LSAT prep score 158 Forum

[merrie1982]

Hi All,
This is my first time posting, so here goes...

I decided to go to Law School rather abruptly. I graduate this December and would like to start attending in the fall, so not too much time to prepare. I am planning on taking the Feb LSAT.

I purchased the superprep book, and was given a 10 LSAT test book, along with the LGB, and LRB.
Took my first try at a test today (no studying), which I did time, 35 minutes per section, and got a 158 :/
My score was very unevenly distributed, only 8 right from the LG section, 42 out of 50 on the LR, and 24 out of 27 on the RC,
So clearly LG are my big weakness. Is it normal for one section to be so poor? I did run out of time on the LG section and guessed at the last 6 ?, but I was basically just guessing anyway, I got so lost in this section.

Is it possible that I could improve in this area enough to dramatically increase my score before feb? I am hoping for a 170 if possible. I know that is a lot, but that's the hope anyway.

Definitely not giving up, just wondering if anyone else has done this poorly in the LG section and been able to improve.

Thanks-
Mer

[Kratos]

So you're graduating UG in a month. Want to take the LSAT in february. And then want to attend law school next fall? Take some time off for christ's sake. Get a job. Enjoy life outside of a school setting. Make money. Learn how to be an adult. Besides, most of the top schools probably won't accept February scores.

[malleus discentium]

1. A 158 is an excellent diagnostic when you take it under real conditions, like you did. Mine was a 155 and I scored a 175. You absolutely can score a 180.
2. LG is almost always the weakest section initially and is also almost always the easiest to improve. You can and should be consistently going -0/-1 on LG sections by the time you sit the exam,
3. which you should not do in February because you should not matriculate fall 2015. Getting into a good school with good money with a February score will be difficult. You can probably study enough by then, but it will be tight.
4. You should take a year off, work during that time and matriculate in fall 2016. This will benefit you heavily at OCI, marginally for admissions, and will give you valuable life perspective. You should try to work at a law firm to see if it's something you really want to do with your life.
5. Get letters of recommendation now.

[Pneumonia]

158 is a very very good score for your first test. Don't take feb; study for june and apply early next fall. It will be worth it.

[nlee10]

A 158 timed diagnostic is amazing! Since you only got 8/23 right on LG, with enough practice, you can reach -0 to -2 without problem. Depending on your final GPA, you have great potential at the top T14.

Please take a gap year to study for the LSAT/work/volunteer. I think I can relate to you that I once wanted to go to law school ASAP. Once you are out of school and living the real world for a bit, you will realize a few years' worth of a gap will be beneficial to you.

[merrie1982]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I am "hurrying" because I am 32. I have already taken several years off between hs and college, and again between junior and senior year of college. I have worked full time since I was 16 and a junior in hs. (And to the post that said I should learn to be an adult, trust me, I have :/ ) I guess I feel like I am just running out of time to get this done. I see what you all are saying, though, I am sure that scholarships and admissions are more likely earlier in the game. I do have my recommendations lined up. My gpa is only going to be a 3.33 bc of some administrative fails due to dropping incorrectly 3 years ago. I am hoping to get into bc, or bu, to stay local.

[giantswan]

I am going to agree with everyone else on this one. I applied late last year with unsatisfactory results and was advised by many people to wait and reapply. I am younger than you but still have been out of undergrad for a couple years and did not relish the thought of "wasting" another year. I did end up deciding to wait and applied early this cycle, already glad I did.


As far as your LSAT goes though, I think you could take the February LSAT. My first diagnostic (cold, timed) was 163 and I brought it up to the 170s with two months of studying. And I had a -2 on my LG section so I was working with having to improve some abysmal RC and LR scores. I think for you to be scoring that well on the other two sections is awesome - LG is the most easily improved section.