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A little help here as the clock winds down on October LSAT...I have 24 hours to get money back and not take test!

My previous scores were 159 and 162, this is my third go-around. Unfortunately my preptests over the last month have been at the 162 clip (161, 162, 159, 164, 162 and 161 today).

My dream school is University of Texas, I went there for undergrad, have been in NY for almost 4 years now, and would love to go back home to an excellent law school.

Is it worth risking this third LSAT seeing as how I seem to have hit a wall in my preptests? In my heart I believe I can improve in the next 3 weeks, but my head is shouting out common sense.

With my 162 and 3.72 GPA, and being 3/4 Mexican and a UT alum, do I have a shot? Anyone out there with a similar experience? My backups include, UC-Davis, Houston, Fordham, Baylor, SMU...UCLA, USC, American, etc.)

I think you've got a shot at the lower half of the T14 on down, possibly at CCN. Raising your score will give you a more realistic shot at the T6.

Check http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com for URM applicants with similar numbers to yours.

Sorry, what is CCN? I should probably know that, but don't. Thanks.

Columbia, Chicago, NYU

As a 3.72/162/URM you shouldn't have to dip below the top 20 or 25 schools as safeties and will likely get at least one of the T14.

Ok thanks.

Do you think I should take this third test or is it just asking for trouble? Oh, and are you in school now or are you like me and applying for Fall 2011?

The answer depends upon how you prepared for the LSAT. Have you ever taken a prep course ?

If you are PT'ing at the same scores you already have, things are unlikely to miraculously change on test day. Identify where you are making mistakes, whether it is making inferences on LG diagrams, certain question types on LR, timing, etc, and hammer that home. PT's are only so useful if you aren't focusing on the area that hurts you the most.

I applied last year, but was unhappy with my results because I had only taken the LSAT once and applied late. I graduated during the summer, retook the LSAT, and am reapplying now.

Texas is interesting because the law school is comprised of approximately 16% Hispanic students so I am not sure if your URM boost will be as significant as at other top 20 law schools. Being a UT alum is probably a negative as competition among UT alums is fierce since so many apply.
If you have taken a LSAT prep course, done all the assigned homework & are practice testing in the 160s, then you may have realized your current potential.

Ok, thanks for the responses. Where did you collect that data regarding UT? Obviously I'm from Austin and understand how many Hispanics live in the city and state, so they sound like accurate stats regarding UT Law, just curious to see where you got the stats.

Also, I took Kaplan earlier this year, and my primary studying tool now is PT's. I am deliberating focusing in on wrong answers to correct my errors, which up to this point I have not done enough of.

From UT law = 15.7% Hispanic. However, this number is almost two years old so it may be higher now.

Cool, I just found the same statistics. This makes me think my URM is not that important after all, although perhaps it is Hispanics with my numbers that are getting in. I just don't know.

Anyone else with an opinion on this? I don't want to jeopardize my chances by scoring the same score of 162 or (gasp) lower in October. On the flip, I feel even a 164 could push me into contention to get in.

Also, do you think Early Decision application could greatly help, too?

UT is a non binding Early Action. It certainly couldn't hurt unless you plan to retake and raise your LSAT. I know UT likes high GPAs and yours is certainly in contention for acceptance.

in at UT. Good shot at lower T 14 schools.