Top Law Schools

Hi all. I am new here.

These are my scores: 149 LSAT /3.93 GPA

I realize that some may suggest that I retake the LSAT but I don't have the time (or the risk - I took one stupidly without even a little bit of prep and got 143). I prepped for about 1.5 - 2 months. I have solid LORs and a solid PS. I am at a regionally solid school in Philadelphia PA (I am a dual major: elementary Ed and American Studies). I truly do not mind relocating (as long as it is in the continental US). I just need a little guidance because I want to start applying soon.

Thank you in advance.

The only thing TLS will tell you to do is retake. I'm pretty positive you can retake, you just don't want to.

You can only go to law school once. Don't mess it up. Your GPA can get you into any school in the country. Retake.

With that gpa it would be worth it try and retake. Even if not shooting for a top school a few more points on the lsat would help with scholarship money.

Retake or dont go.

Retake. Don't waste that GPA.

Unless you're like 60, you have the time. I don't know the exact age, but I think the average 1L is like 24-25.

There is no law school worth attending that will accept a 149 LSAT. Period.

It would be criminal to waste that beautiful GPA on anything but a good school, and I refuse to believe that anyone capable of getting a 3.9 can't understand that. Law school isn't going anywhere.

Gear up for December NOW.

Read the stickies in the lsat forum. Read pithypike and noodley's guide

Holy


Shit


Retake.

.

dm27 wrote:Hi all. I am new here.

These are my scores: 149 LSAT /3.93 GPA

I realize that some may suggest that I retake the LSAT but I don't have the time (or the risk - I took one stupidly without even a little bit of prep and got 143). I prepped for about 1.5 - 2 months. I have solid LORs and a solid PS. I am at a regionally solid school in Philadelphia PA (I am a dual major: elementary Ed and American Studies). I truly do not mind relocating (as long as it is in the continental US). I just need a little guidance because I want to start applying soon.

Thank you in advance.

Huh? You took it "without even a little bit of prep" but you also prepped for 1.5-2 months? I'm confused.

Either way, retake. No law school worth attending will even look at you with a 143. You'd seriously be better off working at McDonalds than attending the ones that will accept a 143.

If you truly won't make the time to retake, then don't go to law school.

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

I am not totally against retaking the LSAT. I have two questions first:

Do law schools truly evaluate the top score when they say that they do?

Second, if the answer is yes to my first question, what should be my plan for prep? I have most trouble with the games.

Also, what does the last poster mean by troll?

Schools only take the top score. Look through the LSAC forum for strategies. No offense meant, but if you got a 149 you really need to work on all aspects of the test, not just games.

As far as troll, he means you're making this up just to make TLS bristle, because no one could possibly think going to law school with a 149 is a good plan.

My troll sense is tingling also, but there you go.

Nova wrote:Gear up for December NOW.

Read the stickies in the lsat forum. Read pithypike and noodley's guide

This.

It's a bit hard to believe that someone with the academic prowess to earn a 3.93 could do something like apply to law school with a 149...

Ok. I mean, I realize that the 149 is weak all around. But, by and large, the games were worst. I was kind of thinking along the lines of: if I have 2+ months to prep, I could just focus on games and maybe get another 6-8 points.

Thanks for explaining the troll thing. I swear that I'm legit. I just wanted some feedback in regards to my options from other people who may have experience with this. I realize that school choices are dismal with my LSAT number but I really would like to follow my internal desire to practice law.

I'll do my best with prep and retake it. I wish I had more time!

Thanks again.

6-8 points doesn't even really improve the cost-benefit analysis of you going to law school. I wouldn't apply with less than, say, a 163 if I were you. And that's only if you're fine attending a regional school and having limited mobility. If you don't make a jump into the mid-160s, take a year off and do something else while you study.

dm27 wrote:Ok. I mean, I realize that the 149 is weak all around. But, by and large, the games were worst. I was kind of thinking along the lines of: if I have 2+ months to prep, I could just focus on games and maybe get another 6-8 points.

Thanks for explaining the troll thing. I swear that I'm legit. I just wanted some feedback in regards to my options from other people who may have experience with this. I realize that school choices are dismal with my LSAT number but I really would like to follow my internal desire to practice law.

I'll do my best with prep and retake it. I wish I had more time!

Thanks again.

You really need 15+ points to open up some great options. I wouldn't apply until you do. Don't waste that GPA.

dm27 wrote:Ok. I mean, I realize that the 149 is weak all around. But, by and large, the games were worst. I was kind of thinking along the lines of: if I have 2+ months to prep, I could just focus on games and maybe get another 6-8 points.

Thanks for explaining the troll thing. I swear that I'm legit. I just wanted some feedback in regards to my options from other people who may have experience with this. I realize that school choices are dismal with my LSAT number but I really would like to follow my internal desire to practice law.

I'll do my best with prep and retake it. I wish I had more time!

Thanks again.

Like others have said study like crazy to get a big increase. If you put in some hard work and hit a 170 you are looking at a full ride or 3/4 scholarship from top schools.

This is with a 170 LSAT and your GPA

dm27 wrote:Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

I am not totally against retaking the LSAT. I have two questions first:

Do law schools truly evaluate the top score when they say that they do?

Second, if the answer is yes to my first question, what should be my plan for prep? I have most trouble with the games.

Also, what does the last poster mean by troll?

Yes, they take only the top score. Only the top score factors into USNWR, so it would be counterproductive for them to turn down candidates who can contribute to their medians based on scores that are irrelevant for rankings purposes.

Games are by far the easiest to learn and have been covered ad nauseum over on the LSAT Prep forum. Honestly, I would not rush the next retake because with the right score, your GPA would make you competitive for any law school in the country aside from HYS. That would translate into career prospects that are oceans apart at what you are looking at now (200K debt to make about 50K). You should take a good six months or so to prepare and watch your PT scores rise. Unless you have a compelling reason why you have no time to study (on the level of working 60 hours a week to support your unemployed, disabled mother) then you'd be doing your career a huge disservice by locking yourself in to a two month study regimen.

timbs4339 wrote:
Yes, they take only the top score. Only the top score factors into USNWR, so it would be counterproductive for them to turn down candidates who can contribute to their medians based on scores that are irrelevant for rankings purposes.

Games are by far the easiest to learn and have been covered ad nauseum over on the LSAT Prep forum. Honestly, I would not rush the next retake because with the right score, your GPA would make you competitive for any law school in the country INCLUDING HYS.

FTFY. 3.93 is above every median GPA in the country including Yale.

MoMettaMonk wrote:

timbs4339 wrote:
Yes, they take only the top score. Only the top score factors into USNWR, so it would be counterproductive for them to turn down candidates who can contribute to their medians based on scores that are irrelevant for rankings purposes.

Games are by far the easiest to learn and have been covered ad nauseum over on the LSAT Prep forum. Honestly, I would not rush the next retake because with the right score, your GPA would make you competitive for any law school in the country INCLUDING HYS.

FTFY. 3.93 is above every median GPA in the country including Yale.

HYS may still average, although there's rumors that H no longer does. Even a 143/149/180 isn't going to do it, although if OP had that score it would be worth shooting an app anyway.

Also OP needs to read this: http://abovethelaw.com/2013/07/a-guide- ... aw-school/

timbs4339 wrote:

MoMettaMonk wrote:

timbs4339 wrote:
Yes, they take only the top score. Only the top score factors into USNWR, so it would be counterproductive for them to turn down candidates who can contribute to their medians based on scores that are irrelevant for rankings purposes.

Games are by far the easiest to learn and have been covered ad nauseum over on the LSAT Prep forum. Honestly, I would not rush the next retake because with the right score, your GPA would make you competitive for any law school in the country INCLUDING HYS.

FTFY. 3.93 is above every median GPA in the country including Yale.

HYS may still average, although there's rumors that H no longer does. Even a 143/149/180 isn't going to do it, although if OP had that score it would be worth shooting an app anyway.

Also OP needs to read this: http://abovethelaw.com/2013/07/a-guide- ... aw-school/

One of the data heavy contributors (I think Mono or Regulus) conducted a preliminary study on LSAT jumps for 2nd and 3rd takers. I believe one who scores in the 140s had a negligible shot of a 170+, and one who had scored under 150 twice had a literally zero probability of breaking 170. Improvement is always possible, but the data would indicate that jumps in the 20-25 point range (not to mention 30+ for a 180) are practically out of consideration.

Of course since this is a case by case basis and not a stochastic exercise, one could debate whether the record of past exam takers is relevant, and I dont mean to discourage OP from the retake. Definitely retake. Even a 160 could help OP get into some good schools, or secure regional schools on the cheap. But as timbs pointed to, strict averaging aside, Harvard law won't really ever have to look at a 143, 149 since no individual has his their median following those scores.

Take a year off and prep like crazy. If you get into the low 160s, which you can do if you suck at games because games are very learnable, you may have a shot at Penn or UVA.

Retake. You can only go up. And if you don't go up, you shouldn't be going to law school.