sit out this cycle and wait for 4th take? Forum

[tyang]

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

[bob311]

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

Honestly if you have a good job I would just consider not going to law school. It will be really hard to make it worthwhile with your numbers, even with a great 4th retake. Just my thoughts.

[Clemenceau]

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

Honestly if you have a good job I would just consider not going to law school. It will be really hard to make it worthwhile with your numbers, even with a great 4th retake. Just my thoughts.

+1. Do not go to law school with those numbers

[bpolley0]

.

[bob311]

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

Honestly if you have a good job I would just consider not going to law school. It will be really hard to make it worthwhile with your numbers, even with a great 4th retake. Just my thoughts.

+1. Do not go to law school with those numbers

What if he pulled a 170+ on the 4th retake?

I mean still hard because of your GPA. That GPA really hurts and will really prevent scholarship money at a school worth going to. But if you can get 170+, you would at least have a shot at a top 25 school. Not to discourage you, I went from mid 140s to mid 170s. So its possible, but figure out if its practical. I spent a full year studying probably minimum 30 hours a week on a slow week and 60-70 hours a week when really prepping. If you can do something like that, then go for it. But if you have a decent job, law school is not worthwhile. Also, if you have no good reason for a 2.88 gpa as a undergrad, law school is gonna be a kick in the balls. With a forced curve its way more competitive and draining with only 1 exam per class. I would strongly reconsider law school in your shoes.

[tyang]

thanks guys...i realize my numbers work against me, but does my GPA necessarily preclude me from getting $$$ at schools thirsty for high LSAT scores, like Illinois? i see 164-165's can get full rides or close to it. and i'm just a legal asst with an in-house nonprofit legal dept, nothing worth staying at. i've already reached my ceiling actually, and i want to get out, either for school or another job

re: my GPA, i was a poli sci pre-law major, and i had classes where briefing cases was required, exams were issue spotting-based, wrote briefs, etc. my degree GPA was above 3, but my horrible transfer GPA as a frosh brings it down. it's not like i was a straight C student, i had some relatively difficult upper level courses, and i was often the guy who aced the first exam while everyone else was still getting up to speed...i guess some courses i just cared about and did better in, versus others. but again, not a legitimate excuse in comparison to others...

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

Honestly if you have a good job I would just consider not going to law school. It will be really hard to make it worthwhile with your numbers, even with a great 4th retake. Just my thoughts.

+1. Do not go to law school with those numbers

What if he pulled a 170+ on the 4th retake?

I mean still hard because of your GPA. That GPA really hurts and will really prevent scholarship money at a school worth going to. But if you can get 170+, you would at least have a shot at a top 25 school. Not to discourage you, I went from mid 140s to mid 170s. So its possible, but figure out if its practical. I spent a full year studying probably minimum 30 hours a week on a slow week and 60-70 hours a week when really prepping. If you can do something like that, then go for it. But if you have a decent job, law school is not worthwhile. Also, if you have no good reason for a 2.88 gpa as a undergrad, law school is gonna be a kick in the balls. With a forced curve its way more competitive and draining with only 1 exam per class. I would strongly reconsider law school in your shoes.

[bob311]

thanks guys...i realize my numbers work against me, but does my GPA necessarily preclude me from getting $$$ at schools thirsty for high LSAT scores, like Illinois? i see 164-165's can get full rides or close to it. and i'm just a legal asst with an in-house nonprofit legal dept, nothing worth staying at. i've already reached my ceiling actually, and i want to get out, either for school or another job

re: my GPA, i was a poli sci pre-law major, and i had classes where briefing cases was required, exams were issue spotting-based, wrote briefs, etc. my degree GPA was above 3, but my horrible transfer GPA as a frosh brings it down. it's not like i was a straight C student, i had some relatively difficult upper level courses, and i was often the guy who aced the first exam while everyone else was still getting up to speed...i guess some courses i just cared about and did better in, versus others. but again, not a legitimate excuse in comparison to others...

2.88 gpa from regular state university (no good explanation...)

Sep '14: 155
Dec '14: 159
Dec '15: cancelled after section 3 - timing was off and i figured score would not be higher

in the month or so before the test, I began PT'ing in the mid-160's, -4 to -6 on LR, and typically no more than -5 each RC and games. i studied the content well, but i did not practice the timing enough. got stumped in sec. 2 LR, guessed/ran out of time, and it snowballed into sec. 3 games

at this point, Illinois (preferred) is out of the picture, I am a longshot at Wisconsin, and my other options don't make sense. my next retake opportunity is September 2016.

i don't believe my ceiling has been met yet, so i'm leaning towards waiting to retake, but i've been planning my life/told my employer/etc. as if i was leaving for law school next year. TCR is forget what others will think, and wait to retake if i really want to go to LS right?

Honestly if you have a good job I would just consider not going to law school. It will be really hard to make it worthwhile with your numbers, even with a great 4th retake. Just my thoughts.

+1. Do not go to law school with those numbers

What if he pulled a 170+ on the 4th retake?

I mean still hard because of your GPA. That GPA really hurts and will really prevent scholarship money at a school worth going to. But if you can get 170+, you would at least have a shot at a top 25 school. Not to discourage you, I went from mid 140s to mid 170s. So its possible, but figure out if its practical. I spent a full year studying probably minimum 30 hours a week on a slow week and 60-70 hours a week when really prepping. If you can do something like that, then go for it. But if you have a decent job, law school is not worthwhile. Also, if you have no good reason for a 2.88 gpa as a undergrad, law school is gonna be a kick in the balls. With a forced curve its way more competitive and draining with only 1 exam per class. I would strongly reconsider law school in your shoes.

I feel for you about your GPA but in all honesty its pretty bad to really bad. Having a 3.0+ major gpa does not help. I don't know how many 2.88 165 are getting full rides anywhere. Realistically you need a 170+ minimum. Remember data is starting to suggest law school apps are up and high scorers are rising in comparison to the previous few years- so app season is going to start getting more difficult. So a potential super splitter like you isn't gaining worth like a few years ago it was (as a splitter myself I lucked out on timing) and that is assuming you can get a 170 plus.

Just my thoughts. Honestly if you can get the 170+ then sit out and try to apply. But even if you did extremely well, you might not have offers worthwhile. There are a lot of hurdles you have to overcome. Others have, but it is not going to be easy.

edit: mylsn.info says a 2.88 and a 165 will get 20K in scholarship in total at Illinois. That is not a great outcome in any sense at any time.