My first PT post CC was a 171, which is another reason I would almost certainly retake if it wouldn’t be my 4th take. But by then I had already foolproofed LG 1-36. One thing I did for Blind Revew that some others might not is to not only watch JYs explanations and read the comments, but also read the explanations on the Powerscore and Manhattan Prep forums and LSAT Hacks.
Hi! not sure exactly if you should retake or not, but I am curious as to your jump. Can you give me a brief layout of how you studied and how you jumped so high? Or was it just grinding? Specifically the 165 to 171. I'm sitting at 161 and would love to get to 165. thanks!
You've probably gone as far as you can go. With a higher score, you may have a shot at NYU or Penn. But you probably should be targeting splitter friendly schools like UVA, Northwestern, and Georgetown.
I think there are only 2 reasons you should re-take:
You are confident you can do much better
You're aiming for HYS
Splitters are always going to have hit or miss cycles. That score won't get you into top of the T14, but once you hit around the 75th percentile, that's about all you need. If you think you could get 173+, then go for it. A higher LSAT will always help. But if you were to score 171 or lower, it won't help and may do slight harm. So I think it's a really personal choice based on how well you think you would be able to do on a re-take.
Edit: missed that you included your average, revised.
Can’t say I’m too confident about scoring 173+ up. Thanks for the input.
I think there are only 2 reasons you should re-take:
You are confident you can do much better
You're aiming for HYS
Splitters are always going to have hit or miss cycles. That score won't get you into top of the T14, but once you hit around the 75th percentile, that's about all you need. If you think you could get 173+, then go for it. A higher LSAT will always help. But if you were to score 171 or lower, it won't help and may do slight harm. So I think it's a really personal choice based on how well you think you would be able to do on a re-take.
Edit: missed that you included your average, revised.
I wonder how big of a metric the 75th is for the T14.
@kimht90675 said:
May I ask how many times you repeated PT 50-84? Was that average score of 174 on your second or third(perhaps) repeats or is that an average of your fresh takes?? Congrats on such an awesome score!
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
The post you linked suggests the OP should NOT retake.
If/once you have a score above their median, you can and should very likely stop taking. A common error is an over focus on the 75th percentile, which is a very small metric for law schools and of zero input into USNWR (although many years ago USNWR did use a calculated median of 25th + 75th percentiles/2 — if they ever go back to that you’d see how quickly schools would switch to caring about 25th and 75th).
OP go to LSAC lsat + gpa calculator and put in your numbers with current lsat and higher score and see if it moves the needle
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
The post you linked suggests the OP should NOT retake.
If/once you have a score above their median, you can and should very likely stop taking. A common error is an over focus on the 75th percentile, which is a very small metric for law schools and of zero input into USNWR (although many years ago USNWR did use a calculated median of 25th + 75th percentiles/2 — if they ever go back to that you’d see how quickly schools would switch to caring about 25th and 75th).
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
May I ask how many times you repeated PT 50-84? Was that average score of 174 on your second or third(perhaps) repeats or is that an average of your fresh takes?? Congrats on such an awesome score!
Even after the median increase, a 171 is still a 75th percentile or better score for most schools. Get your apps perfect and have them submitted as early as possible. A retake would help but I'm not sure how much.
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
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16 comments
@shanetully97284
My first PT post CC was a 171, which is another reason I would almost certainly retake if it wouldn’t be my 4th take. But by then I had already foolproofed LG 1-36. One thing I did for Blind Revew that some others might not is to not only watch JYs explanations and read the comments, but also read the explanations on the Powerscore and Manhattan Prep forums and LSAT Hacks.
Hi! not sure exactly if you should retake or not, but I am curious as to your jump. Can you give me a brief layout of how you studied and how you jumped so high? Or was it just grinding? Specifically the 165 to 171. I'm sitting at 161 and would love to get to 165. thanks!
Here is this old TLS Splitter spreadsheet:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=162680
You've probably gone as far as you can go. With a higher score, you may have a shot at NYU or Penn. But you probably should be targeting splitter friendly schools like UVA, Northwestern, and Georgetown.
Good luck and keep us in the loop.
@leahbeuk911 said:
I think there are only 2 reasons you should re-take:
You are confident you can do much better
You're aiming for HYS
Splitters are always going to have hit or miss cycles. That score won't get you into top of the T14, but once you hit around the 75th percentile, that's about all you need. If you think you could get 173+, then go for it. A higher LSAT will always help. But if you were to score 171 or lower, it won't help and may do slight harm. So I think it's a really personal choice based on how well you think you would be able to do on a re-take.
Edit: missed that you included your average, revised.
Can’t say I’m too confident about scoring 173+ up. Thanks for the input.
I think there are only 2 reasons you should re-take:
You are confident you can do much better
You're aiming for HYS
Splitters are always going to have hit or miss cycles. That score won't get you into top of the T14, but once you hit around the 75th percentile, that's about all you need. If you think you could get 173+, then go for it. A higher LSAT will always help. But if you were to score 171 or lower, it won't help and may do slight harm. So I think it's a really personal choice based on how well you think you would be able to do on a re-take.
Edit: missed that you included your average, revised.
@ohnoeshalpme804 said:
@jsohn0305774 @jromero4355
I wonder how big of a metric the 75th is for the T14.
You're already above the 75th for the schools ranked below five.
@jsohn0305774 @jromero4355
I wonder how big of a metric the 75th is for the T14.
@kimht90675 said:
May I ask how many times you repeated PT 50-84? Was that average score of 174 on your second or third(perhaps) repeats or is that an average of your fresh takes?? Congrats on such an awesome score!
Thank you! The avg was from fresh takes.
@jsohn0305774 said:
@jromero4355 said:
@amhawks84508 said:
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
to OP..if you can do better, take it again
https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/how-many-test-takes-is-too-many-for-law-school/
The post you linked suggests the OP should NOT retake.
If/once you have a score above their median, you can and should very likely stop taking. A common error is an over focus on the 75th percentile, which is a very small metric for law schools and of zero input into USNWR (although many years ago USNWR did use a calculated median of 25th + 75th percentiles/2 — if they ever go back to that you’d see how quickly schools would switch to caring about 25th and 75th).
OP go to LSAC lsat + gpa calculator and put in your numbers with current lsat and higher score and see if it moves the needle
1 pt increase could mean $$$
What have you got to lose?
@jromero4355 said:
@amhawks84508 said:
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
to OP..if you can do better, take it again
https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/how-many-test-takes-is-too-many-for-law-school/
The post you linked suggests the OP should NOT retake.
If/once you have a score above their median, you can and should very likely stop taking. A common error is an over focus on the 75th percentile, which is a very small metric for law schools and of zero input into USNWR (although many years ago USNWR did use a calculated median of 25th + 75th percentiles/2 — if they ever go back to that you’d see how quickly schools would switch to caring about 25th and 75th).
@amhawks84508 said:
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.
this article is from 5 years ago and things have changed a lot since then.
to OP..if you can do better, take it again
https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/how-many-test-takes-is-too-many-for-law-school/
May I ask how many times you repeated PT 50-84? Was that average score of 174 on your second or third(perhaps) repeats or is that an average of your fresh takes?? Congrats on such an awesome score!
No
Even after the median increase, a 171 is still a 75th percentile or better score for most schools. Get your apps perfect and have them submitted as early as possible. A retake would help but I'm not sure how much.
How many schools do you think you'll apply to? Stating the obvious, but make sure your essays are excellent.
I would not. For top programs, the fewer times you take the LSAT, the better. Read quotes from admissions people at t-14 programs at the bottom of this article: https://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-consider-multiple-lsat-scores/
I'd choose one of the lower t-14 splitter friendly schools and apply early decision.