<p>I'm currently a senior and I'm looking towards law school. I want to shoot for the bottom of the T14 or high T1, and I'm scheduled to take the LSAT on Saturday. I'm REALLY not feeling good about this, but it's the last one I can take. I've been practicing, but I definitely don't think I'm ready for getting the score I want. I will be graduating in May from undergrad, my GPA is fine. What are my options? Ideally, I want to buy time and study more for this LSAT and take it the next time comes around -- obviously, I won't be applying to law school then. How will this affect how law schools see things? </p>
<p>Ideally, I don't want to wait an entire year, but I just want to know what I can do about this now. Any help?</p>
<p>Why don't you wait a year?? The majority of people attending law school don't go straight in from undergrad but take a year or two off. By taking a year off you'll not only improve your LSAT, but you should be able to improve your soft factors as well (get involved in some EC's) and even get a slight GPA boost if you final quarter grades are better than normal.</p>
<p>I have a ton of ECs as it is -- that shouldn't be an issue. I'm one of the most involved people on campus. I can see the GPA boost, which is good. I'm more concerned with finding a job or something after merely getting an undergrad degree. I know many of my friends who graduated are not employed... Is it possible to transer/enroll in during the 2nd semester? I just don't know what I will do with myself for a whole year between.</p>
<p>What are you averaging on your practice tests? And what's your GPA? Just to put things in perspective of how competitive you'd be this year as compared to next.</p>
<p>GPA is 3.7, I will be taking a lot of classes next semester to boost it up. It got hit hard this semester due to a rough semester full of deaths, divorces, etc.</p>
<p>ECs are executive positions at the school newspaper, radio station, student government, alpha phi omega community service fraternity; also 1 of 5 in the honors societies for my major. The university I go to is the top-rated in my state, but not an Ivy or anything.</p>
<p>I'm only getting 150-160 range on my practice tests. I need to work on my time... I just worked on some logic games and now did a bit better than usual... I guess I will take the test and then cancel my score if I feel too bad about it...</p>
<p>If you're really set on the T14, a year off would definitely help. There's usually a ten to twelve point ceiling as to how high you can raise your LSAT above initial results, though there are exceptions. 150-160 is somewhat of a broad range, so lets assume 155, after some self study and a course, a score in the 167 range isn't too unreasonable. 3.7+ and 167 would definitely give you a fighting chance at the low T14's. Also, even though you have good EC's, certain schools (such as Northwestern) actually prefer applicants to take some time off and get a little real world work experience. Interning, volunteer teaching, or some type of relevant job would help a lot.</p>
<p>you need to be fully prepared and get the best possible score on your LSAT. The most important factor in law school admission is your LSAT score.<br>
I strongly suggest you delay taking the exam until you are ready.
IMO- it is better to delay law school admission for a year and aim for the highest LSAT score possible. With a February LSAT score, it probably is too late in this admission cycle to apply.<br>
IMO- study hard- do the best you can on the LSAT- apply next cycle.</p>
<p>Also, if you wait and apply next year, your GPA can include the grades from second half of senior year. If you do better than a 3.7, that could really help you.</p>
<p>So taking the year off won't hurt my chances? I'm going to try looking for internships during that time. My GPA will get a boost next semester, definitely as well.</p>
<p>Perhaps a naive question: Can you apply during the Spring semester? or would I have to wait the entire year?</p>
<p>ya gotta wait. I don't think any school has a spring semester start. Though some schools have a summer start (U Mich).</p>
<p>Just remember, if the extra time to study for the LSAT gives you just a 3 or 4 point boost (and hopefully more), you really will be able to aim for a higher level of law school and the higher gpa will also help you out too.</p>
<p>Numero taking off wont hurt your chances. I had 10 years between my undergrad and law school..You would do well to take the LSAT in June or first test date in the fall for admission the following year..Applying this late in the cycle (in Feb?) would really hurt your chances...Concentrate on finishing Undergrad...Almost nobody I know from law school went straight from undergrad</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm gonna take the test this Saturday and cancel it afterwards. Might as well take it since I paid for it, right?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you take the test and then cancel the score, the fact that you took the test and cancelled your score will show up in the report that LSDAS sends to the law schools to which you apply. </p>
<p>From the LSAC website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Law school reports will reflect that your score was canceled at your request; this advised the law schools that you were exposed to test questions. . . . Valid score cancellation requests are irreversible and cannot be rescinded.
<p>I agree that you have to wait. It sounds have the potential to increase your GPA and you definitely need a lot of LSAT prep to get where you want. You will need about 166 to even have a chance of T-14. With 150-160 on practice, you will probably do on the lower end of that range on the real one with the added pressure.</p>