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Please help! I am registered to take the LSAT October 1st, but I am not sure if I will be ready. Do you think it is better to apply earlier, although with a lower LSAT score, or to apply later with a better LSAT score?

I am currently scoring in the high 160's to low 170's, but if I give myself 36-39 minutes per section I score 176-180. This leads me to believe that I could substantially improve my score if I gave myself more time.

Any constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I would wait.
I think about 3-4 points is worth the wait. Even if you need to apply the next cycle.
MHO

higher score while applying before the end of november will give you a good shot. I know plenty of people who retook in october and december and got into t6 schools.

See how you do in October before speculating that you'll do very poorly. It sounds like with a little practice you can get up in the 170's If you're able to score that highly with a little more time then it's not knowledge or skill that's lacking but speed. You still have 2 more weeks to get faster.

What schools do you want to go to?

If you don't care about when you go to LS, then the best fool-proof choice is to apply in September of Next year. That way you have the entire year to get as high of a score as you can, and prepare a killer application/apply as early as possible.

I'm having the same concerns personally. I'm taking October 1st, but I'm only averaging in the mid-160s. I'd like to break 170, but then delaying or re-taking means later applications, unless I wait another cycle, which I really do not want to do.

You've got a couple more weeks to practice. Take it and see how it goes. You can always take December.

Sauer Grapes wrote:You've got a couple more weeks to practice. Take it and see how it goes. You can always take December.

Not sure if you're advising me or OP or both, but this is what I'm doing, only because I know (hope) I won't just bomb the October test, so I figure why not. I feel ready enough to take it. I've also read that you can still put in applications, and inform schools that either you plan to retake the LSAT and to wait to consider the app, or to just consider it with the 1st score, although you will take it again.

Anybody else? I really value your opinions. Please vote!

You've got two more weeks to get better at the LSAT. Do your best in October with December as a backup in case you don't get the score you want.

How about you turn in apps now to schools you think you could get into with your current score? You could see how you do in October, and then decide whether to apply in November/December this year, or wait another year. This would leave you with more options.

The only reason I am hesitant to take it October 1st is because my understanding is that several schools average LSAT scores. It would be a bummer to score a 171 in October, score a 179 in December, and then have it average out as 175 or something. I don't know . . .

Am I correct in thinking that quite a few schools average LSAT scores?

Nestico87 wrote:The only reason I am hesitant to take it October 1st is because my understanding is that several schools average LSAT scores. It would be a bummer to score a 171 in October, score a 179 in December, and then have it average out as 175 or something. I don't know . . .

Am I correct in thinking that quite a few schools average LSAT scores?

You don't now consistently score 170+, yet you'd retake an October 171?

Nestico87 wrote:The only reason I am hesitant to take it October 1st is because my understanding is that several schools average LSAT scores. It would be a bummer to score a 171 in October, score a 179 in December, and then have it average out as 175 or something. I don't know . . .

Am I correct in thinking that quite a few schools average LSAT scores?

Three things:
a) Many schools say they average scores, but really don't. They only report the highest to the ABA, and in their admissions materials.
b) Even if they did, a 175 is above every single median in the country, and above all but what, four 75th percentiles?
c) There's no guarantee you won't improve enough in the next couple weeks, or just kick ass on the test--or that going through the experience won't prove invaluable.

Seriously, if you're PT'ing in the low 170s now, with a couple weeks left, you've got a very real shot to bump into the mid-170s. And I don't know what your GPA is, but the difference between, say, 3.5/174 and 3.5/180 really isn't that great when it comes to the application process.

Nestico87 wrote:The only reason I am hesitant to take it October 1st is because my understanding is that several schools average LSAT scores. It would be a bummer to score a 171 in October, score a 179 in December, and then have it average out as 175 or something. I don't know . . .

Am I correct in thinking that quite a few schools average LSAT scores?

If you have a HYS quality GPA (3.85+) and your PTs show a potential for 173+ you're probably best off taking the test only once. Everyone from CLS down will take the highest score and treat it as essentially your only score.

There's definitely a qualifier here and it's your GPA, if you have stellar grades then by all means test only when you are ready. As was posted earlier if you are a splitter things become much more complicated.


Good Luck

My UG GPA is 3.91, but an F received my freshman year at a community college I believe changes my LSAC GPA into a 3.8, or something like that. Does 3.8 and 170's LSAT make me a splitter? Should I be making sure to score 175+ for HYSCCN etc, or is low 170s sufficient?

Your comments are very helpful. Please vote!

Nestico87 wrote:My UG GPA is 3.91, but an F received my freshman year at a community college I believe changes my LSAC GPA into a 3.8, or something like that. Does 3.8 and 170's LSAT make me a splitter? Should I be making sure to score 175+ for HYSCCN etc, or is low 170s sufficient?

Your comments are very helpful. Please vote!

No, you probably still have a shot at Harvard if you can get your score at or above 173. You should wait until you can do that.