Does applying after taking December LSAT put one at a disadvantage? Forum

[goddard24]

Guys, I need some feedback here. I got a 159 on the June LSAT--did not sleep whatsoever the night before the test. Im sporting a 3.49 LSDAS GPA. Planning on retaking either in October or December. Wanted to know if applying after taking December would put me at a disadvantage.

Applying top Ten this yr.

I apologize if this question has recently been asked.

[KMart]

No. If you're ready for the upcoming LSAT then take it. Otherwise take the time and prepare yourself for December.

Applying after Feb would give you a disadvantage.

[debdeb2]

With those numbers, yes. A December application may not be reviewed until January, and with numbers under the median, you'd be lucky to hit waitlists. Make sure you have everything else in, so when the LSAT score hits, you can submit applications right away.

People with excellent GPA/LSAT numbers can apply Dec/Jan and expect to get in somewhere, but everyone else should plan to camp on waitlists and to write supplementary "please let me in" essays. If your retake score doesn't come through in the 170s, I'd say you'd be better off waiting a cycle than throwing $$ at T14s and having them waitlist and/or reject. Then they have on file that you applied before and weren't accepted. Use the data at LSN to ensure that your application plan with your new LSAT score is reasonable. Best of luck -

[goddard24]

^ Thanks for the reply. By "..make sure you have everything else in.." Do you mean that I should go ahead and submit my apps now and ask them to wait on a higher score in December?

[bombaysippin]

No point in applying with your stats until you get a decent LSAT. Waiting till December seems much better since you'd most likely be an auto reject (unless you have the most incredible softs ever heard of) with your current stats for a T10 school.

Schools might hold your app in limbo if they see you've signed up for a Dec test. I wouldn't count on it though.

[debdeb2]

^ Thanks for the reply. By "..make sure you have everything else in.." Do you mean that I should go ahead and submit my apps now and ask them to wait on a higher score in December?

You don't want to be waiting on anything. Ex: if you decide to take the Dec LSAT, don't tell your recommenders that. Tell them to submit their letters by some date like Oct. 15. It would be a bummer to get your Dec LSAT score but still be missing LORs.

[Clearly]

With those numbers, yes. A December application may not be reviewed until January, and with numbers under the median, you'd be lucky to hit waitlists. Make sure you have everything else in, so when the LSAT score hits, you can submit applications right away.

People with excellent GPA/LSAT numbers can apply Dec/Jan and expect to get in somewhere, but everyone else should plan to camp on waitlists and to write supplementary "please let me in" essays. If your retake score doesn't come through in the 170s, I'd say you'd be better off waiting a cycle than throwing $$ at T14s and having them waitlist and/or reject. Then they have on file that you applied before and weren't accepted. Use the data at LSN to ensure that your application plan with your new LSAT score is reasonable. Best of luck -

They have it on file that you were rejected, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you come back with higher numbers I actually consider it a benefit, it gives you a reason to reach out, and your interest can't really be called into question because they will assume you had another offer but opted to try again.

[benwyatt]

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