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Hey,

I have a 3.8 GPA and 160 on the December LSAT. Not URM. I took many PTs and had a high of 168 and a low of 157 (early in practice) with most PTs coming in the 163-164 range on strict timing conditions. Never took a course just used textbooks. Overall i'm not really sure what to do. I was looking at one T14 school in my state but that's obviously out of the question at least for this cycle. My options are to attend one of a number of bottom T2 schools in my state and potentially get close to a full scholarship from them since I am above their 75th percentiles or retake in June.

If the first option, I would send in my application before the end of this month (I have all of my grades and letters in, just working on a personal statement). They say that students have a better chance at scholarships if they apply before the end of this month. My question: wouldn't this be kind of late and if I do choose to not retake wouldn'y I maximize scholarship opportunities waiting until applying early next cycle?

The second option somewhat depresses me. I know that it would open so many doors for me but i; just confused at this point.

Any ideas?

If you have a burning desire to do small firm/local government type work in your home state, you can just roll with the regional school

If you want big law or something like that, retake for a T14

You can also apply and tell them you're retaking in Feb for a higher score. They won't look at your application generally but at least it's submitted. Your other option is to apply and don't tell them you're retaking. You run the risk of being dinged before you get the Feb score, though. Depending on how much of a reach you are. However if you get WLed, boost your score a couple points, and then show them you're improved LSAT it may get you off the WL.

Food for thought.

are you still in UG? If yes, you could always get a year or two of WE while getting that LSAT up.

I'd retake and apply next year. Even if you bumped a few points up to 165 you would be immensely better off. I'm not sure which local schools you're looking at, but in general you'd need to be pretty much top of your class at a lesser school to land a decent job - and as much as we'd all like to assume we'd be at the top, there are enough people willing to eat, breathe, and sleep law school that top 10% could still be very difficult at a lower ranked university.