Limited Choices... Help Wanted! Forum

[actorlaw]

LSAT: 156
GPA: 3.24

Non Traditional Applicant, Performing Arts major

Accepted: Mercer, Wyoming ($, withdrew), Montana (withdrew)
Waitlisted: UNC, Miami
Pending: Cal Western
Rejected: 14+ schools

I have taken the LSAT twice. Scored 151 the first time, worked with a powerscore tutor for 3 months and scored a 156 the second time... I aced the logic games, but had the most trouble with RC...

I was "on hold" at Miami for 6 months and was just placed on the waiting list.
I am riding out the UNC waiting list.

My initial interest is Entertainment Law but I am open to exploring other areas in law school. I have various contacts and had industry-related jobs in NYC. Would like to eventually end up in NYC or LA, but I am open to wherever my career takes me. I am not crazy about staying in GA and only applied to Mercer as a safety school...

At this point, what would you do? Should I seriously consider retaking the LSAT a 3rd and final time? If I don't fare so well on it, what kind of message will that send to admissions when I reapply next year? Do I ride out Miami's waitlist since I am already riding out the UNC waitlist? I bar tend in the evenings, so my days are free and available for studying, I'm just not sure I want to put law school off for another year.

I already withdrew from Wyoming and Montana because I would go to Mercer over either of them... But is Mercer really worth sticker? Especially if I have no desire to stay in GA?

Please be as brutally honest as you'd like... I'm not going to argue with anyone. I simply want to know what others would do in my situation, especially those of you who may have faced similar decisions.

[texaspecial88]

How are you "non-traditional"?

Mercer is not worth sticker.

If you think you can raise the LSAT 5+ points, i'd retake

[xyzzzzzzzz]

.

[TTH]

No way Mercer is worth sticker. Ride out the waitlists, and if you don't get into either school, try again next year after a retake. I imagine you expected to hear this.

[actorlaw]

I'm not entering straight out of undergrad. I've been out of school a few years. Have had a job in the entertainment industry, and also worked as a professional actor across the country. Not your traditional law school applicant entering right out of undergrad.

[xyzzzzzzzz]

.

[rundoxierun]

If you honestly worked at a decent with a powerscore tutor for 3 months it may be hard for you to improve that LSAT score, especially since you are already doing well on the section that is most easily improved. In your situation I wouldve applied to ga state as a cheap in-state option. If you know your dream is to be a lawyer and you cant live without it then you could take a risk with mercer.. otherwise either A) Do something other than being a lawyer.. or B) try to improve your lsat score and apply to ga state next time.

[A'nold]

Hmm....I would have probs gone to Wyoming.

[Grizz]

Mercer and Miami aren't worth sticker.

Mercer is behind Duke/UVA, Vandy, Emory, and UGA for ATL jobs.

UF is equal to or greater than Miami in South Florida, but there just aren't the jobs there like there used to be.

Retake, reapply.

[Grizz]

edit: double post

[firebreathingliberal]

Retake. Retake. Retake. Not a very original response but oh well...

[dhg5004]

He'll be retaking a third time...and if he doesn't improve at least 4 points (to a 160) it will only look worse.

[people always bash me saying that but it's 100% true- i know for a matter of fact]

So there is a ton of risk involved in taking it a third time.

In regard to the job market in Miami dwindling that's just not true. Miami is a huge burgeoning law market and on the rise.


If you want to pursue Entertainment Law (I want to as well) I would reapply at the start of next cycle (or retake if you are consistently scoring in the 160's on practice tests) and do something to add to your apps for next cycle. Some good schools you may have a shot at getting into if you apply early enough that have good entertainment law programs are Cardozo/Miami/San Diego

Of course there are the T14 (NYU is great entertainment law) but people like you and I can't get into these schools.

Hope that helps :-/

[PrincessLexiRae]

Don't retake unless your score can raise drastically. It already doesn't look great to have have two tests with scores that didn't raise much and you don't need a third with the same score for everyone to see. If you have the money you should take a Kaplan course. They have raised my score about 9 points over the past few weeks and even though I don't feel ready to take the June test I'm going to take October test to try to raise my score even more...just an idea...

And do not pay sticker for Mercer. It's so not worth it.

[firebreathingliberal]

There is little risk in retaking. If you haven't improved then you will just get the same score and it wont make any difference to the schools. You could, with proper preparation and practice, raise your score 4-5 points and end up in T-2 with scholarships. Risk v reward here seems like a no brainer. Right now, you can only get better.

[dhg5004]

There is little risk in retaking. If you haven't improved then you will just get the same score and it wont make any difference to the schools. You could, with proper preparation and practice, raise your score 4-5 points and end up in T-2 with scholarships. Risk v reward here seems like a no brainer. Right now, you can only get better.

I completely disagree. A friend of mine works on the admissions board of a T20 school and he says taking the test a third time will definitely hurt ones chances if the score doesn't increase by 5 points or more.

Many people don't know this. But it's true. Only re-take if you're confident you will get above a 160.

[Grizz]

He'll be retaking a third time...and if he doesn't improve at least 4 points (to a 160) it will only look worse.

[people always bash me saying that but it's 100% true- i know for a matter of fact]

So there is a ton of risk involved in taking it a third time.

In regard to the job market in Miami dwindling that's just not true. Miami is a huge burgeoning law market and on the rise.

There's no risk associated. There are, count 'em, 0 good options for OP right now (one could argue Montanta or Wyoming were okay options, but OP withdrew). So, retake is a must. Retake and reapply or don't go.

There are 0 law markets burgeoning right now. Stagnant, maybe. Not burgeoning by any means. Miami got hit along with the rest of the FL market.

[dhg5004]

No risk? Are you serious? And what if he scores lower on the LSAT this time around? You don't think that makes a difference in his candidacy in the eyes of law admissions? That's crazy.

I've heard horror stories of people taking it a third and fourth time and their score either not moving or decreasing. Those people ended up at t4 schools. Law admissions do not like it when you take the LSAT over and over unless there is a highly significant improvement

I wish it weren't true...but it is. I am just advocating the voice of reason.

[Grizz]

No risk? Are you serious? And what if he scores lower on the LSAT this time around? You don't think that makes a difference in his candidacy in the eyes of law admissions? That's crazy.

I've heard horror stories of people taking it a third and fourth time and their score either not moving or decreasing. Those people ended up at t4 schools. Law admissions do not like it when you take the LSAT over and over unless there is a highly significant improvement

I wish it weren't true...but it is. I am just advocating the voice of reason.

The point I'm trying to make is yes there's a risk of doing worse, but he's not gonna be worse off than he is now. There's no schools on his list worth going to at sticker, except for maybe UNC, but chances off their WL are pretty much nil I'd gather.