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Hey all,

I recently received a 25K/yr scholly at BC. I got 166 on the October 2010 test and I am just beginning to study for the June test again. I took the test in less than ideal circumstances, and do believe that I can hit 170 (I am already aware of the statistics concerning retake score increases / decreases). So my question: should I go or should I strive for a retake?


Some factors to consider:
- The COA at BC is 60K and even with the scholarship I'd end up in ~90K-100K loans after college.
- I have undergrad loans and am debt averse
- My ultimate goal is biglaw.

I really appreciate the input. Thank you.

I would retake the test. I also took the test under less then ideal conditions got a 162 and then a 176 although the orignal score did hurt me with HYS i did get admitted to NYU and a scholarship to georgetown. My chances at biglaw are now real.

Thanks izy...I appreciate the response. I think it's easy to get clouded by the scholarship, and it's good to get the opinions of others.

What is your GPA? Where do you want to work after graduation? Where else have you applied, and with what result?

chiwachiwa wrote:What is your GPA? Where do you want to work after graduation? Where else have you applied, and with what result?

GPA - b/w 3.65 and 3.75
Location after work - NYC/Texas/New England
Where else - Texas (Waitlisted), BU (waitlisted), ND (15/yr), waiting on Washington U and Indiana

Put down a seat deposit as a back up plan and retake in June!

dkb17xzx wrote:

chiwachiwa wrote:What is your GPA? Where do you want to work after graduation? Where else have you applied, and with what result?

GPA - b/w 3.65 and 3.75
Location after work - NYC/Texas/New England
Where else - Texas (Waitlisted), BU (waitlisted), ND (15/yr), waiting on Washington U and Indiana

In this situation the difference between 3.65 and 3.75 is significant. If you can get to 170+ and have a 3.75 you should have a chance at a significantly better school than BC. If it's more like 3.65 and you get a 170 you might be looking at full freight at lower T14, which I'm not sure is worth it if you're debt averse.

Either way I like the advise of putting down a deposit and retaking in June. If you do better, wait until next year, if not, go ahead to BC.

StarLightSpectre wrote:Put down a seat deposit as a back up plan and retake in June!

Yep.

If your ultimate goal is biglaw then retake. While I generally agree with the "deposit and retake in June" idea, I think that if you truly want biglaw and don't get a 170+ in June you should retake a 3rd time.

bk187 wrote:If your ultimate goal is biglaw then retake. While I generally agree with the "deposit and retake in June" idea, I think that if you truly want biglaw and don't get a 170+ in June you should retake a 3rd time.

I am in a similar situation, however, I have already retaken (160, 167). I am looking at BU and BC as my prime prospects right now but I feel that it is very possible I can do better on the LSAT (I was PTing 170-174 the two weeks before the test but just didn't perform as I had hoped I would on the real deal). Would retaking a third time look terrible? And, if I were to put down a seat deposit, retake, and then get a poopy score can the school reject me (despite having placed a seat deposit already)? I am aiming for BigLaw (or any market paying gig really, not sure what qualifies as BigLaw but if it pays me enough I don't care what rank the firm is in vault or nlj) in any relatively large market (Boston, NYC, DC, LA, SF, etc.) and I specifically want to practice corporate law/M&A. BU/BC offer some good prospects for BigLaw in comparison to others outside of the t14, but they can't touch some of the better t10s, especially ITE.

p.s. I don't mean to hijack the thread, just thought my situation was semi-relevant.

TLS_noobie wrote:Would retaking a third time look terrible? And, if I were to put down a seat deposit, retake, and then get a poopy score can the school reject me (despite having placed a seat deposit already)?

Retaking a 3rd time would not look terrible, especially if you improved. And a school isn't going to revoke your acceptance if you get a shitty score.

Hey all,

Thanks for the responses. After thinking about it and talking to a couple of friends who attend T-14's and are looking at Big Law, I have decided to go ahead with a retake. While putting down a seat deposit would be a good idea, I would be doing that knowing that I'll lose $500. I'm just gonna retake in June and see what happens.

TLS_noobie, I would suggest a retake. However you are better off starting a thread asking all individuals who took the LSAT 3 times to post their successes and failures during the cycle. I think that will give you a better idea of how adcoms will gauge you.

HTH.