81st Percentile on October LSAT, should I take it again?

dilldrummer12

I began studying for the LSAT in January of this year and bought my 7sage subscription in February. I began studying off and on (life happens) until August. Once August rolled around, I took off from my job to study really hard for a month before the October LSAT. I spent hours a day studying and would take one practice test a week for a month. For reference, my diagnostic score was a 156, and I had taken 2 PT in June with a score of 156 and 154 respectively. AS I began to study and take my weekly PT in the month leading up to the October test. I had the following 3 scores in order: 154, 152, 157 (BR: 156, 158, 157).

I just got my October score back today an I scored a 162, which is the highest score I've ever received (I've never gotten a BR score that high) That puts me at the 81st percentile and I am super happy with my score. The law school I want to attend (though please understand I'll be applying to more than just this school) has a 50th percentile of 156 and a 25th percentile of a 159. I'll have a 3.99 GPA by the time I graduate so I have no worries there.

While I haven't continued such a strenuous study regime. I do practice problems once a week as the head of the Pre-Law LSAT study group on my college campus. So I could quickly pick back up studying to improve if needed.

Given all that information, should I go back in and try to take the exam again for an even higher score, or should I take my score I have with my super high GPA, along with a really good personal statement and try to get into school with what I have?

All of your responses are greatly appreciated and I wish you all the best of luck on your own LSAT journeys! You can do it!

cdot9000

Nah I think you're good to go! Esp if you have no yet hit that high of a score, don't be the person who goes back for round 2 & scores lower. I would advise differently if you had continued studying / were scoring higher than that currently on PT's or if the school you wanted to attend had different medians -- I think you have a really good shot! (although take this with a grain of salt plz)

SubpoenaColada

The above comment brings up a good point about potentially scoring lower on a future exam. Although school's place greater weight on your highest score, admission officers might still be concerned if you re-took and scored lower.

However, scholarship $$$ is also something to consider. With a diagnostic in the mid 150s, you could have a great shot at a higher official score with additional studying, leading to potentially higher scholarship offers. It ultimately comes down to what your goals / priorities are and whether additional studying for a (potentially) higher score is worth it to you.

bato3nabit

@monkey mart said:
The above comment brings up a good point about potentially scoring lower on a future exam. Although school's place greater weight on your highest score, admission officers might still be concerned if you re-took and scored lower.

However, scholarship $$$ is also something to consider. With a diagnostic in the mid 150s, you could have a great shot at a higher official score with additional studying, leading to potentially higher scholarship offers. It ultimately comes down to what your goals / priorities are and whether additional studying for a (potentially) higher score is worth it to you.

If you were applying to schools with higher median LSATs, it might make more sense to aim for a higher score. But for this school, your current score is within the range of the students they admit.

SubpoenaColada

If you were applying to schools with higher median LSATs, it might make more sense to aim for a higher score. But for this school, your current score is within the range of the students they admit.

Do you know the translation of above-median-LSAT point to scholarship? And and what point it's diminishing returns? I've heard $10,000 per point tossed around, not sure how accurate.