NOT sure if I should apply for fall or 2011 or 2012.

[ANNA09]

I am so stressed..please help me!

I took the December LSAT and was really let down by my score a 156. I studied for three months, taking the KAPLAN class twice. During the last month I studied daily at the library for at least 2 hours. On my last practice tests I got a 161 and a 159. Now I'm not sure if I should re take the February test and apply for next year, or just stick it out and apply this year.

My GPA isn't too strong a 3.1 from a mid grade VA state school. I have my heart set on Catholic University or American University (in DC). I'm worried that my GPA and LSAT score won't cut it. I fall into the 25th percentile for Catholic but not American. I'm not sure what I should do...the bottom line is I don't want to not get in, but i'm not sure if waiting another year is the solution? I guess I'm wondering if my chances are good enough with strong recommendations and a good personal statement, or if should try again next year? Finally, I'm concerned that because I am applying in January, my chances are even lower.

all advice is welcome!

[Anne]

I'll let the LSAT experts comment on retaking the LSAT based on what you told us, but I'm happy to give you my take on your situation regarding applying.

My GPA isn't too strong a 3.1 from a mid grade VA state school. I have my heart set on Catholic University or American University (in DC). I'm worried that my GPA and LSAT score won't cut it. I fall into the 25th percentile for Catholic but not American. I'm not sure what I should do...the bottom line is I don't want to not get in, but i'm not sure if waiting another year is the solution? I guess I'm wondering if my chances are good enough with strong recommendations and a good personal statement, or if should try again next year? Finally, I'm concerned that because I am applying in January, my chances are even lower.

From where I stand, both Catholic and American would be semi-reaches. Strong recommendations and a great personal statement might put you over, but law school admissions is primarily a numbers game, and your 156 won't ameliorate your 3.1 (which isn't a bad GPA by any stretch, but is on the low end for the schools you're interested in)--and your current GPA/LSAT combination will be hard to overcome. Were I in your shoes, I might wait a year until next admissions season, study for the LSAT again, and see if I couldn't raise it to a 165 (or hopefully above). That would put you above the 75th percentile for each of your schools, and would go a long way to making the 3.1 GPA better. That would also give you the summer to really fine-tune all the other elements in your application, and give you the chance to apply really early in the admissions cycle, which will maximize your chances.

Right now, I would say you have a so-so chance of getting in with your numbers. Your chances of getting waitlisted are stronger. Having not read your recs or statement, I can't give you better chances than that. The fact that you're applying late won't do you any favors, either (as you rightly assumed). If waiting a year is something you're okay with, it might be worth it; you could really strengthen your application in that year, particularly if the employment you take complements the path you're looking to take with your legal career.  

[LSAT Eliminator]

I am so stressed..please help me!

I took the December LSAT and was really let down by my score a 156. I studied for three months, taking the KAPLAN class twice. During the last month I studied daily at the library for at least 2 hours. On my last practice tests I got a 161 and a 159. Now I'm not sure if I should re take the February test and apply for next year, or just stick it out and apply this year.

My GPA isn't too strong a 3.1 from a mid grade VA state school. I have my heart set on Catholic University or American University (in DC). I'm worried that my GPA and LSAT score won't cut it. I fall into the 25th percentile for Catholic but not American. I'm not sure what I should do...the bottom line is I don't want to not get in, but i'm not sure if waiting another year is the solution? I guess I'm wondering if my chances are good enough with strong recommendations and a good personal statement, or if should try again next year? Finally, I'm concerned that because I am applying in January, my chances are even lower.

all advice is welcome!

Given what Anne said about your chances with the 156, you may want to seriously think about retaking the LSAT. Even just a couple of points would make a significant difference:

    156 = 67.4th percentile

    159 = 77.6th percentile

So, three more points gets you an additional 10 percentage points, which translates to jumping ahead of thousands of people on the scale.

If you do decide to take the LSAT again--and it's a big decision--maybe take a different route of studying rather than using Kaplan again. No offense to the people who work there, but they aren't my favorite LSAT prep program. There are other excellent courses out there, and even excellent books for self-study. My thinking is that since Kaplan didn't work the first time, try something else. You sound like you worked very hard, so maybe it isn't you, but the tools and the teaching you received.

[Ashley O]

I'd vote for a retake as well.

Perhaps with a different study approach you can score where you should be scoring. Either way the extra points make a significant difference. 

[lawdog]

I am so stressed..please help me!

I took the December LSAT and was really let down by my score a 156. I studied for three months, taking the KAPLAN class twice. During the last month I studied daily at the library for at least 2 hours. On my last practice tests I got a 161 and a 159. Now I'm not sure if I should re take the February test and apply for next year, or just stick it out and apply this year.

My GPA isn't too strong a 3.1 from a mid grade VA state school. I have my heart set on Catholic University or American University (in DC). I'm worried that my GPA and LSAT score won't cut it. I fall into the 25th percentile for Catholic but not American. I'm not sure what I should do...the bottom line is I don't want to not get in, but i'm not sure if waiting another year is the solution? I guess I'm wondering if my chances are good enough with strong recommendations and a good personal statement, or if should try again next year? Finally, I'm concerned that because I am applying in January, my chances are even lower.

all advice is welcome!

Given what Anne said about your chances with the 156, you may want to seriously think about retaking the LSAT. Even just a couple of points would make a significant difference:

    156 = 67.4th percentile

    159 = 77.6th percentile

So, three more points gets you an additional 10 percentage points, which translates to jumping ahead of thousands of people on the scale.

If you do decide to take the LSAT again--and it's a big decision--maybe take a different route of studying rather than using Kaplan again. No offense to the people who work there, but they aren't my favorite LSAT prep program. There are other excellent courses out there, and even excellent books for self-study. My thinking is that since Kaplan didn't work the first time, try something else. You sound like you worked very hard, so maybe it isn't you, but the tools and the teaching you received.

That's a really good point about the effectiveness of the method applied to the test. A lot of people think that if they try an approach--any approach--and have trouble, they must not be very good at the LSAT. You clearly put in some time and work, but with a less than ideal approach, this effort can be unsuccessful or even counterproductive. You might actually be much better at the LSAT than you think! 

I would recommend doing some research to find out what worked for others, and maybe considering a different option to prepare, rather than going with the same approach and hoping for a better outcome. Remember, Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...   

[StrawMan]

Considering you already took the test once, you want to make sure next time you put your best foot forward. I wouldn't rush and do it in February. Take a few months to prepare comprehensively, maybe try a different approach than before and re-take in June. Make sure you have: 1) an approach that works to get you the score you need; 2) the time to put it into practice; and 3) enough recent practice tests (no less than 10).

What was your weakest/strongest section?

Btw, when you apply next year, make sure you send in your applications as early as possible (by end of October 2011). That will give you the best chance to get in.

[LawSchoolGuy]

Btw, when you apply next year, make sure you send in your applications as early as possible (by end of October 2011). That will give you the best chance to get in.