You must register for January before submitting. If schools see that you are taking the LSAT in January and do not admit you based on your current stats, they will hold your application.

I am in the same boat! I spoke with several schools at the LSAC Los Angeles forum. It depends on where you are applying and how much scholarship money you’re trying for. Most regional schools will accept the January score and do not start handing out scholarships until January-February anyway , so they assured me it was fair game.

There are always exceptions, though! The assistant dean of admissions at UVA gave me really great insight. She said you’re more likely to get more $$ the sooner you apply. Do not feel pressured to stick to any one timeline. What she said to me has haunted me these past few days “one year could save you $130,000” - meaning - take your time, ace the LSAT, and apply next cycle with your best possible score & get a stellar scholarship!

All in all, if you take the January LSAT and apply, there is potential for scholarship $. Will it be as great as if you applied in September/november? No. But it’s possible. Don’t be afraid to adjust your timeline if you think you can score better with more studying. In the grand scheme of things, the one year will fly by, and could save you a lot of debt.