Reappyling w/o a retake: any success stories? Forum

[drawstring]

Does anyone know of cases in which people reapplied and had significantly better outcomes despite little/no change in their numbers? Preferably cases where the people didn't apply late the first time around. There is a relevantly titled thread below, but it's pretty much all instances of people retaking the LSAT.

I'm considering reapplying, but given that I applied in Oct/Nov (i.e. early), won't have improved numbers (GPA will drop slightly), and will only be 4 months out of undergrad (which some people seem to interpret as still being a K-JD), I'm worried that my results won't change much and it will be a waste of time and money.

[riverwater]

I don't know what your story is, so this may not be something you're interested in, but have you thought about taking more than one year off? Your application could improve in three different ways: you'd have work experience, something else to write your personal statement about (if you thought yours was weak), and maybe even an extra letter of recommendation from your employer.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

Well medians have been falling for years. The same score should lead to more options next year.

[drawstring]

I don't know what your story is, so this may not be something you're interested in, but have you thought about taking more than one year off? Your application could improve in three different ways: you'd have work experience, something else to write your personal statement about (if you thought yours was weak), and maybe even an extra letter of recommendation from your employer.

I'd really prefer not to take more than another year off. I'm already on the older side for a KJD because I took a year off before university and delayed graduation due to work demands. Not sure if I could get a good LOR from an employer, though I may be able to get one from a professor whose seminar I'm taking right now.

Well medians have been falling for years. The same score should lead to more options next year.

I'm not sure if they will fall any further, at least at the top schools. I'm also aiming for HYS, and they've stayed the same or gone up there. I'm at/above all medians, so I think something other than my numbers has been hurting my cycle.

I'm just worried that I'll end up in the same spot, and in that case reapplying isn't worth it.

[Kimikho]

I don't know about reapplying without a retake, but plenty of people reapply after retaking and getting the same score or worse.

[pcthenls]

I am one of these success stories to an extent, however, I didn't apply the very next cycle, but three cycles later and did Peace Corps, gained Spanish fluency, and worked at a pretty well known legal non-profit prior to reapplying. I also applied during the 2010-2011 cycle and again this cycle which automatically put things in my favor as far as numbers of applicants go.

If you want specifics, PM me. But, basically I applied with the same numbers, 166 and 3.8 and received money at the T-14, waitlists in the T-6 and several full rides. I will be attending a T-20 on a full ride plus stipend named scholarship.

I sometimes wish I had retaken, but considering it's been five years since I studied for the LSAT, and have no interest in studying while working full time, I am very happy with my outcomes.

If you plan to reapply without a retake, go out there and get some work experience. It seems to be more and more important to admissions and hopefully will make you more employable post-law school.

Best of luck!