Should I apply this cycle or retake LSAT and apply next cycle Forum

[footballlax55]

I was wondering if y'all could weigh in and help me figure out if I should apply this cycle or retake the LSAT, taking it in February, and apply next cycle.

Ultimately my thinking is this:
Retaking would probably allow me to get into a better school and I would feel like I had achieved my potential. I’ve never dreamed of going to Cornell or something, but I have dreamed of Columbia, Harvard, NYU, UVA.
Unfortunately, it would mean I’d have to put my life on hold for another year, which is something I hadn’t planned for (I don’t like change/things not going according to plan). I’d have to put in more work studying for the LSAT (which was tedious and tiring) and aim for 3.8-4.0 gpa this and the next semester instead of like a 3.5 (a 3.8 is exponentially harder to achieve than a 3.5). I’d have to find a solid job or internship until I went to law school the next year.
And there is always the chance that putting off my life and dreams for a year might all be for naught. Next year’s admissions cycle might be more competitive so an increase in gpa from 3.5 to 3.55/3.60 and an LSAT increased from 169 to 171 might not be as impactful. And there’s also the small chance chance that I might not increase my GPA or LSAT.

For a more in depth explanation of my thinking, please read below if you have the time. This is going to be pretty lengthy so please bear with me.

Background:
169 LSAT
3.50 GPA (2.7gpa first semester and then 3.65 avg for the semesters after that)
Internship for US Senator this past summer, independent honors research 2 summers ago that ended in a 40 page paper, worked the 2 summers before that
Top 25ish university (according to USNWR)
A lot of vice president or officer roles in various student organizations and my fraternity.

So yeah, I sort of dug myself into a hole my first semester with a C- and some Bs and have been working on getting out of it since then. I believe my GPA is what is holding me back, so I was trying to do well on the LSAT to make up for it but fell a couple points short of my goal.

I did 30 PTs, and around 10 of them twice. I was averaging 170 over the last 8 or so PTs. I scored between 167 and 174 on them. Ignoring the 167 because it was taken in awful conditions, and based on my upward trend, I predicted I'd get around 171-173 on test day. And especially because I thought I got very lucky on test day and everything went well and I felt awake and alert, I really thought i'd score between 172 and 174 with a -12 curve.

If I retook the LSAT, I'd take it in February so I have time to study for it more (the December test is too close to finals and to now). This time around I'd try using blind review and I'd spend more time doing full length practice tests that were timed. With this additional studying, I believe I could definitely score 171 or higher on the retake and might get lucky and score like 173+ as I had a couple times in the past.

Anyway, I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of applying now or waiting a year.

Applying now:
Pros:
Everything would be going according to how I envisioned things unfolding.
I'd be able to relax in the spring and enjoy my last semester of college.
I'd hopefully still get into at least 1 T14 school.
I'd get to start law school right away instead of what I'd probably see as just a year of working while I wait to go to law school.
Cons:
Probably wouldn't get into as good of a school as I am capable of or want to go to.
Applications might be a tad rushed.
Wouldn’t be fully satisfied that I never achieved what I was capable of doing (going to a great school)

Applying next year:
Pros:
Likely would get higher LSAT.
Likely would bring my GPA up to 3.55-3.60.
Would have more time to apply and write quality essays etc.
Would probably have some work experience
All of that would mean I’d probably get into a better school.
And I might get more money to go to that school.

Cons:
Admissions cycle might be tougher.
I’d have an extra 200+ hours of LSAT studying to do.
Might not have good letters of recommendation due to being out of school for months.


Please let me know what you'd do if you were in my place, let me know if I'm forgetting any consequences of applying this year or waiting to retake the LSAT, and provide any help you can.

Thanks a ton!

[Cubank]

Just a few things to consider: You can apply to this cycle and see what offers you get, you can use the Feb LSAT this cycle, you shouldnt need 200+ hours of studying if you're preptesting at that level already, you can and should get your LOR's right now onto your LSAC account so that "con" is nonsenstical, and finally, its ludicrous for you to try to predict if you'll do better or worse on an admissions cycle based on other people's numbers and such speculation.

When to go to law school is a pretty personal decision, I would never do it without extensive (bout a year) work at a law firm and time around lawyers. That being said, if I were you I would see whats out there me this cycle., especially if you can keep the list of schools short and get fee waivers.

[Clemenceau]

I retook a 169 and cannot thank myself enough. Had roughly the same gpa too. I'm confident my successful retake made an enormous difference in my cycle.

The "stronger applicant pool" argument is a weak one. A 171 will always be better than a 169.

[footballlax55]

Just a few things to consider: You can apply to this cycle and see what offers you get, you can use the Feb LSAT this cycle, you shouldnt need 200+ hours of studying if you're preptesting at that level already, you can and should get your LOR's right now onto your LSAC account so that "con" is nonsenstical, and finally, its ludicrous for you to try to predict if you'll do better or worse on an admissions cycle based on other people's numbers and such speculation.

When to go to law school is a pretty personal decision, I would never do it without extensive (bout a year) work at a law firm and time around lawyers. That being said, if I were you I would see whats out there me this cycle., especially if you can keep the list of schools short and get fee waivers.

Thanks! I forgot I could get the letters of rec and then just have them on there.

And I was debating maybe applying and seeing what happens. However, even if I got accepted into UVA or Penn, I'm not too sure that I'd be happy with that. And if I did get accepted it would likely be without much money.

I just can't see myself being fully satisfied with anything outside HYSCCN. (realistically only Columbia and NYU at this point due to my gpa).

[Stardust84]

I don't see the harm in applying. If you apply to your top choices and don't get in apply next cycle. If you do get in and don't get the scholarship money you were hoping for, then apply next cycle.

[Mullens]

You should retake the LSAT and apply next cycle (or possibly even several cycles after that). With your current numbers, you're probably not going to get enough money from any T14 to make attending a good decision. I highly doubt you get into any of HYSCCN, even off the waitlist for sticker.

You're way too focused on the rankings, especially with a 3.5 (which is below the 25% for every T14 except Georgetown). You need to worry about cost and job prospects for your career, not prestige.

[CanadianWolf]

Agree with Mullens.

[footballlax55]

You should retake the LSAT and apply next cycle (or possibly even several cycles after that). With your current numbers, you're probably not going to get enough money from any T14 to make attending a good decision. I highly doubt you get into any of HYSCCN, even off the waitlist for sticker.

You're way too focused on the rankings, especially with a 3.5 (which is below the 25% for every T14 except Georgetown). You need to worry about cost and job prospects for your career, not prestige.

That's a good point.

Waiting would mean I'd either be less in debt or equally in debt but probably have better job prospects.

Meanwhile the main reason not to is basically just me feeling like "naw man, I had planned on going K-JD" or because I would find it weird to take that year off.

[Mullens]

The majority of students at T14 schools take time off. In the 1L class at Harvard right now, 80% took at least 1 year off and 63% took 2 or more years off. Taking time off is the norm and you be be competing against these people with work experience for jobs. I took two years off and they were great. It's great to be young, independent, and only have minimal responsibility before you enter law school and a much more serious profession.