I plan to apply next cycle. I took the test for the first time in August, panic registered for November, got my score (mid-160s), and then had to postpone to January due to a professional conflict. I haven't looked at a PT or logic game since score release. Ironically, I got my highest ever PT score after score release, 172, so I know I'm capable of doing better than I did on test day, especially if I grind hard over the next two months. And hopefully if they get some technical issues taken care of by then because I know for a fact some of the proctoru struggles negatively impacted my score. My GPA is decent, it's right around the current medians for most of the schools I'm interested in but I have several withdrawals on my transcript due to a medical condition that went undiagnosed virtually all of undergrad, so I know even with an addendum explaining that I've since received a diagnosis and have it under complete control, some eyebrows are understandably going to be raised. I'm hoping a high LSAT score will offset at least some of the concerns admissions committees may have. But I also know a mid-160s is at or above medians if not 75th percentiles for several schools I'm interested in. I'm also chasing money because I do NOT want to pay sticker wherever I end up going. And I think the money concern is part of why I'm hesitating because I can't get my money back at this point if I do withdraw because I was originally registered for November, I assume.
As an extra layer of fun, I work full-time in the field of law I want to eventually practice and I've just applied for two jobs that would in essence be promotions if I received them. If I received one in particular, I'd essentially need to stay in the job for 3 years to really get as much benefit as possible, financially as well as professionally. I know LSAT scores are good for a few years so I'm not worried about that at all, it's more of a question of if I get either of these jobs my plate will get much fuller because I'll either be learning a whole new sector of my field or I'll have increased responsibility within the office compared to what I have now.
So what do you guys recommend? Sticking with January and just grinding for two months? Postpone until February/later? Or just withdrawing and counting myself extremely lucky to have done as well as I did on my first shot?