Should I even try? Forum

easteur · Post by **easteur** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:46 pm

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks

glitter178 · Post by **glitter178** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:47 pm

easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks

i got a 158 and retook it and got a 168. i am very pro-retaking.

Ragged · Post by **Ragged** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:48 pm

It's worth a retake. But a better question is, is it worth for you to give up a great career in accounting for illusive dreams of making biglaw?

I think that score was God telling you to stick to what you are doing.

NYCLSATTutor · Post by **NYCLSATTutor** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:50 pm

easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks

Whether it is worth re-taking depends on what you did to study for the last test and what you would do for the next time.

easteur · Post by **easteur** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:50 pm

Ha, that's what I thought too, but I don't really like what I do. My favorite part IS dealing with law issues.

Shooter · Post by **Shooter** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:53 pm

Ragged wrote:It's worth a retake. But a better question is, is it worth for you to give up a great career in accounting for illusive dreams of making biglaw?

I think that score was God telling you to stick to what you are doing.

This is very credited, but with that moist little GPA you got goin' on I'd say retake.

OGR3 · Post by **OGR3** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:54 pm

Anything below 167 is a waste of that beautiful gpa.

If you really want to be a lawyer, retake.

MrAnon · Post by **MrAnon** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:55 pm

easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks

You are out of your mind if you keep pushing towards law school. Most law school types cannot even fathom being CPAs. They lack the capabilities and never set out on any kind of plan early enough in college to do it. But anyone can be a lawyer, at any time. Keep doing the CPA thing. If you still want to be a lawyer at age 40 then go to law school then. The fact that there are law grads who could not find firm work invariably employed in due diligence jobs at your firm should give you enough pause that it is a profession that is not very much in demand.

easteur · Post by **easteur** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:20 pm

Whether it is worth re-taking depends on what you did to study for the last test and what you would do for the next time.

I took about 20PTs, studies the Bibles. I though I was ready.

NYCLSATTutor · Post by **NYCLSATTutor** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:28 pm

easteur wrote:Whether it is worth re-taking depends on what you did to study for the last test and what you would do for the next time.

I took about 20PTs, studies the Bibles. I though I was ready.

So basically you could have done much, much more to study. So I would say a re-take is really whether you want to put in the time and effort to improve. Doing exceedingly well generally takes more than just taking 20 PT's and studying the Bibles.

robotclubmember · Post by **robotclubmember** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:31 pm

easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks

Big Four CPA here also.

How much did you study?

easteur · Post by **easteur** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:33 pm

robotclubmember wrote:
easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks
Big Four CPA here also.

How much did you study?

About fourth month - 2-3 hours during work days and 8-10 hours on weekends. But it is public accounting - I work A LOT, so it is a challenge to find time.

robotclubmember · Post by **robotclubmember** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:36 pm

easteur wrote:
robotclubmember wrote:
easteur wrote:Hi everyone,
I just wanted to get some advice from people that know more about law schools than I do.
I just got back my December score - 158 and I am devastated.
I have a 4.0 GPA, work for a Big 4 public accounting firm. I am currently a senior but I am up for a manager in half a year (took me 4 years, while usually takes from 5 to 7 years for an average person). I am a CPA (crushed all 4 parts with very high scores). So I never thought of myself as a stupid and uncapable person (not super smart, but not stupid either).
I decided I wouldn't go to law school, unless I get in some top schools. But now with that score, is that even worth it to retake?
Thanks
Big Four CPA here also.

How much did you study?
About fourth month - 2-3 hours during work days and 8-10 hours on weekends. But it is public accounting - I work A LOT, so it is a challenge to find time.

What materials did you use? PM me also if you want specific advice from one B4 to another.

fosterp · Post by **fosterp** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:47 pm

You should compare your average PT scores with your actual score to decide if you want to retake, and then consider how much studying you put forth. Three months is definitely a solid amount of time to get close to your max potential but I feel 6 months is needed for anyone to truly get the highest score they possibly can.

If you scores 4 or more below your PT average, or you feel like you could have studied better then go for a retake. On the other hand, if you score within your normal range and already studied your ass off then you might consider your options with that score in mind.

AreJay711 · Post by **AreJay711** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:48 pm

MrAnon wrote:
You are out of your mind if you keep pushing towards law school. Most law school types cannot even fathom being CPAs. They lack the capabilities and never set out on any kind of plan early enough in college to do it. But anyone can be a lawyer, at any time. Keep doing the CPA thing. If you still want to be a lawyer at age 40 then go to law school then. The fact that there are law grads who could not find firm work invariably employed in due diligence jobs at your firm should give you enough pause that it is a profession that is not very much in demand.

This is credited but waiting until you're 40 is an exaggeration. What you should wait for is legal hiring to pick up and apply then. I would retake and see what you do next time. Sometimes the LSAT just goes bad -- I made 1 mistake that cost me 6 questions.

yardsale · Post by **yardsale** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:07 pm

It depends. If you've already considered what it means to go to law school and be an attorney, and law school is something you really really want, then of course - why wouldn't you retake? On the other hand, if you're happy with your current career, then you may want to ask yourself whether changing paths is worth it, especially considering the huge risk that law school has become. If you do retake, I'd make sure you have ample time to reach your potential, at least 4 months.

Something to keep in mind when searching these forums for advice is that you are not talking to a representative sample. I've been pretty shocked by some of the 'words of wisdom' I've seen here on TLS. The truth is only you can answer this question. If it is your dream to be a lawyer, then yes retake and let nothing get in your way. I'm two years out of undergrad and had a GPA much lower than yours, with a 2008 LSAT score of 162. I decided last year that law school was for me and that I wanted to attend a certain top 10 school. I applied myself and worked my ass off the past 6 months studying for the December LSAT and today I found out that I will be attending that school next fall. Point is - ANYTHING is possible. If you want it badly enough, it is always worth working for it. Results are never guaranteed, but your efforts will benefit you regardless. Don't let anyone on here tell you something isn't worth it or isn't possible.

With your amazing GPA (4.0?!?!) and solid work experience, it's my opinion that the 158 should not preclude you from getting in somewhere if you can significantly improve your score and write some knock-out personal statements.

Best of luck.

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