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LSATBuddha wrote:wait out the year, retake the LSAT, and reapply.

LSATBuddha wrote:Hey guys,

Over the past month I have been going back and forth on withdrawing my offer from a T2 school. To help you understand my situation I guess some background info is needed. I recently graduated from a tier 1 undegrad with a 4.00 lsdas gpa in history. I studied intensely for my LSAT for about a year and my scores ranged from a 163-168 with occasional 170’s (174 was the highest). I took the LSAT in june of my junior year (2011) and received a 160. Honestly, my anxiety completely crippled me and I could barely remember the test. I was ready to cancel my score but ended up with that 160. I then applied to Rutgers, Villanova, Temple, Fordham PT , and Minnesota(just because they gave me a fee waiver). When I applied my gpa was 3.95 and has obviously come up since then. I know some are wondering why I didn’t retake this past year. To be honest the excuses are numerous ( I must admit anxiety was one of them but not the only one) but let’s just face the fact that I didn’t take the LSAT again. I was accepted to the T2 schools but was WL at Fordham and UMN. However, I was accepted off the waitlist at Fordham.

I ended up sending my seat deposits to one of the T2 schools in the philly region. Unfortunately, I have since wondered whether I should wait out the year, retake the LSAT, and reapply. My real concern is if I score lower. I have no problem attending the T2 school but am wondering (with my gpa) whether I should have put up a better fight to go to a top school. The reality is many kids dream to go to a top school but few accomplish the feat. I don’t want to be naïve about my situation. How would it look to reapply to this former school next cycle even I would have forfeited my second seat deposit with them? Again how would a lower score look? Am I even thinking correctly on waiting out a whole year just to go to another school or just plain beating a dead horse that needs to be put to rest?

cutecarmel wrote:Don't retake. Just go to school.

If you are ok with the school you got into, why not just go there? Taking a year off just to get into a slightly "better" school isn't worth it. The only way I would retake in your case is if I needed better scholarship money.

Honestly, if you have crippling anxiety just from taking the LSAT (so bad that you're score dropped significantly during the test and that you were unable to retake during the cycle), you might not be able to hang with the big dogs in top schools. I'm really not trying to be mean, but its just something to think about.

Your going to go to your nice T2 school, graduate, get a job, and 5 years from now, you're going to laugh at how much you stressed over this.

cutecarmel wrote:Don't retake. Just go to school.

If you are ok with the school you got into, why not just go there? Taking a year off just to get into a slightly "better" school isn't worth it. The only way I would retake in your case is if I needed better scholarship money.


Honestly, if you have crippling anxiety just from taking the LSAT (so bad that you're score dropped significantly during the test and that you were unable to retake during the cycle), you might not be able to hang with the big dogs in top schools. I'm really not trying to be mean, but its just something to think about.

Your going to go to your nice T2 school, graduate, get a job, and 5 years from now, you're going to laugh at how much you stressed over this.

cutecarmel wrote:Don't retake. Just go to school.

If you are ok with the school you got into, why not just go there? Taking a year off just to get into a slightly "better" school isn't worth it. The only way I would retake in your case is if I needed better scholarship money.

Honestly, if you have crippling anxiety just from taking the LSAT (so bad that you're score dropped significantly during the test and that you were unable to retake during the cycle), you might not be able to hang with the big dogs in top schools. I'm really not trying to be mean, but its just something to think about.

Your going to go to your nice T2 school, graduate, get a job, and 5 years from now, you're going to laugh at how much you stressed over this.

man_utd_4l wrote:

cutecarmel wrote:Don't retake. Just go to school.

If you are ok with the school you got into, why not just go there? Taking a year off just to get into a slightly "better" school isn't worth it. The only way I would retake in your case is if I needed better scholarship money.

Honestly, if you have crippling anxiety just from taking the LSAT (so bad that you're score dropped significantly during the test and that you were unable to retake during the cycle), you might not be able to hang with the big dogs in top schools. I'm really not trying to be mean, but its just something to think about.

Your going to go to your nice T2 school, graduate, get a job, and 5 years from now, you're going to laugh at how much you stressed over this.

0L, but even I can tell you that this is horrible advice.

Your situation and the LSAT aside, I feel that the vast majority of people should take at least a year off of school before entering into any professional education. Your truly mature more in that first year post-grad than the 4-5 years of undergrad combined. Despite what a lot of people will tell you, you have the freedom to do virtually anything you want with your life. Once you enter into law school this freedom will disappear. Use a year off to lock the LSAT down, explore career options (take as many informational interviews as possible even if you have a job), and learn more about yourself. Talking with 3Ls and recent law grads I always hear that they wish they would have taken time off. Never have I heard "I wish I would have went to law school earlier."

CanadianWolf wrote:Retake unless you received a substantial scholarship to Temple or Villanova & want to live & work in Philadelphia.

cutecarmel wrote:
OP is taking a full year off to improve a few points on the LSAT and maybe get into a better school, maybe. Not to enjoy life or explore career options, mature, etc.. I don't think the extra few points and a full year is worth the hassle and the stress.

If you don't like my opinion, that is fine, but why would "should I retake?" posts even be allowed if the answer should always be "retake no matter what".
The OP asked for opinions. I gave him one. You don't agree. Get over it. Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

LSATBuddha wrote:

CanadianWolf wrote:Retake unless you received a substantial scholarship to Temple or Villanova & want to live & work in Philadelphia.

I know this may be a really dumb question to ask but would you consider a little more than 60% of tuition substantial?

LSATBuddha wrote:Hey guys,

Over the past month I have been going back and forth on withdrawing my offer from a T2 school. To help you understand my situation I guess some background info is needed. I recently graduated from a tier 1 undegrad with a 4.00 lsdas gpa in history. I studied intensely for my LSAT for about a year and my scores ranged from a 163-168 with occasional 170’s (174 was the highest). I took the LSAT in june of my junior year (2011) and received a 160. Honestly, my anxiety completely crippled me and I could barely remember the test. I was ready to cancel my score but ended up with that 160. I then applied to Rutgers, Villanova, Temple, Fordham PT , and Minnesota(just because they gave me a fee waiver). When I applied my gpa was 3.95 and has obviously come up since then. I know some are wondering why I didn’t retake this past year. To be honest the excuses are numerous ( I must admit anxiety was one of them but not the only one) but let’s just face the fact that I didn’t take the LSAT again. I was accepted to the T2 schools but was WL at Fordham and UMN. However, I was accepted off the waitlist at Fordham.

I ended up sending my seat deposits to one of the T2 schools in the philly region. Unfortunately, I have since wondered whether I should wait out the year, retake the LSAT, and reapply. My real concern is if I score lower. I have no problem attending the T2 school but am wondering (with my gpa) whether I should have put up a better fight to go to a top school. The reality is many kids dream to go to a top school but few accomplish the feat. I don’t want to be naïve about my situation. How would it look to reapply to this former school next cycle even I would have forfeited my second seat deposit with them? Again how would a lower score look? Am I even thinking correctly on waiting out a whole year just to go to another school or just plain beating a dead horse that needs to be put to rest?

Nova wrote:

LSATBuddha wrote:

CanadianWolf wrote:Retake unless you received a substantial scholarship to Temple or Villanova& want to live & work in Philadelphia.

I know this may be a really dumb question to ask but would you consider a little more than 60% of tuition substantial?

cutecarmel wrote: OP is taking a full year off to improve a few points on the LSAT and maybe get into a better school, maybe.