Page 1 of 2
Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:52 pm
by whatsup2b
Took the LSAT 3x (cancel, 160, 160) while working full time. At this point, I can retake a 4th time in October or pay sticker at Boston College Law School in the fall. If I retake, I will be quitting my job 2.5 months in advance to prep full time.
Additional info:
2 yrs of solid WE (Bloomberg and V20)
Just turned 23 years old
3.77 GPA
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:54 pm
by BerkeleyBear
whatsup2b wrote:Took the LSAT 3x (cancel, 160, 160) while working full time. At this point, I can retake a 4th time in October or pay sticker at Boston College Law School in the fall. If I retake, I will be quitting my job 2.5 months in advance to prep full time.
Additional info:
2 yrs of solid WE (Bloomberg and V20)
Just turned 23 years old
3.77 GPA
I vote for a retake.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:57 pm
by Dr. Dre
BerkeleyBear wrote:
I vote for a retake.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:09 pm
by bizzybone1313
I quit my $60K consulting job to study for the LSAT. Studying for the LSAT the right way is impossible while working a full time job. I would quit 4-5 mnths before your LSAT date to focus it. Give it your best shot. All you can do is try your best and let the chips fall where they may. TLS has rided me real hard for quitting my job to focus on the LSAT. You have to do what is best for you. I don't know how other people were able to balance the two. That shit sucks. There is so much material to cover.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:19 pm
by whatsup2b
bizzybone1313 wrote:I quit my $60K consulting job to study for the LSAT. Studying for the LSAT the right way is impossible while working a full time job. I would quit 4-5 mnths before your LSAT date to focus it. Give it your best shot. All you can do is try your best and let the chips fall where they may. TLS has rided me real hard for quitting my job to focus on the LSAT. You have to do what is best for you. I don't know how other people were able to balance the two. That shit sucks. There is so much material to cover.
How's your studying coming along? Check your inbox.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:18 pm
by objection_your_honor
Not necessary to quit your job, especially if you start studying this week.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:22 pm
by rebexness
bizzybone1313 wrote:I quit my $60K consulting job to study for the LSAT. Studying for the LSAT the right way is impossible while working a full time job.
Its not impossible. Tons of people do it.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:23 pm
by Dr. Dre
rebexness wrote:bizzybone1313 wrote:I quit my $60K consulting job to study for the LSAT. Studying for the LSAT the right way is impossible while working a full time job.
Its not impossible. Tons of people do it.
It's not impossible, but certainly not enjoyable and indeed not ideal.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:24 pm
by rebexness
Dr. Dre wrote:rebexness wrote:bizzybone1313 wrote:I quit my $60K consulting job to study for the LSAT. Studying for the LSAT the right way is impossible while working a full time job.
Its not impossible. Tons of people do it.
It's not impossible, but certainly not enjoyable and indeed not ideal.
I'm not expecting any part of this to be enjoyable. Are you?
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:28 pm
by Dr. Dre
by not enjoyable what i mean is that you will burn out and therefore not get benefit from studying the LSAT
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:32 pm
by whatsup2b
Interesting. To those who voted BC Law - Care to pitch in?
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:40 pm
by bizzybone1313
You just don't want to wonder the rest of your life if you could have done more. The worst part about the LSAT is that it is difficult to know when you are fully prepared and really ready to sit for it. I couldn't live with myself knowing I didn't do everything possible to knock it out of the park.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:47 pm
by hephaestus
objection_your_honor wrote:Not necessary to quit your job, especially if you start studying this week.
I think this is true. I studied while working 45 hours a week.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:00 pm
by bobbypin
What is different now than the other two times you scored a 160? In all likelihood, 160 is a fair score for you. Whatever law school you attend will see two scores of 160 and expect that is a fair score for you. What happens if you attempt a retake and get a lower score? I know that TLS's mantra is retake, but there is something to be said for a bird in the hand.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:04 pm
by RhymesLikeDimes
Sticker at BC is a bad move. Even if the situation surrounding a retake isn't ideal, you really should.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:20 pm
by vzapana
I second the notion that studying while working is possible. I took the lsat once, and I did well. Studied while working a 60 hr/wk job. I just chose not to sleep for two months. Did it suck? Yes. But the work added structure to my life, and that made me efficient about my study regimen. I don't think I would've done much better had I quit my job, because I'm the type that needs a lot of structure.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 3:25 pm
by whatsup2b
Thanks everyone. I think I will go ahead and prep for a 4th retake. Anyone know how law schools generally look at a 4th retake? Or will they just take the highest score (assuming I score higher than 160).
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:09 am
by Thelonious Kwiggz
Don't quit your job, it is good to have something that will take your mind off the LSAT during the day. I gotta ask what are you planning to do different studying this time? What sections give you the most difficulty?
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:19 pm
by Skill Game
whatsup2b wrote:Thanks everyone. I think I will go ahead and prep for a 4th retake. Anyone know how law schools generally look at a 4th retake? Or will they just take the highest score (assuming I score higher than 160).
Some schools do an average, but most schools take the highest. So whatever number they choose, that's the only criteria they're going to base anything on. They don't look at your 4 test administrations and say "well hey he had to try 4 times to get what he wanted, maybe he's not right for our school".
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:50 pm
by cahwc12
Thelonious Kwiggz wrote:Don't quit your job, it is good to have something that will take your mind off the LSAT during the day. I gotta ask what are you planning to do different studying this time? What sections give you the most difficulty?
I quit my job to study full time and loved it, but to be honest, there are a lot of people who were able to study and work full time and did better than I did. I also had a TON of free time because studying full-time requires only 3-4 hours a day--you just can't commit much more than that even if you want to.
I think going to BC at sticker is a terrible idea, but don't quit your job to retake. And if you only have one more shot over the next couple years, take it in OCTOBER. Then work while you study over the next six months.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:41 pm
by whatsup2b
cahwc12 wrote:Thelonious Kwiggz wrote:Don't quit your job, it is good to have something that will take your mind off the LSAT during the day. I gotta ask what are you planning to do different studying this time? What sections give you the most difficulty?
I quit my job to study full time and loved it, but to be honest, there are a lot of people who were able to study and work full time and did better than I did. I also had a TON of free time because studying full-time requires only 3-4 hours a day--you just can't commit much more than that even if you want to.
I think going to BC at sticker is a terrible idea, but don't quit your job to retake. And if you only have one more shot over the next couple years, take it in OCTOBER. Then work while you study over the next six months.
Thanks! That's inspirational. I think I'm going to start studying in June while working. Then quit job in August to go into lockdown studying mode. Then score a 165+ hopefully
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:43 pm
by whatsup2b
Thelonious Kwiggz wrote:Don't quit your job, it is good to have something that will take your mind off the LSAT during the day. I gotta ask what are you planning to do different studying this time? What sections give you the most difficulty?
Good idea but I've decided to quit my job 2 months into my 4 month study plan (August). I think RC gives me the most difficulty. I'm not a fast reader and if I read too fast, I miss the details. I think I'm fine with LG. I still need work on LR. Any suggestions on what material and study plan I should follow?
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:44 pm
by whatsup2b
RhymesLikeDimes wrote:Sticker at BC is a bad move. Even if the situation surrounding a retake isn't ideal, you really should.
Thanks for your awesome advice! Time for a 4th retake. Hopefully 4th time the charm!
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:17 am
by Ben Franklin
objection_your_honor wrote:Not necessary to quit your job, especially if you start studying this week.
This. Especially since you are retaking, you are in a different position vs. someone studying for their first test. That being said, 64 days can be enough time for someone taking their first test, but more than enough for someone taking it for the 4th time. Assuming you are aware of your weak areas, you should be able to crush it this time around by focusing on your weaknesses.
Re: Retake a 4th time or go to law school?
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:26 am
by Dr. Dre
Ben Franklin wrote:objection_your_honor wrote:Not necessary to quit your job, especially if you start studying this week.
This. Especially since you are retaking, you are in a different position vs. someone studying for their first test. That being said, 64 days can be enough time for someone taking their first test, but more than enough for someone taking it for the 4th time. Assuming you are aware of your weak areas, you should be able to crush it this time around by focusing on your weaknesses.
This.
But i think what would be the BEST option is to NOT go to law school at all.