Apply with Current LSAT Score or Retake and Put off Applying for a Year Forum

[footballlax55]

I posted this in the Law School Admission Forum, but seeing as it is pertinent LSAT prep and discussion, I posted this here as well. If it's against forum rules to post the same(ish) thing in 2 different places, please let me know and I'll remove this one.

I was wondering if y'all could weigh in and help me figure out if I should apply this cycle or retake the LSAT, taking it in February, and apply next cycle.

Ultimately my thinking is this:
Retaking would probably allow me to get into a better school and I would feel like I had achieved my potential. I’ve never dreamed of going to Cornell or something, but I have dreamed of Columbia, Harvard, NYU, UVA.
Unfortunately, it would mean I’d have to put my life on hold for another year, which is something I hadn’t planned for (I don’t like change/things not going according to plan). I’d have to put in more work studying for the LSAT (which was tedious and tiring) and aim for 3.8-4.0 gpa this and the next semester instead of like a 3.5 (a 3.8 is exponentially harder to achieve than a 3.5). I’d have to find a solid job or internship until I went to law school the next year.
And there is always the chance that putting off my life and dreams for a year might all be for naught. Next year’s admissions cycle might be more competitive so an increase in gpa from 3.5 to 3.55/3.60 and an LSAT increased from 169 to 171 might not be as impactful. And there’s also the small chance chance that I might not increase my GPA or LSAT.

For a more in depth explanation of my thinking, please read below if you have the time. This is going to be pretty lengthy so please bear with me.

Background:
169 LSAT
3.50 GPA (2.7gpa first semester and then 3.65 avg for the semesters after that)
Internship for US Senator this past summer, independent honors research 2 summers ago that ended in a 40 page paper, worked the 2 summers before that
Top 25ish university (according to USNWR)
A lot of vice president or officer roles in various student organizations and my fraternity.

So yeah, I sort of dug myself into a hole my first semester with a C- and some Bs and have been working on getting out of it since then. I believe my GPA is what is holding me back, so I was trying to do well on the LSAT to make up for it but fell a couple points short of my goal.

I did 30 PTs, and around 10 of them twice. I was averaging 170 over the last 8 or so PTs. I scored between 167 and 174 on them. Ignoring the 167 because it was taken in awful conditions, and based on my upward trend, I predicted I'd get around 171-173 on test day. And especially because I thought I got very lucky on test day and everything went well and I felt awake and alert, I really thought i'd score between 172 and 174 with a -12 curve.

If I retook the LSAT, I'd take it in February so I have time to study for it more (the December test is too close to finals and to now). This time around I'd try using blind review and I'd spend more time doing full length practice tests that were timed. With this additional studying, I believe I could definitely score 171 or higher on the retake and might get lucky and score like 173+ as I had a couple times in the past.

Anyway, I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of applying now or waiting a year.

Applying now:
Pros:
Everything would be going according to how I envisioned things unfolding.
I'd be able to relax in the spring and enjoy my last semester of college.
I'd hopefully still get into at least 1 T14 school.
I'd get to start law school right away instead of what I'd probably see as just a year of working while I wait to go to law school.
Cons:
Probably wouldn't get into as good of a school as I am capable of or want to go to.
Applications might be a tad rushed.
Wouldn’t be fully satisfied that I never achieved what I was capable of doing (going to a great school)

Applying next year:
Pros:
Likely would get higher LSAT.
Likely would bring my GPA up to 3.55-3.60.
Would have more time to apply and write quality essays etc.
Would probably have some work experience
All of that would mean I’d probably get into a better school.
And I might get more money to go to that school.

Cons:
Admissions cycle might be tougher.
I’d have an extra 200+ hours of LSAT studying to do.
Might not have good letters of recommendation due to being out of school for months.


Please let me know what you'd do if you were in my place, let me know if I'm forgetting any consequences of applying this year or waiting to retake the LSAT, and provide any help you can.

Thanks a ton!

[PrayFor170]

Why next year's admission cycle will be tougher?

[bigv]

Should've spent the time writing this up studying for your retake.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You can get LORs now and save them for the next cycle. The idea that your letters won't be good because you're applying the year after graduation just isn't a thing.