attend lower ranked school or wait until next cycle? Forum

[kak2014]

I am unsure of what to do regarding my current law school situation. I have around a 3.55 GPA at a highly academically rigorous school, but only a mediocre LSAT (160). I'm not sure if it was because of personal circumstances that I was dealing with around the time of the test or if I am just bad at the LSAT.

I have been waitlisted at WUSTL, Georgetown, and George Mason, and have only been accepted to my two safeties, University of Houston and University of Richmond. Houston is offering me in state tuition and $10k a year, nothing from Richmond so far.

Is it worth going to one of these two schools if I am still going to need to take on debt to attend? Or, should I bust my ass and retake the LSAT and try for a better school/better scholarships? The idea of sitting out this cycle is really unappealing because I am not sure what I would be doing with my time otherwise. Additionally, studying for the LSAT was extraordinarily difficult and not an experience I want to repeat. On the other hand, if even a small bump would improve my chances, I'd seriously consider it.

Anyone with any similar experiences or advice? Thanks!

[aesth24]

The credited response here would be to sit out this cycle and retake. You have nothing to lose, especially if you take your extra year to really hammer down the LSAT and work/travel.

[Nova]

Start studying now. Retake in June

Follow Noodleys Guide in the LSAT forum.

[Pneumonia]

if your school was indeed highly rigorous then you are capable of much better than a 160. I have a similar GPA and have been very happy with my acceptances this cycle; a retake is definitely worth it.

[jk148706]

Start studying now. Retake in June

[kak2014]

My only concern in retaking is that I am not sure how much better I can do on the test by re-taking it. I studied my ass off and still got a mediocre score, and I can't afford a tutor or a program. Would it be out of the question to attend U of R or U of H and try to transfer to a better school? Or will the LSAT score still keep me back?

[Nova]

My only concern in retaking is that I am not sure how much better I can do on the test by re-taking it. I studied my ass off and still got a mediocre score, and I can't afford a tutor or a program. Would it be out of the question to attend U of R or U of H and try to transfer to a better school? Or will the LSAT score still keep me back?

your lsat is not a factor when transferring ony class rank is. but to do good enough to transfer to a school worth attending at sticker, like UT or better, would likely require a rank of 10% or better.

Now, your LSAT score is like top 20%, and that's compared to the general population, which is generally pretty dumb and ambitionless. Odds of you being able to score a 167+ and getting into UT (top 6% LSAT score) are MUCH MUCH greater than your odds of beating out 90% of UHLC/UR's class, where the average student's admissions stats mirror yours. Further, you only have 1 shot at 1L finals. You have 2 more shots at the LSAT. SO the transferring strategy is actually very unlikely, and shouldn't relaly be a consideration. you should assume you will finish around median wherever you go, and you should be happy with the job prospects that will entail.

you don't need a tutor. You need to do noodley's guide. or the LSAT trainer. That's like, a few hundred bucks, and will pay off times a million if do well in june.

I guarantee if you don't retake, you will look back and regret it. I scored a 168 in dec of my cycle, thought about retaking in June, didn't, and regret it all the time.

[BankruptMe]

Coming from someone who knows UR quite well...

DO NOT go if you are not from VA or South. It is highly regional and only places in Richmond and Tidewater primarily.

Do not be one of the poor saps who go think going to UR will help them break into DC. It is two hours away, but there are numerous schools in VA. The only thing good about UR is if you actually WANT to stay in Richmond.

[art&law24]

Oh damn, sorry OP I just PMed you my response, but I'll reiterate it on here just in case if anyone has thoughts on this too. From your posts it seems like you know the answer to your doubts. I would retake if you are confident that you will improve to your ideal school. In reality, would you really want to transfer? Would you be willing to study for the LSAT a second time while taking 1L courses?

[JazzieShizzle]

Would you be willing to study for the LSAT a second time while taking 1L courses?

Why would anyone study for the LSAT during 1L?

[art&law24]

Would you be willing to study for the LSAT a second time while taking 1L courses?

Why would anyone study for the LSAT during 1L?

misread the OPs post. You're right, no one would be taking the LSAT during 1L.

OP, if you already have an intuitive feeling that you will be questioning "what if" during your time as a 1L, then retake. Law school will be challenging enough as it is, there's no need to be adding the stressors of constantly questioning your decision to attend a school you're not satisfied in.

[JazzieShizzle]

OP, if you already have an intuitive feeling that you will be questioning "what if" during your time as a 1L, then retake. Law school will be challenging enough as it is, there's no need to be adding the stressors of constantly questioning your decision to attend a school you're not satisfied in.

I'd like to second this. Also what Nova said.

It never made sense to me to go to one school with the intention of transferring to another. If you want to go to another school, do what it takes now to get there.

What would be worse: sitting out a cycle to improve your chances at your dream school, or being stuck at a school you aren't happy with if you can't transfer out?

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

I am unsure of what to do regarding my current law school situation. I have around a 3.55 GPA at a highly academically rigorous school, but only a mediocre LSAT (160). I'm not sure if it was because of personal circumstances that I was dealing with around the time of the test or if I am just bad at the LSAT.

I have been waitlisted at WUSTL, Georgetown, and George Mason, and have only been accepted to my two safeties, University of Houston and University of Richmond. Houston is offering me in state tuition and $10k a year, nothing from Richmond so far.

Is it worth going to one of these two schools if I am still going to need to take on debt to attend? Or, should I bust my ass and retake the LSAT and try for a better school/better scholarships? The idea of sitting out this cycle is really unappealing because I am not sure what I would be doing with my time otherwise. Additionally, studying for the LSAT was extraordinarily difficult and not an experience I want to repeat. On the other hand, if even a small bump would improve my chances, I'd seriously consider it.

Anyone with any similar experiences or advice? Thanks!

Also if you get off the wait list at George Mason do not talk yourself into attending. DC schools are brutal. I know people from GW who ended up with no job and only offers to continue to work for free after law school. They were smart, normal people. Mason is a hell hole. Richmond is only good if you want to work in Richmond or the suburbs, basically.

Retake your LSAT.