. Forum

[Liz18]

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[Ti Malice]

Dear god no. Don't apply anywhere this year. (Full disclosure: You would almost certainly get into UVA this year as an ED applicant, but you would pay sticker or close to it.) As an LSAT instructor, I can tell you from my experience that if you hit 162 on a real test after only two weeks of moderate studying, you should be able to score well into the 170s with the proper amount of studying. Then instead of paying sticker at UVA, you can choose between at least one of YHS, CCN with half to possibly full rides, and probably several full-tuition offers in the rest of the T14, including UVA. There's no possible outcome that justifies applying this cycle and attending next fall, so just save the app fees.

[McAvoy]

Fuck. No.

[unodostres]

It took me a year and some to get into the mid to low 160's consistently. At this point, today, after +3 months, I'm in the low 170's. So, it took me close to 2 years to get into the 170's on average. It took you two weeks to get into the low 160's.

Think about it.

[pancakes3]

You're rushing yourself to law school for no good reason. You have a GPA that most on here would kill for - even the ones in T14's. In fact, you've also got a cold LSAT score most on here would kill for. Wasting all of that would be tragic. At best, you cost yourself $150k+ (scholarship money is real money) by paying close-to-sticker for a T14. At worst, you cost yourself HYS and millions in woulda-coulda-shoulda earnings.

[notgreat]

Nah, retake and apply next cycle. You should be able to bump your LSAT score substantially with some effort. You'll have better options and more money from schools. Law school isn't going anywhere in one year's time. Don't waste the 3.95 and likely 170+.

[sesto elemento]

Oh hey there op, you're someone we like to refer to as a reverse splitter here on TLS. Now you may be asking yourself whats a revers splitter? No problem bud, I got your definition right here:

Reverse splitter- Someone with a high gpa (3.7+) but a low gpa (sub 165) who needs to retake the LSAT.

[bl1nds1ght]

It took me a year and some to get into the mid to low 160's consistently. At this point, today, after +3 months, I'm in the low 170's. So, it took me close to 2 years to get into the 170's on average. It took you two weeks to get into the low 160's.

Think about it.

How have you not run out of materials? I'm seriously curious, as I might need to take a long time to get where I need to be, score-wise. Grats on your progress.

[Mack.Hambleton]

retake

[unodostres]

It took me a year and some to get into the mid to low 160's consistently. At this point, today, after +3 months, I'm in the low 170's. So, it took me close to 2 years to get into the 170's on average. It took you two weeks to get into the low 160's.

Think about it.

How have you not run out of materials? I'm seriously curious, as I might need to take a long time to get where I need to be, score-wise. Grats on your progress.

There were breaks in between of two months. My total time spent studying I think is like 1.5 years + breaks. I definitely exhausted my drilling stuff, but only half my tests. Earlier tests (40-55) that I've seen more than once, I've hit in the upper 170's, but I don't think it's representative to my average. On the newer tests 60 or so onwards, I've seen a dip (obviously), to the 168-172 range. Just make a schedule for when you're taking the exam. If it's longer, space stuff out accordingly.

If you are running out of prep materials, check out the LSAT india tests, the Feb tests, and just redo questions. See the how the arguments can work in multiple ways. Never hurts to look at it multiple times. I do games over and over again, LR and RC. But then again, I'm not just jerking off while circling answer choices and if I can't see why it's the wrong answer but I remember, I don't choose it and mark it against myself. Redo it again and again...

Thanks for the kind words!

[bl1nds1ght]

There were breaks in between of two months. My total time spent studying I think is like 1.5 years + breaks. I definitely exhausted my drilling stuff, but only half my tests. Earlier tests (40-55) that I've seen more than once, I've hit in the upper 170's, but I don't think it's representative to my average. On the newer tests 60 or so onwards, I've seen a dip (obviously), to the 168-172 range. Just make a schedule for when you're taking the exam. If it's longer, space stuff out accordingly.

If you are running out of prep materials, check out the LSAT india tests, the Feb tests, and just redo questions. See the how the arguments can work in multiple ways. Never hurts to look at it multiple times. I do games over and over again, LR and RC. But then again, I'm not just jerking off while circling answer choices and if I can't see why it's the wrong answer but I remember, I don't choose it and mark it against myself. Redo it again and again...

Thanks for the kind words!

Ofc! Thank you for your answer. That was helpful. I didn't realize there were different tests for India and it seems like re-doing questions will be okay if I get that far.

[sd5289]

In addition to everyone stating the obvious (don't waste that GPA on that LSAT score), you can also acquire some quality WE as you're studying for the LSAT and improving your score, which is going help you with that whole job thing once you're in law school. Employers like seeing that the position they're hiring for isn't your first time at the rodeo.

In sum, retake, get a (good) job, and try to enjoy life before law school/bar exam/etc. engulf it for the next 5-10 years.

[Liz18]

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[jbagelboy]

Dear god no. Don't apply anywhere this year. (Full disclosure: You would almost certainly get into UVA this year as an ED applicant, but you would pay sticker or close to it.) As an LSAT instructor, I can tell you from my experience that if you hit 162 on a real test after only two weeks of moderate studying, you should be able to score well into the 170s with the proper amount of studying. Then instead of paying sticker at UVA, you can choose between at least one of YHS, CCN with half to possibly full rides, and probably several full-tuition offers in the rest of the T14, including UVA. There's no possible outcome that justifies applying this cycle and attending next fall, so just save the app fees.

Yeah, I was thinking as much. :/

I just found out that I actually can take the test in December, but I still think it will be better if I wait it out and just apply next cycle.

As much as it would be nice to get the whole application process out of the way this semester, half-assing it would not be the best decision in the long run.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I guess I'm going to switch my attention to prepping for a retake.

congrats on your choice.

Just as more encouragement, my first score many years ago was in the mid-low 160's too after limited study. I considered applying and ultimately put it off to study and take it again. I improved by a large margin and wound up with many great options totally unavailable before, including top schools (although Yale was never possible for me with my solid-but-not-outstanding grades, it would be for you).

As a 2L in law school now, I can tell you with confidence that my life is completely different from what it would have been if I'd run with the first score.

There are countless stories like this throughout the board.