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Lynnb wrote:I plan to retake in February, but in the meantime, I would like to apply to UC Berkeley. My extra curriculars are very leadership-focused and I believe I will be able to craft a strong PS for their 4 page statement. It is in the area I want to go to, and they have strong international/IP programs and are near tech companies, which I have a growing interest in based on my clients at work.

I know I'm just scraping by their medians, but do you think I have a shot? I aim to write as much as I can about why I am interested in going there.

With your current numbers, I think you have a shot, albeit a (very) slight shot. You are at their current LSAT median and below their GPA median, so admission is anything but a certainty. Even if you do get accepted, would you be fine with placing yourself into $250,000+ of NONDISCHARGEABLE debt (assuming you will be debt financing attendance)?

Personally, I am barely of the opinion that CCN are even worth sticker, much less anything lower than that.

It's good that you're retaking. Get 170+ and go there or somewhere else for free. Don't be afraid to sit out a cycle.

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basedvulpes wrote:http://mylsn.info/r/pre-law/admissions/search/

Ive honestly been using that website for awhile but I don't understand it, is their sample size that small?

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The sample size is very small on mylsn.

OP: Retake the LSAT. Do NOT pay sticker price.

^^^Yea. What most people do here is post your numbers into Mylsn anyways and see what that gets you, or just base their advice off of what they remember from searches and other discussions. It's fairly easy to gauge where you will get if you've been on here enough and if you look at Mylsn. Nobody on here has an individual deeper look at admissions than that.

Unless something has changed drastically in the past two cycles (which is possible, I guess), then 0% chance at Berkeley. I would just focus on the retake for now.

Even if you pay 50K out of pocket you'll still be 200k+ in debt. Berkeley is not worth that much debt, not even close. You need to have a broad application strategy and play schools against each other for scholarship money. Even if you do get 170+ on the LSAT Berkeley is notoriously stingy so don't go just to go if you have options that make more financial sense.

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Lynnb wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Unless something has changed drastically in the past two cycles (which is possible, I guess), then 0% chance at Berkeley. I would just focus on the retake for now.

Even if you pay 50K out of pocket you'll still be 200k+ in debt. Berkeley is not worth that much debt, not even close. You need to have a broad application strategy and play schools against each other for scholarship money. Even if you do get 170+ on the LSAT Berkeley is notoriously stingy so don't go just to go if you have options that make more financial sense.

Do you think it is worth it at all to apply to some schools this cycle just because I can to see what it gets me, and then retake the LSAT in February?

Again, maybe law school admissions have changed a lot the past couple of years but I think you're better off waiting to apply in February with a higher score than applying now

Why not retake December?

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Lynnb wrote: Ive already been working for two years so I'll have around 48K saved up, which is like one year of tuition. I'm pretty upset with me score because if I had one point higher I wouldn't be having this discussion right now. My instructor also told me to wait until October even though I was originally planning for June, I didn't know it didn't hurt me. It's also rough I'm below their GPA median by a few hundreths

Before I say anything, you should know that a 3.73/167 hardly makes you a lock at Berkeley, so it's irrelevant whether you got that score or not. Also, don't blame your LSAT instructor for getting a 166, especially if (s)he recommended that you wait and study more.

I'm currently at Berkeley. I got a similar score to yours in October and retook it to get into the 170s in December. It's entirely possible to gain points in such a short turnover, but you really have to hustle. I also didn't start my personal statement until after the December LSAT. If you have a topic that you know you're going to write about, then my recommendation would be to wait until after December and then start writing your personal statement then. Taking the February LSAT and applying this cycle would be a terrible idea.

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Only if you get rejected.

Lynnb wrote:I have been thinking about this and wanted to ask -

If I apply just to UC berkeley now, and then retake the LSAT in February, this will enable me to assess my options later and if the score is higher and I get waitlisted, it could help as well.

I feel like this plan is a little unorthodox, but is it harmful at all?

Assuming you're happy to sit out a year if you don't get any good options, then it's not too bad. But make sure you can avoid the temptation to choose something crap (i.e. anything not with a big big scholarship), if that is your only option this cycle, over applying again next cycle.

It's only really harmful to your ego, if you get rejected (which looks quite likely, purely based on numbers).

scone wrote:

Lynnb wrote:I have been thinking about this and wanted to ask -

If I apply just to UC berkeley now, and then retake the LSAT in February, this will enable me to assess my options later and if the score is higher and I get waitlisted, it could help as well.

I feel like this plan is a little unorthodox, but is it harmful at all?

Assuming you're happy to sit out a year if you don't get any good options, then it's not too bad. But make sure you can avoid the temptation to choose something crap (i.e. anything not with a big big scholarship), if that is your only option this cycle, over applying again next cycle.

It's only really harmful to your ego, if you get rejected (which looks quite likely, purely based on numbers).

Thanks. I'm not entirely happy to sit out a year, as there are a lot of outside reasons that would make sitting another year out tough, but I know the 166 is not my highest potential, as I've only had around 3 PTs under 167. I had been planning on two years of employment before school, but hopefully I won't lose hope or focus as the Feb. LSAT is only four months away, so once I get the scores I'll be motivated again, ideally. Also, preparing this application with some hope and nothing to lose is allowing me to focus on researching the school and really crafting a quality PS.