3.8 154 URM Forum

[Noxyyy]

Hello TLS,

This is my first post! I am an AA URM and a long time lurker. I took the Dec LSAT and scored 154. I know the best thing to do is to retake and get a 160, but I still wanted to try for this cycle and then if it doesn't work out retake.

I am really looking into going to a California school. Can you chance me for these schools. Berkley costs $105 to apply..I'd hate to dump the money to apply if it's an obvious reject.

UC Berkley
UC Irvine
UCLA
USC
UC Davis

Thanks!

Looking forward to hear back~

[Cilia]

If it helps, I got into several higher ranked schools (albeit none were in California) with a 3.97/158 (first time around) and a 160 second time around. For example, I didn't end up going, but I got into UVA (which is ranked like 8...these numbers actually matter because if you can get into #8, you can generally get into #20) before I got my second score. I'm also an AA URM. So I'd say your chances are fairly decent to get into all of the schools you listed as is, excluding Berkley...that would be a reach if you don't retake, I think. But seriously, retake it. It's worth it. It could actually mean saving tens of thousands of dollars because even if you eek into a school, they're not going to give you as much scholarship money with a lower LSAT score. I wish I'd taken mine a third time for that reason. Oh and if after all that, you still don't do well on the LSAT, apply to all of your reaches anyway. It can get costly but it's a small investment, comparatively. Hope this helped a little bit. Hopefully some westerners reply to you lol

[Clearly]

[Clearly]

Hello TLS,

This is my first post! I am an AA URM and a long time lurker. I took the Dec LSAT and scored 154. I know the best thing to do is to retake and get a 160, but I still wanted to try for this cycle and then if it doesn't work out retake.

I am really looking into going to a California school. Can you chance me for these schools. Berkley costs $105 to apply..I'd hate to dump the money to apply if it's an obvious reject.

UC Berkley
UC Irvine
UCLA
USC
UC Davis

Thanks!

Looking forward to hear back~

Or...you can learn how to get better at a multiple choice test and take a crack at Stanford. Seriously, you can do it! Don't even bother with this cycle. You could pick these schools for free with a better LSAT instead of paying hundreds of thousands because you didn't retake.

[fliptrip]

Hello TLS,

This is my first post! I am an AA URM and a long time lurker. I took the Dec LSAT and scored 154. I know the best thing to do is to retake and get a 160, but I still wanted to try for this cycle and then if it doesn't work out retake.

I am really looking into going to a California school. Can you chance me for these schools. Berkley costs $105 to apply..I'd hate to dump the money to apply if it's an obvious reject.

UC Berkley
UC Irvine
UCLA
USC
UC Davis

Thanks!

Looking forward to hear back~

There is no scenario that will unfold this year that involves you applying with a 154 that will make it worth it. Allow me to play them out:

1. You will not get into Berkeley. I know its a small sample size, but no one with your profile has gotten in there via LSN/MYLSN in the past six years--your LSAT is just too low and your GPA is excellent, but not extraordinary, like Cillas.
2. You have a next to zero chance at USC and UCLA. You might get a w/l out of one of them, but if you get off it will come with sticker price tuition ($300,000 all in).
3. Maybe Davis will happen, but is that place going to get you set up to get a job you'd want after school?

Not only that, you will be wasting an initial exposure at these schools by applying now. I'd much rather make a super strong first impression than make a weak one initially, and then have to reapply later and make another one.

Clearly is right. You absolutely have to retake. Moving out of the mid-150s just requires committing to a strategy and putting the work in necessary to master it. How much did you study for your 154?