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Ok guys. I'm kinda shitting myself. So here's the situation; I am an AA male with a 3.6 GPA applying for the upcoming cycle. I am signed up for the June lsat. I don't feel prepared at all. Basically I signed up for te test last minute because I though I could cram because I'm a good Cramer and test taker but I feel very unconfident as I approach the date. My first ever preptest was a 161 but I really think I have the capacity to score in the 170's. I'm a D1 athlete so the spring was a bizarrely busy time for me. With the online test day change due tomorrow, would it be smart to moves test date back to October? Help it's urgent!! Thank you.

mt2165 wrote:Ok guys. I'm kinda shitting myself. So here's the situation; I am an AA male with a 3.6 GPA applying for the upcoming cycle. I am signed up for the June lsat. I don't feel prepared at all. Basically I signed up for te test last minute because I though I could cram because I'm a good Cramer and test taker but I feel very unconfident as I approach the date. My first ever preptest was a 161 but I really think I have the capacity to score in the 170's. I'm a D1 athlete so the spring was a bizarrely busy time for me. With the online test day change due tomorrow, would it be smart to moves test date back to October? Help it's urgent!! Thank you.

definitely change test dates. It won't affect your applications to send with October scores anyway.

It sounds like you are pretty far from your ceiling. The LSAT is not a cram friendly test & is more important than your 4 years of undergrad. I would push it back to October If I were you. You should be able to peak by then.

Thanks, what my dad is saying is, "well there is no harm in taking the test, you might do well and then your fall will be a lot more stress free". What do you guys think of that logic? Do I take any risk in taking a test I feel pretty underprepared for?

mt2165 wrote: Basically I signed up for te test last minute because I though I could cram because I'm a good Cramer

Except that you cannot cram for this test. Take in October.

mt2165 wrote:Thanks, what my dad is saying is, "well there is no harm in taking the test, you might do well and then your fall will be a lot more stress free". What do you guys think of that logic?

it's bad

With your potential, YSH is possible. I think you owe it to yourself to spend the time necessary to reach your ceiling.

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Thanks guys. The idea of taking the test in two weeks is killing me. I realize that with my GPA and potential, I could do really well this cycle. I don't understand why I though a few weeks on a standardized test grades on a curve that other people spend months-years in would suffice. Now I have to convince my parents to cover the test date change fee.

mt2165 wrote:I don't understand why I though a few weeks on a standardized test grades on a curve that other people spend months-years in would suffice.

side note
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 0#p5497692

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mt2165 wrote:Ok guys. I'm kinda shitting myself. So here's the situation; I am an AA male with a 3.6 GPA applying for the upcoming cycle. I am signed up for the June lsat. I don't feel prepared at all. Basically I signed up for te test last minute because I though I could cram because I'm a good Cramer and test taker but I feel very unconfident as I approach the date. My first ever preptest was a 161 but I really think I have the capacity to score in the 170's. I'm a D1 athlete so the spring was a bizarrely busy time for me. With the online test day change due tomorrow, would it be smart to moves test date back to October? Help it's urgent!! Thank you.

Other than the 3.6 GPA I was literally in your exact situation last year. You can check a post of mine from a couple months ago and I described my June 2012 situation exactly like this.

Move the test date. I'm assuming you have a spring sport, so it shouldn't conflict with anything. One of my biggest regrets this cycle was not pushing my LSAT further. October wasn't possible b/c of football, but I should have done december. Take it in October. The results will be in in time for you to still go complete on your apps my mid-december, which is still a fairly good time. You'd much rather be a 3.6/170 who sent in a late-ish app than a 3.6/165 who was in on day 1.

Learn from my mistake!

Thanks! I think you guys have provided just what I needed to finalize my decision. Yeah I just need to sell to my parents cause I'm SUPER broke haha

txdude45 wrote:You'd much rather be a 3.6/170 who sent in a late-ish app than a 3.6/165 who was in on day 1.

100% accurate advice.

You're talking prioritizing a 100 or 200 dollars over what %age chance you have to pay off a debt of at least a 100k, and provide for you for the rest of your life. That is beyond idiotic. You mow lawns if you need to. This is your life, not a bottle of whiskey.

It's really not a money issue per se, I just mentioned that I was broke on a unnecessary side note. Trust me I realize the magnitude of the LSAT.

I tested in June, as I wanted the perceived "bump" from applying right at the beginning of the cycle. It was a challenge as the June Lsat was during finals week; in the end, I think my grades and Lsat score both suffered. The Sept/early Oct bump did not justify forcing my application that early. If you can hit a higher Lsat score in Oct then the payoff will surely be greater, just don't take it too east on your prep between now and then thinking you have lots of time. Having said all of that, my brain works better at mid-day than at 8am, so the time difference might be something you'll want to consider.

Your best bet for an optimal cycle is having a maximized Lsat score, irrespective of when you apply.

I think you should wait and take the LSAT when you feel as prepared as you can be. The benefits of having one, high LSAT score when you apply to law schools can't be understated. This is doubly true for you because you are an AA male and there are so few AA males who get LSAT scores around the 170 mark.

I would push the test back, study as much as I could this summer, and take it in October. If you apply with a 170+ score, you'll have a superb cycle whether you apply in September or in January. Good luck!

mt2165 wrote:It's really not a money issue per se, I just mentioned that I was broke on a unnecessary side note. Trust me I realize the magnitude of the LSAT.

The fact you mentioned it in this conversation means it's not superfluous to you. Even in my economic dark days when I'd make a $80 on a good day, losing a $1000 would make me upset but would never be a priority. Focusing on short term goals, and not the end game is a potential downfall on the LSAT, and any exam in law school. Have more confidence in where you can be if you don't prioritize dumb shit.

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Again, I only mentioned the money needed to cover the test date change fee because I don't have it. And it was due today. More importantly, my parents fundamentally agree with the advice given here so the issue is all the more problematic. I agree with you all, and I am in fact looking long term. But either way I convinced them and it has been covered and the date changed, I appreciate all your advice!

bananapeanutbutter wrote:You're talking prioritizing a 100 or 200 dollars over what %age chance you have to pay off a debt of at least a 100k, and provide for you for the rest of your life. That is beyond idiotic. You mow lawns if you need to. This is your life, not a bottle of whiskey.

Despite the harshness, TITCR. With your 3.6, OP, you'll be HYS bound if you can score at least in the mid-160s (although I anticipate you'll break the 170s and be a lock for H and S). A 161 cold score shows you have a lot of room for improvement, so I believe you've made the right choice by taking the October '13 LSAT. Good luck! I'll be anxious to hear how you do.