3.90 / 165 Forum

[clarawater]

So just got my June 2011 LSAT score and was wondering what the community here thinks my chances are for the following schools:

Harvard
Duke
Cornell
Boston College

I'm hoping people here who have already applied to schools or know a lot about admissions could help just based on these numbers.

Other factors that may make a difference (though I know it's mostly a numbers game) are:
- Honors program
- RA
- Secretary of literacy group at school
- experience interning at an environmental litigation clinic

Thank you in advance!

[Bildungsroman]

Unless you're one of a few kinds of minority, out at Harvard, Duke, and Cornell. Some chance at BC.

[clarawater]

Okay, thanks. Don't think I qualify for minority, unless that is a white female

Another question that I have for anyone is what you think about re-taking it in October? My highest practice test was a 172, and my average was a 167/168 for about 15 practice tests. Obviously I was a bit disappointed with my June score.

[Bildungsroman]

Okay, thanks. Don't think I qualify for minority, unless that is a white female

Another question that I have for anyone is what you think about re-taking it in October? My highest practice test was a 172, and my average was a 167/168 for about 15 practice tests. Obviously I was a bit disappointed with my June score.

I'd encourage you to retake. Identify the sections you struggled with and work on those (using, for instance, the PowerScore Logic Games Bible or their LR Bible) and try to raise that LSAT. Getting up to a 168 gives you a good shot at Cornell and a decent shot at Duke as long as you keep that 3.9.

[clarawater]

Thanks again.

Any study tips with avoiding burnout? I don't have too many recent practice tests left (not completed) so I was thinking of doing one a week, as well as reviewing all of my weaknesses... do you think that is adequate to get a minimum 5 point increase?

I guess I am just worried that I will "lose my edge" over the next 3 1/2 months before the next LSAT... combined with school starting in September and being busy with that.

[Real Madrid]

168 with your 3.9 and you should be a lock at Cornell.

[albanach]

Do you have a weakest section? If so, you might want a tutor for a couple of hours to work on that. You only need to find a few more points and you'll be in at several schools at the lower end of T14.

[clarawater]

Thanks, albanach. My weakest sections were LR (10 wrong combined) and RC (6 wrong). Got 1 wrong on Games.

So I guess my major focus would be LR and of course some RC. Like I said before though, what I am worried about is losing what I am good at during the span of the months until October.... with avoiding burnout.

[NYCLSATTutor]

Thanks, albanach. My weakest sections were LR (10 wrong combined) and RC (6 wrong). Got 1 wrong on Games.

So I guess my major focus would be LR and of course some RC. Like I said before though, what I am worried about is losing what I am good at during the span of the months until October.... with avoiding burnout.

Take some time off. Take a few weeks off and go relax. And then go back to studying and try to figure out what went wrong. You don't need to go crazy trying to re-learn everything since you know most of it.

Did you improve at RC at all from your diag to the test? What is generally your weakest section?

[clarawater]

Thanks, albanach. My weakest sections were LR (10 wrong combined) and RC (6 wrong). Got 1 wrong on Games.

So I guess my major focus would be LR and of course some RC. Like I said before though, what I am worried about is losing what I am good at during the span of the months until October.... with avoiding burnout.

Take some time off. Take a few weeks off and go relax. And then go back to studying and try to figure out what went wrong. You don't need to go crazy trying to re-learn everything since you know most of it.

Did you improve at RC at all from your diag to the test? What is generally your weakest section?

Would those weeks include the 3 weeks after the test? Lol I'm just a bit worried about "forgetting" things. Does that happen often?

And no, I actually did worse on RC on the test. I usually get between 2-4 wrong, so I thought I did well (had enough time and everything) and was thus surprised I got 6 wrong. LR was a tiny bit more expected.

But overall, LR is usually my weakest.

Thanks for your help by the way!

[Puttanesca]

OP, I am a non-URM with very similar numbers. I am starting at a T14 on a half-ride in the fall, so it is possible with a moderately weak LSAT to get into some great schools. That being said, if you are confident that you can score a few points higher on a retake, retaking would be your best bet.

I only applied to one of the schools you listed and don't know too much about the others. If you are open to other schools, PM me and I can tell you which schools I had success with/didn't have success with.

[bella07]

i was in a similar situation to you. 3.95 at ivy university, 166 top lsat (prev had a 163 and a cancel) but i had a bunch of intl, volunteer and work experience. i would say you'll have a tough time in the top 10 with those numbers and lacking urm or good soft factors unless you apply early. outside the top ten and within the top 20 you might even get money.
to give you an idea based on my recent experience: i was waitlisted at a 2 CCN's, accepted at cornell and given money at vandy.
if you think you can score higher try for that but maybe also apply early to a reach school (they might tell you they won't consider your app until you retake, which is what happened with me).
good luck:)

[clarawater]

Thanks bella07. When do you think the best time to apply early would be? I was thinking the first week of November.

[Puttanesca]

Thanks bella07. When do you think the best time to apply early would be? I was thinking the first week of November.

The best time to apply would be the earliest that you think you can put together your best quality apps. If you are retaking the LSAT in October, try to finish the other parts of the apps during the time between when you take the LSAT and when you receive your score. That way, once you get your new score, everything is ready to go, and you can submit apps then (I'm thinking this will be end of October/early November). I submitted all of my apps between November 18-25, and I don't think applying at that time in any way put me at a disadvantage. The earlier the better, but I think as long as you apply before Thanksgiving (or at the very latest before December 1), you should be fine.

[bella07]

Thanks bella07. When do you think the best time to apply early would be? I was thinking the first week of November.

The best time to apply would be the earliest that you think you can put together your best quality apps. If you are retaking the LSAT in October, try to finish the other parts of the apps during the time between when you take the LSAT and when you receive your score. That way, once you get your new score, everything is ready to go, and you can submit apps then (I'm thinking this will be end of October/early November). I submitted all of my apps between November 18-25, and I don't think applying at that time in any way put me at a disadvantage. The earlier the better, but I think as long as you apply before Thanksgiving (or at the very latest before December 1), you should be fine.

agreed, i shot for before thanksgiving. but then columbia was all like "hey, we can only consider your december lsat if you apply regular" so i did that. but i think applying early helped me get on the waitlist maybe.....? rule of thumb is as long as it's your strongest possible app earlier always=better. but seriously in the weeks of lsat score waiting a good way to deal with the tension is to craft your apps so they are all ready to go and then, worst case scenario (which happened to me:() and you have to retake again in december, you at least have a solid month to just study really hard again.

[idratherbetraveling]

I had almost identical numbers to yours and I got into BC with $12k/year (I had some great softs, but I don't know if they consider those when awarding $). With that score, I'd say definitely apply to BC, BU, GW, and other schools in the 30-20 range.

That said, if you think you can do better in October on the LSAT (and it seems like you can), I say definitely re-take because a higher score will get you more money at the schools you would have gotten into with a 165, even if you only go up 2-3 points. I'd actually suggest doing something like taking a practice test once a week starting in the beginning of August (if you have the practice tests), and seeing how they go, then ramping up your studying around the beginning of September.

[clarawater]

^ Thanks so much. That really helps. I have like 6ish recent practice tests that I haven't done, so I will save them for later in Aug/Sept.

[lawyerwannabe]

OP, I am a non-URM with very similar numbers. I am starting at a T14 on a half-ride in the fall, so it is possible with a moderately weak LSAT to get into some great schools. That being said, if you are confident that you can score a few points higher on a retake, retaking would be your best bet.

I only applied to one of the schools you listed and don't know too much about the others. If you are open to other schools, PM me and I can tell you which schools I had success with/didn't have success with.

Uh.. unless by similar you mean a 5+ pt better LSAT score, then I am utterly confused by your situation. If you aren't trolling, then either you have the best softs in the world, one or both of your parents contributed tons of money to the school, you are a type of URM, or you are referring to financial aid money...

OP: if you want a good chance at Duke or Cornell, retake and score 167+. Best of luck.

[Puttanesca]

OP, I am a non-URM with very similar numbers. I am starting at a T14 on a half-ride in the fall, so it is possible with a moderately weak LSAT to get into some great schools. That being said, if you are confident that you can score a few points higher on a retake, retaking would be your best bet.

I only applied to one of the schools you listed and don't know too much about the others. If you are open to other schools, PM me and I can tell you which schools I had success with/didn't have success with.

Uh.. unless by similar you mean a 5+ pt better LSAT score, then I am utterly confused by your situation. If you aren't trolling, then either you have the best softs in the world, one or both of your parents contributed tons of money to the school, you are a type of URM, or you are referring to financial aid money...

Haha, I'm confused too. The differences between my numbers and OP's are negligible. I'm not trolling.

I don't have the best softs in the world but I guess they could be viewed as quite good depending on how you look at them. My family did not contribute any money to the school, and I have absolutely no connection to the school. I am not a URM. My school does not offer purely need-based grants, but does offer scholarships based on a combination of merit and need factors. I was offered the scholarship prior to my finaid app being run, but I think that my scholarship must have been partially based on need.

I do believe that I outperformed my numbers this application cycle not only at the school I will be attending but at other schools too.