Top Law Schools

Hi,

This is my first time posting, so I apologize if a similar question has already been asked. Anyway, I am going to graduate this year and assuming my GPA stays what it has been it will be a 3.8, possibly a little higher. I go to an IVY league undergrad, Brown/Cornell and I am a history major. My June LSAT score was a 168. Now, I know that a lot of you are going to recommend that I retake it and try to get over a 170, but I am just wondering what you think my chances will be at a top 14 RD if I do not retake it. (For personal reasons it may be difficult for me to take the October or December LSAT). Additionally, I am wondering what you think the best school is that I can get into applying ED.

Thanks for the help.

yellowstick wrote:retake it and try to get over a 170

It's always amazing to me that people know what the right answer is but ask a silly question regardless.

Take time off and get a job. Retake the LSAT when you are ready.

Danger Zone wrote:

yellowstick wrote:retake it and try to get over a 170

It's always amazing to me that people know what the right answer is but ask a silly question regardless.

I took a prep course and never scored over a 168 on PT, so I am actually pretty happy with my score based on that. So, thanks for the help Danger Zone, but I am looking for a different kind of answer.

Given your stats, Cornell, Georgetown, and Michigan look promising based on the numbers on mylsn.info (I did a 168 with a 3.75-3.85 GPA range)

The data suggests a strong chance at Northwestern, but I wonder if those are people with work experience who self-selected to apply to NW.

<50% Chance at Duke.

Tinker around and look at the profiles of the people who were denied and accepted to see if there's some intervening variable like work experience or something.

Hope this helps.

Thanks I appreciate it.

Lock for Cornell ED.

yellowstick wrote:

Danger Zone wrote:

yellowstick wrote:retake it and try to get over a 170

It's always amazing to me that people know what the right answer is but ask a silly question regardless.

I took a prep course and never scored over a 168 on PT, so I am actually pretty happy with my score based on that. So, thanks for the help Danger Zone, but I am looking for a different kind of answer.

Besides the prep course, how much prepping have you done? I'll be convinced that you maxed out your potential at 168 only if you can tell me you've done every single PT twice over.

I think most prep course make you do something in the order of 4 PTs? Yeah, you need a lot more practice than that to reach your potential. Keep studying, take it in October. It can only help you.

Retake or don't go.

Every point from 167 to 172 matters so much. Like you wouldn't believe how much adcoms care about 1 point. Your best option is to retake at all costs, but if you don't take our advice, you will be an excellent candidate for Michigan, Cornell, and Georgetown. At Duke and Northwestern, you'll probably be about 50/50 Accept/Waitlist and depending on your softs, Cal-B might take you.

I personally really hope you don't take this advice because without retaking, you'll be one less person who I'll have to compete against for T14s.

jingosaur wrote:Every point from 167 to 172 matters so much. Like you wouldn't believe how much adcoms care about 1 point. Your best option is to retake at all costs, but if you don't take our advice, you will be an excellent candidate for Michigan, Cornell, and Georgetown. At Duke and Northwestern, you'll probably be about 50/50 Accept/Waitlist and depending on your softs, Cal-B might take you.

I personally really hope you don't take this advice because without retaking, you'll be one less person who I'll have to compete against for T14s.

Well said.

I think there's something of a consensus that most of the prep courses teach to a goal in the 160s. If you are aiming higher, it's going to take self-study.

Well thanks for the advice. I guess that those two extra points are crucial. I'll see what I will be able to do.

yellowstick wrote:Well thanks for the advice. I guess that those two extra points are crucial. I'll see what I will be able to do.

Right. You might be able to get IN to the T14, but what you really want is MONEY. Dat debt is soul crushing, so every little bit helps.

So what would a 170 do to my chances?

I had similarish numbers, got MVP ED with 60k.... but yes in hindsight a retake would've been GOLD... I'm starting to realize that debt makes law school in and of itself a much more stressful ordeal

You should just look at mylsn.info to see how increasing your LSAT to a 170 will increase your chances at t14 schools. Basically it looks like at a 168 you have a decent chance at Berkeley on down. With a 170 you have a chance at Harvard, Columbia, and Chicago (app. 20-40% and perhaps better if you consider waitlist movement). You are pretty much a lock (as much as anyone can be) for any school below that with a great chance at substantial $$$.

gaucholaw wrote:I had similarish numbers, got MVP ED with 60k.... but yes in hindsight a retake would've been GOLD... I'm starting to realize that debt makes law school in and of itself a much more stressful ordeal

That's the one thing everyone at my school can agree on... debt sucks.

Hypothetical question. If money was not an issue what do you guys think I would need on my lsat to get ED at Columbia NYU or Penn? Could I swing it with the 168 or would I need to improve it? I can't find any good stats on ED so I'm just wondering from a purely numbers standpoint. Thanks.

yellowstick wrote:Hypothetical question. If money was not an issue what do you guys think I would need on my lsat to get ED at Columbia NYU or Penn? Could I swing it with the 168 or would I need to improve it? I can't find any good stats on ED so I'm just wondering from a purely numbers standpoint. Thanks.

For those schools I think you'd still need a 170.

Are you really rich?

Hypothetically

Retake. And stop being lazy.

scotth724 wrote:Lock for Cornell ED doesn't exist.

ftfy