3.51/158 Forum

[Saint_Seer]

Put off making an account here forever.

I just took the December LSAT. I took the October one, was testing around the high 50s, low 60s most of the time but the week going into the test I was hitting upper 60s consistently. I choked on the Logic Games. I guessed on 10 questions in a row because I ran out of time. Quite frankly, I was lucky to end up with a 158. I signed up for December because most of the schools I'm considering take the highest grade and I figure there's no downside to just throwing the Hail Mary. I put very very very little studying in for this one, basically waiting until the night of to crack open the old prep books. And... I feel very meh. Not necessarily a bad "meh", but just a meh nonetheless. It felt better than October but not really stellar.

Anyway, I'm considering waiting until the next cycle so I can get into Alabama or Tulane. I could probably get into Cumberland, but you guys are very adamant about not going to not-100-ranked schools. I want to practice in Alabama or on the Gulf Coast, but I know if I didn't have school going on so I could spend more than a few weeks studying the LSAT I could potentially knock it out of the park. Then again, I really don't want to wait if I don't need to. What do you guys think?

[law4vus]

Law school will always be there and it can't get much worse than right now for jobs. One year of your life won't be a big deal in the long run and you can use the extra year to get a job and make yourself more attractive to firms.

Take the year off, take the LSAT again, and get a 170. You'll be glad you did.

[soj]

If you don't hit your recent PT average when december scores come out, sit out a cycle, get more work experience, and retake. With a high LSAT score you're much more likely to get large scholarships from your target schools, making it more than worth it to retake.

[CanadianWolf]

If you choked on the logic games portion of the LSAT, you should retake. Since applications are at a 9 or 10 year low this year, apply to Alabama & Tulane (your top two choices) & see what options develop.

[mrtoren]

There are a couple of other Southern TT law schools that you could probably get into. However, if you want Alabama or Tulane, you probably should sit out for a cycle. Good luck!

[nickjive]

You're above both medians for LSU. Not a bad choice if you want to practice in the gulf coast area and don't want to wait another cycle.

[TommyK]

I think the value in waiting is not just to "get in" to a school, but to get in affordably. Bama gives out very solid scholarships for above median LSATs. Hang in there and study so you can get a $60k discount on your education.

[jbc7]

retake

[kristinmarieUA]

I got into Bama with a 158 and a 3.98
However, I'm instate and a girl...

PS don't go to Cumberland.

[itsbenryl]

What do I think? I think you should forget about law school, that's what I think. You simply don't have the numbers. If you have $120K lying around and want to waste on the tuition at a 4th tier loser law school, by all means do so; it's your money.

But, if you want a "career" in the legal profession? I'm sorry but you don't have the goods. Do something else.

[kristinmarieUA]

What do I think? I think you should forget about law school, that's what I think. You simply don't have the numbers. If you have $120K lying around and want to waste on the tuition at a 4th tier loser law school, by all means do so; it's your money.

But, if you want a "career" in the legal profession? I'm sorry but you don't have the goods. Do something else.

trololololo

ignore that, that's simply not the case.

[itsbenryl]

3.51 & 158? Sorry pal, you do not have the goods. I'm doing you a favor: look in the mirror and deal with reality. You do not have the goods to get into HYS or someplace similar and you will not have a career in the legal profession. You want to buy a law degree? Fine, that's a different goal and many places will sell the degree to you. But if your goal is to have a career in the legal profession, sorry, but you don't have the goods.

Do something else.

[kristinmarieUA]

Birmingham firms hire predominately UA law grads & tuition is certainly not 120k. Not to mention it's #35, not tier 4. What are you talking about?

[mrtoren]

3.51 & 158? Sorry pal, you do not have the goods. I'm doing you a favor: look in the mirror and deal with reality. You do not have the goods to get into HYS or someplace similar and you will not have a career in the legal profession. You want to buy a law degree? Fine, that's a different goal and many places will sell the degree to you. But if your goal is to have a career in the legal profession, sorry, but you don't have the goods.

Do something else.

This guy is a douchebag.

Do not listen to him.

[law4vus]

Birmingham firms hire predominately UA law grads & tuition is certainly not 120k. Not to mention it's #35, not tier 4. What are you talking about?

I don't think OP can get into Bama currently and itsbenryl's right in that any school that will take him with those numbers isn't worth the cost in this economy.

That being said, different people have different goals. However, paying sticker at Cumberland will most likely not be a good investment. Therefore, OP should retake the LSAT to get above Bama's 165 LSAT median and secure a spot there.

[TommyK]

Birmingham firms hire predominately UA law grads & tuition is certainly not 120k. Not to mention it's #35, not tier 4. What are you talking about?

when he said Tier 4, he was referring to the for-profit Cumberland Law School.

[chrisbru]

I got into Bama with a 158 and a 3.98
However, I'm instate and a girl...

PS don't go to Cumberland.

The fact that you are female means nothing. In state + your nearly 4.0 GPA do. That's why you got in.

I don't think OP can get into Bama currently and itsbenryl's right in that any school that will take him with those numbers isn't worth the cost in this economy.

That being said, different people have different goals. However, paying sticker at Cumberland will most likely not be a good investment. Therefore, OP should retake the LSAT to get above Bama's 165 LSAT median and secure a spot there.

Itsbenryl is a herpderp troll.

But, yeah, I would also recommend taking a year off, working, and getting that LSAT at least above 165, 170 if you can. At this point Bama is a loooooong shot and Tulane is a straight up no.

Scholarships make a huge difference.

[kristinmarieUA]

All I'm saying is I know someone who got in with a 156...

But yeah, I'd try to take it again too. Cumberland is just so damn expensive/not worth it.

[TommyK]

All I'm saying is I know someone who got in with a 156...

But yeah, I'd try to take it again too. Cumberland is just so damn expensive/not worth it.

Bama admits a lot of splitters and reverse splitters to goose their medians, similar to what IUB does. So a 156/3.8 will likely get admitted. So with a 167/2.9. But a 158/3.51 probably wouldn't absent of URM designation.

[chrisbru]

All I'm saying is I know someone who got in with a 156...

But yeah, I'd try to take it again too. Cumberland is just so damn expensive/not worth it.

Bama admits a lot of splitters and reverse splitters to goose their medians, similar to what IUB does. So a 156/3.8 will likely get admitted. So with a 167/2.9. But a 158/3.51 probably wouldn't absent of URM designation.

Or maybe in-state?

[Saint_Seer]

UPDATE:

Got a 159 on the December LSAT. Disappointing, but it's not like I didn't kinda deserve it.

Have applied to Alabama, Florida, Tulane, LSU, Ole Miss, Cumberland, Faulkner, Tennessee, and Georgia State. I have a fee waiver from Mercer, so I think I might apply there today. Only Faulkner has accepted me, which was immediately after they got my transcript. I'm also thinking of applying to FSU, Wake Forest, and Miami.

Also, 3.54 is my CGPA. I'm a Finance major. I'm a resident of Alabama.

[Saint_Seer]

Yeah, I'm considering taking a year off to get an internship at a law firm so I can really concentrate on studying the LSAT. Shouldn't be too hard, I've got a few connections. My parents are pushing me to go to Cumberland one year and transfer to Alabama after, because we know two very successful people who did that. I feel like I'll have more of a grasp on what I want to do after I see some rejections/acceptances.

[law4vus]

My parents are pushing me to go to Cumberland one year and transfer to Alabama after, because we know two very successful people who did that. I feel like I'll have more of a grasp on what I want to do after I see some rejections/acceptances.

Explain to your parents that transferring is extremely rare/difficult, given you'd need to be top 5-10% in your class. That may not seem that difficult at Cumberland, but all law schools are hard and grading is almost random. You can't bank on the fact that you'll be top 5-10% there.

In the end, taking a year off and working only helps you come OCI time. Additionally, the LSAT is 100 times easier than law school, so it would make more sense just to take it again rather than attempt to transfer. Anyone you talk to that knows what they're talking about will tell you that you should never go to a law school that you don't feel comfortable graduating from because of how difficult the transfer process is.