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...why take it again?

It seems like the best you're going to do is increase your score, maybe, by a point or two over the 166, and that's not really statistically significant.

I say, buckle down and work on the apps.

NZA wrote:...why take it again?

It seems like the best you're going to do is increase your score, maybe, by a point or two over the 166, and that's not really statistically significant.

I say, buckle down and work on the apps.

I think that there's a good chance a retake could yield a score that's 4+ points higher, which would be the difference in a 93rd percentile and a 99th. Which would matter a lot as far as getting in to certain schools and the amount of scholly money offered.

kalede wrote:

NZA wrote:...why take it again?

It seems like the best you're going to do is increase your score, maybe, by a point or two over the 166, and that's not really statistically significant.

I say, buckle down and work on the apps.

I think that there's a good chance a retake could yield a score that's 4+ points higher, which would be the difference in a 93rd percentile and a 99th. Which would matter a lot as far as getting in to certain schools and the amount of scholly money offered.

Fair point. And I love your avatar, but, everyone thinks they can do X points better a second, third, fourth time around. Sometimes, it's like hearing a gambling addict say, "No, seriously, the next hand will make me rich."

But, everyone's situation is different. If I were you, I'd get that job at the law firm and give it some time and thought, even if you don't plan on retaking.

166, 164, 164 on three different tests. Id say your score range is 164-166. Yes you did better on prep tests, but on the real deal, your scores are consistently in the 164-166 range . Continue with your cycle. If you dont like how it goes, re take in October( you will be allowed to without petitioning a school), use the summer to prep and send your applications in right after the exam.

NZA wrote: Fair point. And I love your avatar, but, everyone thinks they can do X points better a second, third, fourth time around. Sometimes, it's like hearing a gambling addict say, "No, seriously, the next hand will make me rich."

But, everyone's situation is different. If I were you, I'd get that job at the law firm and give it some time and thought, even if you don't plan on retaking.

Yeah, I thought about that. But I put in the time and effort prepping before this last attempt that I didn't before the first two, and I really think that not getting nearly enough sleep the night before was mostly to blame for me scoring below my expectations.

But yeah, I think time working in a legal setting will be beneficial if I end up waiting one more year, even if my LSAT score disappoints me again.

Do what u gotta do; you know yourself best.

kalede wrote: I spent a few months doing serious prep, which mostly consisted of me taking a buttload of timed tests. By the end of it, I was scoring 171-175 on every test I took, sometimes higher.

Which PT's were these? If these were more recent tests, then I think you should definitely retake as long as you maintain your LSAT skills through regular study until February.

If however, the majority of those were tests from PT-1 through PT-20 OR if your timed test practice did not adhere strictly to actual test conditions, then I think you should definitely retake (not a typo) because even though PT-1-20 are much easier than recent tests and not adhering strictly to actual test conditions might give you a few more points than you would normally get, regularly scoring in the 171 to 175 range is HUGE and if you happen to pull off even a 170 on the February test, you should get a nice scholarship at any school that would accept you with those mid-160 scores.

kalede wrote:I'm thinking about retaking the LSAT for a fourth time, either by asking one of the schools I applied to to send a letter to the LSAC,

I read on another thread that UCLA has a policy of auto-granting permission to retake a 4th time. Anybody out there know of other schools that do the same?

Its always worth it to re-take. A 166 is was different than a 167, 167 is way different than a 168, and so on. Its not just a numbers game, but being at a schools median LSAT vs 1 point below is the difference of being accepted or not, especially considering your gpa.

People forget the medians are just that, medians. They are not averages. A 158 and a 165 are both below UT's median of 167, they both hurt the school the same (ok, the 165 is above UT's 25th, but that is beyond a secondary concern for schools).

With your gpa, hit a schools lsat median within the T-14, apply with a really solid, error proof, application, and the odds are very good you will be admitted.

I guess that would mean you need a what.. 168 nowadays?

Retake. I know a kid who was 157,157, then 167. He is had a good gpa from a home economics major at a crappy undergrad, and now he (yes, he) is T-14. Had he been 166 he probably would have been out because he would have been below their most important median, but because he probably got the 1 more LR question he had a 167 and got in. This shows you that they will not average your scores (his average would have been 160) too.

buckle down, study your ass off until june, retake. could be worth thousands in scholly money

I don't really understand the downside of re-taking, other than committing to giving up your free time for many hours of tedious reading. And hey, you've already decided to be a lawyer, so that shouldn't even count as a reason not to do it.

Retake.

I voted for June since it is later in the day (noon I believe), it is disclosed, and you don't need a waiver.

Take it again in February. Get off some waitlists after Feb. Don't wait until June. Just get it over with.

to update this thread: I retook in June, got a 170. Now I'm trying to decide whether or not to wait a year and reapply or try to get off the waitlist at University of Washington.

kalede wrote:to update this thread: I retook in June, got a 170. Now I'm trying to decide whether or not to wait a year and reapply or try to get off the waitlist at University of Washington.

Send UW a rejection e-mail and then reapply for T14 bro.

Edit: and congrats on your score