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I think you have a decent shot. Worst case scenario is you dont, and you either go to another school, or wait a cycle and re apply next year. Apply to a wide range of schools and see how it goes. best of luck

I'd also say this:

When I took the test in 2009, my highest practice score was a 169, and I achieved it the week before the test.

Normally, I'd miss maybe one question on LGs. For one reason or another, it was just something that I came to do well in. But on the day of the test, I felt like nothing was coming together. Halfway through one game, I suddenly realized that two games back I completely misread one of the rules. Since I luckily usually finished with about five minutes to spare, I had time to go back and correct my test.

But it still had me feeling a bit shaken. I was suddenly really, really worried I had completely fucked up the test. I didn't think I did as strongly in the RC or LR sections, and so naturally I went out and got drunk so I wouldn't feel as bad (which is what EVERYMOTHERFUCKINGONE OF YOU SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW, you deserve it). Like my many fathers before me, I have found that whiskey and beer cure all ills.

Nevertheless, I ended up scoring a 169, which was the score I had hoped I would at least achieved. In other words, you might be surprised that you actually did quite well!

The other thing is: you have to think about how you did in relation to your practice tests. You can't expect to jump even five points on the real thing compared to your practice tests! Just take it all in stride.

And go take a shot of Jameson in honor of the LSAT. You have officially made it your bitch.

northwood wrote:I think you have a decent shot. Worst case scenario is you dont, and you either go to another school, or wait a cycle and re apply next year. Apply to a wide range of schools and see how it goes. best of luck

I think you have the best advice on TLS.

Will a big curve bring all of our scores up to our averages?? I don't understand the concept of the curve regarding the LSAT. I did not know it was curved. Is it? And if it is, wont our scores average out because it was a more difficult test that everyone considered difficult?

NYCcops wrote:Will a big curve bring all of our scores up to our averages?? I don't understand the concept of the curve regarding the LSAT. I did not know it was curved. Is it? And if it is, wont our scores average out because it was a more difficult test that everyone considered difficult?

1) Not by much. The days of a heavily curved LSAT are pretty much over, from what I have heard.

2) Yes, it is curved.

3) Maybe. But TLS is a very, very small portion of the LSAT taking population, so no one can honestly say.

NYCcops wrote:I got a 165 on october LSAT and am applying to Columbia and NYU. I wanted to raise it to a 170, but I will absolutely cancel todays test. This was almost like a totally different test from october. The LG was twice as hard. Even the LR was much more difficult. I thought the second LR section was very tough. And the RC just kicked me right in my nuts. Usually I browse the RC section before starting and determine the order form easiest to most difficult. However, today all of the 4 texts were just ridiculously hard. The easiest was the one about the two different methods of testing rock ages or whatever, and that would have been the most difficult question in october!!!

So, what gives? Why did they make this test so much more difficult??

Did you take test prep?

thanks.

+1 on the shots of Jameson. You all need to go celebrate. Even if you are unhappy, just being able to sit for this test is a feat in itself. Not a lot of people can even consider law school, let alone take time to prep for the entrance exam. Remember that a 160 is better than about 80% of all test takers. While TLS posters tend to be in the high end of the test spectrum, scoring a 160 is a good feat that should be celebrated.

northwood wrote:thanks.

+1 on the shots of Jameson. You all need to go celebrate. Even if you are unhappy, just being able to sit for this test is a feat in itself. Not a lot of people can even consider law school, let alone take time to prep for the entrance exam. Remember that a 160 is better than about 80% of all test takers. While TLS posters tend to be in the high end of the test spectrum, scoring a 160 is a good feat that should be celebrated.

Exactly! I think TLS people kind of feed off of each other's negativity sometimes, too, so I think anyone who took the test today should gtfoffline and go get trashed beyond belief.

It is the only logical thing to do. So to speak.

I think were starting to see the lsac's response to an increasing number of test takers. It seems every 10 tests or so, they change the difficulty level. Perhaps im wrong, but with more people wanting to take the test , and the ability to re take it 3 times, it would make sense to make it more difficult.

BTW if you go do shots. please save money for a cab.

froze on the writing sample did get anything down. Other then that I few I hit in my PLSAT of 156-163 (I feel I do very well maybe beat my record ) but with not writing Sample I really feel like canceling also I worried about feel like I did well

.

serdog:
The writing sample isnt graded. As long as you wrote something, you will be okay.

poi wrote:I think I may have hit a score in the 150s, which would be lower than my initial diagnostic and thus a confirmation that I have officially wasted 5 months of my life. Leading up to Oct I was PTing in the high 60s to mid 70s. Canceled it due to nerves + getting no sleep the night before. In the PTs leading up to Dec I didn't see a single score in the 160s. Major confidence boost. until today. I know canceling a second time would look incredibly flaky, but I can't seem to bring myself to come to terms with a score below my initial diagnostic. seeking advice.

If you did as bad as you say. then a cancel is definately doable. However, nerves and no sleep should take 5-10 points off max. If you took a lot of pts, your strategy and intuition would help you answer the questions. Since you dont have a score, you can always keep this one, then take the test in June. You wont be able to get into the top 6 schools, ( as they average your test scores), but the lower top 14 and down just take your best score. IF you are okay with that, then keep the score and nail the next test. You will have to apply next cycle, but it would be easy to write an addendum chalking this one up to nerves. Its up to you though.

cmaas wrote:

northwood wrote:its not good to have a score thats worse the second time around. its much harder to explain, and makes your first score look like an outlier.

since you were pting around 166-169, id keep the 165 and apply away.

With a 3.7, 165 URM, you think I can get into UCLA. I know that URM doesn't count as much at UCLA....

Thanks for all the help, btw.

Yes, probably alot of the T-14 as well, including Berkeley, granted you want to stay in Cali.

I can't make up my mind, should I cancel of not?? I got 157 in October, because I messed up on LGs and got -9 (usually got up to -3 or 4), anyway, and I used up all PTs in the prep so when I was preparing for this retake I kept just re-taking old test. That means that I have no idea if I improved or my increased scores were only reflecting my familiarity with the questions. Well, anyway, today it went like this:
LR1- great, felt really confident, ran out of time on the last question, but otherwise it went well.
RC- as usual, I just finished three passages, and guessed on the forth one. Usually I get about -7 to -10. Felt about the usual.
LR2- felt a bit difficult, got stuck a few times and had a hard time deciding between two choices. I have no idea how I did!
LG1- experimental- went perfectly well, finished early..
LG2- panicked, first game went a bit slow, second felt like I was missing an inference or something, third screwed me up and made me wanna cry and forth one -only had 4 minutes for this one, super easy, except I couldn't finish the last two questions!

So- I have absolutely no idea what score I can get. I am thinking anything between 150 and 163... I was aiming for 165, by the way.I can't decide if I should cancel! What if I get less than my first sit???

By the way- sorry for mistakes etc. I have a few glasses of wine in me..

You had two LGs post break?

bartleby wrote:You had two LGs post break?

no, sorry, my first LG was before the break, then LR2 and LG2..

do you have a cancel? Sounds like one section got to you, just like everyone else. If you have one more test left, then keep the score. It seems as though you performed like you thought you would do, if not slightly better. You have done a lot of lg prep, and were able to answer all the questions except 2. That being said, one game threw you off, but you finished it ( even if you rushed) with all of the skills and knowledge of the lsat, give yourself some more credit.

personally i would keep the score, especially if you have one more re take in you. Worst case scenario is that you have to take the test again, work for another year/ take a year off, and apply super early next cycle. The earlier your applicaitons are in, the better chance at not only being admitted,but admitted with money!!!

cheers!

Northwood, you are a nice person and I feel like your avatar is smiling at me.

That's really it. (This is my third so no point in canceling)

thanks
just doing what i can to sooth some ruffled feathers with a jameson on the rocks

northwood wrote:thanks
just doing what i can to sooth some ruffled feathers with a jameson on the rocks

I prefer Protestant whiskeys in times of crisis.

theres no point in stressing.... just relax and see how it goes. worst case scenario is you retake ( which happends to be the go to respons for many questions anyways)

northwood wrote:serdog:
The writing sample isnt graded. As long as you wrote something, you will be okay.

wrote something easered total froze because of my poor hand writting I hear that a blank is grounds for an autoding so im think of canceling even though I think I did strongly

On the LG section I'm scared I might have skipped a Q and answered 24 (not 23) and I'm semi-tempted to just cancel it despite the fact that, with the exception of this mishap, I probably did better than my last one.

Should I just wait it out and see if a hand-score is possible if I did indeed skip a Q? Or should I just cancel?

(I already have a cancel on file)

bartleby wrote:You had two LGs post break?

My friend claims that she had that, didn't think that could happen.