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I might re-apply next year and I want to consider the worst case scenario. The biggest weakness in my application was my LSAT and I was wondering if anyone reapplied with hopes of raising their LSAT during their time off and ended up lowering their score/canceling their score before raising it.

It's not unusual for the retake to be a failure. When people retake the LSAT, the average change is an improvement of 2-3 points, but maybe a quarter of re-takers end up doing worse.

I'd like to know this too please.

I don't know the statistics, and I wasn't a re-applicant, but I took the LSAT a second time and did worse. I was regularly scoring around 168 on my PTs and sometimes in the low 170s. I got a 164 on the LSAT so decided to take it again. I spent serious dough on a course where I didn't learn anything new. ...and I got a 161. Oddly, I do not think it hurt my chances at all, but I think that's because my softs were good, I put a lot of effort into my personal statement, and some schools take the highest (not just the most recent) score.

My advice is if you decide to retake and reapply, don't throw away money on a course. Keep studying on your own and keep doing those timed, simulated PTs. The test day itself really is a crapshoot, so give your personal statement and resume some serious consideration and don't skimp on that part.

Personally, I knew if I didn't retake after the first LSAT, I'd feel like I hadn't given 100%. I knew I could do better. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out that way on test day. And after the second test, I didn't want to risk hurting my chances any more, so I just went ahead and applied. Trust me, it's soul-crushing to do worse the second time, but on the other hand, there's a certain kind of peace that comes from knowing you gave it your all.

At some point, all you can do is try your best and have faith that things will turn out the way they're meant to.

I took it three times, doing worse the second time. I thought it would ruin my chances. I made BIG gains on the 3rd, and was admitted to one of my top choices (Notre Dame). If you have questions about my experience with this, feel free to PM me.

TheCheerfulPessimist wrote:

Personally, I knew if I didn't retake after the first LSAT, I'd feel like I hadn't given 100%. I knew I could do better. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out that way on test day. And after the second test, I didn't want to risk hurting my chances any more, so I just went ahead and applied. Trust me, it's soul-crushing to do worse the second time, but on the other hand, there's a certain kind of peace that comes from knowing you gave it your all.

At some point, all you can do is try your best and have faith that things will turn out the way they're meant to.

Yeah, I don't know if I could handle doing worse and falling behind a year.. I'm glad it worked out for you in the end

Lisa7n99 wrote:I took it three times, doing worse the second time. I thought it would ruin my chances. I made BIG gains on the 3rd, and was admitted to one of my top choices (Notre Dame). If you have questions about my experience with this, feel free to PM me.

Wow, awesome! I'm guessing you weren't a re-applicant?

even if you drop, schools still count the higher score... it would suck psychologically, but I don't see why it would hurt you for admissions

whuts4lunch wrote:even if you drop, schools still count the higher score... it would suck psychologically, but I don't see why it would hurt you for admissions

I think it would hurt me because I might not get re-accepted to schools I was accepted to this year. If it turns out that those schools are my best options, I don't want to compromise my chances and end up worse off w/ a year wasted to boot.

Get a deferral at your best school, then take the next LSAT. If you do better, apply to better schools. If you do the same/worst, go to the school you got a deferral from. Just make sure your deferral isn't binding.

whuts4lunch wrote:even if you drop, schools still count the higher score... it would suck psychologically, but I don't see why it would hurt you for admissions

Many schools average the scores or at least consider them all. A drop is likely to hurt you at those schools, which include a majority of the T14.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=107648

voice of reason wrote:

whuts4lunch wrote:even if you drop, schools still count the higher score... it would suck psychologically, but I don't see why it would hurt you for admissions

Many schools average the scores or at least consider them all. A drop is likely to hurt you at those schools, which include a majority of the T14.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=107648

Outside of HYS, this really isn't true. I am a 164-164-172 and I got $ at Northwestern and Cornell while applying on the deadline (literally). No way that happens if they average.

Congratulations on your $. NW says they take the higher score. Cornell says they typically take the higher score. Several other T14s say otherwise.

voice of reason wrote:Congratulations on your $. NW says they take the higher score. Cornell says they typically take the higher score. Several other T14s say otherwise.

I understand that that's the stated policy, but anecdotally, and according to LSN, it just isn't true.

lawschoollll wrote:

voice of reason wrote:Congratulations on your $. NW says they take the higher score. Cornell says they typically take the higher score. Several other T14s say otherwise.

I understand that that's the stated policy, but anecdotally, and according to LSN, it just isn't true.

this right here. admissions office say alot of stuff that isn't really true.

OP, if i were you i'd deposit at the school you want to go to and take the June LSAT. if you do well, reapply. if not, go to the school that you're in at.

dk8 wrote:OP, if i were you i'd deposit at the school you want to go to and take the June LSAT. if you do well, reapply. if not, go to the school that you're in at.

I'm considering it. For now, I'm going to study for the June LSAT, but forgo registering for it and register at the last minute if I feel confident that I can do better. If I don't feel ready/registration doesn't work, then I guess I'll have to think things through some more.

Unfortunately, Hastings doesn't do deferred admissions.

Thanks for the help everyone. This has really helped me sort through my thoughts

OhWell wrote:

dk8 wrote:OP, if i were you i'd deposit at the school you want to go to and take the June LSAT. if you do well, reapply. if not, go to the school that you're in at.

I'm considering it. For now, I'm going to study for the June LSAT, but forgo registering for it and register at the last minute if I feel confident that I can do better. If I don't feel ready/registration doesn't work, then I guess I'll have to think things through some more.

Unfortunately, Hastings doesn't do deferred admissions.

Thanks for the help everyone. This has really helped me sort through my thoughts

I did this last cycle. Taking the LSAT when you are already in at a school takes alot of pressure off. I was so relaxed that even though I hadn't studied in months I upped my score. I highly recommend it

dk8 wrote: I did this last cycle. Taking the LSAT when you are already in at a school takes alot of pressure off. I was so relaxed that even though I hadn't studied in months I upped my score. I highly recommend it

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hm.. yea, the pressure of taking the test definitely affected my performance, so I think this would apply unless OP is positive he'll take a year off.