Addendum regarding my LSAT cancellation & score? Forum

[kimchifriedrice]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

[malleus discentium]

1) Retake,
2) don't write an addendum because nobody cares,
3) "top 5" schools is not a thing.

[AOT]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

Local inns are the worst. All that drinking and shouting and being woken up by ring wraiths

[BillsFan9907]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

Local inns are the worst. All that drinking and shouting and being woken up by ring wraiths

[BillsFan9907]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

Don't see any grounds at this point for writing an addendum. Come back when you have your December score.

[kimchifriedrice]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

Don't see any grounds at this point for writing an addendum. Come back when you have your December score.

I should have made it clear. I wasn't planning on retaking the test as 1) I don't know if I could realistically raise my score by more than 2 points (this would also be my 3rd time taking the test..which I thought would reflect badly on me) 2) I wanted to submit my applications as soon as possible and NOT put them on hold and 3) I thought with a 4.01 LSDAS GPA at a top public university, I might be able to make up for the poor LSAT score. I've performed poorly on the SATs as well yet excelled in college - could I maybe write about this? I got this idea from NYU's addendum guidelines: http://prelaw.cas.nyu.edu/docs/CP/2746/ ... elines.pdf - the third bullet under "Some Reasons to Write an Addendum"

Thank you!

[BillsFan9907]

You don't have any substantial grounds to write an addendum. I can promise you that not a single school will care that loud noise impacted your score. No school will give you a few handicap points for it. Frankly, I can't even think of an example in which somehow who had cancer got handicap points. I really do not see the use of an addendum unless it is to explain a DRAMATIC score increase and the lower score was the result of something legit. If you DID retake and got a 174, then an addendum would make sense.


Which schools are you shooting for?

[kimchifriedrice]

You don't have any substantial grounds to write an addendum. Which schools are you shooting for?

Harvard and Columbia are my top choices. Stanford, Chicago and NYU are my next three.
Thanks!

[BillsFan9907]

You don't have any substantial grounds to write an addendum. Which schools are you shooting for?

Harvard and Columbia are my top choices. Stanford, Chicago and NYU are my next three.

Admissions data since 2003-2004 cycle
http://mylsn.info/y935pi/

Admissions data from last 5 cycles
http://mylsn.info/7oue97/

You have a strong shot at Chicago and will get into NYU. You will, however, be paying full price. You could also get into Columbia with Early Decision, though you would be forgoing other opportunities. If you are deadset on not retaking, I'd ED at Columbia.

In terms of writing an addendum: I can promise you that not a single school will care that loud noise impacted your score. No school will give you a few handicap points for it. Frankly, I can't even think of an example in which somehow who had cancer got handicap points. I really do not see the use of an addendum unless it is to explain a DRAMATIC score increase and the lower score was the result of something legit. If you DID retake and got a 174, then an addendum would make sense.

[Mullens]

You have a below median LSAT score and high GPAs are more common than high LSAT scores. You should retake if you want a realistic shot at HYS or any $$ from CCN.

Retaking gives you better odds than a bullshit excuse and early applications. Applying right after your get your December LSAT score won't substantially hurt you. This is a decision that potentially has $100,000+ in implications, think about it carefully.

[jw316]

Hello!

I am currently working on my applications for law schools. I have two LSAT records: a cancellation from the February 2014 LSAT and a 169 from the September 2014 LSAT. I cancelled my February score because I had made a terrible mistake of spending a night at a local inn, where I could not sleep because of unfavorable noise and room temperature problems, which translated into a bad test day. My September score was lower than my usual 172 average largely because of noise disruptions. Hence, LSAC offered to include a letter explaining the September testing circumstances in my CAS report.

I was convinced that I should write an addendum but I worry that I could sound whiny. Should I go ahead and write this addendum or not? I am aiming for top 5 law schools.

Thank you for your help!

Local inns are the worst. All that drinking and shouting and being woken up by ring wraiths

Frickin Nazgûl

[kimchifriedrice]

You don't have any substantial grounds to write an addendum. Which schools are you shooting for?

Harvard and Columbia are my top choices. Stanford, Chicago and NYU are my next three.

Admissions data since 2003-2004 cycle
http://mylsn.info/y935pi/

Admissions data from last 5 cycles
http://mylsn.info/7oue97/

You have a strong shot at Chicago and will get into NYU. You will, however, be paying full price. You could also get into Columbia with Early Decision, though you would be forgoing other opportunities. If you are deadset on not retaking, I'd ED at Columbia.

In terms of writing an addendum: I can promise you that not a single school will care that loud noise impacted your score. No school will give you a few handicap points for it. Frankly, I can't even think of an example in which somehow who had cancer got handicap points. I really do not see the use of an addendum unless it is to explain a DRAMATIC score increase and the lower score was the result of something legit. If you DID retake and got a 174, then an addendum would make sense.

Is my chance of getting into Columbia significantly lower if I don't apply ED?

[03152016]

don't ED columbia
the boost, if there is any, is negligible
keep your options open, use admits and $$ from other schools to negotiate
ED makes a good outcome much less likely

also, everything about this is correct:

1) Retake,
2) don't write an addendum because nobody cares,
3) "top 5" schools is not a thing.

eta: remember, while sticker isn't guaranteed with ed, it's much more likely than if you had applied rd
don't pay sticker

[BillsFan9907]

Is my chance of getting into Columbia significantly lower if I don't apply ED?

Here is the limited data on your stats for those who EDed.

http://mylsn.info/husqdv/

Here is the data (again) for Regular admissions:

http://mylsn.info/1ee75f/

If you are deadset on going to Columbia or Harvard such that attending a lower ranked school (such as Cornell) with some serious scholarship money (I was offered a 2/3 scholarship with no negotiation and had your stats) is not appealing, then EDing is your best bet.

[03152016]

there are literally four data points in that first link
don't base a conclusion on that data op
use this instead
http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... op-14.html
also, if you're going to ED op, you'd better be rich or have someone else paying your way
paying sticker/near-sticker over $$$ at a slightly less preftigious t14 is idiotic otherwise

[BillsFan9907]

there are literally four data points in that first link
don't base a conclusion on that data op
use this instead
http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... op-14.html
also, if you're going to ED op, you'd better be rich or have someone else paying your way
paying sticker/near-sticker over $$$ at a slightly less preftigious t14 is idiotic otherwise

This is a point that must be raised. Kimchi, what do you see as the advantages of going to Columbia over Cornell? In other words, what are your goals?

[Tiago Splitter]

I should have made it clear. I wasn't planning on retaking the test as 1) I don't know if I could realistically raise my score by more than 2 points (this would also be my 3rd time taking the test..which I thought would reflect badly on me) 2) I wanted to submit my applications as soon as possible and NOT put them on hold and 3) I thought with a 4.01 LSDAS GPA at a top public university, I might be able to make up for the poor LSAT score. I've performed poorly on the SATs as well yet excelled in college - could I maybe write about this? I got this idea from NYU's addendum guidelines: http://prelaw.cas.nyu.edu/docs/CP/2746/ ... elines.pdf - the third bullet under "Some Reasons to Write an Addendum"

Thank you!

1) How would scoring on the LSAT hurt you? Think about that for a second; you're saying that something like 169-170 is worse than just a 169.

2) Even a single LSAT point is worth a later application.

3) You didn't perform poorly on the LSAT, so the "hey my 96th percentile SAT's didn't predict my college GPA and neither will my 96th percentile LSAT score" addendum isn't going to do anything.

4) Don't ED. Get your apps in order, give the LSAT one more shot, and see what happens. Even with your current numbers you can probably pull off something close to a full ride in the T14.