Struggling whether to postpone Forum

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 9:57 pm

Long time lurker. New here. I'm struggling whether or not to put off until December and I appreciate any advice here! Thank you!

Background: I did my undergrad outside of US in a top university GPA 3.8, and was enrolled into a top graduate program in US. Some ordinary softs but nothing really stands out.

Struggling with a depressed feeling for a long time, and having studied very inefficiently for the past two months, I finally decided to see a doctor and several weeks ago I was diagnosed as major depression and was prescribed anti-depressant. After I took the medication, I felt I studied far more efficiently, and I wish I had seen a doctor earlier, but...well, my PT in the past fluctuated quite a bit, depending on my mental state, ranging between 159-170. Now I feel I'm perfectly alive and healthy, I am sure (at least I feel so) I can make immense improvement on my score given two extra months.

My problem is: since my performance fluctuate, I have no confidence at all I would even break 170, and if I'm unlucky, I might come out with a lower 160. Taking the December one means I run the risk of missing this cycle. Several friends suggested that I took October one and try my luck, but at the same time I'm afraid I might max out the 3 chances in 2 years thing.

Would it be wise to postpone until December while taking the risk that I might miss this cycle? My target is school is T14, dream school is NYU or Columbia. My career goal is big-law for at least several years after leaving law school.

PS. My depression issue has nothing to do with academic reasons or stress management. Mainly because of childhood abuse and something like that. In fact I feel immensely better after getting medication.

PatriotP74 · Post by **PatriotP74** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 10:32 pm

Post removed...

pterodactyls · Post by **pterodactyls** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:47 am

PatriotP74 wrote:
I am currently planning on taking the October test then just continuing studying for the December test. If my October score comes out amazing I will cancel the December and send in apps, otherwise I just keep preparing.

I'm doing the same.

From what I've found, the only schools that don't just take the highest score are Yale and (maybe) Stanford. If the schools you are aiming for only consider your highest score, there isn't a major downside to taking the test twice.

You already paid $180 to take the test, may as well take it. Worst case scenario, it serves as a (very realistic) preptest for you and you retake in December for a higher score. May make you less nervous in December having already taken it once. Best case scenario, you do really well and don't have to retake.

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 3:20 pm

pterodactyls wrote:
PatriotP74 wrote:
I am currently planning on taking the October test then just continuing studying for the December test. If my October score comes out amazing I will cancel the December and send in apps, otherwise I just keep preparing.
I'm doing the same.

From what I've found, the only schools that don't just take the highest score are Yale and (maybe) Stanford. If the schools you are aiming for only consider your highest score, there isn't a major downside to taking the test twice.

You already paid $180 to take the test, may as well take it. Worst case scenario, it serves as a (very realistic) preptest for you and you retake in December for a higher score. May make you less nervous in December having already taken it once. Best case scenario, you do really well and don't have to retake.

Actually what I'm afraid of is wasting a precious chance while knowing there is a fat chance I couldn't hit 170. You know we only have three chances in two years.

i_wish_i_was_smart · Post by **i_wish_i_was_smart** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:40 pm

Post removed...

PatriotP74 · Post by **PatriotP74** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:35 pm

Post removed...

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:38 pm

PatriotP74 wrote:
PrayFor170 wrote:
pterodactyls wrote:
PatriotP74 wrote:
I am currently planning on taking the October test then just continuing studying for the December test. If my October score comes out amazing I will cancel the December and send in apps, otherwise I just keep preparing.
I'm doing the same.

From what I've found, the only schools that don't just take the highest score are Yale and (maybe) Stanford. If the schools you are aiming for only consider your highest score, there isn't a major downside to taking the test twice.

You already paid $180 to take the test, may as well take it. Worst case scenario, it serves as a (very realistic) preptest for you and you retake in December for a higher score. May make you less nervous in December having already taken it once. Best case scenario, you do really well and don't have to retake.

Actually what I'm afraid of is wasting a precious chance while knowing there is a fat chance I couldn't hit 170. You know we only have three chances in two years.

If you 100% want to go to law school next year, then you only have 2 real chances to take it anyways. If you plan on waiting a year then you should really just prep for June. If you are unsure of when you want to go then you can take December, June, and then October next year as your 3 takes. If December goes well maybe you don't take the next two, If it doesn't then well you have 2 more options! For me I've taken the LSAT twice, both over 2 years ago so I have all my takes, however I'm 99% sure I will be going next fall, so taking October and December does not hurt me, and still leaves me with June if I ended up taking another year off.

You shouldn't leave out February.

malleus discentium · Post by **malleus discentium** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:50 pm

Don't take real LSATs for practice. Don't take real LSATs unless you are rock-solid confident you know your stuff. Why do you want to go to law school next year? What's the problem with missing a cycle?

Phoenix97 · Post by **Phoenix97** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:40 am

Post removed...

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:50 am

malleus discentium wrote:Don't take real LSATs for practice. Don't take real LSATs unless you are rock-solid confident you know your stuff. Why do you want to go to law school next year? What's the problem with missing a cycle?

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:12 am

malleus discentium wrote:Don't take real LSATs for practice. Don't take real LSATs unless you are rock-solid confident you know your stuff. Why do you want to go to law school next year? What's the problem with missing a cycle?

For me, applying to this cycle matters a bit less than settling down in a mediocre law school, especially given that I've studied efficiently for only a few weeks and PT at 165-170. The only problem missing this cycle is my US visa will expire and I have to go back to my home country and find a temporary job.

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:13 am

Phoenix97 wrote:
PatriotP74 wrote:
I am currently planning on taking the October test then just continuing studying for the December test. If my October score comes out amazing I will cancel the December and send in apps, otherwise I just keep preparing.
Nice to know I'm not the only one. You are currently registered for both?

I'm registered for both too, and still feel really unsure.

PatriotP74 · Post by **PatriotP74** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:22 am

Post removed...

pterodactyls · Post by **pterodactyls** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 4:47 pm

malleus discentium wrote:What's the problem with missing a cycle?

I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to do something with my life other than sit around and wait to go to law school (get degree, start real career, get married, have kids, buy house, etc.). I'm taking October and December (and February if need be) and wherever I end up, I end up. I'm not going to keep postponing my life to get a higher score, I want to go to law school.

PatriotP74 · Post by **PatriotP74** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:22 pm

Post removed...

FloridaCoastalorbust · Post by **FloridaCoastalorbust** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:37 pm

def postpone. if you feel like it's a possibility scoring in the low 160s you shouldn't take the lsat. it's too important. another reason is that it is generally a good idea to seek work experience. look for a good job for post graduation instead of going to LS. etc.

malleus discentium · Post by **malleus discentium** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:22 pm

pterodactyls wrote:
malleus discentium wrote:What's the problem with missing a cycle?
I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to do something with my life other than sit around and wait to go to law school (get degree, start real career, get married, have kids, buy house, etc.). I'm taking October and December (and February if need be) and wherever I end up, I end up. I'm not going to keep postponing my life to get a higher score, I want to go to law school.

If someone goes to a bad law school with a bad score instead of a great law school with a great score because they didn't want to "sit around and wait," the only thing they're "doing" with their life is ruining it. Refusing to delay a cycle with a weak LSAT because you want to go to law school now is a terrible idea in almost every circumstance (an expiring visa is one of the handful of exceptions).

pterodactyls · Post by **pterodactyls** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 12:41 pm

malleus discentium wrote:
pterodactyls wrote:
malleus discentium wrote:What's the problem with missing a cycle?
I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to do something with my life other than sit around and wait to go to law school (get degree, start real career, get married, have kids, buy house, etc.). I'm taking October and December (and February if need be) and wherever I end up, I end up. I'm not going to keep postponing my life to get a higher score, I want to go to law school.
If someone goes to a bad law school with a bad score instead of a great law school with a great score because they didn't want to "sit around and wait," the only thing they're "doing" with their life is ruining it. Refusing to delay a cycle with a weak LSAT because you want to go to law school now is a terrible idea in almost every circumstance (an expiring visa is one of the handful of exceptions).

If my current score ranges in 167-170 and I could put off a year to score 175, I don't think I would "ruin" my life by going to such a terrible school like Berkeley or Cornell instead of Harvard.

PrayFor170 · Post by **PrayFor170** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 3:03 pm

malleus discentium wrote:
pterodactyls wrote:
malleus discentium wrote:What's the problem with missing a cycle?
I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to do something with my life other than sit around and wait to go to law school (get degree, start real career, get married, have kids, buy house, etc.). I'm taking October and December (and February if need be) and wherever I end up, I end up. I'm not going to keep postponing my life to get a higher score, I want to go to law school.
If someone goes to a bad law school with a bad score instead of a great law school with a great score because they didn't want to "sit around and wait," the only thing they're "doing" with their life is ruining it. Refusing to delay a cycle with a weak LSAT because you want to go to law school now is a terrible idea in almost every circumstance (an expiring visa is one of the handful of exceptions).

The visa part is the biggest reason why I struggle until now. In my home country 7sage and possibly other online resources are censored and blocked and the VPN sometimes work horribly.