Accurate list for 3.94/159? Forum

[leche]

This is my massive list, which I will obviously pare down somewhat before spending $80 per application. I have two 159's ( ) and a 3.94, mediocre softs, no WE. And - because I know you will all react with "retake" - I am still considering taking it a third time, just really don't want to. Mostly wondering if I have any shot at money at any of the schools in my middle section. Want to specialize in environmental law. As you can tell from the list I don't really care where I live, just can't stand western Pennsylvania/Ohio/rust belt any more.

Reaches:
-Berkeley
-UT
-WUSTL
-GW
-BU

Either/Ors:
-American
-Tulane
-Washington
-Lewis and Clark
-UNC
-Florida State
-UF
-UC Hastings
-UConn
-San Diego
-Brooklyn
-Colorado
-Fordham
-BC

Safeties:
-Miami
-Vermont
-Denver
-Seattle
-San Francisco
-Maine
-Pitt (probably won't apply here - it was my undergrad and I want to move)

[AreJay711]

Yes first one here: Retake.

You have a great GPA and a few points on the LSAT could make a huge difference. The October lsat has you name all over it. As it is Berkley is out unless you have badass work experience, which you said you don't and Texas is out as well.

[YourCaptain]

I know you don't want to but you must retake. Your GPA is just too good to waste on a 159. Get up to 167+ and you'll be looking at great options.

[leche]

This is my massive list, which I will obviously pare down somewhat before spending $80 per application. I have two 159's ( ) and a 3.94, mediocre softs, no WE. And - because I know you will all react with "retake" - I am still considering taking it a third time, just really don't want to. Mostly wondering if I have any shot at money at any of the schools in my middle section. Want to specialize in environmental law. As you can tell from the list I don't really care where I live, just can't stand western Pennsylvania/Ohio/rust belt any more.

[AreJay711]

I'd add UMD to the list for environmental stuff but I have no idea about scholarships.

[Danteshek]

I bet you will get money from lower T1 and T2 cali schools. I can tell you about Loyola if you are interested.

[YourCaptain]

Either/Ors:
-American - not worth going to
-Tulane - see above
-Washington - if you get in it's at sticker.
-Lewis and Clark - see American
-UNC - not going to happen
-Florida State - if you get in, at sticker, I hear FL is huge on FL ties
-UF - see FSU
-UC Hastings - see UNC, but see also Washington
-UConn - not worth going to, market in shambles
-San Diego - see American
-Brooklyn - see American
-Colorado - very unlikely, probably maybe a little (9k)
-Fordham - not going to happen, if so, at sticker.
-BC - see UNC


Don't rebuff my "Not worth going to" listings with "But I want a PI job" or "I only want a small firm" or "I have some other excuse that makes it look like this school is better for me personally."

Getting a job (job = gainful employment) is difficult out of all of these schools. BC perhaps easier than most, but you will get dinged.

[leche]

I just really don't expect to do any better if I take a third time. First time PT average was 164 or 5 (I forget), second time average was 169. 159 is lower than any PT I ever took either time and I have no explanation for it, I studied my ass off both times.

[lawschool12345]

retake i went from 158 to 167

[leche]

retake i went from 158 to 167

This is about what I expected out of myself...did you have two 158's first? The lack of improvement by even one point is extremely discouraging.

[lawschool12345]

YUP same boat, 158, 158, 167
i got the lg bible, went to -0 and got the lr bible and went down to minus 5 or 6
the reading comp killed me on the june lsat but it was a bitch for everyone and i literally did not study for it at all thinking it was easy

[leche]

Yes first one here: Retake.

You have a great GPA and a few points on the LSAT could make a huge difference. The October lsat has you name all over it. As it is Berkley is out unless you have badass work experience, which you said you don't and Texas is out as well.

I also forgot to say that I only included those two because they were my top 2 choices back when I expected a 170 on my retake

[leche]

Captain- by "not gonna happen" do you mean no money or I'm not going to get accepted?

[YourCaptain]

Rejection/waitlist. CU is kind of funny and might admit with a tiny bit of cash, but the others are unlikely. The sub-160 LSAT is killing you.

[leche]

The sub-160 LSAT is killing you.

Thanks, I wasn't aware.

[UCLAtransfer]

Yeah there's no doubt about it, you have to retake. As hard as it is to contemplate, just keep in mind that you are talking about your entire future here, and something that is going to stick with you for the rest of your life.

As it stands, your LSAT will not get you in anywhere worth wasting that 3.9X on. Use the LSAT forum on here to find strategies to attack your problem areas on the test, and work your ass off to prep for the October test. Have your apps ready to go and apply as soon as you get your score back. If you are diligent and utilize some of the solid strategies to improve your study habits and performance, a 10 point jump is absolutely within your grasp, potentially even more if you were already PTing in the mid 160s. It sometimes seems like it's not possible, but it absolutely is if you approach it the right way.

When you get discouraged or feel burnt out or wonder whether it is worth studying again, just remind yourself that even a decent bump in your score will get you a lot of $$$ at some of the schools you have listed (saving you potentially tens of thousands of dollars in debt), or will put you in the running for the T14 with that fantastic GPA, which will make all the difference in the world career-wise.

[leche]

Yeah there's no doubt about it, you have to retake. As hard as it is to contemplate, just keep in mind that you are talking about your entire future here, and something that is going to stick with you for the rest of your life.

As it stands, your LSAT will not get you in anywhere worth wasting that 3.9X on. Use the LSAT forum on here to find strategies to attack your problem areas on the test, and work your ass off to prep for the October test. Have your apps ready to go and apply as soon as you get your score back. If you are diligent and utilize some of the solid strategies to improve your study habits and performance, a 10 point jump is absolutely within your grasp, potentially even more if you were already PTing in the mid 160s. It sometimes seems like it's not possible, but it absolutely is if you approach it the right way.

When you get discouraged or feel burnt out or wonder whether it is worth studying again, just remind yourself that even a decent bump in your score will get you a lot of $$$ at some of the schools you have listed (saving you potentially tens of thousands of dollars in debt), or will put you in the running for the T14 with that fantastic GPA, which will make all the difference in the world career-wise.

Edited for drunken defeatism, my apologies

[UCLAtransfer]

Edited for drunken defeatism, my apologies

Damn! I really wish I had been able to read it before edit, haha.