Top Law Schools

.

Chi_girl2014 wrote:Hey so as stated, I got a 158 in October and my GPA is a 3.75. I'm a half AA, half white female. The highest I scored on a prep test was a 162 the week before. Toward the end of my prep, I started to feel more confident in Logical Reasoning but Reading Comprehension is my weakest. Considering my average in the last month of prep was a 159 and I was studying 8-10 hours a week - would a December retake be worth the later application?

Right now I am planning to apply ED to UChicago. I'm just concerned about taking the test again and scoring the same or lower. Thoughts on if I should re-take, if so, any strategies you'd suggest? I have to decide quickly!

retake. scoring lower wouldn't matter

RETAKE. It can't hurt.

I would retake and shoot for a 168 or above, at the very least a 164-165 range. Your GPA is nice, but a 158 might give you a chance into NW or Cornell, but even I think that is a reach. My advice would be to retake, but I'm not that versed on half AA/half white URM boosts

How long have you been studying?

Chi_girl2014 wrote:Hey so as stated, I got a 158 in October and my GPA is a 3.75. I'm a half AA, half white female. The highest I scored on a prep test was a 162 the week before. Toward the end of my prep, I started to feel more confident in Logical Reasoning but Reading Comprehension is my weakest. Considering my average in the last month of prep was a 159 and I was studying 8-10 hours a week - would a December retake be worth the later application?

Right now I am planning to apply ED to UChicago. I'm just concerned about taking the test again and scoring the same or lower. Thoughts on if I should re-take, if so, any strategies you'd suggest? I have to decide quickly!

Yes retake. Are you going -0 on LG? If not, that's the easiest place that you can add points. What issues are you having with RC and how were you studying? The LSAT subforum of this site has some of the best advice that you'll find, and it's all free.

Depending on how much of a jump you have in your score (and most people go up at least 2 points) you could either solidify yourself for T6 or give yourself more options for money around the T14.

californiauser wrote:How long have you been studying?

I took a Powerscore course from July 7 - August 28 and then mostly did practice tests in September, one or two a week. I will have a couple finals and projects due the week of the December LSAT.

Chi_girl2014 wrote:

californiauser wrote:How long have you been studying?

I took a Powerscore course from July 7 - August 28 and then mostly did practice tests in September, one or two a week. I will have a couple finals and projects due the week of the December LSAT.

So you've done, what, 10 tests total? You should consider sitting out this cycle and retaking in February or June.

I was in the exact same position as you my senior year. I studied all of Spring semester with a light courseload and retook in June right after graduation.

MoMettaMonk wrote:

Chi_girl2014 wrote:Hey so as stated, I got a 158 in October and my GPA is a 3.75. I'm a half AA, half white female. The highest I scored on a prep test was a 162 the week before. Toward the end of my prep, I started to feel more confident in Logical Reasoning but Reading Comprehension is my weakest. Considering my average in the last month of prep was a 159 and I was studying 8-10 hours a week - would a December retake be worth the later application?

Right now I am planning to apply ED to UChicago. I'm just concerned about taking the test again and scoring the same or lower. Thoughts on if I should re-take, if so, any strategies you'd suggest? I have to decide quickly!

Yes retake. Are you going -0 on LG? If not, that's the easiest place that you can add points. What issues are you having with RC and how were you studying? The LSAT subforum of this site has some of the best advice that you'll find, and it's all free.

Depending on how much of a jump you have in your score (and most people go up at least 2 points) you could either solidify yourself for T6 or give yourself more options for money around the T14.

I'm usually -4 or -5 on LG. I know I can do better though. For RC I didn't devote enough time to studying it and I usually just looked back over questions I got wrong under timed sections and tried to figure out where my reasoning - or reading - mislead me.

It still bogles my mind how people do so well on LG but worse on other sections.

That section is so difficult, it's not even funny.

EDIT: I forgot to say retake. I'm in the same boat as you. Slightly lower GPA, same LSAT. If you want T14, we both need higher scores.

Chi_girl2014 wrote:

californiauser wrote:How long have you been studying?

I took a Powerscore course from July 7 - August 28 and then mostly did practice tests in September, one or two a week. I will have a couple finals and projects due the week of the December LSAT.

Don't count out the February LSAT. An increase then could get you off of waitlists and give you more leverage for scholarship money.

And all of this advice is predicated on you being 100% set on going K-JD. Taking a year or two off to work/generally not be in school isn't a bad idea.

http://mylsn.info/j9vjqs

Also play around with the numbers on this site, it's where most of the people on this site get their predictions from.

MoMettaMonk wrote:http://mylsn.info/j9vjqs

Also play around with the numbers on this site, it's where most of the people on this site get their predictions from.

Yeah, even two more points increases Chicago chances from a 43% to a 67%. With your idea of the February LSAT, would you still recommend EDing to Chicago, then if put on the waitlist send in the new score? Seems kind of late but I guess at that point I wouldn't have much to lose.

Chi_girl2014 wrote:

MoMettaMonk wrote:http://mylsn.info/j9vjqs

Also play around with the numbers on this site, it's where most of the people on this site get their predictions from.

Yeah, even two more points increases Chicago chances from a 43% to a 67%. With your idea of the February LSAT, would you still recommend EDing to Chicago, then if put on the waitlist send in the new score? Seems kind of late but I guess at that point I wouldn't have much to lose.

Generally speaking I wouldn't recommend EDing anywhere because URM cycles are wildly unpredictable, and if you're at all worried about cost EDing takes away any leverage you might have when negotiating for scholarships.

Granted if you are going to ED somewhere, Chicago is probably the place to do it.

Chi_girl2014 wrote:

californiauser wrote:How long have you been studying?

I took a Powerscore course from July 7 - August 28 and then mostly did practice tests in September, one or two a week. I will have a couple finals and projects due the week of the December LSAT.

You owe it to yourself to retake. You have barely reached the tip of the iceberg of your potential. I would advise retaking in June and postponing law school for a year. Even a 165 would put you in a whole different world than you are in now.

The LSAT is not one of those things where you take a prep class, take a handful of PTs, and then call it a day. There is much work to be done. First, buy the Manhattan books in LR and RC (some people like LSAT Trainer, I never used it and can't vouch for it). Also buy Velocity's LG section (you're already doing well in LG, but I think Velocity's methods are vastly superior to Powerscore's and with enough practice would make you a consistent -0). Find where your weaknesses are. Then drill until you improve (which means you'll probably need to buy the Cambridge packets). Always, always, always look to become more efficient, especially with games. And always strive for perfection. You never know when you might have an off day, and you'll want that insurance come test day.

For God's sake, DO NOT retake in December. You are nowhere near your full potential. Give yourself the time to get the highest score you can.

So is the consensus to retake in June and sit this cycle out? I did sign up for December on Friday morning but I'm regretting that impulsive decision now. However, losing $150 on that isn't that big of a deal in the long run. I just don't think I can get that big of a bump in that time. I'd rather go for a 165 and study like crazy in the months leading up to June.

In all honesty, you're probably (definitely?) going to get some of the lower T14 anyway. But if you were to get, say, a 164 or a 165, the world would practically be your oyster. I think that, combined with the fact that you are nowhere near your potential, makes the retake a very good idea.

There's nothing quite like choosing between going to Harvard and going to T6 with a full scholly.

I've decided to retake in February. I'll have three months, one of which is my Winter Break and I will have no other commitments. I'm obviously sitting this cycle out. I've ordered the Manhattan RC and LR books for a different approach. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Chi_girl2014 wrote:I've decided to retake in February. I'll have three months, one of which is my Winter Break and I will have no other commitments. I'm obviously sitting this cycle out. I've ordered the Manhattan RC and LR books for a different approach. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Wait, it you are sitting this cycle out, it might be better to retake in June since the February test is undisclosed. However, if you anticipate that you won't be able to study as diligently for a June retake as opposed to a Feb retake then studying for a fen retake might be the credited response.

Dr.Zer0 wrote:

Chi_girl2014 wrote:I've decided to retake in February. I'll have three months, one of which is my Winter Break and I will have no other commitments. I'm obviously sitting this cycle out. I've ordered the Manhattan RC and LR books for a different approach. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Wait, it you are sitting this cycle out, it might be better to retake in June since the February test is undisclosed. However, if you anticipate that you won't be able to study as diligently for a June retake as opposed to a Feb retake then studying for a fen retake might be the credited response.

I think February is the best option as I have December 7th - January 13th completely free - no school, no work. I'm taking 5 classes for the spring semester, writing my senior thesis, and then taking a 4 week condensed course from May 19th to June 13th. June would provide a longer stretch of time to study but the quality of my studying would be hurt by those commitments.

toshiroh wrote:I would retake and shoot for a 168 or above, at the very least a 164-165 range. Your GPA is nice, but a 158 might give you a chance into NW or Cornell, but even I think that is a reach. My advice would be to retake, but I'm not that versed on half AA/half white URM boosts

To the best of my knowledge--which, in the interest of full disclosure, consists of having read posts by twentypercentmore & in the Spivey/KB/Perez question thread about this topic--you get the full bump of your most URM status. You should get an AA bump despite being mixed. (This is good news for both of us. ) That said, I'm glad you made the decision to retake. Kill that Feb LSAT!