163/3.85 Forum

[Prairie]

158, 163
3.85 (3.89)
graduated this past May; currently a full time social worker; starting a 1 yr law firm internship in August
desire to work in Minneapolis

What are my chances at Minnesota (I was waitlisted and withdrew from the 09-10 cycle)?
What are my chances at Wash U?
Any chance of $ at Iowa or Wisconsin?

Should I be looking at any other schools for the Minneapolis market?

thanks

[Prairie]

bump

[Sh@keNb@ke]

Any chance for a retake?

[aPosseAdEsse]

Have you considered the University of Washington? Check out the medians. Small class size. Affordable out ot state tuition first year, in-state tuition 2nd and 3rd years. And I bet there are UW grads in Minneapolis.

[Slimpee]

ED next cycle and I think you have a shot.

[nematoad]

I've heard around the boards that 3.85+ or 170+ gives u a good shot at UVa if you ED. They have a 15day turnaround so if I were you I'd give that a whirl.

EDIT: Check it out http://uva.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

[Prairie]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Any chance for a retake?

I had a 165 average on my PT's, and expected a small drop on test day. Don't really expect to do much better at this point, although if I took a PT I'd never done and just knocked it out of the park I suppose I would reconsider committing myself to the misery of studying again. Note on first test: SO dumped me 6 days before the Sep. '09 test day.

Have you considered the University of Washington? Check out the medians. Small class size. Affordable out ot state tuition first year, in-state tuition 2nd and 3rd years. And I bet there are UW grads in Minneapolis.

Actually, UW is on my list of schools to apply to this cycle to which I didn't apply last year. How realistic is a Minneapolis job though???

ED next cycle and I think you have a shot.

Issue: I have a SO that is applying to grad programs as well, and I'm not sure how comfortable I am making a commitment before options come in...

I've heard around the boards that 3.85+ or 170+ gives u a good shot at UVa if you ED. They have a 15day turnaround so if I were you I'd give that a whirl.

Definitely giving it some consideration. Thanks.

[Prairie]

also, seemingly whiny questions: should i write an lsat addendum for my first score (158)? i would give the following reason: my SO of 2 yrs dumped me a week before the exam.

i get that it sounds like a really vapid reason to write an addendum, but i am considering throwing some apps out to some serious reach schools and i want any edge i can get.

thanks for answering.

[Slimpee]

also, seemingly whiny questions: should i write an lsat addendum for my first score (158)? i would give the following reason: my SO of 2 yrs dumped me a week before the exam.

i get that it sounds like a really vapid reason to write an addendum, but i am considering throwing some apps out to some serious reach schools and i want any edge i can get.

thanks for answering.

I wouldn't write that as an addendum. Plus, it's not a huge score difference. I wouldn't worry about it.

[TommyK]

also, seemingly whiny questions: should i write an lsat addendum for my first score (158)? i would give the following reason: my SO of 2 yrs dumped me a week before the exam.

i get that it sounds like a really vapid reason to write an addendum, but i am considering throwing some apps out to some serious reach schools and i want any edge i can get.

thanks for answering.

I wouldn't write that as an addendum. Plus, it's not a huge score difference. I wouldn't worry about it.

A 158 to a 163 is pretty big. From about the 75th percentile to almost the 90th percentile. I'm not a fan of writing an addendum, though. Check the schools you're applying to and see if they average the scores or take the highest. Either way, I probably wouldn't worry about an addendum.

[Prairie]

Check the schools you're applying to and see if they average the scores or take the highest. Either way, I probably wouldn't worry about an addendum.

One of the schools in question definitely averages. Still recommend no addendum? FWIW: I had a 165 PT average, got dumped one week before Sep. test, scored a 158, took Dec. test with basically no additional studying between, scored a 163 (expected this test day slump, so don't really think I can retake and expect significantly higher).

thanks

[TommyK]

Check the schools you're applying to and see if they average the scores or take the highest. Either way, I probably wouldn't worry about an addendum.

One of the schools in question definitely averages. Still recommend no addendum? FWIW: I had a 165 PT average, got dumped one week before Sep. test, scored a 158, took Dec. test with basically no additional studying between, scored a 163 (expected this test day slump, so don't really think I can retake and expect significantly higher).

thanks

I'm sure the addendum wouldn't hurt. Probably due to my cynical nature, I have trouble imagining addenda that don't come off as whiny/excuse-y. Good luck. Hopefully you have a more stable sig other.

[moandersen]

Check the schools you're applying to and see if they average the scores or take the highest. Either way, I probably wouldn't worry about an addendum.

One of the schools in question definitely averages. Still recommend no addendum? FWIW: I had a 165 PT average, got dumped one week before Sep. test, scored a 158, took Dec. test with basically no additional studying between, scored a 163 (expected this test day slump, so don't really think I can retake and expect significantly higher).

thanks

only write an addendum if the school specifically asks for an explanation of the score increase in their app. most only care about your highest, and your 'reason' will come off as whiny. if you have to write one for a school, you need to write something more along the lines of 'I was not adequately prepared for the sept test due to some personal circumstances. I dealt with the issue soon after the sept test and thus the dec score is more representative of my ability' something along those lines.

I had a six point jump so I had to write an addendum for a few schools. Although I really wanted to write an additional addendum explaining why the gap wasnt larger (I had pneumonia the second time I took the lsat), but refrained because it would only make me look like im fishing for excuses.

moral of story - everyone has stuff going on, its life. we just need to accept our scores.

[CanadianWolf]

The addendum would harm your chances for admission as you are raising an issue of emotional stability.