I need LSAT Advice/Help, please! Forum
- nylost
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I am scheduled to take the LSAT on October 9th. Due to work/laziness/lack of confidence I have poorly prepared. I score in the mid 150's (153-156) without much work. I have not taken a course but have had some lessons with a horrible tutor in the past. I wanted to know if it were possible to postpone the October registration to December? Also does taking the LSAT in December (if it is possible to postpone) hurt my chances of enrollment for the upcoming FALL (2011)? I have a decent GPA of 3.6 and am shooting for Brooklyn Law, St. John's, Hofstra, New York Law. So basically, can I postpone to December and will it hurt my chances of applying to begin LS next fall?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
- Adjudicator
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
It sounds like you are really behind schedule.
You definitely do not want to take the LSAT unprepared, and there is not sufficient time to prepare for the Oct 9th test if you haven't really started yet. You could reschedule for December (for an additional fee) but yes, that will probably hurt your chances somewhat because by the time your application goes complete, you will be later than you ideally want to be. Not "late" for most schools, but not early, either, and being early is usually a significant advantage.
But, bottom line, you don't want to take the test without being prepared, so either take it in December or wait another year.

But, bottom line, you don't want to take the test without being prepared, so either take it in December or wait another year.
- nylost
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Thanks for the reply. Good to hear I have the option of re-scheduling I was not sure of that. I think I should just begin to work as hard as possible and take in December. Hopefully I will score high enough to ensure my acceptance.
- lennonist
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I'd say take another year.Adjudicator wrote:It sounds like you are really behind schedule.You definitely do not want to take the LSAT unprepared, and there is not sufficient time to prepare for the Oct 9th test if you haven't really started yet. You could reschedule for December (for an additional fee) but yes, that will probably hurt your chances somewhat because by the time your application goes complete, you will be later than you ideally want to be. Not "late" for most schools, but not early, either, and being early is usually a significant advantage.
But, bottom line, you don't want to take the test without being prepared, so either take it in December or wait another year.
- nylost
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I'd say take another year.[/quote]
I wish I could but I don't believe it's possible for me. I understand the benefits in taking the year off, I even know many people who took 4-5 years after undergrad and ending up in top LS but it's not a good option for me. I know my abilities and my goals are not that difficult to achieve. St. John's/Brooklyn Law are my top choices my GPA is good enough I just need to break a 160 to ensure consideration. A year off would drive me mad and throughout my life procrastination has been my downfall. I need to just buckle down, study and take the LSAT. I feel another year will only hurt me. Everyone is different, I understand your advice is with respect to admissions. Thanks for your input
I wish I could but I don't believe it's possible for me. I understand the benefits in taking the year off, I even know many people who took 4-5 years after undergrad and ending up in top LS but it's not a good option for me. I know my abilities and my goals are not that difficult to achieve. St. John's/Brooklyn Law are my top choices my GPA is good enough I just need to break a 160 to ensure consideration. A year off would drive me mad and throughout my life procrastination has been my downfall. I need to just buckle down, study and take the LSAT. I feel another year will only hurt me. Everyone is different, I understand your advice is with respect to admissions. Thanks for your input
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- Posts: 822
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
If you score in the mid 150s with minimal practice, then I think you should probably aim pretty high, at least upper 160s. If you have a fair amount of free time, you could probably study enough to get that by Dec, but if not then you might want to just wait until next cycle. I don't see why anyone would settle for getting anything other than the best score they can get on this test. This test can get you into way better schools then the ones you are looking at, or at the least get you into the schools you are looking at for very little money.
- nylost
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Thank you for the response. I don't know, I guess I am seriously lacking in self-confidence.2011Law wrote:If you score in the mid 150s with minimal practice, then I think you should probably aim pretty high, at least upper 160s. If you have a fair amount of free time, you could probably study enough to get that by Dec, but if not then you might want to just wait until next cycle. I don't see why anyone would settle for getting anything other than the best score they can get on this test. This test can get you into way better schools then the ones you are looking at, or at the least get you into the schools you are looking at for very little money.
I am thinking my best bet is seriously studying cutting the 'bs' and just taking it December.
At this point I`m just very relieved that I don't have to have an absence on my record or cancellation. I did not know I could postpone to a later date.
- rso11
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Actually, at this point the rescheduling deadline has passed; so you have to take the test. You can take it and cancel your scores right there though, and then reschedule for the December test.nylost wrote:I am scheduled to take the LSAT on October 9th. Due to work/laziness/lack of confidence I have poorly prepared. I score in the mid 150's (153-156) without much work. I have not taken a course but have had some lessons with a horrible tutor in the past. I wanted to know if it were possible to postpone the October registration to December? Also does taking the LSAT in December (if it is possible to postpone) hurt my chances of enrollment for the upcoming FALL (2011)? I have a decent GPA of 3.6 and am shooting for Brooklyn Law, St. John's, Hofstra, New York Law. So basically, can I postpone to December and will it hurt my chances of applying to begin LS next fall?
Thanks in advance.
- nylost
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I was under the impression there was still an opportunity to re-schedule for a small fee?rso11 wrote:Actually, at this point the rescheduling deadline has passed; so you have to take the test. You can take it and cancel your scores right there though, and then reschedule for the December test.nylost wrote:I am scheduled to take the LSAT on October 9th. Due to work/laziness/lack of confidence I have poorly prepared. I score in the mid 150's (153-156) without much work. I have not taken a course but have had some lessons with a horrible tutor in the past. I wanted to know if it were possible to postpone the October registration to December? Also does taking the LSAT in December (if it is possible to postpone) hurt my chances of enrollment for the upcoming FALL (2011)? I have a decent GPA of 3.6 and am shooting for Brooklyn Law, St. John's, Hofstra, New York Law. So basically, can I postpone to December and will it hurt my chances of applying to begin LS next fall?
Thanks in advance.
- rso11
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:25 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Really?nylost wrote:I was under the impression there was still an opportunity to re-schedule for a small fee?rso11 wrote:Actually, at this point the rescheduling deadline has passed; so you have to take the test. You can take it and cancel your scores right there though, and then reschedule for the December test.nylost wrote:I am scheduled to take the LSAT on October 9th. Due to work/laziness/lack of confidence I have poorly prepared. I score in the mid 150's (153-156) without much work. I have not taken a course but have had some lessons with a horrible tutor in the past. I wanted to know if it were possible to postpone the October registration to December? Also does taking the LSAT in December (if it is possible to postpone) hurt my chances of enrollment for the upcoming FALL (2011)? I have a decent GPA of 3.6 and am shooting for Brooklyn Law, St. John's, Hofstra, New York Law. So basically, can I postpone to December and will it hurt my chances of applying to begin LS next fall?
Thanks in advance.

--LinkRemoved--
- nylost
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- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I was just going on the responses I got here on my post. I also read somewhere as I googled that you can reschedule up to 2 days prior to the exam...
If this is not true I guess all I can say is,
FML
If this is not true I guess all I can say is,
FML
- lennonist
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:38 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
dude, just don't show up if you're not ready. it doesn't count as an attempt (yet is visible on your record)nylost wrote:I was just going on the responses I got here on my post. I also read somewhere as I googled that you can reschedule up to 2 days prior to the exam...
If this is not true I guess all I can say is,
FML
- nylost
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I already have one from being very ill with strep throat in Junelennonist wrote:dude, just don't show up if you're not ready. it doesn't count as an attempt (yet is visible on your record)nylost wrote:I was just going on the responses I got here on my post. I also read somewhere as I googled that you can reschedule up to 2 days prior to the exam...
If this is not true I guess all I can say is,
FML
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- northwood
- Posts: 5036
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
go there.. sign in, and either take teh test and cancel, or leave. Having more than 1 absence will hurt your score, as it will portray you as being wishy washy, or non commital..
Depending on where you want to apply to, having multiple scores may not hurt your cycle.
Depending on where you want to apply to, having multiple scores may not hurt your cycle.
- nylost
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
So I have an absence for the June LSAT and now I am not 100% confident about taking it next weekend.
I don't want another absence. If anyone could give me any input? Should I just take it? I should be able to score a 153-157 at this point although I am confident with a month or 2 of actually studying I can break 160. December would be ideal with respect to scoring the best but I am under the impression that postponement is not available. So now I am left with this issue,
go there let the score stand and re-take it in December? Go there and either take it and cancel or just sign in and leave? A year off is not an option for me. Any advice is welcomed as I am clueless at this point and need some guidance D:
A year off is not an option for me.
Also I am from New York and I desire are to attend one of the following LS, they're in order from most realistic to long-shot.
New York Law, Hofstra, St. John's, Brooklyn, Yeshiva/Cardozo, Fordham.
I don't want another absence. If anyone could give me any input? Should I just take it? I should be able to score a 153-157 at this point although I am confident with a month or 2 of actually studying I can break 160. December would be ideal with respect to scoring the best but I am under the impression that postponement is not available. So now I am left with this issue,
go there let the score stand and re-take it in December? Go there and either take it and cancel or just sign in and leave? A year off is not an option for me. Any advice is welcomed as I am clueless at this point and need some guidance D:


Also I am from New York and I desire are to attend one of the following LS, they're in order from most realistic to long-shot.
New York Law, Hofstra, St. John's, Brooklyn, Yeshiva/Cardozo, Fordham.
- nylost
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:04 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
So it seems I either have to have an absence, cancellation or take the test and score what I score (mid 150s).. help anyone?
-
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- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:19 pm
Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
hmm
tough situation indeed.
two consecutive absences wouldn't look too good. so would not easily advise that
a cancellation could work, just make sure you let the schools know of a good reason.
from what i understand schools weigh LSAT heavily so unless you believe you can score 157-165 on test day, maybe canceling is the best answer.
tough situation indeed.
two consecutive absences wouldn't look too good. so would not easily advise that
a cancellation could work, just make sure you let the schools know of a good reason.
from what i understand schools weigh LSAT heavily so unless you believe you can score 157-165 on test day, maybe canceling is the best answer.
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- nylost
- Posts: 58
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Thanks for getting back to me.
I am just curious, how does 1 absence, 1 cancellation look?
Better than 1 absence, a lets say 154?
I think my best bet right now is just took keep taking timed practice tests up, work on my mistakes and see what I am scoring and judge by that.
I am just curious, how does 1 absence, 1 cancellation look?
Better than 1 absence, a lets say 154?
I think my best bet right now is just took keep taking timed practice tests up, work on my mistakes and see what I am scoring and judge by that.
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
for your 1 absence 1 cancellation vs 1 absence 154 question, it's dependent on how good you are at explaining things, something i'm not very good at. so if it were me, i'd prefer the 154 situation. but why do we need to be pessimistic about this, you still have time. the test is not tomorrow. why not 157 or 158?
to offer tactical advice on specific sections, i would need to know how you're doing. generally, if you're pretty even on all three sections; i'd say focus on LR. b/c we have two sections. meaning the effort you put in, pays off twice during the test. review the questions you get wrong on each practice test. is there a pattern? getting a lot of strengthen questions wrong? spend 3 hours understanding why the right answer is the right answer and why the wrong answer is the wrong answer. are you running out of time? (then skip the longer text-heavy "parallel the reasoning and go back at the end) LG is also learnable and improvable in a short amount of time. not great at a specific type? (for me i'm not good at grouping) then skip that if that's the first game, do the rest well, then go back. practice every game you get a lot wrong on 3 times before the test.
to offer tactical advice on specific sections, i would need to know how you're doing. generally, if you're pretty even on all three sections; i'd say focus on LR. b/c we have two sections. meaning the effort you put in, pays off twice during the test. review the questions you get wrong on each practice test. is there a pattern? getting a lot of strengthen questions wrong? spend 3 hours understanding why the right answer is the right answer and why the wrong answer is the wrong answer. are you running out of time? (then skip the longer text-heavy "parallel the reasoning and go back at the end) LG is also learnable and improvable in a short amount of time. not great at a specific type? (for me i'm not good at grouping) then skip that if that's the first game, do the rest well, then go back. practice every game you get a lot wrong on 3 times before the test.
- nylost
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
thanks for the advice.
So it's better to have 1 absence, 1 low score rather than 1 absence 1 cancellation and 1 score breaking a 160??
So it's better to have 1 absence, 1 low score rather than 1 absence 1 cancellation and 1 score breaking a 160??
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
Unless you are going like T6 you might as well just take it next weekend. Outside of those schools almost no school heavily weighs a lower score as long as your second score is competitive because that is the only score they report to the rankings. Who knows; maybe you'll be able to get a 160 and be fine for Hofstra.
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- kaftka juice
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
+1BlueDiamond wrote:Unless you are going like T6 you might as well just take it next weekend. Outside of those schools almost no school heavily weighs a lower score as long as your second score is competitive because that is the only score they report to the rankings. Who knows; maybe you'll be able to get a 160 and be fine for Hofstra.
you can always re-take, but you never know what you can get if you don't try.
- The Gentleman
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
I would urge you to reconsider this. ^ Taking some time off between UG and LS is generally a positive thing. I too was a lazy underachiever throughout most of UG, but I've managed to acquire quite a bit of perspective and maturity since then. Even if you end up as an unemployed liberal arts grad (as I was for awhile), there's still a lot a value to be had in time off. Best of luck with your decision this weeknylost wrote:A year off is not an option for me.
- northwood
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Re: I need LSAT Advice/Help, please!
taking a year off is a good thing. Its been 2 + years since i graduated with my master degree, and I didnt realize how burnt out from university level work I was until after I had some time away from it.. If you think you may be brain fried, take the year, explore any options that seem somewhat interesting to you, and enjoy life ( being a grown up is more fun than people think- and as long as you keep you commitiments to a minimum, theres not a whole lot you are responsible for ( assuming you dont have kids, or have to take care of a family member)
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