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If you were pt-ing that high and already got a 173 in June, you probably already know what you are doing for the most part and I am not sure how helpful any prep-courses would be. If you literally have done no prep whatsoever except a couple PTs, it might be helpful to work through the powerscore books (at least for LG and LR). I imagine a lot of people will just recommend you continue to take PTs and very carefully review the questions you missed.

That said, I clicked on your profile and I see you have a 3.43 GPA. Unless you can get that a little higher (I think LSN says you are still in UG), increasing your LSAT may not help that much. You are already at or above the 75% for the all of the t14 with the exception of HYS and Columbia/NYU. With a 3.43, HYS is probably out of the question, unless you have incredible softs. Increasing your LSAT would probably help for Columbia and NYU, but those might still be a reach with your GPA (ED could help). You may already know all this, either way, just something to consider when deciding whether to go to the trouble of retaking.

I retook my 173 from Oct; did very little prep, just a couple of PTs and flipping through the Manhattan books. I'll let you know in a week how it went.

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Crowing wrote: Certainly my GPA is my greatest concern but it is also the element that I have the least control over right now. I'm currently carrying a 4.0 through this (my last) semester, but even that is going to do little to bring my cumulative GPA up.

However, I think there are a few other factors that could potentially help me. Scoring a 176+ on the LSAT would put me above the 75% for CLS. A year of WE would also potentially help as a soft (and certainly for NU which is one of the few schools I'm above the 25% GPA). Also sending in my applications earlier/potentially EDing could also be a boost. I'm not sure how much all these factors put together would help, and I realize that HYS would still be out. Thus if I do choose to reapply in the fall I would be trying for a better shot at CCN.

Yeah, I think as far as a higher LSAT is concerned, it would really only help you for Columbia and NYU, but it appears you were already aware of that. Also, I am sure all those other factors will help, but like you, I can't really say how much. Good luck with the retake, I am sure if you put in the prep you will do even better the next time around.

Don't take any prep courses. I think they won't help you.

What you need to do is identify what sections are holding you back.
Are you getting -0 on LG every time? If not, work on that.
Is your score dependent on ONE section? Work on that section
Is it a timing issue? More practice
Is it a combination of all this? Just keep practicing with more PTs.

Good luck

**edit**
I didn't see your "i missed questions equally" part.
My suggestions: Drill Logic games until you get -0. Then drill LR until you get -0. Then do the same with RC. Then start taking full PTs

Practice makes perfect. I think it's too difficult for us and you to know what you're doing wrong when you only took THREE PTs. Take about 10 more, see where you're at. Find your weaknesses and which question you are getting wrong, and work on those.

Honestly, for someone with such a high diagnostic, there isn't much advice except practice.

Suggestion for improving on a 173: miss three questions (or fewer) instead of seven.

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acrossthelake wrote:Perfect your logic games.

Totally agree with this. You simply can't afford to miss points in that section.

As to the necessity of a retake I'd agree with you that a higher score can help you get in to CLS. Good luck!

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If I was you I would do two 5-section practice tests per week until your next LSAT. Make your practice test conditions as close to the actual tests as possible (ie: last bathroom break around 8:30 am, begin section 1 at 9:30 am, 15 min break after section 3, etc...). After each test review the HELL out of not only the questions you got wrong, but the ones you found "difficult" as well. if you find that any particular section is giving you more trouble ON AVERAGE (not from test to test, youll go crazy like that), spend your off days doing individual timed sections of that type. If you find you have more in you, you can do 3 PT's instead, just avoid burnout.

You are internalizing everything at this point and you need to be able to act on instinct on test day so your nerves wont wreck you. Just target your weaknesses. Every 5 PT's take the average scores from each section and figure out what's giving you the most trouble. Taking the real lsat when its your 4th test is a lot different than taking it when its your 30th test. With practice, those stupid mistakes will disappear.

acrossthelake wrote:

Crowing wrote:I just checked my IRR from last June again - it looks like it's actually -1 LR1, -1 LG, -1 LR2, -4 o_O RC. Maybe I just need to learn how to read. The rather annoying thing is I didn't miss any questions toward the end of any one section; my misses were all toward the beginning or in the middle which seems to suggest careless mistakes. I didn't think I was nervous on test day, but maybe I was

Eh I found over many diff practice tests that it shifted from day to day. Sometimes I got -4 on RC and sometimes -0. But you really should be getting your LG down to -0 consistently since it's not a section where questions are likely to trip you up in expected ways just because they're worded sorta strangely.

This was the same for me. I would recommend:

1. Perfect LG. You should never miss LG.

2. Don't burn yourself out before test day (this is what did me in).

3. Practice, practice, practice. Make it so that getting a 178+ on a PT is automatic.

Crowing wrote:My one and only LSAT came last June and I scored a 173 after prepping with 3 PTs (175, 176, 175). I'm planning on retaking in June for W/L purposes and possibly in preparation for reapplying next cycle. Based on past performances, I missed questions about equally in all three sections. Does anybody else who scored a high diagnostic have suggestions on how to further improve? Would it be worthwhile for me to utilize a program like Velocity?

The marginal value of your efforts are low and should instead be placed on going to some community college and getting 25 units of A. I think your chances of getting a lower score are just as good as getting a higher score. For my last month I averaged a 175.5 and ended up with a 171 because I was freaking sick and stressed. You can't control everything. I know this girl who got 180s on every PT but two and ended up with a 173.