Drop in LSAT Score (Retaker) Forum

[MC819]

Got answers - thanks!

[AReasonableMan]

Don't worry so much. It's not a big deal. Your 169 still counts and the 166 won't hurt at most schools. You're in at the bottom t-10 at money at the very least. I think you should retake because a 171 would get you CCN, and could be worth 60-80k at MVP. That's like a year of big law post loan repayments and taxes.

[MC819]

Don't worry so much. It's not a big deal. Your 169 still counts and the 166 won't hurt at most schools. You're in at the bottom t-10 at money at the very least. I think you should retake because a 171 would get you CCN, and could be worth 60-80k at MVP. That's like a year of big law post loan repayments and taxes.

Thanks for easing my mind a bit!

Would love to hear other opinions / experiences

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Won't be a thing at all. Mike Spivey and KB repeatedly say schools, with the exception of Y, only really care about your highest score.

I wouldn't retake in Dec. because if you score even lower that could then raise some eyebrows, but maybe not.

I WOULD retake after you've been admitted to all of the schools. I did so a few years ago (retook after getting admitted) and was subsequently offered a large scholarship.

[smiles123]

I would work on getting your apps in now. If you can get them in before the December registration deadline then register after they're submited and retake in December. From my understanding if you register for the test after your apps are in the schools will only see the score if you choose to send it. This takes away the risk in case you score lower.

[MC819]

Won't be a thing at all. Mike Spivey and KB repeatedly say schools, with the exception of Y, only really care about your highest score.

I wouldn't retake in Dec. because if you score even lower that could then raise some eyebrows, but maybe not.

I WOULD retake after you've been admitted to all of the schools. I did so a few years ago (retook after getting admitted) and was subsequently offered a large scholarship.

Really? Did you retake in June? What's their incentive to offer more $$ once they've already enrolled 99% of the class?

[haus]

Won't be a thing at all. Mike Spivey and KB repeatedly say schools, with the exception of Y, only really care about your highest score.

I wouldn't retake in Dec. because if you score even lower that could then raise some eyebrows, but maybe not.

I WOULD retake after you've been admitted to all of the schools. I did so a few years ago (retook after getting admitted) and was subsequently offered a large scholarship.

Really? Did you retake in June? What's their incentive to offer more $$ once they've already enrolled 99% of the class?

If you go over to the Spivy thread, you can see this was discussed leading up this this year's June exam.

The basic logic seems to be that if you manage a better score, you are both more valuable to the school, as they can report the higher number (if you stick around), and you also become a bit of a flight risk, as other schools would be more interested in your improved numbers. Should you leave for another school, the school you were going to not only lost a score that would have helped their numbers, but it hurt their percentages for the number or students admitted vice enrolled.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Won't be a thing at all. Mike Spivey and KB repeatedly say schools, with the exception of Y, only really care about your highest score.

I wouldn't retake in Dec. because if you score even lower that could then raise some eyebrows, but maybe not.

I WOULD retake after you've been admitted to all of the schools. I did so a few years ago (retook after getting admitted) and was subsequently offered a large scholarship.

Really? Did you retake in June? What's their incentive to offer more $$ once they've already enrolled 99% of the class?

No I did this a few years ago but decided not to go.

Incentive is to have someone w/ a high LSAT score matriculate.

[AReasonableMan]

Don't worry so much. It's not a big deal. Your 169 still counts and the 166 won't hurt at most schools. You're in at the bottom t-10 at money at the very least. I think you should retake because a 171 would get you CCN, and could be worth 60-80k at MVP. That's like a year of big law post loan repayments and taxes.

Thanks for easing my mind a bit!

Would love to hear other opinions / experiences

This didn't happen to me. But logically, most schools recognize that the difference between one or two questions is no measure of legitimate IQ distinctions between candidates, and has almost no predictive value of law school grades. Therefore, why are the LSN charts so green at one number, but so red one point lower? It could be OCD, but seems likelier to be about medians. Consequently, if the only median factored in is the highest LSAT score then only the highest score is relevant.

[MC819]

AReasonable / FloridaCoastal - thanks for the insight! makes sense

[blueberrybagel]

thanks for posting! this was so helpful. the exact same situation (literally identical LSAT scores and dates) happened to me, so i completely understand. good luck!

[MC819]

thanks for posting! this was so helpful. the exact same situation (literally identical LSAT scores and dates) happened to me, so i completely understand. good luck!

sorry you're in this un-fun situation too -- good luck!