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Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:47 am
by simplycatalina
I just got a 160 on the December LSAT, only a 1 point improvement on my 159 in October. My PT average was significantly higher so I'm not sure what happened. I am trying to decide if I should apply now or retake and apply next cycle. I'll probably retake in June even if I apply now.

I have a 3.76 GPA, good softs, and good LORs.

Here are the schools I'm thinking of applying to--
UC Davis
UC Hastings
ASU
Washington & Lee
Emory
University of Washington
Washington University in St. Louis
Boston College
William & Mary
Fordham

I know a lot of them are super reach schools, but I'm not going to settle for a school I don't want to go to and I figure I can always reapply next year. I also have fee waivers to 4 of them. In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice? Thanks.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:58 am
by scruffy556
In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice?
retake.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:58 am
by A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A
cbarlow1016 wrote:In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice? Thanks.
Check out these threads:

June 2013 LSAT (re)take Thread
and
JUNE 2013 Study Group / Study Partner Thread

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:00 pm
by simplycatalina
scruffy556 wrote:
In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice?
retake.
I will retake. But should I bother applying now to see if I can get in?

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:02 pm
by A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A
cbarlow1016 wrote:
scruffy556 wrote:
In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice?
retake.
I will retake. But should I bother applying now to see if I can get in?
Are you independently wealthy?

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:02 pm
by francesfarmer
cbarlow1016 wrote:
scruffy556 wrote:
In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice?
retake.
I will retake. But should I bother applying now to see if I can get in?
If you get in anywhere worth going to it will be at sticker price. So just retake and reapply.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:02 pm
by francesfarmer
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
cbarlow1016 wrote:
scruffy556 wrote:
In addition to just telling me to "retake", can anyone offer any insightful advice?
retake.
I will retake. But should I bother applying now to see if I can get in?
Are you independently wealthy? Are mommy and daddy footing the bill?

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:05 pm
by A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A
francesfarmer wrote:
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
Are you independently wealthy? Are mommy and daddy footing the bill [and you hate your mommy and daddy]?

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:06 pm
by rad lulz
--ImageRemoved--

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:07 pm
by simplycatalina
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
francesfarmer wrote:
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
Are you independently wealthy? Are mommy and daddy footing the bill [and you hate your mommy and daddy]?
Yes they are. I know I'm really fortunate. Obviously it'd be great if I could get money (and no I don't hate them) but they want me to apply this cycle anyway.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:22 pm
by A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A
cbarlow1016 wrote:
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
francesfarmer wrote:
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
Are you independently wealthy? Are mommy and daddy footing the bill [and you hate your mommy and daddy]?
Yes they are. I know I'm really fortunate. Obviously it'd be great if I could get money (and no I don't hate them) but they want me to apply this cycle anyway.
Now the question is, are they ok with supporting you if you don't get a job somewhere?

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:26 pm
by simplycatalina
Well, I am not going to go to a subpar school because I understand the job prospects. That's why I was thinking of applying to some reach schools to see if I can potentially get in.

I'm just trying to get honest feedback. Studying forever for the test while working full-time and getting my PT average up to 172 only to have this is a really horrible feeling.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:30 pm
by A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A
cbarlow1016 wrote:Well, I am not going to go to a subpar school because I understand the job prospects. That's why I was thinking of applying to some reach schools to see if I can potentially get in.

I'm just trying to get honest feedback. Studying forever for the test while working full-time and getting my PT average up to 172 only to have this is a really horrible feeling.
I guess it might be good for peace of mind. Knowing you're in or need to study harder for a retake might be good motivation.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:37 pm
by simplycatalina
A → B ⊨ ¬B → ¬A wrote:
cbarlow1016 wrote:Well, I am not going to go to a subpar school because I understand the job prospects. That's why I was thinking of applying to some reach schools to see if I can potentially get in.

I'm just trying to get honest feedback. Studying forever for the test while working full-time and getting my PT average up to 172 only to have this is a really horrible feeling.
I guess it might be good for peace of mind. Knowing you're in or need to study harder for a retake might be good motivation.
Ok, thanks. That's what I was thinking.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:50 pm
by BigZuck
Time to yank the chain there junior. I know your parents are boomers who do not listen to things like "statistics" or "reason" but these schools aren't good enough, especially at sticker. You won't get in to the ones that have decent employment outcomes (WUSTL, Emory) and at best you'll get into a UCH or an ASU and there will be a very real risk that you'll just be wasting A LOT of your parents money. Retake and wait a cycle, it's the best thing for everyone involved. I say this as someone whose best school they got in to last cycle was Hastings, retook, and is now in at UCLA, Duke, Texas, Cornell, etc.

Also keep in mind that your softs and LORs are just as mediocre as everyone else's. They won't propel you anywhere that your numbers preclude you from.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:05 pm
by simplycatalina
BigZuck wrote:Time to yank the chain there junior. I know your parents are boomers who do not listen to things like "statistics" or "reason" but these schools aren't good enough, especially at sticker. You won't get in to the ones that have decent employment outcomes (WUSTL, Emory) and at best you'll get into a UCH or an ASU and there will be a very real risk that you'll just be wasting A LOT of your parents money. Retake and wait a cycle, it's the best thing for everyone involved. I say this as someone whose best school they got in to last cycle was Hastings, retook, and is now in at UCLA, Duke, Texas, Cornell, etc.

Also keep in mind that your softs and LORs are just as mediocre as everyone else's. They won't propel you anywhere that your numbers preclude you from.
I know, that's the general consensus I'm getting from everyone. I'm just concerned that I can't pull my score up. My initial diagnostic was horrible. I managed to improve my score 30 points on PTs but then something happened (twice) on the actual test and I made careless mistakes. I've already used so much prep material so I don't even know where I'd begin studying.

Re: Apply now or retake?

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:19 pm
by BigZuck
OP- check your PMs.