3.86/165 Vanderbilt Forum

[sarahemily]

Political Science and Broadcast News dual major
3.86 GPA
164 Feb/165 June LSAT
Non URM

Thinking about retaking in October, but I am pretty burned out at this point.

[3ThrowAway99]

I would guess probably in, but maybe WL/in.

[TLSwag]

Political Science and Broadcast News dual major
3.86 GPA
164 Feb/165 June LSAT
Non URM

Thinking about retaking in October, but I am pretty burned out at this point.

retakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! no downside. you're probably in at vandy but at sticker. literally 2 points could net you like tens of thousands off in COA. Would you really not be willing to feel a little more LSAT fatigue for a potential earning of up to like $100,000? trust me its worth it

[sarahemily]

Thanks for the feedback! I was completely set on retaking until my advisor told me to "absolutely not" do it, which shook my confidence a little bit. However, I think I trust TLSers more than her.

[Ozymandias]

Thanks for the feedback! I was completely set on retaking until my advisor told me to "absolutely not" do it, which shook my confidence a little bit. However, I think I trust TLSers more than her.

I will put this bluntly, not to be mean, but because it is so important: Your advisor is an idiot.

There is absolutely no downside to retaking. Schools look at your highest score. Your gpa is high for nearly every single law school - if you study smartly and bump your score, you can increase your chances at Vanderbilt from a potential waitlist or perhaps an acceptance with very small scholarship money to getting in with $100,000+ in scholarship money, just with a 170. You also have a chance at better schools, but even if you want to stick with Vanderbilt, the chance for increased scholarships is far, far, far too important to pass up just because you're burned out.

Best of luck!

[dsc1943]

+1 to everything said probably in at sticker or small $ but definitely retake in Oct. or December if you need more time to relax and reset. When you're studying make sure you do as many practice tests as possible under real test conditions (in the morning strictly timed and add in an experimental section). If you can get to 170 that's probably near a full scholly at Vandy and some $ at multiple T14s. I would've absolutely killed for your GPA.

[bigvinny]

Based on the numbers, you are not in at Vandy. GWU seems like a good shot though and it is a very good school. Congrats!

[TheThriller]

Based on the numbers, you are not in at Vandy. GWU seems like a good shot though and it is a very good school. Congrats!

?

[mr.hands]

If you don't score any higher, you're looking at sticker at Vandy. Instead, ED UVA if you don't do better on your retake

UVA at sticker > Vandy at sticker

[3ThrowAway99]

Based on the numbers, you are not in at Vandy. GWU seems like a good shot though and it is a very good school. Congrats!

I don't know dude, I know someone from 2009 cycle (prob more competititve than this one) who had 164/3.9 and was WL and then in (accepted almost immediately after being told he/she was on waitlist).

[Nova]

Thanks for the feedback! I was completely set on retaking until my advisor told me to "absolutely not" do it, which shook my confidence a little bit. However, I think I trust TLSers more than her.

Yeah, your advisor is wrong. You should definitely retake. You should not pass up on the opportunity to earn a 100k scholarship.

Good luck!

[CanadianWolf]

http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com should help. Retake if willing to put forth the effort necessary to improve your score.

[rechtsanwalt12]

I got WL'd at Vandy with a 163 and 3.7 in 2010 cycle and given the drops in numbers across schools I think you're in this year at sticker with a 165. But definitely retake and apply early on with an addendum that you are retaking.

Best of luck!

[indo]

Thanks for the feedback! I was completely set on retaking until my advisor told me to "absolutely not" do it, which shook my confidence a little bit. However, I think I trust TLSers more than her.

I will put this bluntly, not to be mean, but because it is so important: Your advisor is an idiot.

There is absolutely no downside to retaking. Schools look at your highest score. Your gpa is high for nearly every single law school - if you study smartly and bump your score, you can increase your chances at Vanderbilt from a potential waitlist or perhaps an acceptance with very small scholarship money to getting in with $100,000+ in scholarship money, just with a 170. You also have a chance at better schools, but even if you want to stick with Vanderbilt, the chance for increased scholarships is far, far, far too important to pass up just because you're burned out.

Best of luck!

+ 1, yes that advisor is an idiot and out of touch.

[Real Madrid]

Thanks for the feedback! I was completely set on retaking until my advisor told me to "absolutely not" do it, which shook my confidence a little bit. However, I think I trust TLSers more than her.

I will put this bluntly, not to be mean, but because it is so important: Your advisor is an idiot.

There is absolutely no downside to retaking. Schools look at your highest score. Your gpa is high for nearly every single law school - if you study smartly and bump your score, you can increase your chances at Vanderbilt from a potential waitlist or perhaps an acceptance with very small scholarship money to getting in with $100,000+ in scholarship money, just with a 170. You also have a chance at better schools, but even if you want to stick with Vanderbilt, the chance for increased scholarships is far, far, far too important to pass up just because you're burned out.

Best of luck!

Lol. I love how law school advisors in general are basically worthless these days. You can learn more on LSN in 5 minutes than you could with the prelaw advisor at my school in a week.

[msblaw89]

Just a word of caution.... most schools don't mind if you take the LSAT twice ( barring Michigan and Duke) but if you take the LSAT 3 times it will raise a red flag. If you take a look at some LSN profiles of those who took the LSAT 3 times, a WL is more likely than an acceptance at top 15 schools
* Michigan and Duke tend to average scores

[akili]

I took it 3 times and got the same acceptance and scholarship as people who took it once and had the same numbers. (ended up attending Vandy and it's awesome) Retake.

[Nova]

Schools whore themselves to USNWR. They take the highest score. Although, GPAs being equal, if you take it 3 times to score a 171, then you may be behind the guy who took it once to score 171. However, Youre still better off taking it 3 times to score 171 than taking it once and scoring <171.

[msblaw89]

Schools whore themselves to USNWR. They take the highest score. Although, GPAs being equal, if you take it 3 times to score a 171, then you may be behind the guy who took it once to score 171. However, Youre still better off taking it 3 times to score 171 than taking it once and scoring <171.

Very true. OP don't retake just to retake. Make sure you bust your buns over the next month to raise you score to a 170+...otherwise if you stay within +or_ 3 from 165 it will not look so good