166/2.99- Retake or apply?
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 12:14 pm
I will try to keep this short. I took the LSAT in December, scored a 151 which was 7-8 points less than what I was scoring on my PTs. I took it again in June, got a 166. I missed a few I should not have missed, and I am still weak on LR (38/50) since I concentrated mostly on LG for that gain but I think I can get at least 5-6 more on LR. Anyways, I am debating on whether I should retake in October to try and get into the 170s or whether taking it a third time in less than a year will not look good while applying.
More background, went to University of San Diego, graduated with a 2.99 cumulative and a 3.5 in International Relations. Definitely an upward curve, I was working 35+ hours a week my first and second year as team manager for the basketball team and travelling every other weekend with them so I did not do as well as I should have in school. Since graduating in ‘09, I have been working at a law firm. Started as a file clerk but was promoted after 11 months to paralegal for the senior partner and have been working in that position since. Have letters of rec from two partners here and a professor. Also have been volunteering for a domestic violence project helping abused women and men file TRO’s.
Q: Should I retake fr a 3rd time in October with the hope of scoring in the 170s and using that score for the current cycle? What would a 172-173 do for my chances at a top 20 school? I will have all my application stuff ready by the time I would get the score so I can apply as early as possible. If I stay with my current score, what schools should I seriously look at? I would like to stay in CA but am open to moving anywhere if the school is worth it. With my current score I am looking at Hastings, Loyola, Pepperdine, and USD, but would like to move up to the UCLA, USC, and Davis.
More background, went to University of San Diego, graduated with a 2.99 cumulative and a 3.5 in International Relations. Definitely an upward curve, I was working 35+ hours a week my first and second year as team manager for the basketball team and travelling every other weekend with them so I did not do as well as I should have in school. Since graduating in ‘09, I have been working at a law firm. Started as a file clerk but was promoted after 11 months to paralegal for the senior partner and have been working in that position since. Have letters of rec from two partners here and a professor. Also have been volunteering for a domestic violence project helping abused women and men file TRO’s.
Q: Should I retake fr a 3rd time in October with the hope of scoring in the 170s and using that score for the current cycle? What would a 172-173 do for my chances at a top 20 school? I will have all my application stuff ready by the time I would get the score so I can apply as early as possible. If I stay with my current score, what schools should I seriously look at? I would like to stay in CA but am open to moving anywhere if the school is worth it. With my current score I am looking at Hastings, Loyola, Pepperdine, and USD, but would like to move up to the UCLA, USC, and Davis.