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Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:02 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
I just recieved my LSAT scores and am pretty upset. I freaked out kind of during the test because of too much caffeine and i knew i did not do well, but back in my head i thought i may have gotten at least a 146. My choices were LSU( Obviously not happening), Loyola, no (Not happening either, and Southern ( Dont think so but could be a possibility). I just dont know what to do . Looks like i may have to wait another year. Any suggestions?

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:02 pm
by hiromoto45
Bigpoppa88111 wrote:I just recieved my LSAT scores and am pretty upset. I freaked out kind of during the test because of too much caffeine and i knew i did not do well, but back in my head i thought i may have gotten at least a 146. My choices were LSU( Obviously not happening), Loyola, no (Not happening either, and Southern ( Dont think so but could be a possibility). I just dont know what to do . Looks like i may have to wait another year. Any suggestions?
Retake and apply next cycle.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:05 pm
by chocho
well its very late in the cycle as is, my best advice would be to study very hard, under test conditions (which means experimenting with the proper amount of caffeine), and re apply next semester.....but for what it worth, if you want just apply this semester ( i am not sure as to what your chances are with a 140 so act accordingly), but one bad test doesnt mean anything as long as you can rebound the next go around, and since its so late in the cycle already, i would opt for fall 2011

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:06 pm
by Joga Bonito
I don't think you have choice but to retake and reapply or not go at all.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:44 pm
by xiening
I am assuming conventional wisdom is asking you to re-take. But remember when you decides, you have to figure out the reasons' that you did not as well as you excepted. And remember, this is not an ID test, people will improve if they study hard, and properly. Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:47 pm
by Mattalones
If I were you, I would both retake and aggressively seek out another professional field during the one-year minimum break between now and 1L. You may find that you like something else a lot, and you want to use this last opportunity that you have now to find that out. The test not working out could be an opportunity for a blessing in disguise ... Do both: LSAT and Seek entry to new field.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:53 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
Yeah. I also forgot to give you the scores of my three diagnostics leading up to the test. 139, 148, 149. Its just depressing when you study for a month and get one point higher than you first nostic. I just freaked out I guess.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:55 pm
by flyingpanda
Bigpoppa88111 wrote:Yeah. I also forgot to give you the scores of my three diagnostics leading up to the test. 139, 148, 149. Its just depressing when you study for a month and get one point higher than you first nostic. I just freaked out I guess.
One month isn't enough to properly study for the LSAT, especially if your diagnostics started that low. What were your studying methods and how much did you study a day?

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:58 pm
by Helmholtz
Honestly, I would just forget about law school if I were you.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:00 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
I guess not much like an hour a day. And I would just do like practice sections. And the last week I would study for like three hours a day.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:10 pm
by flawyer
your diagnostic was a 139, you took 2 more tests before the actual LSAT and only studied for a month. This test is not one of your college finals... I would have guessed you would have scored in the 135-145 range. Study for at LEAST 3 months diligently and take at LEAST 15 practice tests, and pray to god that you break a 155. I don't mean to sound like an ass but it seems like there is a large disconnect between what your doing and what you should do to prepare to get into law school.

No you shouldn't apply this cycle. write an addendum for that 140 and say that you have narcolepsy and you fell asleep for a section.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:27 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
Do you think if I scored like a 163 I would still have to write a reason for doing so poorly on the first one.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:32 pm
by JustDude
Bigpoppa88111 wrote:Do you think if I scored like a 163 I would still have to write a reason for doing so poorly on the first one.
Be realistic. 163/3.08 wont get you anywhere decent.

You will be far better of in some other industry. At least you won have debt.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:33 pm
by Veyron
FOR THE LOVE OF G-D, DON'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL!

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:42 pm
by flawyer
Chill out with telling the kid not to go to law school. I've held a real job after college, the most successful people didn't come from the best school. He/She can be a great lawyer out of a bad school. Business savvy individuals with JDs can do extremely well. A 163/ 3.08 isn't the end of the world.

Don't throw the law school idea away NECESSARILY, but damn, get that 140 up at LEAST 10-15 points!

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:43 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
A 163 could get me into a lot of schools I am interested in. - am just trying to make a decent living and enjoy what I do. Not trying to set the world on fire.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:45 pm
by JustDude
flawyer wrote:Chill out with telling the kid not to go to law school. I've held a real job after college, the most successful people didn't come from the best school. He/She can be a great lawyer out of a bad school. Business savvy individuals with JDs can do extremely well. A 163/ 3.08 isn't the end of the world.

Don't throw the law school idea away NECESSARILY, but damn, get that 140 up at LEAST 10-15 points!
If you are business savvy, you can do well without JD. And also you will be savvy enough notto waste 6 fig amount of dollars and 3 years. Business Savvy Bill Gates didnt want to waste his time even to het UG in Harvard. So Business Savvy doesnt apply here. More like "I graduated college and dont know what to do". And also OP is lazy.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:50 pm
by utexas2010
JustDude wrote:
flawyer wrote:Chill out with telling the kid not to go to law school. I've held a real job after college, the most successful people didn't come from the best school. He/She can be a great lawyer out of a bad school. Business savvy individuals with JDs can do extremely well. A 163/ 3.08 isn't the end of the world.

Don't throw the law school idea away NECESSARILY, but damn, get that 140 up at LEAST 10-15 points!
If you are business savvy, you can do well without JD. And also you will be savvy enough notto waste 6 fig amount of dollars and 3 years. Business Savvy Bill Gates didnt want to waste his time even to het UG in Harvard. So Business Savvy doesnt apply here. More like "I graduated college and dont know what to do". And also OP is lazy.

How do you know OP is lazy? Seems to me that he just didn't realize the seriousness of prepping for the LSAT. Most people I know treat the LSAT like the SAT (read a few books over a few weeks and go take the test). Granted, many won't receive "great" scores but then again the majority do not spend 3 months and hundreds of hours studying like most TLS members...to say that this means he is lazy is just plain idiotic...more like uniformed or average to me.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:56 pm
by JustDude
utexas2010 wrote:
How do you know OP is lazy? Seems to me that he just didn't realize the seriousness of prepping for the LSAT. Most people I know treat the LSAT like the SAT (read a few books over a few weeks and go take the test). Granted, many won't receive "great" scores but then again the majority do not spend 3 months and hundreds of hours studying like most TLS members...to say that this means he is lazy is just plain idiotic...more like uniformed or average to me.

I am so sorry. He just didnt do any proper research on how to prep to LSAT, he received his lets be honest, very low practice scores and still didnt study. "uninformed" = "lazy to do research". You can sugarcoat a cock as much as you want, but in the end, you still suck a dick, not a popsickle.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:01 pm
by Bigpoppa88111
Just to add to the person above me there was only one month inbetween my first diagnostic and real test. I did not have a longer time to prepare which was my fault, but I thought a month would be enough time. Don't call me lazy because you really don't know me and I do not need your input.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:04 pm
by flawyer
JustDude wrote:
flawyer wrote:Chill out with telling the kid not to go to law school. I've held a real job after college, the most successful people didn't come from the best school. He/She can be a great lawyer out of a bad school. Business savvy individuals with JDs can do extremely well. A 163/ 3.08 isn't the end of the world.

Don't throw the law school idea away NECESSARILY, but damn, get that 140 up at LEAST 10-15 points!
If you are business savvy, you can do well without JD. And also you will be savvy enough notto waste 6 fig amount of dollars and 3 years. Business Savvy Bill Gates didnt want to waste his time even to het UG in Harvard. So Business Savvy doesnt apply here. More like "I graduated college and dont know what to do". And also OP is lazy.



Agreed, OP sounds lazy. business savvy lawyers are dangerous b/c they only have to compete with other lawyers, which in most cases are not the most business savvy. Your assuming he's paying, maybe his parents are paying. 3 years of law schools is much more fun than 3 year of working. yeah, i get it OP is not going to come out making 6 figures, but ceteris paribus, its better to have a JD than not, no?

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:05 pm
by 20121109
Peter North wrote:
flawyer wrote:Chill out with telling the kid not to go to law school.
I agree with this suggestion wholeheartedly. Boy, people can be mean-spirited around here.

I'll agree that OP's preparation wasn't adequate, but no big deal. With a little effort he can do better at a retake.

It seems like everyone on TLS is a law school admissions expert. :roll: Last year YLS admitted someone with a 151 and HLS admitted someone with an LSAT score lower than that. Of course, these are all rare, exceptional and circumstantial admits, but my point really is: an LSAT score isn't the sole determining factor when it comes to attaining admission to a reputed law school (HYS included). But absent any strong softs (eg. solid years of work experience, etc), if you are coming out of a UG, unfortunately, an applicant's GPA and LSAT are your determining factors.

If OP is like me (ie. doesn't perform well on standardized tests, my diag was 132 despite my Ivy UG!), there are many schools (T20 even!) that will take a holistic look at your application.

OP: Don't heed much of the advice you get on these forums. Good luck and all the best!
I agree with the spirit of your general post, but I will need proof of the bolded text. Besides on Yale's website, it plainly states that the lowest LSAT score was a 154.
JustDude wrote: You can sugarcoat a cock as much as you want, but in the end, you still suck a dick, not a popsickle.
You're funny.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:13 pm
by spearnreel
I think FAM U will take those numbers.

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:15 pm
by flawyer
We've all just spent some time and energy writing replies to your post.

NOW, Original Poster (OP), do you promise TLS that you will study for more that one hour a day (more like 3 hours), for one month (at least 3 months)?

Re: Just got my LSAT 140 and 3.08 what can i do?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:15 pm
by oberlin08
retake retake retake.

You could probably quite easily get that to a 150 at least and drastically change the schools you are looking at. Just put the time in, its worth it.