Based on my situation: Feb 2013 or June 2013 LSAT? Forum

[ibbu]

Just wanted some input from the TLS crowd on whether I should register for the Feb 2013 or June 2013 LSAT test date.

Sept 2012 - 1st free LSAT practice test from Kaplan (scored 153)
Oct to November 2012 - Took a Blueprint course, studied very casually for the LSAT outside of class (generously speaking, maybe 4 hours outside of class, per week)
Dec 1 to 14 - Finals period at uni, so (am/will be) studying LSAT about 1-2 hours a day.

Now I'm kicking myself for not studying more seriously during the actual course - I estimate that can probably sanely study 7 hrs/day over winter break from Dec 15-Jan 7 (about 24 days).
I estimate that if I register for the Feb date, I'll be able complete about 22 prep tests between Jan 8 and Feb 8.

I'm aiming for a 175+, minimum score to consider going to law school in this economy is 168 in my head. LR and RC I can do comfortably under timed conditions (missing 3-4 per LR section due to careless mistakes, and RC almost perfect). For LG however, it takes me about 14 min to comfortably work out a non-basic game, and I'm usually starting the 3rd game just as the buzzer goes off...

If you were me, would you push the test date to June (Pro: can do more prep tests, Con: conflicts with finals) or stick with Feb? If you'd go for Feb, I'd greatly appreciate any feedback on the study plan I outlined above!

P.S. I'm currently a junior but not considering the Oct 2013 or Dec 2013 test date

[TripTrip]

If you're not ready, don't take February. Why is October out of the question?

LG is the easiest to improve on, and getting rid of careless mistakes in LR isn't too big of a hurdle. You're on your way.

[objection_your_honor]

You haven't taken a PT since the 157?

It looks like you've only given a very casual month or so to studying. Even with substantial prep another month would be cutting it close. If you're serious about hitting 175+, aim for June.

[ibbu]

If you're not ready, don't take February. Why is October out of the question?

LG is the easiest to improve on, and getting rid of careless mistakes in LR isn't too big of a hurdle. You're on your way.

I have some academic plans lined up for the summer that involve travelling, so I think it would ruin the experience to be studying and traveling at the same time. Thanks for the feedback!

[gobuffs10]

June. Not worth rushing for February. By the time you get scores back, you'll be late in the cycle, and a lot of doors will have already closed. Furthermore, you've got a lot of work to do before you hit 175. When I started, I was where you are on LG. You can get to the point where you're getting 100% on an LG section, or close to it. In fact, when I retook, the only section that improved was LG, but that alone caused a 7-point overall jump, and even then just with "casual study," as you called it.

Grab the Power Score bibles, follow PithyPike's guide and get to work. Take as many LSATs as humanly possible. And you're only a junior, so I'd worry more about your GPA. Keep it where it's at or, even better, bust your ass and raise it in these last two years, then worry about the LSAT. You can still control your GPA, so I'd focus on that. In many instances it's the lesser part of the admissions equation of LSAT/GPA, but it's still damn important.

Actually, now that I think of it, you're only a junior anyway. You don't need to rush for February. Just be disciplined starting in early April, and take the June test.

[Cerebro]

I'm going to go against the grain and suggest that you take the test in February, if you feel you are ready and have consistently hit your target score on your PTs. If at some point during your prep, you start to believe that you would benefit from more time or you don't believe you're quite ready, you can always withdraw up until the day before the test. Sure, it's expensive to withdraw and re-register, but you'll probably feel pretty good about your situation if you are able to get past the LSAT so that it's not hanging over your head for the next 6 months or whatever.

Additionally, let's say that you followed everyone else's advice above and push it out to June, but something happens along the way and you aren't able to put in as much time as you had planned, or you REALLY needed the extra time in June to worry about your finals. At that point, you'll regret that you didn't buckle down and get it out of the way in February. That said, if you apply yourself and put in a herculean effort in December and January, but you decide to withdraw and try for June, at least you'll know that you did all you could when you had the decision in front of you.

[Grazzhoppa]

june. you arent going to apply with a feb score anyway.

[Br3v]

june. you arent going to apply with a feb score anyway.

[Stupe]

June. Since you don't seem ready yet, why would you do Feb anyway? June gives you six months to study and still leaves you plenty of time to retake in October (or even December) if you don't get the score you want.