Top Law Schools

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Retake.

How much studying did you do? Improving that LSAT just a bit will open many more doors for you.

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Your success depends a great deal on how early you apply and the quality of your overall package.

My numers are 167/3.9 from a large public, and I had the following results:

In: UVA, UT, Vanderbilt
WL: Duke (after interview)

I did not apply to the other schools you listed, but feel free to PM me if you are curious about my overall cycle (which is not yet complete.) My case is a bit unusual, but I think you have a good chance at UVA if you prepare your essays and recommendations carefully. When Mr. Faulk called me he specifically cited my personal statement as the factor that swayed him. From what I can tell, UVA is willing to make decisions on the basis of softs.

That being said, I am just one example and could very well be an exception. Retake only if you think you could do substantially better; however, I would argue against ED'ing solely for the sake of accessing a top-ten school. All of the schools are unique, and your success will depend heavily on whether or not you feel content. You should visit and carefully consider each school's culture, location and market.

How did you do on the LSAT in relation to your prep tests? If you were doing more than a few points better during practice, then I would definitely retake. With that GPA, if you could get your LSAT into the 170's you'd have a shot almost anywhere.

Retake, if you can get your score close to 170 you have a real shot at Stanford.

Absolutely retake. A 170/4.0 could possibly get in to HYS and will almost always get one of CCN; a 166/4.0 might very well do no better than Cornell or GULC. Retake in June, apply in September, profit.

democrattotheend wrote:How did you do on the LSAT in relation to your prep tests? If you were doing more than a few points better during practice, then I would definitely retake. With that GPA, if you could get your LSAT into the 170's you'd have a shot almost anywhere.

OP said they were averaging a 170 somewhere. OP should definitely retake.

I guess the next question, then, is how schools would look at my first score. Assuming I hit my current PT average at 170, I don't exactly have a compelling reason to ask schools not to average in my Feb 166. I had some test-day nerves that affected timing and had to go to the rest room during a LR section; I think most people could say something similar.

I´m wondering the same thing... have a 166, but I was hitting mid 170s on prep tests under real conditions. I think it depends on if I get a ride or close in the T30.

GotYourselfAStewGoin wrote:I guess the next question, then, is how schools would look at my first score. Assuming I hit my current PT average at 170, I don't exactly have a compelling reason not to average in my Feb 166. I had some test-day nerves that affected timing and had to go to the rest room during a LR section; I think most people could say the same thing.

Well, UVA, for example, takes the highest score, as do many schools.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/retaking-the-lsat.html

Edit: Sorry, fixed the link.

That link seems to take me back to this topic, but I think I remember seeing that "list of top-LSAT-taking schools" topic somewhere. I'll look around for it.

GotYourselfAStewGoin wrote:I guess this is good information to get out there. I self-studied with the logic games bible . That was the only section that really gave me difficulty from a content standpoint. RC was more a timing issue I resolved by PTing under timed conditions. I took 8 or so official PTs. I also did the Kaplan premier book. In all, I would say I had about 2 months of solid preparation and a month more before that of becoming generally acquainted with the test.

Take another 10 PTs or so, go through the LG bible again, do as many logic games as possible, and get a 170+. Most people should be able to get near perfect at games, no matter how terrible you are initially. It's all about practice and repetition.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've pretty much decided to retake based on the potential for scholarships and the small downside. /thread.