3.67/169 - should I retake? Forum

[pretzelroll]

GPA 3.67
LSAT 169
Went to top liberal arts school
Six years of solid, interesting work experience after college

Desperately want ED at Northwestern. Originally from Chicago, want to do IP. Also desperately don't want to retake LSAT, and am not sure I'd do much better anyway. Should I suck it up and have another go? Or are my chances good enough?

Thoughts/assurances appreciated.

[PoopNpants]

If you want ED NW I think you definitely gotta re-take

[BigZuck]

Yup, retake is a slam dunk no brainer here

[Instinctive]

How much did you prepare?

How much did you improve?

Were you PTing much higher, consistently?

Do you have a lot of prep materials still?

Can you put in the necessary time to improve?



Answers to those questions should answer your retake question.

[shump92]

How are you paying for school? You are basically right at NU's median profile so maybe your WE gets you in ED. I don't really know. But assuming you are not URM and the ED doesn't pan out, you are looking at close to sticker for T14 and some $$ in the other T20. A bump of 3/4 points could do wonders for your options. I imagine that would improve your chances at the ED and you could also have a shot at money within CCN.

With that much WE, you probably don't want to wait another year if you don't get what you want from NU. It's only July and having already been at 169, you could probably get those 3/4 points if you went all in on studying. At worst case, that's a few hundred dollars and you wouldn't have to actually sit in October if your PTs aren't high enough. I think your score is very good and you might actually be okay right now, but a retake would be wise if you are risk averse at all with the ED. Really depends on how comfortable you are leaning on your WE since your numbers are solid, but not eye-popping. Good luck!

[shump92]

How much did you prepare?

How much did you improve?

Were you PTing much higher, consistently?

Do you have a lot of prep materials still?

Can you put in the necessary time to improve?



Answers to those questions should answer your retake question.

+1

[Nomo]

If there is a reasonable chance you will do better then you should retake. There only situation where you shouldn't retake a 169 is if you studied really hard, you don't think you can improve your LSAT skills, and your test day score (169) was as good or better than your best PT.

[BigZuck]

How much did you prepare?

How much did you improve?

Were you PTing much higher, consistently?

Do you have a lot of prep materials still?

Can you put in the necessary time to improve?



Answers to those questions should answer your retake question.

+1

I don't think any of those questions really matter. Retake is a slam dunk no brainer because it's a $300 free roll with zero downside.

I mean, maybe I would consider not bothering in this case if those numbers are likely to succeed ED. That was not nearly the case my cycle IIRC but things very well could have changed a lot the past 2 years, I dunno.

[Instinctive]

How much did you prepare?

How much did you improve?

Were you PTing much higher, consistently?

Do you have a lot of prep materials still?

Can you put in the necessary time to improve?



Answers to those questions should answer your retake question.

+1

I don't think any of those questions really matter. Retake is a slam dunk no brainer because it's a $300 free roll with zero downside.

I mean, maybe I would consider not bothering in this case if those numbers are likely to succeed ED. That was not nearly the case my cycle IIRC but things very well could have changed a lot the past 2 years, I dunno.

I mean, if you took every practice test and a prep course, worked your ass off for a few months, had a diagnostic near 150, consistently PT'd around 164, and then got a 169 on the real deal I'd say retaking is a total waste of time and money. Not that this is the case here, but it's absolutely something to consider.

Because if you're not going to do better, your time is better spent figuring out where else you can go, where you can get in, and what your plan is for the cycle.

[CanadianWolf]

Do both. Sign up & prepare for a retake while applying to NU ED. If you get in, then you are on your way. If you are not admitted ED to Northwestern , then reapply next cycle with your best LSAT score.

[BigZuck]

Yeah I mean I could probably come up with some whacky scenarios where I might not retake a 169 (want to be a PD and already have a fully to the local flagship, have a 4.3 and think you have a good shot at Stanford as is for whatever reason and have a legit fear of scoring lower and that might jeopardize your chances, etc.)

But that doesn't apply to like 99.97% of all law school applicants so I'm standing behind my post.

[Generally]

Post removed.

[pretzelroll]

Thanks everyone! Good food for thinkin.

My PTs were usually, like, 170-171, and I studied hard. Hence my apprehension about retaking.

Another possibility I've considered is trying for ED at BU if NU is a total pipe dream - would also love to be in that city, and think my chances are slightly better there. (Right?? I think?)

I'm doing this with loans, exclusively, and since I'll be a bit older when I graduate, not being saddled with a ton of debt is very important to me.

[Instinctive]

Thanks everyone! Good food for thinkin.

My PTs were usually, like, 170-171, and I studied hard. Hence my apprehension about retaking.

Another possibility I've considered is trying for ED at BU if NU is a total pipe dream - would also love to be in that city, and think my chances are slightly better there. (Right?? I think?)

I'm doing this with loans, exclusively, and since I'll be a bit older when I graduate, not being saddled with a ton of debt is very important to me.

171 PTs means that if you catch the test on a good day, you could hit like 174, even if you don't improve and just get a little luckier with the normal test-taking variance.

The difference in a 174 and a 169 is pretty huge.

[shump92]

Thanks everyone! Good food for thinkin.

My PTs were usually, like, 170-171, and I studied hard. Hence my apprehension about retaking.

Another possibility I've considered is trying for ED at BU if NU is a total pipe dream - would also love to be in that city, and think my chances are slightly better there. (Right?? I think?)

I'm doing this with loans, exclusively, and since I'll be a bit older when I graduate, not being saddled with a ton of debt is very important to me.

If retaking is a no, I think you would likely get $$$ from BU and comparable T1s RD. So I don't think ED there really gives you much to gain. Depends on whether the schools you could have leverage against appeal to your interests. BU isn't a terrible option though.

In all likelihood, you left at least 1 point on the table because your PT average was higher and I'm assuming that was your first take. Those 1/2 points could easily help your chances for $$ in the T14. No guarantee you actually get those points on test day, but the few hundred dollars seems worth it. Regardless, you will have some good options. I would either see if a tutor/new materials could help you get around 175 for PTs and then retake in October or do NU ED and plan for targets between 10 and 25 RD if you are out at NU.

[Broncos15]

Even literally one more correct bubbled answer could be a game changer here - no risks involved either as schools don't care about lower re-takes