164 LSAT, 3.8 GPA Forum

[ladybug7439]

I got a 164 on the June LSAT...
3.8 GPA from NYU
Graduated in 2012
I've been studying for the LSAT essentially for the last 9 months

Where will I get in?
Should I retake the LSAT?

Any advice/insight would be much appreciated!

[sinfiery]

What were you PTing at? How did you study? You should 99% retake in October and possibly December but after answering these questions, it will likely be 100%.

You have a good chance at UT/Vandy on down as of now and depending on softs, a chance at MDNCG.





But retake the LSAT. There is literally nothing but $160 and 4 hours to be lost while the upside of 3-6 points could be worth upto $185,000 in 3 years and over $1,000,000 over your career. And this isn't the lotto. Likely at a greater than 50% chance you obtain benefits near these numbers if you successfully retake.

[you'rethemannowdawg]

No downside to retaking, OP. Don't waste that great GPA. If you don't retake, you are forgoing the chance to be given tens of thousands of dollars to go to one of the country's best law schools.

[laotze]

I got a 164 on the June LSAT...
3.8 GPA from NYU
Graduated in 2012
I've been studying for the LSAT essentially for the last 9 months

Where will I get in?
Should I retake the LSAT?

Any advice/insight would be much appreciated!

Obviously retake, you have plenty of time before 2014 apps. But if a 164 is the result of 9 months of (hard) study you might not get much higher (though every point helps). Any super interesting life experience or decent W.E. since you graduated? URM/Non? Connections that can be exploited?

[PRgradBYU]

I got a 164 on the June LSAT...
3.8 GPA from NYU
Graduated in 2012
I've been studying for the LSAT essentially for the last 9 months

Where will I get in?
Should I retake the LSAT?

Any advice/insight would be much appreciated!

What were you PTing at? What was your peak?

[ladybug7439]

I did study pretty hard for the LSAT this first time around-- I think I went through almost all released PTs on which I was most often scoring around 167/168, my peak being 175. My work experience is nothing special: mostly admin positions; interning at a RE firm, a small consulting firm, etc. I double-majored in Econ and Comp Lit and graduated in 3 years.

[Ti Malice]

What was your study method? You said you went through almost all the PTs, but how exactly did you study?

[ladybug7439]

Well, I started out with a blueprint course. When I didn't feel so ready after that, I continued studying on my own by taking timed practice tests and reviewing my errors.

[sinfiery]

If you score a 167 on test day in either October or December, you have a very good chance at serious money at Cornell and some of th lower t14 open up.



What is your average wrong per section on a PT?


I should note that you are at a point where getting into test shape will take considerably less time than before and it would be downright foolish to put in that much work and settle for taking the test only once.

[Micdiddy]

I know it looks like a 164 and a 167 are that huge, and when scoring most things 3 points will rarely have much of a difference. But in this case, those three points are worlds apart. If you're average was that much above what you got, retake.

[ladybug7439]

My weakest section has always been games. I know that games are supposed to be the easiest to master. I tried, and I failed. Something just hasn't clicked so far. Sometimes the games are a piece of cake, sometimes they aren't. And it really seems random--I'm don't consistently get certain game types wrong. On PTs I would often get 7 or 8 questions wrong in this part alone.

I started out strong in RC (1 or 2 wrong), but somehow my scores started to decline in the last few weeks of study to the point that I was sometimes missing up to 4 - 6 questions. I've been pretty stable in LR-- 3 to 4 wrong per section.

Did anyone have lightbulb moments when certain question types/sections became very clear? It's obvious that my study method and/or my understanding of questions is deficient in some way...

[sinfiery]

Have you bought a LG bible? My only lightbulb moment came from missing 15 on games to missing 0-3 after reading the powerscore LG bible. It was shocking.

You have to take reading it very serious and then when you get to a point where you customize their setup to fit your style then drill games so much it becomes second nature.



I woulda killed for the ability to go -2 on RC btw

[PRgradBYU]

My weakest section has always been games. I know that games are supposed to be the easiest to master. I tried, and I failed. Something just hasn't clicked so far. Sometimes the games are a piece of cake, sometimes they aren't. And it really seems random--I'm don't consistently get certain game types wrong. On PTs I would often get 7 or 8 questions wrong in this part alone.

I started out strong in RC (1 or 2 wrong), but somehow my scores started to decline in the last few weeks of study to the point that I was sometimes missing up to 4 - 6 questions. I've been pretty stable in LR-- 3 to 4 wrong per section.

Did anyone have lightbulb moments when certain question types/sections became very clear? It's obvious that my study method and/or my understanding of questions is deficient in some way...

You're in a very fortunate position. The logic games are the easiest section upon which to improve, and the key to improving is repetition. Do as many LGs as you can until October (try to do all of them at least once, preferably twice), make a good faith effort to understand why you're missing certain questions, and enjoy a much higher LSAT score in October.

[ladybug7439]

Many thanks to all of you for your time and help! I will definitely retake the test in October as has been recommended. Now back to those logic games...

[buddyt]

Many thanks to all of you for your time and help! I will definitely retake the test in October as has been recommended. Now back to those logic games...

Chalk up another one for the good guys.