Quote:
Originally posted by Glitter650
If you retake you should find out your schools' policy on retake scores some take the higher, some average, some only "note your improvement"
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I STRONGLY agree with this statement. And remember, in order to raise your score a bunch if they average, you need to score about 10 points higher than you did the first time. I don't know about you, but I am not a great test taker. I'm the one who found logic games fun because that was my best section! Had loads of trouble with logical reasoning though (go figure).
I ended up doing well--at least, well enough for me. I got a 162. And I knew that I was never going to do much better...maybe a couple of points, but that wasn't really going to help me. I applied to 12 schools (some of which were HUGE stretches but I applied to a lot as a dual degree MSW/JD so I thought maybe they'd give me a chance). I got into 5, got the big "HELL NO" from 5, and waitlisted at 2. One of the schools that waitlisted me basically said up front that my score wasn't high enough but they really liked my academic record (only a 3.56; but from a top-10 undergraduate institution; 3.7 if you don't count my terrible frosh year) and resume and offered me a conditional transfer if I wanted one for the following year (depending on my 1L grades). I kindly declined (pretty much because they didn't have an MSW/JD program and I was happy with where I had decided to go)--but that could be an option for some. That particular school is a top-10 school and takes a large number of transfers to fill out those who drop out after their 1L year (PM me for the school if you want).
I'll actually be a 1L this year (I'm in an MSW/JD program and did all MSW work this past year) and I'm at a top-20 Law School. Of the schools I got into, 2 are top-20, a third is top 25, and the other 2 were safeties (all within the top-80). One of the schools that waitlisted me was in the top-30, and a top 25 rejected me (the other 4 rejections were top-10 schools and I didn't think I'd get in).
One can never tell with Law School admissions. While yes, the LSAT matters, it's not the whole picture. Your resume and grades can be decided factors as well. And don't forget that essay.
Yes loans suck. And scholarships are few...but everyone finds a way to make it happen.
Do not stress about the LSAT--it can't determine everyone's life. I know others who got less than a 160, are happy at their schools, are on Law Review and are towards the top of their classes. Go figure.
Sorry for the long rant, I just had to get out my .15 cents
