Top Law Schools

Long time lurker/first time poster here. I took the June LSAT and did not do as well as I had hoped (got a 165). I am really upset with myself because my pt average had been about a 172 so I'm definitely retaking in October and have already jumped back into studying. My question is, does the fact that I'm retaking kill my chances of breaking into the T14??

A little background: 3.85 GPA with average softs. My original goal was to apply to Columbia/NYU as reaches (I want to get a job in NYC) and also try for Penn/Cornell/Gtown with GW/Fordham as safeties. With the score I have now, nothing is a safety, but am I going to have to do far better than usual for these schools because I have this 165 on my record? Would EDing anywhere help me out? Anybody in this situation too/previously been in this situation?

Sorry if this post is redundant/already answered. Not really used to participating in these things. Any info you guys could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Definitely not. I had a somewhat lower GPA than you (around 3.6), and was disappointed with a 170 last year. Re-took and hit my goal range, and am now eagerly awaiting the start of classes at Columbia this fall.

fwiw, though, a good addendum might help. I wasn't feeling so well on my first LSAT and also had poor testing conditions, so I wrote an addendum to that effect.

good luck!

No but that 165 does without a retake.

Patriot1208 wrote:No but that 165 does without a retake.

This.

Thanks amorfati, I actually woke up the morning of the test with half of my face swollen with a ruptured cyst (sounds like something out of a movie, I know). I didn't think I'd let it really affect me but it did add extra stress, so I plan on writing an addendum. Good luck at Columbia!

My LSAT scores = 160, 161, 173

I will be attending HLS in the fall. So forget about the 165 and nail it the next time. Trust me, you don't want to take it a third time.

bk187 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:No but that 165 does without a retake.

This.

People get into T14 with 165 all the time. Probably every year. The T14's combined take several thousand students a year.

lawgod wrote:

bk187 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:No but that 165 does without a retake.

This.

People get into T14 with 165 all the time. Probably every year. The T14's combined take several thousand students a year.

True. I (and probably Patriot as well) did not mean it in the absolute sense. It is possible but unlikely. OP's LSAT is below the 25 percentile at almost every T14 and I can assure you that his chances without a retake are not even close to rosy.

bk187 wrote:

lawgod wrote:

bk187 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:No but that 165 does without a retake.

This.

People get into T14 with 165 all the time. Probably every year. The T14's combined take several thousand students a year.

True. I (and probably Patriot as well) did not mean it in the absolute sense. It is possible but unlikely. OP's LSAT is below the 25 percentile at almost every T14 and I can assure you that his chances without a retake are not even close to rosy.

Of course no one meant it's impossible, but it's EXTREMELY unlikely with a 3.85, non urm, and no real softs or connections. He needs a retake to have anything more than a shot in hell.

I thought I made it kinda clear, but I'm DEFINITELY retaking in October, and am in the middle of studying. My question was more wondering if the schools that I want to apply to will hold the fact that I retook against me (of course assuming I get my score up to their standards). Thanks for the input though

lawgod wrote:

bk187 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:No but that 165 does without a retake.

This.

People get into T14 with 165 all the time. Probably every year. The T14's combined take several thousand students a year.

Not without a 4.0 or URM.