Affect chances? Took Four times: Cancel 152, 150, 173 Forum

[Artesian183]

Does anyone have any advice or can shed some light on my situation?

I've taken the LSAT 4 times, one canceled and three officials. I didn't apply this cycle because of family issues, and the first two scores (152, 150) were were low because of family issues as well. How will the admissions committee go about this? Would writing an addendum help in any way?

I'm hoping for Columbia or NYU, not really looking to apply anywhere else, do you guys think I have a shot?

Thanks!

[jphiggo]

Congrats on obtaining a great score in the end. You didn't provide your undergrad GPA. Without that, no one here is going to be able to even speculate what your chances are.

[Artesian183]

Thanks!

Oops! My undergrad gpa was a 3.4 at UCLA

[sjp200]

Does anyone have any advice or can shed some light on my situation?

I've taken the LSAT 4 times, one canceled and three officials. I didn't apply this cycle because of family issues, and the first two scores (152, 150) were were low because of family issues as well. How will the admissions committee go about this? Would writing an addendum help in any way?

I'm hoping for Columbia or NYU, not really looking to apply anywhere else, do you guys think I have a shot?

Thanks!

Write an addendum about your LSAT, in 2-4 sentences only explain the discrepancy and do not sound apologetic or like you are making excuses. Something like "I sat for the LSAT three times. My first two attempts at the test when I had X going on, which negatively affected my score. My latest score of X is a proper reflection of my ability to succeed in law school."

they'll take your highest anyway, but it is important that you at least acknowledge the discrepancy. Nobody will think a 173 is a fluke.

You'll have a decent shot with that score, I'd say 50-70% at those schools with $$ with a solid PS and maybe at least one decent soft (assuming you have nothing major detracting from your application). I would also recommend applying to 5-6 other schools for security and scholarship negotiation purposes.

[Clearly]

I have a friend with remarkably similar lsat history at one of ccn.

[Alive97]

Very well done on the score increase .

[Artesian183]

Does anyone have any advice or can shed some light on my situation?

I've taken the LSAT 4 times, one canceled and three officials. I didn't apply this cycle because of family issues, and the first two scores (152, 150) were were low because of family issues as well. How will the admissions committee go about this? Would writing an addendum help in any way?

I'm hoping for Columbia or NYU, not really looking to apply anywhere else, do you guys think I have a shot?

Thanks!

Write an addendum about your LSAT, in 2-4 sentences only explain the discrepancy and do not sound apologetic or like you are making excuses. Something like "I sat for the LSAT three times. My first two attempts at the test when I had X going on, which negatively affected my score. My latest score of X is a proper reflection of my ability to succeed in law school."

they'll take your highest anyway, but it is important that you at least acknowledge the discrepancy. Nobody will think a 173 is a fluke.

You'll have a decent shot with that score, I'd say 50-70% at those schools with $$ with a solid PS and maybe at least one decent soft (assuming you have nothing major detracting from your application). I would also recommend applying to 5-6 other schools for security and scholarship negotiation purposes.

Thanks for reassuring! Ive read instances where people wrote a full page addendum, would this be too extreme? You mentioned they'll take the highest, but whats up with schools saving they'll average if you have multiple scores?

[Artesian183]

Very well done on the score increase .

Thanks! I even quit my job to study LOL

[sjp200]

Does anyone have any advice or can shed some light on my situation?

I've taken the LSAT 4 times, one canceled and three officials. I didn't apply this cycle because of family issues, and the first two scores (152, 150) were were low because of family issues as well. How will the admissions committee go about this? Would writing an addendum help in any way?

I'm hoping for Columbia or NYU, not really looking to apply anywhere else, do you guys think I have a shot?

Thanks!

Write an addendum about your LSAT, in 2-4 sentences only explain the discrepancy and do not sound apologetic or like you are making excuses. Something like "I sat for the LSAT three times. My first two attempts at the test when I had X going on, which negatively affected my score. My latest score of X is a proper reflection of my ability to succeed in law school."

they'll take your highest anyway, but it is important that you at least acknowledge the discrepancy. Nobody will think a 173 is a fluke.

You'll have a decent shot with that score, I'd say 50-70% at those schools with $$ with a solid PS and maybe at least one decent soft (assuming you have nothing major detracting from your application). I would also recommend applying to 5-6 other schools for security and scholarship negotiation purposes.

Thanks for reassuring! Ive read instances where people wrote a full page addendum, would this be too extreme? You mentioned they'll take the highest, but whats up with schools saving they'll average if you have multiple scores?

I'll start with your first question, and I'll be thorough on both. Yes. A full page addendum is a bad idea. The longer you go on, the more suspicious a committee will get about why you go at length to justify a bad score. Just keep it simple, give them direction as to why to count the higher score and not the lower one, and give circumstances, not excuses. They just want to make sure you have a legit reason, not you were too busy being coked out of your mind all the time or were too focused on having a good ol time


As far as the average goes here's what I've been told on schools that "average" (Yale comes to mind as the only school that may legitimately do an average just because they can). Most applicants with retakes score within 2-3 points of their other scores. Given that the margin for error on the test according to LSAC is 2-3 questions, that retake up or down is more explained by the margin of error than the improved ability of the applicant. Thus, an average of 3 scores, say 163-165-164 would be a 164 and reasonably explains the aptitude of the applicant. In the 150's, since it takes 2-3 questions per point anyway, the score change is practically negligible, especially when you factor in the marginal change in percentile rank.

Applicants with high swings of more than that, say +/- 10 are highly disadvantaged by an averaging method because clearly one score must be "wrong" whether it be a fluke, or a bad day. A 15X to a 17X cannot be a fluke, the odds of guessing that many questions right means that person should've played the lottery. Usually these are applicants who need an addendum. Because schools are only required, and only do, report the highest LSAT score, most have foregone the use of averages to not essentially "double-dip" an applicant's numbers and being disingenuous by reporting the highest but considering the average therby making themselves look better statistcally and ponying up less $$ to the applicant.

That being said, schools will look at all your scores and think of any reason they want to consider every one of them. If you have taken the LSAT let's say 3 times and go from 155-156-161, there really is a genuine reason to bring up the average in the discussion for an applicant. If that 161 is 2 years after the 155/156, and the applicant hasn't had noteworthy employment during that time, is that applicant necessarily better prepared for law school or is that applicant just better at the LSAT since they took 2 years off to presumably study for a quite lackluster return given the time frame? The further apart your numbers are (such as yours and mine [151-163-166 and I "bombed" my PT average]) the more reason there is to believe an addendum that explains a poor performance.

[Clearly]

Don't quote, jumped one point on retake, then 12 more. Didn't write addendum, performed as expected with my high score. Wouldn't recommend this for you necessarily, but if it's taking you more than a few sentences or making you look bad in any way past or present, you're doing it wrong. Don't quote.

[ManoftheHour]

I also took 4 times. Best score on 4th time. I applied two cycles. I got into every school I got into the first cycle except with more $$$. I also got into the higher ranking schools that I was waitlisted/rejected before my higher score. I don't think taking the 4th time negatively affected my cycle at all. I performed as expected of my numbers.

Good job on the increase! Just apply everywhere! I think you'll do just fine.

[Indifference]

Don't quote.

Scored low 160s twice, then 175+ the third.
Didn't write an addendum. Got in everywhere my highest score indicated I should.

You'll be fine with or without an addendum. If you really want to write one keep it short and sweet and to the point.