Admissions Uncertainty Forum

[rundoxierun]

Well I did forget to mention that the LSAT was quite the battle for me....when I first took the test I believe I got a 135 - I really didn't know what I was doing....and then I studied for a year....and I was practicing at about 163....and I ended with a 159....I have taken every test there is....I cannot study this summer because of my job and also because there is no more material to look at...i have done a course and all and I have looked all the stuff....If I did retake in September, would it be stupid not to study for it other than like 2ish weeks before....I bet I could at least the same score...i have been doin this stuff for a year now!

If you studied for a year and got a 159 then the answer here is to put together a new list. You could get into many of the schools ranked 40-100 with those numbers. If you arent aiming for super prestigious jobs then those schools could work out fine for you (except the ones in NYC maybe). Everyone here is going to insist on going to nothing less than a T14 school. In reality the cost of doing so only works out over a range of relatively limited possibilities(i.e. dont go to a 40k/yr undergrad at sticker to major in early childhood education). If you are willing to accept that you studied hard and scored a score that represents the upper range of your abilities then you should also be willing to accept a list of schools that reflects that.

[rundoxierun]

I'd like to think that someone with a 4.0 is capable of breaking 160. If not then your ug school must be terrible.

Check out the 25/75 gpas of tier 2, 3 and 4 schools. Plenty of 4.0s with horrible LSAT scores. These days you can pretty much schedule your way to a 4.0 at most undergrads

[xyzzzzzzzz]

I really don't think there is much sense in retaking. OP said he studied for a year. I think he needs to a) have a more realistic list or b) think about doing something besides LS.

[romothesavior]

I really don't think there is much sense in retaking. OP said he studied for a year. I think he needs to a) have a more realistic list or b) think about doing something besides LS.

I vote (b), which is a shame because scoring a 164 or so would open a lot of doors with that 4.0. But if he is too lazy to take it again or is simply incapable to get over a 159, then I think he should re-think law school or drastically alter his list of schools.

[acadec]

And ...

I cannot study this summer because of my job

Bullshit.

Wake up a couple hourse before your day/shift/whatever. Or set aside a couple hours after. It sucks. And it's hard. But this is serious business, and you've gotta treat it as such. ... Come late July, at the latest, you should start re-taking all those PTs you've used up. You'll have forgotten the answers by then (if you haven't already).

Yeah, if you can't handle 40 hours a week plus a couple hours of studying a day, have fun in law school/being a lawyer.

[kalvano]

I studied for the LSAT working a 60-70 hour a week job. I managed a 164.

[xyzzzzzzzz]

.

[094320]

..

[jayn3]

I'd like to think that someone with a 4.0 is capable of breaking 160. If not then your ug school must be terrible.

or major. or whatever. seriously man, if you were willing to work hard enough to get a 4.0 over four years, can't you push yourself one more summer and get a better lsat??

[pocket herc]

You should retake. That being said, with a 4.0 you are probably also competitive for schools like IU-B (maybe), Iowa, Wisconsin, Ariz State, U of Arizona, and many more. Still, retake.

[gwuorbust]

yeah good chance at Iowa, Tulane, etc. that said, don't waste a 4.0. plz take a year off, working in Costa Rica teaching English while studying LSAT and then retake. worst case scenario: you help hundreds of children learn to read, best case you get the same warm fuzzy feeling and you thank NYU for the acceptance letter

[jennylynn]

I had similar numbers as you. I just dont' standardize test well.
I applied to several schools, so check out my profile for an idea of what those numbers will get you.

[romothesavior]

I studied for the LSAT working a 60-70 hour a week job. I managed a 164.

Wow, sucks to suck.

[TommyK]

Seton Hall is ridiculous. I looked at the pricetag and it's $60k-$70k/yr. Law school debt is ridiculous, but I can't imagine graduating with $200k of debt from a school that's just "eh", and christ... it's in Newark.

I agree with the above poster that suggests coming up with a new list if you're really not interested in retaking the LSAT.

Look for a school that places well in the market you are targetting and get some big scholly.

[kalvano]

I studied for the LSAT working a 60-70 hour a week job. I managed a 164.

Wow, sucks to suck.

I revel in my suckiness.

[merichard87]

My best advice to OP if he/she refuses to retake is to create a new list aiming at state or city schools that have a stronghold in their city/state/region, i.e. Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, FSU, SMU, Arizona, etc.

Leave the big markets alone.