3.96 (on 4.0 scale) and 165. Gunning for Vanderbilt or UVA Forum

[Gunslinger125]

Law school numbers didn't help with my question, so I figured I'd ask here. I did a little worse than I expected on the Oct. 2012 LSAT (PTing at about 168-169, walked out feeling like I hit that, got 165 because I dropped the ball on a LR section) and I'm not sure if I'll have time to prepare for a retake in December. I really want to go to Vandy, but I'm just above their 25% number, so I'm between two options:

1) Run with my current stats and apply at the end of November/early December. I think the 165 is my only real weakness. I have law-related internships, my primary extracurricular for the past four years has been my school's undergrad mock trial program, and I feel I'll have a really strong personal statement.
2) Retake in December to get closer to their median and apply at the end of December.

Can/should I go ahead and take my shot now? Or would I be better off doing a retake and waiting until later in the cycle?

Thanks.

[CorkBoard]

Retake

[Br3v]

Retake

Yeah, a 3.96 is obviously good enough for Yale down, so if you can break 170 you are golden (as in can go anywhere)

[Gunslinger125]

Assuming I can pull my score up a few points, how much would the delay until late December hurt my chances?

[CorkBoard]

Assuming I can pull my score up a few points, how much would the delay until late December hurt my chances?

Not much.

[EdgarWinter]

.