A low LSAT score combined with a much higher LSAT score? Forum

[jaydizzle]

So, I know most schools will take the higher score. What happens if you score something in the 150s and then end up with something like a 170? Would the score in the 150s have a big impact on the cycle of the applicant? I am asking this because I am retaking the LSAT, and I actually hope that my effort leads to a situation like this minus a big negative impact. I know most schools would want an addendum at that point, but I feel like there isn't anything that could help explain this other than you were better prepared or the last situation something tragic happened. My guess is the top 5 schools would automatically be out even if the applicant got a score like a 175. I was checking out LSN and doing some searches, and it seems there was this one guy who got a low LSAT the first time and dominated it the second time which ultimately led to wild cycle with rather disappointing results.

[Hannibal]

Like you said, they consider your highest score. The fact that you have an upward trend should negate a lot of any negative impact, I would think.

Or not.

[jaydizzle]

I wonder if a drastic change would alarm them. I regret not canceling as I am determined to do much better next time around. What do I say? I was nervous , and I thought I was ready. It turns out that I wasn't, and I should have put more effort in? Hah

[wolfpack-avvocato]

I wonder if a drastic change would alarm them. I regret not canceling as I am determined to do much better next time around. What do I say? I was nervous , and I thought I was ready. It turns out that I wasn't, and I should have put more effort in? Hah

Read the Dean interviews on TLS, yes it will alarm them. I mean their first reaction is that it might be a fluke, and you're just lucky. If you do get that kind of difference in your score you need a good explanation, which shouldn't be too difficult to conjur up.

[jaydizzle]

What are some suggestions?

[Knock]

What are some suggestions?

You had the flu for your low, first LSAT score, but were healthy for the second, better one. Reasonable, impossible to disprove, and a very valid explanation why your first LSAT score was so much lower than your second.

[jaydizzle]

Damn it, I wished I canceled. I wasn't ready.

[Knock]

Damn it, I wished I canceled. I wasn't ready.

Refer to my previous post. I doubt it will hurt you, unless you're going for T6 or maybe T14.

[jaydizzle]

A T14 would be nice, but who knows what score I will get. I am hoping to get that 170, but who knows. I am pretty confidant I can't do worse than I already did.

[094320]

..

[Barbie]

When should one write an addendum? I had a 9 point jump but I'm only aiming for low T1 and down.

[Rawlsian]

Write an addendum if you have a legitimate explanation for the jump, otherwise what else can you say? Jumps from the 150's to 170's happen all the time; and they don't appear to affect cycles much (re schools look at highest scores.) Run a quick search for December score release threads. You'll see many 10+ point swings. Then search some of those posters and check out their cycles.

Retakes can hurt your application cycle--not because of the multiple scores, but because you end up applying later.