Top Law Schools

I already sort of made up my mind about this, but I wanted to run this by TLSers to confirm that I'm not secretly dumb.

I had a 167 on my first LSAT, and decided to retake, and just got my score back and got a 163. I'll be sending in apps this year. Before you automatically stop reading and reply with a "RETAKE," I've already decided to not retake and hope that my first score would be high enough for the schools that take the highest score.

I don't have to write an addendum explaining why my recent score is lower than my first one, do I? I've heard that within-5-points' difference is more or less negligible when it comes to the LSAT.

According to interviews with admissions officers from top schools, none of them care about LSAT addenda. Their rationale is that if there was a legitimate reason that caused you to score poorly, then you should retake. An addendum, at best, will be seen as an annoyance. At worst, it will make you look like a whiner that can't accept responsibility.

edit: spelling

definitelyreal wrote:I don't have to write an addendum explaining why my recent score is lower than my first one, do I? I've heard that within-5-points' difference is more or less negligible when it comes to the LSAT.

It's less because of the less-than-5-point difference and more because there's not much for you to say. If there was a reason your score would have been lower, you should have canceled.