Top Law Schools

My Stats are: LSAT 164 (I wish I'd had more time to study, didn't between full time work/interning)

GPA LSAC Adjusted: 3.96 (Double Major)

I consider my softs to be pretty decent, with a number of academic conferences, Student Body Vice-President, research paper awards, and honors like Dean's List and Who's Who.

I'm in review at:
William and Mary
UVA
Alabama
Notre Dame
Georgia
Florida

And I'm considering between Indiana and UNC...any thoughts on that would be great too.
Also, Vanderbilt and Duke have sent me fee waivers, which is confusing to me. Are they just looking to boost their application/rejection rate, or do I actually have a chance?

Classic TLS answer, but it merits repetition:

It would be such a tragedy if you didn't retake. 6 more points and you have a shot at HYS. Do you really need to apply this cycle?

ETA: "Tragedy" is a bit strong, but you get the point.

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If you already regret not studying enough, you're going to be kicking yourself in a few years when you realize you passed up Harvard Law / a free T14 JD.

Retake for YHS or a savings of $180K at the beginning of repayment.

Retake, get a 170+, and enjoy HYS.

I honestly hadn't even considered waiting a cycle to retake. I'm getting married next July so the plan has been to just move immediately following that and begin school. At this point, all my applications are in review, so I'm not really sure how I would need to proceed. I think I came into this process uncharacteristically naive, and didn't realize how complicated admissions would be. I studied for 2 weeks and my highest PT was a 168, and I felt great about the October test, so I was confused to see the drop. I just don't know how much better I would do a second time. Would it be worth it to try a retake in February, or is that simply too late?

abaker92 wrote:I honestly hadn't even considered waiting a cycle to retake. I'm getting married next July so the plan has been to just move immediately following that and begin school. At this point, all my applications are in review, so I'm not really sure how I would need to proceed. I think I came into this process uncharacteristically naive, and didn't realize how complicated admissions would be. I studied for 2 weeks and my highest PT was a 168, and I felt great about the October test, so I was confused to see the drop. I just don't know how much better I would do a second time. Would it be worth it to try a retake in February, or is that simply too late?

You studied 2 weeks wtf....and got a 164....pretty impressive in my opinion lol

Can you imagine what studying for 2 months could do? or 6 (June)?

Retake is absolutely the credited response here. Good luck

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abaker92 wrote:I honestly hadn't even considered waiting a cycle to retake. I'm getting married next July so the plan has been to just move immediately following that and begin school. At this point, all my applications are in review, so I'm not really sure how I would need to proceed. I think I came into this process uncharacteristically naive, and didn't realize how complicated admissions would be. I studied for 2 weeks and my highest PT was a 168, and I felt great about the October test, so I was confused to see the drop. I just don't know how much better I would do a second time. Would it be worth it to try a retake in February, or is that simply too late?

Okay, you have to retake. You have very high scoring potential, and with proper study you should be able to get a score that will allow you to choose between (1) one or more of YHS and (2) other T14 schools with a full-tuition scholarship. This is easily worth the one-year delay. Total no-brainer.

chill wrote:

Bajam wrote:

abaker92 wrote:I honestly hadn't even considered waiting a cycle to retake. I'm getting married next July so the plan has been to just move immediately following that and begin school. At this point, all my applications are in review, so I'm not really sure how I would need to proceed. I think I came into this process uncharacteristically naive, and didn't realize how complicated admissions would be. I studied for 2 weeks and my highest PT was a 168, and I felt great about the October test, so I was confused to see the drop. I just don't know how much better I would do a second time. Would it be worth it to try a retake in February, or is that simply too late?

You studied 2 weeks wtf....and got a 164....pretty impressive in my opinion lol

Can you imagine what studying for 2 months could do? or 6 (June)?

Retake is absolutely the credited response here. Good luck

FWIW, OP, I went from a diagnostic of 164 to a 168 after 2 weeks of studying to a 179 after 4 months of studying. Please don't waste your GPA.

Same. Diagnostic of 163, 170 PT after 2 weeks of study, 176 on test day after 3 months of study. Ya gotta retake, ya just gotta.

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If UVA is your top choice I know someone who was admitted last cycle with 164/3.85. Therefore, I think you'll be okay. But everyone is right..you only studied two weeks and got a 164! You have potential to go to HYS or UVA full ride. I'm sure your fiance will be happy and you can spend more $$$ on the wedding instead.

Ti Malice wrote:Retake for YHS or a savings of $180K at the beginning of repayment.

This needs to be echoed. a few months of studying could be worth this kind of coin.

abaker92 wrote:I studied for 2 weeks and my highest PT was a 168

Hey asshole, I studied for two years and if I get an official 168 this Saturday, I'd be pretty happy.

You have a 3.96 dude.

Retake.

Enjoy HYS.

I dont even need to post in this thread I guess because all the bases seem to be covered. So yea. Retake that LSAT. Also, mazel tov.

Retake OP. Plz. It took me six months to go from 149 diag to 168 in Oct. Retaking tomorrow. In your case, do you realize the 180 potential you have in such a short timeframe? Such potential takes people like me and others many months to cultivate, but odds are you could get that within two months if it took you two weeks for 168.