https://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/ls ... +in+NYC%29https://www.lsac.org/LSACResources/Publi ... page3.htmlThe Law School Admission Council (LSAC) creates the LSAT test and also has its own application service called the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) that every American law school uses, so every law school applicant must use it in order to apply to schools.
In the last two years, revenues have declined because fewer students are taking the LSAT and applying to law school, but the two links above show that LSAC is considering expanding its CAS services beyond just law school to purely academic graduate schools (like a Masters of English or PhD in Physics) and the MBA programs, neither of which have a singular platform for applications. US Medical schools have the AMCAS which is their version of the LSAC CAS.
Here's how much a law applicant will pay for law school apps (minus school application fees - many do waive them) assuming he or she takes the LSAT once and doesn't reschedule, etc.:
1. LSAT - $160
2. CAS (good for five years) - $155
3. Application reports - $21 per school
I was wondering if you all think it's a good idea for all the AACSB schools, or at least a good number of them to work together and allow this type of service. Here are the pros.
PROS1. You will not have to send as many transcripts to schools, maybe only one depending on what schools use the LSAC CAS. This can save considerable amounts of money if your college/university requires that you pay for each one. My undergrad institution charges me money for example.
One unique part of the LSAC CAS transcript service is that it will standardize GPA's to a 4.3 scale (4.3 for an A+). This eliminates an adcom's need to find out what a 10 point GPA scale is like, a pass/fail scale is like, etc. and makes them somewhat equal to one another, and makes it easier for the MBA adcoms to compare grades from different schools in different countries. Of course, the adcom can still look at your original transcript grades as well, so it's not like they will jump to conclusions right away, for better or for worse.
2. Your recommenders only have to write one letter and then email it or fax it to CAS. Instead of writing "Dear Mr. Wharton", the recommender would only have to write "Dear Admissions Committee." MBA programs know their applicants are applying to multiple schools, and if they used this service, it wouldn't offend them if a recommender just wrote the latter. This is commonplace in the JD applications process.
3. To this point, virtually every JD/MBA program not named Northwestern requires that you apply to the law and business school separately. Now, with one system, you probably will need just one application, though it is certainly possible that most schools with a JD/MBA program will still require that you take the LSAT and GMAT anyway. But with one app, it may be more feasible that the two schools can integrate their app processes.
CONS1. How will the GMAT be integrated with LSAC CAS? The GMAT is run by GMAC which has nothing to do with LSAC. Is there a way for the GMAT scores to be sent to LSAC automatically for free as part of the five school reports that are sent for free right now? Or will applicants be charged a fee for sending this to a third party business, rather than a school?
Same goes for the GRE. Will GRE applicants be charged a fee for sending a score to LSAC instead of the school?
2. What happens to the price of the GMAT? Can it go down a little since LSAC turns into the one stop shop for b school applications? I'm sure the $250 includes the cost of sending these scores to schools..
3. Can GMAC make its own version of CAS? I'm sure that a number of schools will follow suit and use this service if and when it's available..
I think the costs of applying will stay nearly the same whether MBA applicants move to the LSAC CAS, a GMAC credential system or if things stay put as is at least for American students, but I do think that application credentials can be consolidated through such a service, and LSAC obviously sees this as a growth opportunity. Do you wish that you had this service when you applied (if you're past this point), or would you like this type of a service (if you're still before the point of applying)?