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Should I retake?

So_close wrote:Should I retake?

I would retake and aim for 170+, but right now you're more than OK for UChicago on down...Harvard is a likely with that GPA and Y and S are a toss up...depends on your background.

Pretty much in (assuming decent PS/DS/LORs etc.) at everything below H. High chance H. Crapshoot on the schollys. 50/50 shot at Y/S if you have the softs/narrative besides the run-of-the-mill diversity stuff.

If you were PTing above 168, I would strongly consider retaking. If 168 was toward the middle/higher end of your practice tests, I'd start moving onto gathering LORs and writing amazing statements.

Good luck OP!

jsnow212 wrote:Pretty much in (assuming decent PS/DS/LORs etc.) at everything below H. High chance H. Crapshoot on the schollys. 50/50 shot at Y/S if you have the softs/narrative besides the run-of-the-mill diversity stuff.

If you were PTing above 168, I would strongly consider retaking. If 168 was toward the middle/higher end of your practice tests, I'd start moving onto gathering LORs and writing amazing statements.

Good luck OP!

What do you mean by "run of the mill diversity stuff"? Thanks!

youtubeaddict2 wrote:

jsnow212 wrote:Pretty much in (assuming decent PS/DS/LORs etc.) at everything below H. High chance H. Crapshoot on the schollys. 50/50 shot at Y/S if you have the softs/narrative besides the run-of-the-mill diversity stuff.

If you were PTing above 168, I would strongly consider retaking. If 168 was toward the middle/higher end of your practice tests, I'd start moving onto gathering LORs and writing amazing statements.

Good luck OP!

What do you mean by "run of the mill diversity stuff"? Thanks!

I think jsnow212 means your African-American URM status by "run-of-the-mill diversity stuff." That provides a big boost relative to non-URMs with the same GPA/LSAT, but URM status standing alone will not give you a great shot at Y/S. As with non-URMs, you will need a terrific narrative/softs to stand a good chance at getting into Y/S.

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QContinuum wrote:

youtubeaddict2 wrote:

jsnow212 wrote:Pretty much in (assuming decent PS/DS/LORs etc.) at everything below H. High chance H. Crapshoot on the schollys. 50/50 shot at Y/S if you have the softs/narrative besides the run-of-the-mill diversity stuff.

If you were PTing above 168, I would strongly consider retaking. If 168 was toward the middle/higher end of your practice tests, I'd start moving onto gathering LORs and writing amazing statements.

Good luck OP!

What do you mean by "run of the mill diversity stuff"? Thanks!

I think jsnow212 means your African-American URM status by "run-of-the-mill diversity stuff." That provides a big boost relative to non-URMs with the same GPA/LSAT, but URM status standing alone will not give you a great shot at Y/S. As with non-URMs, you will need a terrific narrative/softs to stand a good chance at getting into Y/S.

I was thinking that they were referring to essays and diversity statements used by many URMs thus not being unique enough?

You need 170 for Yale.

I know a dozen AAs with 3.9/160-169 AND strong "narratives" who were shut out of Yale.

You should be safe for H and S. S is oddly selective, but even they will admit you with your stats. Yale is a different story.

I think you’ve got a shot at YS and you’re probably in at Harvard. However, retaking would definitely help to solidify your chances (so I think you should) and so would crafting a good narrative with your application. As an AA applicant from this most recent cycle going to one of HYS (who got into all 3) please PM me if you’d like to talk about this further!

If you think you can improve your score, then retake. Why not?