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How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:35 am
by 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?
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:38 am
by Ohiobumpkin
Not much. Don't worry. Schools only take highest score. GL.
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:43 am
by baal hadad
Going to law school will ruin ur life
Getting a shit LSAT will not ruin your life
Stop being a drama queen
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:15 am
by 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
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:17 am
by tfarunner
Ohiobumpkin wrote: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?
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:22 am
by RunnerRunner
tfarunner wrote:Ohiobumpkin wrote: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
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:23 am
by 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.
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:38 am
by patogordo
baal hadad wrote:Going to law school will ruin ur life
Getting a shit LSAT will not ruin your life
Stop being a drama queen
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:43 am
by tfarunner
Tiago Splitter wrote: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...
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:49 am
by 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
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:52 am
by malleus discentium
tfarunner wrote: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.
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:08 pm
by tfarunner
malleus discentium wrote:tfarunner wrote: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.
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:09 pm
by 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."
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:11 pm
by 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
Re: How much have I ruined my life?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:29 pm
by BigZuck
Don't write an addendum, there's like no upside there