 applications.

For us normal folks...guess it's not as big of a deal.