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Viktor Vaughn wrote:I'd also like to wait until I recieve my new score before applying, b/c I feel like a T20 would just look at my 159 and GPA and throw my app in the trash before the new score even came in. So should I ｊｕｓｔ study as much as I can on my own and take the test in October with my fingers crossed, or wait till December and apply late in the cycle but more confident in getting a good score? Scholarships will also be an important factor for me (not a trust fund kid). So... any advide?

I would wait for December, since like you said, you might get dinged with the 159 if you apply earlier.

Most of the time when you apply and you tell the school you retaking the LSAT, which there is almost always a way to say that on the application, the school will just hold your application until they get your new score. So you can wait and apply, or just submit it and get a few days head start on the others who took the LSAT the same day as you because your other document (transcripts and LORs) will already be in a file at the school. So I wouldn't worry about submitting your app and having it tossed immediately.

As far as when to take the test, do it when you are comfortable. If that means December, then December, if you think you will be ready for October, then do it at October. Going in and second guessing yourself will not help your performance on the exam. Though with a mediocre GPA the later you apply the more waitlists you are going to be put on even with a great LSAT in the T20

I'd take it in October. Like MoS said, you can apply earlier and just tell the schools you're waiting for an LSAT score. And if they reject you early anyway, but you wind up doing awesome, you do have the option of appealing.

If I were planning no matter what on waiting for my score first, then I'd especially want to take it as early as possible. It means so much to apply in November rather than January.

As for possibly taking a Kaplan or Testmasters course, you should really decide if it's necessary or not. You're already in the high 160s, low 170s after only a month. I'm really not sure if you could get much more out of a class than what you've already gotten from the bibles and practice tests.

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xyzzzzzzzz wrote:I would absolutely wait. Say you can score 167-169, IMO waiting will look much better than say 159, 164, 168.

I don't get this. Why wait for December when if he takes in October, he still has almost four full months to prepare. He's already scoring in 167-171 range. After four more months, an extra month or so probably won't make a difference. If he can't pull his score up any higher in four months, he's probably either hit his (very respectable) limit or he'll just burn out. Once you get to 175+, it's almost a crap shoot anyway when the difference comes down to even one wrong answer per section.

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Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm starting to feel like taking the October test would be best. The next few months will be chaotic i'm sure, but I should still be able to get a good amount of studying in. I'm also fairly certain I can leave the whole month of September open for intensive studying. Plus I guess I could get a private tutor for a few hours in September if there's still anything bothering me.

Take it in October only if you feel absolutely ready. If you're aiming for a T20 with that 3.4 GPA, you will probably need a score in the high 160s at least, so think it through very carefully. Obviously, scoring consistently in this range already is a great sign, but if you find yourself needing to see a tutor or to take a class (Kaplan is garbage by the way) in the fall, I might hold off until December.