Please Help! Should I retake the October lsat for Fall2012? Forum

[Hsaint1]

So I just took the June 2012 lsat. I got a 159. I have received on average between 160 and 164 consistently. My dillema lies here...I unfortunately did not dedicate alot of time to practicing. I took a blueprint course which jumped me from a 154 to a 164 but even in the class I did not even do the homework assigned and once I left the class I seriously stopped studying accept for about one PT a month..and it has been almost a year. I guess I thought I could do minimal work and still obtain a score I was content with ( 161+). I am so dissapointed in myself and this has truly served as a motivator and a swift kick in the rear. I had rough start with college..2.0 my first semester! then a 3.0 and from then I did not recieve anything below 3.8 until my final semester. My boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer..I was attacked and mugged which left some lasting and impinging injuries I also had to commit to 7 deffinately not easy classes while also working 25 hrs a week to support myself. This rough semester left me with a gpa of 3.6 and a final overall gpa of 3.5. I have strong letters of reccomendation and have done several internships revolving around law and conflict resolution. I have 88 hours of mediaition training under my belt and some how even with my low-mediocre gpa I graduatied top ten percent of my class which granted me membership to the Phi Kappa Phi Honors society. My number one choice is USD Law the gpa is still well within reason in regards to prior statistics but lsat wise..the 25th percentile is 158..mediat 160 and 75th percentile at 161. I really need financial aid so having the best chances I can possibly have is of obvious importance. I planned on having my applications in on September 1st when admission opened but now I am contemplating seriously dedicating a proper amount of studytime ( atleast two hours a day and at least one pt a week) and take the October test which would bring my results by the first week of November. Is this too late to really have that extra edge in the admission process timeline? Do the pro's outweigh the cons? Any help, guidance, suggestions or common dillema stories would be beneficial and definately appreciate it.

[JCFindley]

So I just took the June 2012 lsat. I got a 159. I have received on average between 160 and 164 consistently. My dillema lies here...I unfortunately did not dedicate alot of time to practicing. I took a blueprint course which jumped me from a 154 to a 164 but even in the class I did not even do the homework assigned and once I left the class I seriously stopped studying accept for about one PT a month..and it has been almost a year. I guess I thought I could do minimal work and still obtain a score I was content with ( 161+). I am so dissapointed in myself and this has truly served as a motivator and a swift kick in the rear. I had rough start with college..2.0 my first semester! then a 3.0 and from then I did not recieve anything below 3.8 until my final semester. My boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer..I was attacked and mugged which left some lasting and impinging injuries I also had to commit to 7 deffinately not easy classes while also working 25 hrs a week to support myself. This rough semester left me with a gpa of 3.6 and a final overall gpa of 3.5. I have strong letters of reccomendation and have done several internships revolving around law and conflict resolution. I have 88 hours of mediaition training under my belt and some how even with my low-mediocre gpa I graduatied top ten percent of my class which granted me membership to the Phi Kappa Phi Honors society. My number one choice is USD Law the gpa is still well within reason in regards to prior statistics but lsat wise..the 25th percentile is 158..mediat 160 and 75th percentile at 161. I really need financial aid so having the best chances I can possibly have is of obvious importance. I planned on having my applications in on September 1st when admission opened but now I am contemplating seriously dedicating a proper amount of studytime ( atleast two hours a day and at least one pt a week) and take the October test which would bring my results by the first week of November. Is this too late to really have that extra edge in the admission process timeline? Do the pro's outweigh the cons? Any help, guidance, suggestions or common dillema stories would be beneficial and definately appreciate it.

There are NO cons to retaking! The Oct LSAT will still give you the "early" application.

WITH proper study you can and should think WAY beyond USD regardless if you mean San Diego or South Dakota here. Seriously, put in the work on the LSAT get a 170 and go where you want to well beyond USD. Even if you are dead set on USD, and you shouldn't be because of the job prospects coming out of that school, retaking will get you $$$.

The only two things that will matter for you are your LSAT and your GPA. Your softs are not enough to make a difference. Your GPA is set so actually study and kick butt on the LSAT and broaden your options/goals.

[Nova]

So I just took the June 2012 lsat. I got a 159.

Retake in October. Even 1 LSAT point would be worth it.

[Yukos]

So I just took the June 2012 lsat. I got a 159. I have received on average between 160 and 164 consistently. My dillema lies here...I unfortunately did not dedicate alot of time to practicing. I took a blueprint course which jumped me from a 154 to a 164 but even in the class I did not even do the homework assigned and once I left the class I seriously stopped studying accept for about one PT a month..and it has been almost a year. I guess I thought I could do minimal work and still obtain a score I was content with ( 161+). I am so dissapointed in myself and this has truly served as a motivator and a swift kick in the rear. I had rough start with college..2.0 my first semester! then a 3.0 and from then I did not recieve anything below 3.8 until my final semester. My boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer..I was attacked and mugged which left some lasting and impinging injuries I also had to commit to 7 deffinately not easy classes while also working 25 hrs a week to support myself. This rough semester left me with a gpa of 3.6 and a final overall gpa of 3.5. I have strong letters of reccomendation and have done several internships revolving around law and conflict resolution. I have 88 hours of mediaition training under my belt and some how even with my low-mediocre gpa I graduatied top ten percent of my class which granted me membership to the Phi Kappa Phi Honors society. My number one choice is USD Law the gpa is still well within reason in regards to prior statistics but lsat wise..the 25th percentile is 158..mediat 160 and 75th percentile at 161. I really need financial aid so having the best chances I can possibly have is of obvious importance. I planned on having my applications in on September 1st when admission opened but now I am contemplating seriously dedicating a proper amount of studytime ( atleast two hours a day and at least one pt a week) and take the October test which would bring my results by the first week of November. Is this too late to really have that extra edge in the admission process timeline? Do the pro's outweigh the cons? Any help, guidance, suggestions or common dillema stories would be beneficial and definately appreciate it.

I didn't read this but I have some advice: paragraphs are your friends.

[Nova]

I didn't read this but I have some advice: paragraphs are your friends.

srsly

[cutecarmel]

So I just took the June 2012 lsat. I got a 159. I have received on average between 160 and 164 consistently. My dillema lies here...I unfortunately did not dedicate alot of time to practicing. I took a blueprint course which jumped me from a 154 to a 164 but even in the class I did not even do the homework assigned and once I left the class I seriously stopped studying accept for about one PT a month..and it has been almost a year. I guess I thought I could do minimal work and still obtain a score I was content with ( 161+). I am so dissapointed in myself and this has truly served as a motivator and a swift kick in the rear. I had rough start with college..2.0 my first semester! then a 3.0 and from then I did not recieve anything below 3.8 until my final semester. My boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer..I was attacked and mugged which left some lasting and impinging injuries I also had to commit to 7 deffinately not easy classes while also working 25 hrs a week to support myself. This rough semester left me with a gpa of 3.6 and a final overall gpa of 3.5. I have strong letters of reccomendation and have done several internships revolving around law and conflict resolution. I have 88 hours of mediaition training under my belt and some how even with my low-mediocre gpa I graduatied top ten percent of my class which granted me membership to the Phi Kappa Phi Honors society. My number one choice is USD Law the gpa is still well within reason in regards to prior statistics but lsat wise..the 25th percentile is 158..mediat 160 and 75th percentile at 161. I really need financial aid so having the best chances I can possibly have is of obvious importance. I planned on having my applications in on September 1st when admission opened but now I am contemplating seriously dedicating a proper amount of studytime ( atleast two hours a day and at least one pt a week) and take the October test which would bring my results by the first week of November. Is this too late to really have that extra edge in the admission process timeline? Do the pro's outweigh the cons? Any help, guidance, suggestions or common dillema stories would be beneficial and definately appreciate it.

I didn't read this but I have some advice: paragraphs are your friends.

You should retake if you are able to. Having your application in September 1st won't significantly help you. I actually received full rides to 2 schools that I applied to in December, so don't worry about it. And it might be a plus to have time to perfect your application instead of rushing to have it by day 1.

So retake, but you actually have to focus this time. Use your summer to study. You can write an addendum for your GPA. I worked 25+ hours a week and its tough to balance that with school, so I think you have a valid excuse to write one.

Study hard...now.
Good luck.

[mattviphky]

retake. Applying with a 159 in September will not help you as much as applying with a 165 in October.

[Hsaint1]

Thank you all for the advice...all very helpful..except for Yukko ha. I will be retaking and this was definately the kick in the rear I needed.

[tabula rasa]

Retake and aim higher than USD.

[Hsaint1]

The general consensus seems to be to retake and aim higher than usd..San Diego. I am retaking..I set out and accomplished my goal of two hours a day of study time today and will continue to do so as well as atleast one pt a week. However, I am not so sure about the aim higher comments. I absolutely love sd and hate la which unfortunately is where my other options lay since I need to stay quasi local for personal reasons but financial aid is a huge factor for me and my thought process was bigger fish in a smaller pond equals a better chance at $$$ thoughts anyone?

Thank you all

[JCFindley]

The general consensus seems to be to retake and aim higher than usd..San Diego. I am retaking..I set out and accomplished my goal of two hours a day of study time today and will continue to do so as well as atleast one pt a week. However, I am not so sure about the aim higher comments. I absolutely love sd and hate la which unfortunately is where my other options lay since I need to stay quasi local for personal reasons but financial aid is a huge factor for me and my thought process was bigger fish in a smaller pond equals a better chance at $$$ thoughts anyone?

Thank you all

Not great job prospects out of the school but if you can get your LSAT up, and you CAN, you can get a much discounted price and then you don't have the pressure to get the super job just to service the debt. The good news is you have the time to increase that score a LOT, submit an LSAT way above their average and get lots of $$$.

Here is something to think about and do NOT take this as a reason not to retake. If you do really really well and submit an app you could actually get waitlisted for yield protection. That is to say they don't think you would actually go there with that score so it keeps them from admitting a student they don't think would matriculate. No worries, just write an addendum or personal statement saying that you REALLY want to attend SD for XYZ reasons but only if the price is within your limited means etc etc. (Any more experienced folks please correct me if I am way out in left field here....)

[Hsaint1]

Thank you jcfindley I really appreciate you taking the time to read my ridiculously long explanation of my situation and giving me honest advice.