How much have I ruined my life? Forum

[tfarunner]

Abysmal and bleak 158 from sept. With a 3.88 gpa. Was PTing in the range of 167-175, but the week of test day I had the flu coupled with homecoming tailgating outside of my testing center. Why I just didn't cancel my score, i don't know.

Retaking in December with hopes to be back around the 172 range and I am curious how much the 158 will hurt my chances at T-6 with the addendum?

[Ohiobumpkin]

Not much. Don't worry. Schools only take highest score. GL.

[baal hadad]

Going to law school will ruin ur life

Getting a shit LSAT will not ruin your life

Stop being a drama queen

[BigZuck]

Schools only care about the highest score, I started with a 160 on my first test and ended up high 160s on the 3rd one and it's as if the first score never existed.

I agree with Rad Baals, chill out friend, retaking the lsat is NBD

[tfarunner]

Not much. Don't worry. Schools only take highest score. GL.

Thank you, this is somewhat uplifting. HLS is my dream, and I just don't want to believe I have already ruined it. If I have to take a year off to get the score necessary, so be it. But you really think there is some grace in a really bad first time score if significant improvements are made?

[RunnerRunner]

Not much. Don't worry. Schools only take highest score. GL.

Thank you, this is somewhat uplifting. HLS is my dream, and I just don't want to believe I have already ruined it. If I have to take a year off to get the score necessary, so be it. But you really think there is some grace in a really bad first time score if significant improvements are made?

I've heard LOTS of stories about people with multiple scores who wound up getting into HYS. Put in the work, kill your retake, and you'll be fine. Good luck

[Tiago Splitter]

You'll be fine. But you might need to ask yourself the hard questions about how you prepared the first time. No one legitimately scoring 175 should be getting a 158 on the real thing.

[patogordo]

Going to law school will ruin ur life

Getting a shit LSAT will not ruin your life

Stop being a drama queen

[tfarunner]

You'll be fine. But you might need to ask yourself the hard questions about how you prepared the first time. No one legitimately scoring 175 should be getting a 158 on the real thing.

This is a very good point. I know a lot of people say it, but I think a 158 is really not indicative of how I was performing at all. I was sick, couldn't seem to focus and generally just extremely anxious. I spent the first five minutes of the test looking at question one on LR, which we all know is a joke. I didn't miss anything on that section until number 20, when I only had about 3 minutes left. I just couldn't hit any sort of pace the whole test and it royally messed with me.

But, I defintely need to control more for actual testing conditions. And I am doing TFA which definitely leaves not the ideal amount of time to study...

[sideroxylon]

just retake, and if you score poorly again, wait a year and retake again

it's not hard

also, try cutting down the time you give yourself on each section (e.g., make each section 30 minutes instead of 35) so you're used to the time crunch; add in another section to each test to improve stamina; take a test or two in a mall food court or someplace with ambient noise so you can deal with that

[malleus discentium]

Abysmal and bleak 158 from sept. With a 3.88 gpa. Was PTing in the range of 167-175, but the week of test day I had the flu coupled with homecoming tailgating outside of my testing center. Why I just didn't cancel my score, i don't know.

Retaking in December with hopes to be back around the 172 range and I am curious how much the 158 will hurt my chances at T-6 with the addendum?

Don't write an addendum. "I had the flu and the testing center was objectively problematic but still chose not to cancel" at best won't help and at worst will reflect poorly on your judgment.

[tfarunner]

Abysmal and bleak 158 from sept. With a 3.88 gpa. Was PTing in the range of 167-175, but the week of test day I had the flu coupled with homecoming tailgating outside of my testing center. Why I just didn't cancel my score, i don't know.

Retaking in December with hopes to be back around the 172 range and I am curious how much the 158 will hurt my chances at T-6 with the addendum?

Don't write an addendum. "I had the flu and the testing center was objectively problematic but still chose not to cancel" at best won't help and at worst will reflect poorly on your judgment.

If in fact I do greatly improve, would you suggest just writing something more along the lines of:

I believe my second test administration is a more valid testament to my skills than my original score. After assessing the issues and mistakes I made surrounding the exam, I was able to reassess and correct these.

[patogordo]

"you'll notice that my second score is better than my first. i think the second score is more representative because i got more questions right."

[sideroxylon]

I feel like if someone does TFA, has a 3.88 GPA, scores a 170+ on the LSAT and scores a 158 on the LSAT, adcoms will know, instantly, that you had a bad day and that the 158 was a fluke

nobody will care

[BigZuck]

Don't write an addendum, there's like no upside there