Lower Score second time, big problem? Forum

[moopness]

A friend of mine got a 169 in Oct and retook in feb only to get a 165, he really doesn't want to retake again. His GPA is just under a 3.5 (because he failed a class), but he might be at or above 3.5 by the time he graduates (this spring). How much does the lower second score affect his chances at schools like Mich, Penn, UVA, Duke, Cornell, and Northwestern. He's taking a year off to get work experience and applying this fall.

ETA: He's willing to ED.

[06162014123]

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[KevinP]

It's been a long time, moopness.

I think your friend's 169 will kill his chances at the listed schools, not his lower score. The difference between a 169 and a 170 is significant because many T14 schools have 170 as their median.

E.g. http://penn.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1011/
169 --> 170 is rather revealing

[bk1]

The second score isn't going to hurt him. What's going to hurt him is not having a 170+. The only T14's he has a realistic shot at are UMich and Cornell.

He should retake a 3rd time for 170+. Without a 170+ his ED should be to UMich.