Top Law Schools

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There is no such thing as a reverse splitter, just someone who needs to retake.

Just retake. You have so much time. Take it senior year, but I would recommend taking a few years off anyway. Law schools are really valuing work experience and the maturing effect it has on students.

But regardless, retake when you feel ready. If that's June or September, either is fine. You could also take both.

Thanks for the quick follow up. I am forsure going to retake. Likely June so I have adequate time to get my application in as early as possible. If I am unable to raise my score after the third time do you have any insight into my chances at these schools (I know most if not all are reaches).

While many schools say it's ideal to have as few LSAT scores as possible on file, most schools only really care about your highest (they only have to report your highest to the ABA, for one). So, a really good fourth score is better than an okay third score.

As for timing of the apps, you can definitely send in your applications once they become available in August/September even if you are registered for the September LSAT. While schools might not review your app until the Sept. score is posted, many schools don't start reviewing apps until October anyway, which will be around the time the Sept. scores post. However, it's probably better to not have to be studying for the LSAT while working on applications, so that might be a downside of taking the exam in September (if you are going to be working on the application essays in the months leading up to the apps becoming available).

ETA: Here's a link to a somewhat useful website to gauge your chances. I've inputted a LSAT range of 163-164 and a GPA range of 3.9-3.95 in the link provided to get more data points while remaining pretty close to your actual numbers.

personpitch wrote:While many schools say it's ideal to have as few LSAT scores as possible on file, most schools only really care about your highest (they only have to report your highest to the ABA, for one). So, a really good fourth score is better than an okay third score.

As for timing of the apps, you can definitely send in your applications once they become available in August/September even if you are registered for the September LSAT. While schools might not review your app until the Sept. score is posted, many schools don't start reviewing apps until October anyway, which will be around the time the Sept. scores post. However, it's probably better to not have to be studying for the LSAT while working on applications, so that might be a downside of taking the exam in September (if you are going to be working on the application essays in the months leading up to the apps becoming available).

Thank you for the advice. I will just register when I feel ready I guess rather than forcing a specific date like the last two times. Do you think it would be wise to include an addendum explaining how I consistently ptd higher and extreme testing anxiety got the best of me or is it futile? Also should I include in the addendum that my gpa is being brought down by ~.05 due to the B- from high school? (I feel even that small numerical difference will be a determining factor for WL or Accept in my case) I had a lengthy battle with my school's admissions office asking them to remove it from transcript, but was unsuccessful.

MFLeviathan wrote:Also should I include in the addendum that my gpa is being brought down by ~.05 due to the B- from high school? (I feel even that small numerical difference will be a determining factor for WL or Accept in my case) I had a lengthy battle with my school's admissions office asking them to remove it from transcript, but was unsuccessful.

1) your 3.93 puts you above every school's median—it won't be the reason you get WL or accepted.
2) They will look at your transcript and see your near-perfect grades, so no, you shouldn't include an addendum explaining what the admission office can see.

An addendum in your case would do more harm than good. Other posters are right though, that GPA is way too good to not retake until you can at least get into the high 160s.

Retake. You earned a high gpa, and as little improvement as 3 points to a 167 will net you BIG returns

MFLeviathan wrote:Start studying for GRE maybe?

Once you have reportable LSAT scores, the GRE won't help you since law schools will have to report your LSATs.

MFLeviathan wrote:Thanks for the quick follow up. I am forsure going to retake. Likely June so I have adequate time to get my application in as early as possible. If I am unable to raise my score after the third time do you have any insight into my chances at these schools (I know most if not all are reaches).

Don't set dates as your goal, set scores as your goal. It doesn't matter if it's your third or tenth time, the score is all that matters.

In the mean time, I'm sure someone with a 3.93 from UCLA/Cal can find a job. Just work that job.

pancakes3 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Thanks for the quick follow up. I am forsure going to retake. Likely June so I have adequate time to get my application in as early as possible. If I am unable to raise my score after the third time do you have any insight into my chances at these schools (I know most if not all are reaches).

Don't set dates as your goal, set scores as your goal. It doesn't matter if it's your third or tenth time, the score is all that matters.

In the mean time, I'm sure someone with a 3.93 from UCLA/Cal can find a job. Just work that job.

thank you for the advice, even with a 164 do I have a shot to gtown.penn.uva.umich. early decision from kjd?

MFLeviathan wrote:

pancakes3 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Thanks for the quick follow up. I am forsure going to retake. Likely June so I have adequate time to get my application in as early as possible. If I am unable to raise my score after the third time do you have any insight into my chances at these schools (I know most if not all are reaches).

Don't set dates as your goal, set scores as your goal. It doesn't matter if it's your third or tenth time, the score is all that matters.

In the mean time, I'm sure someone with a 3.93 from UCLA/Cal can find a job. Just work that job.

thank you for the advice, even with a 164 do I have a shot to gtown.penn.uva.umich. early decision from kjd?

Are you asking whether it might be okay to forego the few hundred bucks it will cost you to retake the LSAT for the honor of going to law school with no discount, potentially lighting $100k on fire?

MFLeviathan wrote:

pancakes3 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Thanks for the quick follow up. I am forsure going to retake. Likely June so I have adequate time to get my application in as early as possible. If I am unable to raise my score after the third time do you have any insight into my chances at these schools (I know most if not all are reaches).

Don't set dates as your goal, set scores as your goal. It doesn't matter if it's your third or tenth time, the score is all that matters.

In the mean time, I'm sure someone with a 3.93 from UCLA/Cal can find a job. Just work that job.

thank you for the advice, even with a 164 do I have a shot to gtown.penn.uva.umich. early decision from kjd?

A 3.93/163 for a non-URM has a very poor chance at those schools. GT might be the exception but you don't want to be attending there at sticker.

goldenbear2020 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Start studying for GRE maybe?

Once you have reportable LSAT scores, the GRE won't help you since law schools will have to report your LSATs.

source? i'm not sure if schools like HLS have yet specified whether they will or will not pick one of the tests (lsat or gre) to report the score for those who have taken both.

appind wrote:

goldenbear2020 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Start studying for GRE maybe?

Once you have reportable LSAT scores, the GRE won't help you since law schools will have to report your LSATs.

source? i'm not sure if schools like HLS have yet specified whether they will or will not pick one of the tests (lsat or gre) to report the score for those who have taken both.

99% sure the ABA and/or USNews has said that LSAT must be reported if the applicant has one

chargers21 wrote:

appind wrote:

goldenbear2020 wrote:

MFLeviathan wrote:Start studying for GRE maybe?

Once you have reportable LSAT scores, the GRE won't help you since law schools will have to report your LSATs.

source? i'm not sure if schools like HLS have yet specified whether they will or will not pick one of the tests (lsat or gre) to report the score for those who have taken both.

99% sure the ABA and/or USNews has said that LSAT must be reported if the applicant has one

i believe spivey had a post couple of pages back in his thread suggesting it's not set in stone yet. http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... #p10207894

That is my default. My guess is that, if there is change, it won't be in test score weight but rather the school can choose whether they submit the GRE or LSAT of you have both, and if that is the case nothing in the above that I just said changes.

appind wrote:i believe spivey had a post couple of pages back in his thread suggesting it's not set in stone yet. http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... #p10207894

That is my default. My guess is that, if there is change, it won't be in test score weight but rather the school can choose whether they submit the GRE or LSAT of you have both, and if that is the case nothing in the above that I just said changes.

Well, yeah, all kinds of stuff can happen in the future. But I highly doubt, for this cycle at least, that law schools are going to make admissions decisions based on that kind of speculation. The current rule is that they have to report all valid LSATs, and they can't risk screwing up their medians by relying on something else.

Lo and behold, right there on HLS's website:

[Q:] Will HLS report my LSAT score to the American Bar Association (ABA) if I take both the LSAT and the GRE?

[A:] Yes. If you take the LSAT, then we will report the LSAT score to the ABA.