Will taking the LSAT three times hurt my admission chances? Forum

[t14orbust22]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

[Milksteak]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

I took three times and luckily I hit my goal. Slightly outperformed my numbers in admissions at T-14s. Don't think it has a negative impact at all.

[KMart]

Not really, no. A great LSAT score is a great LSAT score.

[etramak]

As far as I know, some schools officially say they average but they really only care about the score they report (the highest). Also, it begs the question what they would do for candidates like me who have a cancel. It wouldn't seem fair to disregard it (LSAC doesn't in terms of chances per 2 years). It also wouldn't be fair to count it as a zero or give me some arbitrarily low grade. Perhaps they could just double count my first score, but I digress. My point is if you improve your score, especially if its substantial, it's worth it.

I plan on taking it for the third time since June in February

[galeatus]

No.

/thread

[Mikey]

No.

[Lawschool305]

I dropped several points on my third take, and currently have had a great cycle. Take it three times, hopefully you don't go down lol

[Blueprint Mithun]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

No, getting a good LSAT score is much more important than how many times you took the test. Schools only have to report your highest score, so that's what factors into their admissions statistics. It won't put you at a disadvantage.

[SunDevil14]

No, except for Yale.

[appind]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

No, getting a good LSAT score is much more important than how many times you took the test. Schools only have to report your highest score, so that's what factors into their admissions statistics. It won't put you at a disadvantage.

does taking the test 5-6 times also not matter at all?

[BigZuck]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

No, getting a good LSAT score is much more important than how many times you took the test. Schools only have to report your highest score, so that's what factors into their admissions statistics. It won't put you at a disadvantage.

does taking the test 5-6 times also not matter at all?

Is the answer to this question going to affect your application strategy in any way?

[appind]

I am debating about whether I should take the LSAT in February and hope I get my goal score and if not retake in June, or if I should just wait until June to take it for 2018 admission? I already took the LSAT in June 2015 and did not get my goal score so I did not apply. I am testing closer to my goal now, but still unsure if I will get it. If I don't, I am fine retaking in June but I am worried that having three LSATs on record would put me at a disadvantage when it comes to admissions. I would love to hit my goal score and just be done with it by March so I can get an early start on the application process. Is anyone else in a similar predicament, or what would you recommend? I guess my question is would I be put at a disadvantage by having three LSATs on record instead of two? And what would a law school consider a "significant" score improvement over a previous LSAT? Any insight would be much appreciated!

No, getting a good LSAT score is much more important than how many times you took the test. Schools only have to report your highest score, so that's what factors into their admissions statistics. It won't put you at a disadvantage.

does taking the test 5-6 times also not matter at all?

Is the answer to this question going to affect your application strategy in any way?

I think yes. If it does, then any outside chance I may have at H or col would disappear, and I'd rather not waste app fee if there is no shot.

[BigZuck]

I wouldn't recommend not applying when you have numbers in range for a school you would like to attend

ETA: whether you have one LSAT score or 50

[appind]

I wouldn't recommend not applying when you have numbers in range for a school you would like to attend

ETA: whether you have one LSAT score or 50

I read on forum somewhere I think that more than 3 takes is kinda negative. If I had one lsat score, it's possile that i may have had a very very slim chance at H. but with my number of takes I am not sure if I have any to make app worth.

[aurelian]

Let's be clear -- still matters at Yale right?

[Incrementalist]

I always was of the belief if you had a great score that's all that matters. But I also think it depends on the point differential between the scores as well

[appind]

Let's be clear -- still matters at Yale right?

Interested as well

Particularly in cases where the number of takes is 5 -6 or more for HYS

[Doutrinador1]

take more that three times count to harvard?

[appind]

take more that three times count to harvard?

Curious also

Does it matter on the margins if you have 4 scores or just 4 takes (3 scores, 1 cancel)?

Similarly 5 takes but 4 scores vs. 5 takes 5 scores?

[Incrementalist]

I am a believer as long as you have a competitive score with significant gains that showed you put in the work to get better I don't see how it would effect someone in a negative light

[Toni V]

FWIW: The LSAT is not about you, it’s about the school recruiting the highest LSAT student they can, and of course, recruiting someone whose check clears.

[KMart]

FWIW: The LSAT is not about you, it’s about the school recruiting the highest LSAT student they can, and of course, recruiting someone whose check clears.

This. The thread should've ended awhile ago.

[appind]

FWIW: The LSAT is not about you, it’s about the school recruiting the highest LSAT student they can, and of course, recruiting someone whose check clears.

This. The thread should've ended awhile ago.

This is true for vast majority of schools but may be not HYS. These schools can afford to let a low lsat or financially disadvantaged applicant in and reject a high lsat one who's willing to pay sticker.

[maybeman]

I remember reading something Asha wrote a while back about Yale looking down on multiple takes. A one point increase is still probably worth it for Yale if you haven't already hit 175+ though

[BigZuck]

Just lol@ believing anything an adcom has to say