3.9 / 165 Forum

[tafkadb]

The 3.9 is in conservation social science with a minor in American gov't and law from the University of Idaho. FWIW, my final 5 semesters were all 4.0 (have one left, so projecting one last 4.0 with an easy semester coming up) and my first 3, where I had a 3.64, were at a community college. I have no idea how much that will make an impact, but thought it would be worth mentioning.

edit- I'm projecting for the LSAT score. I'm reasonably confident I'd score in the area of a 165.

I'm looking at Wake Forest, UW-Madison, U of Washington. I'm taking some time off to work and do some volunteer work after I graduate, so I won't be applying for awhile. Just trying to get an idea of where I could realistically go.

Chances ? Thanks everybody.

[Curry]

Take the LSAT, get a score, and then we can play this game.

[tafkadb]

Could you just humor me on this ? I've run through practice exams and talked to some people and I think a 165 is a reasonable estimate give or take 5 points.

I would like information BEFORE I take the test so that I can research and plan accordingly. Thanks.

[crossingforHYS]

Could you just humor me on this ? I've run through practice exams and talked to some people and I think a 165 is a reasonable estimate give or take 5 points.

I would like information BEFORE I take the test so that I can research and plan accordingly. Thanks.

give or take 5 points???????? those 5 points are a huge difference man.....and your cycle would be unpredictable anyway

[FuManChusco]

Could you just humor me on this ? I've run through practice exams and talked to some people and I think a 165 is a reasonable estimate give or take 5 points.

I would like information BEFORE I take the test so that I can research and plan accordingly. Thanks.

give or take 5 points???????? those 5 points are a huge difference man.....and your cycle would be unpredictable anyway

+1. 160-170 is probably the biggest 10 point range you could possibly ask about. The difference is astonishing.

[concurrent fork]

+1. 160-170 is probably the biggest 10 point range you could possibly ask about. The difference is astonishing.

At least OP narrowed it down to schools ranked 5 through 100

[Curry]

Could you just humor me on this ? I've run through practice exams and talked to some people and I think a 165 is a reasonable estimate give or take 5 points.

I would like information BEFORE I take the test so that I can research and plan accordingly. Thanks.

1. Plan to get a 180
2. Research how to get a 180
3. ???
4. Profit

[tafkadb]

+1. 160-170 is probably the biggest 10 point range you could possibly ask about. The difference is astonishing.

At least OP narrowed it down to schools ranked 5 through 100

Based on this own websites rankings the three mentioned range from 28-38. I don't know what you're getting at.

How about this, for the three school mentioned above, what kind of LSAT score would I need to hit to have a good chance ?

[concurrent fork]

Look up the 75th percentile for each school's entering class. I'm guessing 165 will do it but this is moot until you actually have your LSAT score.

[crossingforHYS]

i was testing in the 169-172 range....got a 165. do not assume your score

[bigkahuna2020]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

[kkklick]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

[Capitol A]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

I was consistently scoring 172-175 on PTs, and even had two 179s. Ended up with a 165. Worry about maximizing your score on the REAL LSAT (practice scores don't go on your application), then worry about what schools you can get in to.
And by the way, forget about the people who say 160-170 is a massive range....The difference between a 165 and a 166 is ENORMOUS. At that level every single point counts.
Good luck on the real thing. Nothing else matters until after that.

[bigkahuna2020]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

Agree with the first sentence, but the second is a overly precise.

[09042014]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

Agree with the first sentence, but the second is a overly precise.

There isn't always a drop. Some people don't choke.

[Bildungsroman]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing.

Nah, that may be the case for a lot of people but it would be silly to present that as a hard and fast rule. My test day performance was a couple points over my average and I think it tied my highest PT (only took a few though), and I know plenty of other people whose real test score matched or exceeded their PT average. It mostly comes down to how people handle the test day experience.

[r6_philly]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

Agree with the first sentence, but the second is a overly precise.

There isn't always a drop. Some people don't choke.

+1

A lot of test takers have learned to deal with pressure. Some even elevate to the occasion and perform better than practice.

[Capitol A]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing.

Nah, that may be the case for a lot of people but it would be silly to present that as a hard and fast rule. My test day performance was a couple points over my average and I think it tied my highest PT (only took a few though), and I know plenty of other people whose real test score matched or exceeded their PT average. It mostly comes down to how people handle the test day experience.

There's no question that a lot of people will do the same on test day, or better. Personally, I know that I let the people around me annoy me. All the "can I change seats? This one is red." "The temperature in here is 73degrees. Can you turn it up to 74?" bugged the hell out of me, and the fact that it took like 8hrs due to all the crazy instructions and stupid people asking for clarification, etc. just through me off my game. Also, I took it in June in Phoenix, and we had to wait in line outside the room in 120degree sun for close to an hour.
ANYWAY....My personal situation doesn't actually matter. The point is that until you have a REAL score on the REAL LSAT, it's pretty pointless to discuss where you will/will not be admitted. Maybe because your actual score will be higher. Maybe OP will have a 168 or 170 instead of the hypothetical 165. That would make this a completely different discussion.

[3ThrowAway99]

Yea to stick with the thread of the posters here---I was a rocksolid 168-169 PTer---got a 164 and retook and expecting a 165-167.

There's always a drop from practice to the real thing. The mean is about 4 points less from PT average to real.

Not always I think- I believe there are some people who score even better than they ever did on practices. But generally this is the anecdotally credited response. Most people apparently drop a few points from what they were averaging in practice.

In terms of OP- seriously, take it and then write.

EDIT: sorry, didn't see how many people had written the same exact thing. Good luck to OP.

[r6_philly]

There's no question that a lot of people will do the same on test day, or better. Personally, I know that I let the people around me annoy me. All the "can I change seats? This one is red." "The temperature in here is 73degrees. Can you turn it up to 74?" bugged the hell out of me, and the fact that it took like 8hrs due to all the crazy instructions and stupid people asking for clarification, etc. just through me off my game. Also, I took it in June in Phoenix, and we had to wait in line outside the room in 120degree sun for close to an hour.
ANYWAY....My personal situation doesn't actually matter. The point is that until you have a REAL score on the REAL LSAT, it's pretty pointless to discuss where you will/will not be admitted. Maybe because your actual score will be higher. Maybe OP will have a 168 or 170 instead of the hypothetical 165. That would make this a completely different discussion.

"Your game" should never depends on how other people perform or how the environment is. I know it does for a lot of people, but it shouldn't be. As long as you get 35 minutes to finish a section without interruptions, you should aim to perform the same. What happens before or after the allotted 35 minutes should never have any bearing on what happens within those 35 minutes.

ETA: your condition wasn't ideal because you had to wait outside in the sun, but you should have enough time to calm down before it started during the prep sessions.

[Capitol A]

"Your game" should never depends on how other people perform or how the environment is. I know it does for a lot of people, but it shouldn't be. As long as you get 35 minutes to finish a section without interruptions, you should aim to perform the same. What happens before or after the allotted 35 minutes should never have any bearing on what happens within those 35 minutes.

ETA: your condition wasn't ideal because you had to wait outside in the sun, but you should have enough time to calm down before it started during the prep sessions.

Obviously. But that's what happened. Therefore I have a 165 when my PTs were high 170s. That was my only point. PT =/= real thing.

Edit:I'm fine with my 165. I have already been admitted to a school that was one of my top choices even when I thought I was going to get a 172. Also, what COULD happen really isn't up for debate in this thread. It's about assuming one's actual LSAT score will be the same as their practice score. As my previous post stated, OP could very possibly end up scoring better on the real thing. that would completely alter this discussion as well.

[pbutta123]

You got good chances but up it a bit for U of Wash. Otherwise, hit up Fordham...UC Hasting...UC Davis, but really you dont need people on a forum to tell you - put it into the law school predictor buddy that will tell you enough.
Otherwise Imma give you some advise:
buy 30 practice tests & the logic game and reasoning bible
Take 30 timed tests along with one extra section to substitute for the experimental section b/c there's one on the LSAT
( this will prepare your mental stamina also!)
And take a couple in the environment/place you'll be taking the LSAT.
Good luck. And most of all, enjoy it! The LSAT becomes fun once you spend enough time with it.