Obviously a top law student needs a rudimentary understanding of the English language. But that the OP scored in the upper 170s on the LSAT and that he wants to go to law school, points towards him having such an understanding
Popa- While it is true that most law school grades (not Legal Writing) consist of just one final exam, that exam is in essay form and not multiple choice. However it depends on the professor if they care about style at all.
And I haven’t heard of anyone complain about a lack of previous education. The Ivy’s in my class are not doing better than anyone else.
I can’t tell you if Fordham “favors” BTL’s, just that the blanket statement that they take no BTLs isn’t true.