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how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:29 pm
by naillsat
I am just curious how bad the impact will be if the first LSAT score is 160-something? it's going to be my first take of LSAT this Saturday if I don't withdraw....

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:31 pm
by Geetar Man
naillsat wrote:I am just curious how bad the impact will be if the first LSAT score is 160-something? it's going to be my first take of LSAT this Saturday if I don't withdraw....
Depends on what school you're trying to get into.

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:41 pm
by 20130312
You can spot a true TLSer when they call a 90th %ile score "lower." Happy to be a part of this site :D

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:44 pm
by naillsat
In this article, there are many more schools in the list that takes the highest LSAT score than the one that averages multiple LSAT scores, however, the shorter list has three of my dream schools: Harvard, Berkeley, and NYU.

If I cancel Feb test, and take the June LSAT, I am not sure my steam will last strong for that long though.

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:49 pm
by KevinP
naillsat wrote:In this article, there are many more schools in the list that takes the highest LSAT score than the one that averages multiple LSAT scores, however, the shorter list has three of my dream schools: Harvard, Berkeley, and NYU.

If I cancel Feb test, and take the June LSAT, I am not sure my steam will last strong for that long though.
Berkeley takes the highest:
if you take the test more than once, we usually use your highest score unless the scores are grouped closely together, in which case we use the average
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/47.htm

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:03 pm
by naillsat
KevinP wrote: Berkeley takes the highest:
if you take the test more than once, we usually use your highest score unless the scores are grouped closely together, in which case we use the average
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/47.htm
good to know that. Thanks!

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:07 pm
by Elston Gunn
naillsat wrote:In this article, there are many more schools in the list that takes the highest LSAT score than the one that averages multiple LSAT scores, however, the shorter list has three of my dream schools: Harvard, Berkeley, and NYU.

If I cancel Feb test, and take the June LSAT, I am not sure my steam will last strong for that long though.
These are (probably) lies. Do some sleuthing on LSN and notice that there's no difference in outcomes for people with the same top score, regardless of other scores. It really only matters at YS (and I don't know about Berkeley, but you have some other info above).

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:07 pm
by pizzabrosauce
InGoodFaith wrote:You can spot a true TLSer when they call a 90th %ile score "lower." Happy to be a part of this site :D
Yupp..

to the OP, honestly after following many retaker's app cycles, I haven't noticed anyone getting seriously dinged for having multiple scores.

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:15 pm
by Mr. Pancakes
naillsat wrote:I am just curious how bad the impact will be if the first LSAT score is 160-something? it's going to be my first take of LSAT this Saturday if I don't withdraw....
If you can't score at least a 170 you should probably not go to law school.

Re: how bad is a first lower LSAT score? let's say 16*

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:21 pm
by jwalterweatherman
I got a 166 first time, then retook for a 172. I have a good GPA, and it hasn't hurt much so far. I'm in at MVP and above with some very generous scholarship offers. Haven't heard back from Columbia or Harvard, though - that's where the retake might have more of an effect.

FWIW, I wrote a score addendum for my application. No school has told me specifically whether that helped or not.