To take or not to take

Comments

• MrSamIam Inactive ⭐

  May 2016 2086 karma

  Take another practice test, under optimal but realistic conditions and see how you do. In other words, take a PT on your day off, at around 12, in a quiet room.
  You would be hard-pressed to find a 7Sager who would recommend taking the test before you're ready.
  As a rule of thumb, your timeline should look like this (in chronological order, from left to right)
  Pick target schools --> Find the one with the highest LSAT requirement --> Aim to score that high --> Drill/study --> PT --> Achieve your target score or higher (or even slightly lower) at least 7 times --> Register for upcoming LSAT.
• 1 Like

  Nicole Hopkins Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  May 2016 edited May 2016 4344 karma

  This is your fourth take. You're already on sort of shaky ground with 4 takes. If you're going to take it a fourth time, ONLY take it when you're 100% ready. There will not be an opportunity after this for another 5 years, once your scores are all expired.
  
  [Note: I have never, ever, heard of someone taking a 5th time. Nor have I known anyone who took 4 times, let alone anyone who took 4 times and got into a T14. Or HYS, for that matter—rumor is that AdComms do not look kindly on a 4th take. Consult individual schools of interest and/or consultants to get the official word on perception of 4th takes, let alone 5th takes or beyond.]
• 7sagelsatstudent180 Alum Member

  May 2016 edited May 2016 932 karma

  You can take 3 times in a 2 year period and that is the only restriction.You do not have to wait 5 years for all of your scores to expire as mentioned above. I too will have taken the LSAT 4+ times so I speak from experience (other people have 4+ takes with a couple coming from lsat prep founders with multiple perfect scores each respectively ). Personally, I will be attending a highly ranked school with a massive scholarship off the strength of my 3rd take but I keep retaking to see if I can possibly reach a score that is Harvard or Stanford worthy. I'm completely happy with my current score and school choice but I want to maximize my scholarships and value to each school. Of course don't be silly and waste takes. But if you feel ready then fire away!
  
  [I had 3 takes when I submitted apps and had more than 1 t-14 acceptance. I will enter with at least 4 takes. I took the LSAT when I was in college. I waited a few years after college and took a few more times. Although it's not ideal (I wish I got a 170 my first time and lived happily ever after) that's how life works sometimes. Honestly if your your gpa and highest LSAT is over the median of your top choice and your essays are solid, you will likely be accepted. The amount of takes does not matter anymore because schools really only care about your highest score.]
• Nicole Hopkins Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  May 2016 edited May 2016 4344 karma

  @7sagelsatstudent180 said:
  You do not have to wait 5 years for all of your scores to expire as mentioned above.
  

  In order to avoid the more than 3 takes on the record issue, yes, she would have to wait 5 years for all of them to go away and get a clean slate.
• 1 Like

  Jonathan Wang Yearly Sage ⭐

  May 2016 6874 karma

  You mentioned that post-undergrad, you were desperate to start law school right away and so you took the test even though you knew you weren't ready. You acknowledge that it was ill-conceived and the result was predictable.
  
  So, the million-dollar question: how is that any different from what you're doing now?
• 7sagelsatstudent180 Alum Member

  May 2016 edited May 2016 932 karma

  .
• Nicole Hopkins Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  May 2016 4344 karma

  @"Jonathan Wang" said:
  So, the million-dollar question: how is that any different from what you're doing now?
  

  
• kat_bustamante Alum Member

  May 2016 32 karma

  Thank you guys for the feedback. I will highly consider putting this exam off.