Can I ask how long that took you? I am facing massive burnout on my end. I went from a 146 last Jan, to taking the Flex in November (while PT'ing 150s) and got a 144..Feeling discouraged and it has become hard to concentrate on the lessons again. Any advice on how you got to 161 from 144 would be greatly appreciated! Along with how long you studied for.

Hi, I'm from Canada, I played my 5 years of university basketball, worked full time and did an honours degree with distinction (I was waitlisted at 4 Canadian schools) and had an almost identical cGPA but my lsat was very low. I applied discretionary where I could, and explained the time commitments etc., and background as a student athlete but it didn't seem to impact my actual application in a very positive way. If you know a school is more holistic, I would say use your background and discuss how being a student athlete has propelled you to be a successful JD candidate etc. I am re-applying this year and am focusing more on that, versus why it may have affected my grades. I'm not sure if that helps, but it is my very recent experience!

Thank you so much, that really puts my mind at ease!

I'm not sure where you live, but most schools in Canada for example, take your highest LSAT. I would say purchase the Score Review package from LSAC for $45 which releases your LSAT Flex score and let's you decide up to 6 days on if you want your score released. If your score is not where you want it, just request that it not be released, and take the January exam? That's what I am doing:

"Score Preview is only available to first-time test takers who wish to see their score before deciding whether to keep it as part of their LSAC transcript and report it to schools. Score preview will cost $45 if you sign up prior to the first day of testing for a given test administration, or $75 if you sign up after testing has concluded".

Don't give up!!

Hi! I'm in not in the same range as you but after taking the November LSAT, I've realized that burn out has an immense impact on your score. I have been studying less since the November LSAT and have concentrated only on games (because I can improve quickly there) and the areas that are error-prone for me in LR, and on exams. I would suggest that you give yourself at least 4-5 days before the LSAT exam without taking any exams and give yourself 2-days free before the LSAT to not study or touch the books at all. A lower stress environment and doing less PT's actually increased my score. My tutor also said the same thing and mentioned that when you're studying so much, you do a disservice to yourself in not letting the material sink in. Score-fluctuation is normal, but taking another exam will not aid this, and may in fact harm it if your problem is burn out. So I would take a couple days to exercise, get a good sleep, eat well and review the question types you get wrong on the exam on 7SAGE. I also had insane eye-strain in my burn-out phase, and so switching to paper copies of exams and/or problem sets helped (I would still time them). That's my advice anyways, since following it, I've gone up almost 8pts in 1.5 months of studying (ironic yes, because I've been studying less). But the breaks in between really re-energize you! Wishing you all the best and please take the time to relax before the exam, you will do amazing!

Best of luck!

Update; I took my exam yesterday feeling mentally rested and think I hit my target. I didn't study at all two days before the exam and it really helped me. Although I didn't get a good sleep the night before, I was able to really concentrate. Wishing you luck and hopefully you will or have stopped studying to give your brain a break!

I am doing the EXACT SAME thing...I haven't hit my PT since last week. I think it is eye strain and too much reading/over-studying to be honest. I would suggest using paper copies of LG and LR for the days leading up to your exam, and to stop taking exams immediately. The more you take at this point, the more burnt out you will get and it will affect your test score come the 11th. I am taking mine on the 8th and am using paper copies of LG games and LR games until end of day tomorrow I will then stop studying for Friday/Sat to give myself and brain a much needed break and just do fun things to get my mind off things. That's my personal experience anyhow, so I hope some of that helps! Keep your head high, try and try to get a good sleep pattern now, and DO NOT study 1-2 days before the exam, in my experience, studying 1-2 days before the exam is a big no no for burn out. Use those days to relax and create a fun/stress free environment.