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I'm a Rutgers history major with a 3.6 ugpa and have been receiving low 150's on the practice tests with exactly a month before I take the test in October. Is it reasonable to think that with daily practice and review I can pull my score up to at least a 160 by October 1st? Here is my school list. Which would be reasonable with a 160 or without?

American
Fordham
George Mason
Rutgers Newark
Villanova
Miami
CUNY Queens

people are gunna tell you to get a real score.

Also, you need to improve.

MellowMantis wrote:I'm a Rutgers history major with a 3.6 ugpa and have been receiving low 150's on the practice tests with exactly a month before I take the test in October. Is it reasonable to think that with daily practice and review I can pull my score up to at least a 160 by October 1st? Here is my school list. Which would be reasonable with a 160 or without?

American
Fordham
George Mason
Rutgers Newark
Villanova
Miami
CUNY Queens

Keep studying hard. Take the December exam.

Is it possible to take the December LSAT and still be strongly considered for selection in the next year? And also I have already registered for October 1.

Also, neither of your replies answered my main question which is it reasonable to think I can improve by 10 points in a month?

MellowMantis wrote:Also, neither of your replies answered my main question which is it reasonable to improve by 10 points in a month?

Its possible depending on how much studying youve already done. Reasonable, it is not.

MellowMantis wrote:...Is it reasonable possible to improve by 10 points in a month?

I don't know if it's reasonable but if you're wondering if it's possible then the answer is yes.

MellowMantis wrote: is it reasonable to improve by 10 points in a month?

It really depends on the person, where they started at, and how much prep (and of what quality) they've already done. If 152 was your totally cold diagnostic and you're a quick learner, then I'd say 160 by the October test might be doable. But if you've already done prep and are still 8-10 points below where you want to be, you're going to need to immediately identify what your specific weak points are and build a study plan that will address those that can be carried out effectively in the next few weeks. Realistically speaking, you're likely better off postponing the test.

Is it reasonable to think one can improve by 10 points / is it possible to improve by 10 points. Instead of getting hung up on my lack of personal editing on a chat forum perhaps answering the question which you so clearly seem to have understood regardless of my error would be most helpful.

Bildungsroman wrote:

MellowMantis wrote: is it reasonable to improve by 10 points in a month?

It really depends on the person, where they started at, and how much prep (and of what quality) they've already done. If 152 was your totally cold diagnostic and you're a quick learner, then I'd say 160 by the October test might be doable. But if you've already done prep and are still 8-10 points below where you want to be, you're going to need to immediately identify what your specific weak points are and build a study plan that will address those that can be carried out effectively in the next few weeks. Realistically speaking, you're likely better off postponing the test.

This is after a pretty thorough read of the Princeton Review 2012 LSAT prep book. Is taking the LSAT in December going to greatly hinder my chances for admission this year though?

MellowMantis wrote:

Bildungsroman wrote:

MellowMantis wrote: is it reasonable to improve by 10 points in a month?

It really depends on the person, where they started at, and how much prep (and of what quality) they've already done. If 152 was your totally cold diagnostic and you're a quick learner, then I'd say 160 by the October test might be doable. But if you've already done prep and are still 8-10 points below where you want to be, you're going to need to immediately identify what your specific weak points are and build a study plan that will address those that can be carried out effectively in the next few weeks. Realistically speaking, you're likely better off postponing the test.

This is after a pretty thorough read of the Princeton Review 2012 LSAT prep book. Is taking the LSAT in December going to greatly hinder my chances for admission this year though?

It's hard to say; I sent a couple of applications in late December that I think suffered for their timing, but I think two extra months of LSAT prep time outweigh this disadvantage.

MellowMantis wrote:This is after a pretty thorough read of the Princeton Review 2012 LSAT prep book. Is taking the LSAT in December going to greatly hinder my chances for admission this year though?

it's not going to hinder it as much as a low LSAT score will. get the powerscore logic games and logic reasoning bibles and go through them. then take as many practice tests as possible.

I would much rather get a 165 in December than a 155 in October. What sections give you trouble? If it is LG that is hindering you, buy the Bible and see what happens in a month, this section usually is the most easy and quick to improve on

I have been averaging 15 correct or so on the LR and around 17 on the RC while LG is my worst mainly due to timing which I feel like I can improve.

MellowMantis wrote:I have been averaging 15 correct or so on the LR and around 17 on the RC while LG is my worst mainly due to timing which I feel like I can improve.

This is actually in your benefit. LG is easy to improve on.

I just checked on LSAC and I believe I have until September 11th to decide whether or not to change my test date from October to December. I think my plan now will be to take at a minimum 3 PTs by 9/11 and If I am not scoring in the high 150's I will change to Decemeber. Seem like a good plan?

There's a difference between something being reasonable and something being possible. If you plan on improving by 10 points or more in a month, it's probably in your best interest to notice such differences.

It may be in your best interest to take a year off and study until June/February

Law school will always be there, there's no sense in rushing into it with a lower LSAT and suffering quality of education, $$$, and quantity of job prospects.

Blessedassurance wrote:There's a difference between something being reasonable and something being possible. If you plan on improving by 10 points or more in a month, it's probably in your best interest to notice such differences.

I'm well aware of the difference between "reasonable" and "possible" and have already noted that what I meant was "reasonable to think I can improve by 10 points". If all you have to contribute is your grammar critique you can take it elsewhere, unless you really need to nit-pick others typos on a forum to make yourself feel good.

you're not much of a mellow mantis. But seriously, take those pts and see how you do. If you do not improve to the score you want, you should not fret over postponing, many people do it and it isn't that big of a deal. Give yourself time for success. Also, you don't know your capabilities yet. When I started studying I just wanting anything over a 160, not really knowing what sort of school I wanted, I was kinda misguided on the whole law school glory thing. But after studying for a while, I realized what I really wanted and was capable of gettin was 170. Don't limit your success for the mere reason of taking in October, if you need to postpone, do it, you will just come out with a better score.

Thanks Mattviphky. I agree with your advice and will follow that course. My only concern is the drawback of having to apply a little later in the admission process and therefore competing with a pool of fewer spots in each school. However, maybe this is not as consequential considering I do not intend on applying to any top 20 schools?

MellowMantis wrote: I'm well aware of the difference between "reasonable" and "possible" and have already noted that what I meant was "reasonable to think I can improve by 10 points". If all you have to contribute is your grammar critique you can take it elsewhere, unless you really need to nit-pick others typos on a forum to make yourself feel good.

It's not a typo, dufus. Two different things.

Also, your list is a rogues gallery of terrible choices. Do some research. Your attitude makes it hard to give you any advice. In any case, do whatever you want, it's a free country. You seem to be in a hurry to get into Law School any Law School. In fact, why retake? I'm sure you can get in somewhere with your current score.

Blessedassurance wrote:

MellowMantis wrote: I'm well aware of the difference between "reasonable" and "possible" and have already noted that what I meant was "reasonable to think I can improve by 10 points". If all you have to contribute is your grammar critique you can take it elsewhere, unless you really need to nit-pick others typos on a forum to make yourself feel good.

It's not a typo, dufus. Two different things.

Also, your list is a rogues gallery of terrible choices. Do some research. Your attitude makes it hard to give you any advice. In any case, do whatever you want, it's a free country. You seem to be in a hurry to get into Law School any Law School. In fact, why retake? I'm sure you can get in somewhere with your current score.

Didn't I already tell you I didn't want your advice? Get lost.

This is all sorts of bad TLSing.

MellowMantis wrote: Didn't I already tell you I didn't want your advice? Get lost.

mmmk.

PS: Are you one of those people who go to Law School because a lot of people have told them they like arguing and they'd make a good lawyer?