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164, 3.4x GPA at top 30 undergrad school, applying straight from college

softs include internships with big name human rights orgs, great LORs, favored undergrad organizations (student government) and being a 1st generation american (DS)

I'd consider retaking but I honestly don't think it'll help much, I'm pretty much a B+ student in and out of class though I didn't take any prep courses or anything for my 164, I just took a lot of practice tests and read the explanations

schools I'm looking at:

UPenn
Georgetown
GW
BU
BC
Fordham
American
Cardozo
Rutgers - Newark (in state tuition)

help?

edit: 3.4x GPA out of max 4, I keep seeing 4+ GPAs (no idea how those work!) but my school's max is 4.

I have no idea what kind of boost being a legacy would give you, but I can say that it would need to be a (very) big one for you to be accepted to Penn

http://myLSN.info/bed1pt


GULC is out
GW/BU/BC look very unlikely
Fordham seems 50/50
Everywhere else seems like you're in

If you got a 164 on your own think what you could get with the right study techniques.

Think of the $$$ you could get and also the schools you could get into.

Retake the LSAT after investing in a prep course. Even two additional points (a 166) could mean substantial scholarship money if you apply to the right schools. I agree that Penn is unlikely to admit you based on your numbers (3.45/164).

I had similar stats (3.4, 165) and got wait listed at Fordham. I did, however, get $$ at Cardozo.

Like everyone else is saying, definitely retake unless those legacy connections can hook you up with a sweet job after you graduate.

Nepotism is a dish best served cold

My only worry about the retake is I'd have to take it in February or June at which point I'd already be out of this coming admission cycle, plus a lot of the silly websites which I probably give too much credit to say that unless you plan on scoring 10 points higher, there's not really much point in the retake (complete opposite of what you fine folks say).

If I apply this year, don't get in, and then reapply next cycle after retaking the LSATs, will the original apply hurt me?

OK, if you scored a 152 don't retake unless you can improve it 10 points. If you scored a 146, you need to raise it more like 20. But for you, a mere 6 points puts you at that elite 170 score which isn't bad and even three or four points puts you above median at a couple schools on your list.

Applying now will not hurt you with apps next cycle assuming you improve your LSAT. If you were to apply this year and still take the Feb LSAT that new score could get you scholarships at schools you where you were already accepted and might get you off the waitlist at others. The only risk you run is being outright dinged where the Feb LSAT won't help you this cycle. Heck, people last cycle got $$$ with a JUNE LSAT score improvement.

zestylemon wrote:My only worry about the retake is I'd have to take it in February or June at which point I'd already be out of this coming admission cycle, plus a lot of the silly websites which I probably give too much credit to say that unless you plan on scoring 10 points higher, there's not really much point in the retake (complete opposite of what you fine folks say).

If I apply this year, don't get in, and then reapply next cycle after retaking the LSATs, will the original apply hurt me?

yeah you definitely do not need to improve 10 points. you only need to improve enough to be over the LSAT median at a particular school to substantially boost the competitiveness of your application.

medians
Penn -170
GULC - 170
GW - 167
BU - 166

not to mention increasing your LSAT will give you better chances at scholarship money at the schools you're already likely to be accepted to

Florida wrote:you only need to improve enough to be over the LSAT median at a particular school to substantially boost the competitiveness of your application.

This.

3 more points would probably get you most of GW/F/BU. For now, you are on the outside looking in at those schools. Youre most likely in at schools outside T30.