Should I retake the LSAT or just keep applying Forum

[etonyj]

I am African American, Puerto Rican, and gay. I took my lsats in February 2011 and ended up scoring a 162 (pretty disappointing). I have a 3.53 UGPA which came out to a 3.49 LSAC GPA. I applied late to the University of Chicago and Georgetown. I was placed on the waitlist at both schools and never made it off. I am currently working on my applications for the 2012 school year and am wondering if I should study a bit more to raise my score and take the lsat again in December? Will taking the lsat again work against me? I am really aiming to make it into a T14.

Softs: Co-founded an organization at my university, volunteer for a non-profit, facilitated civic education workshops for a low SES high school, work as a research assistant. I was not able to do many extra-curricular activities because I was also helping to take care of a terminally ill parent.

Any feedback would really help. Thanks.

[JamMasterJ]

Retake. AA with a 168+ is pretty rare, and likely to get money and acceptances from very good schools.
Also, gay isn't a thing for admissions

[174]

The answer is always retake.

[crumpetsandtea]

A few questions -
1) how far off was your score from your PT tests?
2) how did you study last time?
3) have you studied since then?

If your score was lower than your PT scores, I'd say consider a retake. Same if you didn't study that much last time. If you haven't studied at all since last time, what is your plan to study this time around?

Takeaway point = if you're going to re-take, make sure you have at least a few months to study. I'd recommend applying now without telling the schools that you are going to be re-taking (to see how your cycle goes with an early submittal) and then submitting the new LSAT score to schools that WL you/accept you (for money). Make sure you really work your ass off though, with a 17X you could be looking at a stellar cycle.

However, be prepared to get dinged before your 2nd test's results come back...in that case you might want to postpone for another cycle. It's really up to you. TBH you should have been asking this question back in April, before the June/Oct tests.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Yes, you most certainly should. Start prepping now and try to get into the high 160's/low 170's at minimum. If you can do that, a lot of doors should open for you.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

A few questions -
1) how far off was your score from your PT tests?
2) how did you study last time?
3) have you studied since then?

If your score was lower than your PT scores, I'd say consider a retake. Same if you didn't study that much last time. If you haven't studied at all since last time, what is your plan to study this time around?

Takeaway point = if you're going to re-take, make sure you have at least a few months to study. I'd recommend applying now without telling the schools that you are going to be re-taking (to see how your cycle goes with an early submittal) and then submitting the new LSAT score to schools that WL you/accept you (for money). Make sure you really work your ass off though, with a 17X you could be looking at a stellar cycle.

However, be prepared to get dinged before your 2nd test's results come back...in that case you might want to postpone for another cycle. It's really up to you. TBH you should have been asking this question back in April, before the June/Oct tests.

Applying now w/o letting schools know about a retake seems like a mistake to me. His results are unlikely to be too much different from the cycle he just went through (unless he applied late or had a poorly written PS and DS that have been since rewritten). Having schools consider you in late December is worth it if OP can improve his score by a few points.

And being dinged before the 2nd results come back is exactly why you let schools know that you're retaking. It's a large risk for a small benefit (being considered early). Though if OP does follow your advice, he should know that he can always request that the school reconsider his application with his new score.

Also, gay isn't a thing for admissions

Being gay isn't considered URM, but it is still something that should most definitely be brought up in a diversity statement.

[JamMasterJ]

A few questions -
1) how far off was your score from your PT tests?
2) how did you study last time?
3) have you studied since then?

If your score was lower than your PT scores, I'd say consider a retake. Same if you didn't study that much last time. If you haven't studied at all since last time, what is your plan to study this time around?

Takeaway point = if you're going to re-take, make sure you have at least a few months to study. I'd recommend applying now without telling the schools that you are going to be re-taking (to see how your cycle goes with an early submittal) and then submitting the new LSAT score to schools that WL you/accept you (for money). Make sure you really work your ass off though, with a 17X you could be looking at a stellar cycle.

However, be prepared to get dinged before your 2nd test's results come back...in that case you might want to postpone for another cycle. It's really up to you. TBH you should have been asking this question back in April, before the June/Oct tests.

Applying now w/o letting schools know about a retake seems like a mistake to me. His results are unlikely to be too much different from the cycle he just went through (unless he applied late or had a poorly written PS and DS that have been since rewritten). Having schools consider you in late December is worth it if OP can improve his score by a few points.

And being dinged before the 2nd results come back is exactly why you let schools know that you're retaking. It's a large risk for a small benefit (being considered early). Though if OP does follow your advice, he should know that he can always request that the school reconsider his application with his new score.

Also, gay isn't a thing for admissions

hing
Being gay isn't considered URM, but it is still something that should most definitely be brought up in a diversity statement.

I guess that could be a qualification of my statement. I was just saying that it's not a URM thing