164 LSAT/ 4.33 GPA-What's Realistic? Forum

[jlevin6591]

I just got back my October 2011 LSAT scores and got a 164. I can't say I was too surprised by it as my PTs were generally in that area. However, I'm afraid my score is going to hinder my shot at T20 schools.

I am a junior from Rutgers U who is double majoring in English and Psychology. I am also in the Honors/ Scholars Program at Rutgers. I will be studying abroad this spring in Rome at John Cabot University. My LSDAS GPA is 4.33.

Here are a list of some of my soft factors:
-Professional Experiences: Honors House Coordinator for Rutgers and worked at a Top Global Swiss Bank as an Asset Management Intern where I created a side letter provisions template for their legal team.

-Research Experiences: Worked as a research assistant on a Psychoanalysis and Latin American Narratives Project with the Chair of American Studies. I am currently working as an external researcher with another professor on a project called History of Melodrama, as well as doing an independent study through the Psychology department. In my senior year, I will be completing an honors thesis in English.

-Clubs: Editor and secretary (Editor-in-chief next year) at my school's first literary arts magazine. Founder and President of the Rutgers Hillel Russian-Jewish Club. Co-Founder and Secretary of the Rutgers Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Also, I have positions as an Honors Program ambassador, programming board member, and peer mentor.

Honors And Awards: Dean's List; Excellence Awards; Member of Psi Chi and National Society of Collegiate Scholars Member, Rutgers Merit Scholarships

Ongoing: I will be applying for the Fulbright and Rhodes Scholarships my senior year. Also, I am currently developing an inter-collegiate Israel Advocacy Program for the Russian-Jewish student communities of NJ and NY for spring 2012, which would be the first such program at RU and subsequent financial grant for Rutgers.

Also, would it make any difference that I come from an Uzbek background?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

[tennisking88]

I just got back my October 2011 LSAT scores and got a 164. I can't say I was too surprised by it as my PTs were generally in that area. However, I'm afraid my score is going to hinder my shot at T20 schools.

I am a junior from Rutgers U who is double majoring in English and Psychology. I am also in the Honors/ Scholars Program at Rutgers. I will be studying abroad this spring in Rome at John Cabot University. My LSDAS GPA is 4.33.

Here are a list of some of my soft factors:
-Professional Experiences: Honors House Coordinator for Rutgers and worked at a Top Global Swiss Bank as an Asset Management Intern where I created a side letter provisions template for their legal team.

-Research Experiences: Worked as a research assistant on a Psychoanalysis and Latin American Narratives Project with the Chair of American Studies. I am currently working as an external researcher with another professor on a project called History of Melodrama, as well as doing an independent study through the Psychology department. In my senior year, I will be completing an honors thesis in English.

-Clubs: Editor and secretary (Editor-in-chief next year) at my school's first literary arts magazine. Founder and President of the Rutgers Hillel Russian-Jewish Club. Co-Founder and Secretary of the Rutgers Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Also, I have positions as an Honors Program ambassador, programming board member, and peer mentor.

Honors And Awards: Dean's List; Excellence Awards; Member of Psi Chi and National Society of Collegiate Scholars Member, Rutgers Merit Scholarships

Ongoing: I will be applying for the Fulbright and Rhodes Scholarships my senior year. Also, I am currently developing an inter-collegiate Israel Advocacy Program for the Russian-Jewish student communities of NJ and NY for spring 2012, which would be the first such program at RU and subsequent financial grant for Rutgers.

Also, would it make any difference that I come from an Uzbek background?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

Berkeley.

[JamMasterJ]

Please retake. That's ridiculous. You literally have a perfect gpa

[jlevin6591]

Would I have to ED?

[Teoeo]

You need to retake....

[jlevin6591]

I'm afraid of retaking because A) I feel like I did everything in my power to prep and B) I feel like if I retook it, my exam score would go down.

[redsoxfan2495]

I'm afraid of retaking because A) I feel like I did everything in my power to prep and B) I feel like if I retook it, my exam score would go down.

How did you prepare?

[jlevin6591]

Princeton Review Small Group Instruction
Two Powerscore Bibles
About 28 PTs

[TommyK]

I'm afraid of retaking because A) I feel like I did everything in my power to prep and B) I feel like if I retook it, my exam score would go down.

I would blanket all the t14 schools I have any interest in attending. Berk is a solid possibility, but there are a bunch of other schools that may take the 4.33 ugpa.

[calexhg88]

I'm with the others. RETAKE.

Of course, two 164s think a lot worse than one. BUT, if the LSAT was starting to make any sense to you by the end, that is to say, if you were starting to see how correct answers HAD to be correct, you are capable of a 180.

Some people can't think the way the LSAT demands you to. If that is you, don't retake. But if you got a 164 and have a perfect GPA, I highly doubt this describes you

[JamMasterJ]

how many months did you study at least 10-15 hrs per week? If less than 4, retake

[jlevin6591]

I studied from July onwards. July was about 40 hours a week. August about 15 hours a week. September was a good 10-15 hours a week.

[Bodhi_mind]

Berkeley sounds like the place for you. Can you even get a 4.33??? wow

[law4vus]

Berkeley sounds like the place for you. Can you even get a 4.33??? wow

Straight A+. Ridiculous.

[jlevin6591]

Thank you.

Here are the list of the schools I was thinking of:

-Stanford
-Penn
-NYU
-Berkeley
-UVA
-U Chicago
-Northwestern
-Cornell
-UCLA
-Georgetown
-George Washington
-BU

I was thinking of EDing to either Berkeley, NYU, or Penn (more strongly towards Penn). Idk how realistic these are, though.
-Fordham

[tennisking88]

Berkeley sounds like the place for you. Can you even get a 4.33??? wow

Straight A+. Ridiculous.

If you studied your hardest and don't think you can top it, there is 0 point in retaking. Even if you improve by 3-4 pts, which is a great improvement, it won't make any difference to the T10 schools, as you would still be lower than 25%. 164 is fine, and your gpa is fantastic. My brother got into Berkeley with 164/3.85. I would worry about your PS more than the LSAT at this pt.

[jlevin6591]

Thanks, tennisking88. I appreciate that kind of news haha. I need it right now.

Thanks to everyone else also who has also replied. I really appreciate it.

Does my coming from an Uzbek background help at all? I know it's not really considered a URM.

[tennisking88]

Thanks, tennisking88. I appreciate that kind of news haha. I need it right now.

Thanks to everyone else also who has also replied. I really appreciate it.

Does my coming from an Uzbek background help at all? I know it's not really considered a URM.

It won't get you a leg up like being an AA or MA would, but you should still mention it (and you being Jewish) in your diversity essay or PS. But it won't necessarily help that much - your GPA is really the selling point here.

[haowu80s]

I just got back my October 2011 LSAT scores and got a 164. I can't say I was too surprised by it as my PTs were generally in that area. However, I'm afraid my score is going to hinder my shot at T20 schools.

I am a junior from Rutgers U who is double majoring in English and Psychology. I am also in the Honors/ Scholars Program at Rutgers. I will be studying abroad this spring in Rome at John Cabot University. My LSDAS GPA is 4.33.

Here are a list of some of my soft factors:
-Professional Experiences: Honors House Coordinator for Rutgers and worked at a Top Global Swiss Bank as an Asset Management Intern where I created a side letter provisions template for their legal team.

-Research Experiences: Worked as a research assistant on a Psychoanalysis and Latin American Narratives Project with the Chair of American Studies. I am currently working as an external researcher with another professor on a project called History of Melodrama, as well as doing an independent study through the Psychology department. In my senior year, I will be completing an honors thesis in English.

-Clubs: Editor and secretary (Editor-in-chief next year) at my school's first literary arts magazine. Founder and President of the Rutgers Hillel Russian-Jewish Club. Co-Founder and Secretary of the Rutgers Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Also, I have positions as an Honors Program ambassador, programming board member, and peer mentor.

Honors And Awards: Dean's List; Excellence Awards; Member of Psi Chi and National Society of Collegiate Scholars Member, Rutgers Merit Scholarships

Ongoing: I will be applying for the Fulbright and Rhodes Scholarships my senior year. Also, I am currently developing an inter-collegiate Israel Advocacy Program for the Russian-Jewish student communities of NJ and NY for spring 2012, which would be the first such program at RU and subsequent financial grant for Rutgers.

Also, would it make any difference that I come from an Uzbek background?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

Very similar to me. 166/4.18
Boalt is what everyone says especially my major is engr.
IMHO, if you plan to focus on Boalt and their strength is really in IP and environment law. You need to specify in ur PS how this school fits u. I don't think they will be happy for being treated as the school for huge splitters.

[jlevin6591]

I would have been so much happier with two points more on my LSAT lol. Good job, haowu80s!

That's what a lot of people have been telling me BoAlt. I would be interested in IP I think. It's so far from what I've been doing, but definitely is something I would want to look into.

[Bodhi_mind]

Yeah I'm glad you found Haowu you two are kindred spirits. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but I feel like if you can get a 4.33 you can score better than a 164. Once again, not trying to be a jackass I'm just saying...

[jlevin6591]

No, I understand. My issue has always been that my GPA never matches up with my test scores. I'm not a really great test taker.

[Glock]

Retake. Hire a tutor. You only need a 167-68 to be competitive at S and CCN and IN at MVP. You are pretty close.

In the meantime apply to Boalt.

[haowu80s]

Retake or not depends on what stops you from a higher score, which none of us actually know.

[jlevin6591]

Yeah, I just think tests are not my strong suit, which is why I don't think a retake would do me any service.