Super Splitter Here: 2.7, 165 (UPDATED, re-taking) Forum

[David_Hume14]

OP, you still haven't said how much you studied. This may help people tell you how likely it is that you can get a much higher score.

6 weeks

[iamgeorgebush]

And how much did you study during these six weeks? An hour a day? Two? Three? Four?

[David_Hume14]

And how much did you study during these six weeks? An hour a day? Two? Three? Four?

couple hours each weekday, maybe 8 on the weekends

[iamgeorgebush]

So somewhere between 150 and 200 hours total.

My advice to you is to retake in June and apply next cycle. 150-200 hours is not that much. For perspective, lots of TSLers put it 300+ hours, sometimes even 500+ or 600+. I know I put in at least 500 over the course of 8 months, and I was making gains on PTs up until the last couple weeks before the test (granted that there were plateau periods).

[DoveBodyWash]

Cram like crazy and take the December test, if that doesn't work out, then take June. But there will be diminishing returns for improved LSAT for you because of your GPA. I think getting a 166-171 would create way more opportunities, especially for scholarships. But I don't see anything above 171 helping you substantially because of your GPA.

ETA: If you take December and get 166 or higher then I would apply this cycle to see what happens. If it doesn't work out then you can always re-take in June and try again

[David_Hume14]

Cram like crazy and take the December test, if that doesn't work out, then take June. But there will be diminishing returns for improved LSAT for you because of your GPA. I think getting a 166-171 would create way more opportunities, especially for scholarships. But I don't see anything above 171 helping you substantially because of your GPA.

ETA: If you take December and get 166 or higher then I would apply this cycle to see what happens. If it doesn't work out then you can always re-take in June and try again

ok, let's say i do get *at least* a point higher. where should I look? same schools but with a little $?

[DoveBodyWash]

Cram like crazy and take the December test, if that doesn't work out, then take June. But there will be diminishing returns for improved LSAT for you because of your GPA. I think getting a 166-171 would create way more opportunities, especially for scholarships. But I don't see anything above 171 helping you substantially because of your GPA.

ETA: If you take December and get 166 or higher then I would apply this cycle to see what happens. If it doesn't work out then you can always re-take in June and try again

ok, let's say i do get *at least* a point higher. where should I look? same schools but with a little $?

the difference between 166 and 165 was the difference between a full ride and a mediocre award for my cycle, so def apply to WUSTL.

I'd also throw in Emory, GW, BU, Illinois, Fordham. Maybe USC and BC? Basically look at 2016 medians and apply to any school whose median dropped below 166. Those are the schools that will presumably be trying to redeem themselves. Or apply to schools that are desperately clinging to the 166 (see WUSTL)

Personally I think you could get into Emory/GW with your current numbers, but a higher LSAT will yield more scholarship.

[David_Hume14]

Cram like crazy and take the December test, if that doesn't work out, then take June. But there will be diminishing returns for improved LSAT for you because of your GPA. I think getting a 166-171 would create way more opportunities, especially for scholarships. But I don't see anything above 171 helping you substantially because of your GPA.

ETA: If you take December and get 166 or higher then I would apply this cycle to see what happens. If it doesn't work out then you can always re-take in June and try again

ok, let's say i do get *at least* a point higher. where should I look? same schools but with a little $?

the difference between 166 and 165 was the difference between a full ride and a mediocre award for my cycle, so def apply to WUSTL.

I'd also throw in Emory, GW, BU, Illinois, Fordham. Maybe USC and BC? Basically look at 2016 medians and apply to any school whose median dropped below 166. Those are the schools that will presumably be trying to redeem themselves. Or apply to schools that are desperately clinging to the 166 (see WUSTL)

Personally I think you could get into Emory/GW with your current numbers, but a higher LSAT will yield more scholarship.

USC? They never crossed my mind. aren't wc schools some of the /least/ splitter friendly? http://usc.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1314

[DoveBodyWash]

USC? They never crossed my mind. aren't wc schools some of the /least/ splitter friendly?

Generally yes. But USC was overambitious with the 167 wall last cycle and ended up with a 166. If you apply with a 166+ you'll likely get waitlisted. But you could still get admitted. In the end you have nothing to lose by applying other than the application fee, which they might waive for you if your score improves

[HYSenberg]

USC issued a blanket fee waiver if you apply before a certain date, so no reason not to apply.

[David_Hume14]

USC issued a blanket fee waiver if you apply before a certain date, so no reason not to apply.

schools are giving out fee waivers like candy. all it takes is asking. every school i've mentioned has already given me a free pass.

[iamgeorgebush]

No...please...do not be content with a 2.7/166. It's hard to glean much from LSN because of the small sample size (http://mylsn.info/jmsv1f), but you would stand such a better chance with a 168+ score (you could even get Northwestern).

Compare http://mylsn.info/jmsv1f and http://mylsn.info/n53unm

[Ti Malice]

you might get into WUSTL but you likely won't get money unless the target median drops to 165 or something. Re-take in December

There's no guarantee that WUSTL will be able to sustain the spending spree it went on last cycle.

[Ti Malice]

And how much did you study during these six weeks? An hour a day? Two? Three? Four?

couple hours each weekday, maybe 8 on the weekends

Jesus. For most people that's not even enough time to make all of the easier gains. You'd be out of your mind not to retake.

[DoveBodyWash]

you might get into WUSTL but you likely won't get money unless the target median drops to 165 or something. Re-take in December

There's no guarantee that WUSTL will be able to sustain the spending spree it went on last cycle.

yeah our Dean basically told SBA that it wouldn't happen again...but WUSTL was always relatively generous compared to its peers

[PepperJack]

The idea of making a pilgrimage to a regional school you have no ties to is 0L. You're going to be in SMU or UICU scrambling to get back to NY.

[BigZuck]

Dude, you're doing it wrong. Where are your ties? Where did you grow up, go to high school, etc.? Those are the markets you should be targeting. Applying to schools are disparate as Hastings, WUSTL, and UGA makes no sense (except for scholarship negotiations purposes). You can't just say, "Well I like the Falcons so I think Atlanta would be cool." A. You've never been there so you have no idea if you would actually like living there long term. B. The job market is crap and schools like UGA will be full of locals that will be almost certainly ahead of you in the pecking order unless you get top grades and C. You don't have an academic background that could lead you to predict top grades (if they were actually predictable).

The market is crap, half the people who go to law school don't become lawyers. You have to do whatever you can to mitigate the risk that you will be part of that 50%. Right now, if anything you're making it more likely you will fail.

[David_Hume14]

Dude, you're doing it wrong. Where are your ties? Where did you grow up, go to high school, etc.? Those are the markets you should be targeting. Applying to schools are disparate as Hastings, WUSTL, and UGA makes no sense (except for scholarship negotiations purposes). You can't just say, "Well I like the Falcons so I think Atlanta would be cool." A. You've never been there so you have no idea if you would actually like living there long term. B. The job market is crap and schools like UGA will be full of locals that will be almost certainly ahead of you in the pecking order unless you get top grades and C. You don't have an academic background that could lead you to predict top grades (if they were actually predictable).

The market is crap, half the people who go to law school don't become lawyers. You have to do whatever you can to mitigate the risk that you will be part of that 50%. Right now, if anything you're making it more likely you will fail.

ties to nyc, southern cal, and flyover country (utah, idaho)

[David_Hume14]

UPDATE: I've decided to re-take. If I can score a 170, what are my chances at Northwestern, UPenn, UVA, and G'town?

dh

[jbagelboy]

UPDATE: I've decided to re-take. If I can score a 170, what are my chances at Northwestern, UPenn, UVA, and G'town?

dh

None at Penn, but definitely possible at NU and GULC. Not sure UVa will dip that low next cycle but its worth the app

That being said, its very difficult to predict 2014-2015 results w/o having seen this cycle go thru.

[iamgeorgebush]

UPDATE: I've decided to re-take. If I can score a 170, what are my chances at Northwestern, UPenn, UVA, and G'town?

dh

[David_Hume14]

UPDATE: I've decided to re-take. If I can score a 170, what are my chances at Northwestern, UPenn, UVA, and G'town?

dh

None at Penn, but definitely possible at NU and GULC. Not sure UVa will dip that low next cycle but its worth the app

That being said, its very difficult to predict 2014-2015 results w/o having seen this cycle go thru.

I'll be applying this cycle, '13-'14