151 LSAT, take a year off or attend T3 school? Forum

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:52 pm

Here is my situation. I am looking for honest feedback.
I took a Kaplan 4 month prepcourse and went from a 137 cold to a 151 on the June 2011 LSAT. (Yes, awful I know.) After this, I signed up for a one month online prep course through Powerscore in hopes of retaking the October exam for a higher score. I never ended up taking the exam, as my practice average was consistently between 151-155.
I went ahead and applied to law school this last cycle and was offered admissions at several T3 and T4 schools, but not to any school within the top 100. My GPA is a 3.7.
So what should I do? Should I take a year off and try to retake the LSAT in October? I would hate to turn down the admissions offers I did receive if I am unable to raise my score. I purchased the “Next 10 actual, official LSAT Preptests” and the “10 new actual, LSAT Preptests” if I decide to go with retaking.
Or, should I just go ahead and attend law school in the fall? If you are wondering, I will not be taking on any debt if I go this route. I am going to include my practice scores, though embarrassing, in hopes of getting more accurate feedback. Thanks.

Test: LR: LR: LG: RC: Score: #Correct
Diagnostic Test:
December 2008: 12 10 7 7 137 36
I Begin Kaplan Prepcourse February 2011:
October 2008 (I accidentally counted the Experimental Section) Mis-score
June 2000 (Specific Section Information no longer available) 150
September 2007: 16 15 13 14 150 58
December 2006: 14 18 9 14 149 55
June 2009: 14 13 10 11 144 48 (no sleep)
September 2009: 17 18 13 11 150 59
December 2009: 14 15 14 15 151 58
June 2008: 17 16 16 14 151 63
December 2005: 17 15 14 12 150 58
September 2006: 17 23 13 14 154 67
June 2011: 17 20 8 14 151 59 (actual LSAT test score)
I take a few tests after a two month study break from the LSAT, August 2011:
June 2005: 21 18 16 14 155 69
December 2010: 15 14 13 11 149 53
October 2010: 18 15 11 10 148 54
I begin a Power-score LSAT Prep Course, September 2011:
June 2008: (#2) 20 20 17 13 155 70
December 2007: 16 18 11 14 151 59
December 2003: 19 16 16 14 154 65
June 2010: 14 16 11 11 148 52
(I withdraw from the October 2011 LSAT, as my higher scores are on older tests or retakes)
I take a test after a very long break, May 2012:
December 2008 (#2): 18 14 13 19 154 64
I begin self-study:
June 2007: 16 16 15 18 153 65

stillwater · Post by **stillwater** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:53 pm

Well your first mistake was Kaplan.

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:54 pm

stillwater wrote:Well your first mistake was Kaplan.

Yes, I ive in a tiny town and they are the only company here.

Samara · Post by **Samara** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:56 pm

Definitely retake.

stillwater · Post by **stillwater** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:59 pm

Samara wrote:Definitely retake.

+1

You've got nothing to lose.

99.9luft · Post by **99.9luft** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:01 pm

stillwater wrote:
Samara wrote:Definitely retake.
+1

You've got nothing to lose.

If can't travel, self-study with the bibles and/or take blueprint's online course.

gaud · Post by **gaud** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:01 pm

Kaplan blows, if you listen to anyone who says that it should be me.

Take time off and retake. Spend the money for a different prep course if you'd like or check out PithyPike's guide in the LSAT thread. Study hard and smart.

Retaking was the best decision I ever made.

Good luck to you.

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:23 pm

Hey thanks for the replies. I appreciate the feedback. I was expecting comments suggesting I reconsider law school altogether, so it’s refreshing to get some encouraging replies.
Does raising my score seem realistic, given the prep I put in the first time around?

gaud · Post by **gaud** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:31 pm

CarLover wrote:Hey thanks for the replies. I appreciate the feedback. I was expecting comments suggesting I reconsider law school altogether, so it’s refreshing to get some encouraging replies.
Does raising my score seem realistic, given the prep I put in the first time around?

Absolutely. Just stay away from Kaplan.

rbkl · Post by **rbkl** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:39 pm

What's your undergraduate major?

In the case that you can't raise your LSAT score for whatever reason, I believe you are smart enough to just land a nice job, but that is largely dependent on your major.

IMO It'll be a big struggle after graduating a T3/T4.

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 2:49 pm

rbkl wrote:What's your undergraduate major?

In the case that you can't raise your LSAT score for whatever reason, I believe you are smart enough to just land a nice job, but that is largely dependent on your major.

IMO It'll be a big struggle after graduating a T3/T4.

My degree is in the social sciences. I’m hoping I can find a job in the legal field while I continue to study, but am not sure how easy these jobs are to come by.

NewYorkL · Post by **NewYorkL** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:18 pm

I would of thought with at least a 3.7 UGPA, some school in the Top-100 would of taken a chance on you

Nova · Post by **Nova** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:30 pm

Samara wrote:Definitely retake.

This. Good luck!

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:30 pm

NewYorkL wrote:I would of thought with at least a 3.7 UGPA, some school in the Top-100 would of taken a chance on you

I thought so too. In retrospect, I should have applied to more schools. I did get WL in the top 100, but no acceptances.

twenty · Post by **twenty** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:30 pm

T3 and T4 schools will always be there. This is like turning down an offer from a community college.

PinkRevolver · Post by **PinkRevolver** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:50 pm

stillwater wrote:Well your first mistake was Kaplan.

chuckbass · Post by **chuckbass** » Tue May 22, 2012 3:59 pm

Definitely worth a retake, you could to a lot better than a T3/T4 with a 3.7.

mattviphky · Post by **mattviphky** » Tue May 22, 2012 6:00 pm

You don't need a course. Buy LRB and LGB from powerscore, order super prep book, and the latest 3 10 lsat books. Self-Studying is the way to go.

Nova · Post by **Nova** » Tue May 22, 2012 6:06 pm

mattviphky wrote:You don't need a course. Buy LRB and LGB from powerscore, order super prep book, and the latest 3 10 lsat books. Self-Studying is the way to go.

TCR. Thats everything you need for less than $300

danitt · Post by **danitt** » Tue May 22, 2012 6:12 pm

Nova wrote:
mattviphky wrote:You don't need a course. Buy LRB and LGB from powerscore, order super prep book, and the latest 3 10 lsat books. Self-Studying is the way to go.
TCR. Thats everything you need for less than $300

All of this. Plus I would throw in the Cambridge drilling packets and maybe a study schedule from LSAT Blog. You don't need to follow it to the t but it definitely works as a guide for structuring self study.

CarLover · Post by **CarLover** » Tue May 22, 2012 7:24 pm

Thanks for the responses. Self-study seems like the best way to go. I purchased the powerscore bibles and I plan to begin by going through these. Then, I will hit the preptests. Hopefully all of this will lead to a successful retake in October

LionelHutzJD · Post by **LionelHutzJD** » Tue May 22, 2012 11:47 pm

No debt? Shoot, go to a school, land a job making 35-45k and then work your ass off for raises.

mowmissy · Post by **mowmissy** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:10 am

Don't give up! I had a 151 from Dec 2011 LSAT administration. Now I'm PT'ing in the low 160s. I also gave the LSAT a try a few years ago, 151 Dec 08 and 150 Feb 09. I just didn't think it was possible to increase my score, but it IS! Repeatedly doing problems is the key and understanding/review them afterwards! Good luck!

Nova · Post by **Nova** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:22 am

mowmissy wrote:Don't give up! I had a 151 from Dec 2011 LSAT administration. Now I'm PT'ing in the low 160s. I also gave the LSAT a try a few years ago, 151 Dec 08 and 150 Feb 09. I just didn't think it was possible to increase my score, but it IS! Repeatedly doing problems is the key and understanding/review them afterwards! Good luck!

The LSAT is learnable. Many TLSers have had huge jumps.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 6&t=185232

top30man · Post by **top30man** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:27 am

Nova wrote:
mattviphky wrote:You don't need a course. Buy LRB and LGB from powerscore, order super prep book, and the latest 3 10 lsat books. Self-Studying is the way to go.
TCR. Thats everything you need for less than $300

151 LSAT, take a year off or attend T3 school? Forum

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