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Related Discussions
2 Likes
Earlier apps vs. later apps and taking a risk
jennilynn89
Alum Member
Hey everyone!
First off, to all you Dec. LSAT takers - WE DID IT. It was hard. It sucked. I'm over it.
So now to the game plan - what are you guys thinking? Any Feb re-takers out there?
I personally am honestly not sure what to do right now. I took the Dec. LSAT last year and feel like I am in the same boat again. Felt prepared, got hard hard games thrown at me, freaked out, had to guess, ran out of time. Let anxiety get to me throughout the rest of the test - bombed.
I do not want to delay another year. Been there done that, want to start law school. So I am debating whether or not its even worth taking the February LSAT. I have terrible test anxiety, and this seems to be a pattern on the LSAT that I get thrown off, lose my cool and can't seem to get my shit back together.
So I'm thinking that if I have a less than stellar score this time around again, and take February, get thrown off again and get another mediocre score, I will have lost the advantage of still being a little earlier into the application cycle.
What do you guys think?
I know applications are currently still at an all-time low, so at least we have that on our side, and it's still early-ish into the application cycle.
First off, to all you Dec. LSAT takers - WE DID IT. It was hard. It sucked. I'm over it.
So now to the game plan - what are you guys thinking? Any Feb re-takers out there?
I personally am honestly not sure what to do right now. I took the Dec. LSAT last year and feel like I am in the same boat again. Felt prepared, got hard hard games thrown at me, freaked out, had to guess, ran out of time. Let anxiety get to me throughout the rest of the test - bombed.
I do not want to delay another year. Been there done that, want to start law school. So I am debating whether or not its even worth taking the February LSAT. I have terrible test anxiety, and this seems to be a pattern on the LSAT that I get thrown off, lose my cool and can't seem to get my shit back together.
So I'm thinking that if I have a less than stellar score this time around again, and take February, get thrown off again and get another mediocre score, I will have lost the advantage of still being a little earlier into the application cycle.
What do you guys think?
I know applications are currently still at an all-time low, so at least we have that on our side, and it's still early-ish into the application cycle.
Comments
That stated, apply with your December score if you're at all happy with it or if you're dead set on applying this year, no matter what. Figure out what schools consider your application as they would normally even with you having a pending LSAT take (the Feb. test). Work on your applications now, get them in with your December score, and sign up for February, unless you're happy with your December score. Ask schools if they will consider your application and not put it on hold with your pending LSAT score, and if that's naturally what they do, ask them to move forward with your application. You can then use the February LSAT to try to get more money or have schools reconsider you altogether.
Getting scholarship money from schools is definitely my #1 worry. I do not want to drown in debt, and it's been a major contributing factor to my anxiety.
I'm honestly not sure if taking the risk in February will be worth it. It just seems like I'll potentially be in the same boat again as I am now in case there's something that will completely throw me off and put my test anxiety through the roof.
I'm just so disappointed in myself right now. I know I can do better, but my test anxiety has really taken a toll on my performance.
You never know - maybe it will be a waste, but studying for just under two months isn't that big of a sacrifice in the grand scheme of things, and any risk you're taking is just doing too much work, not cutting off your chances of being where you want to be.
Say you get accepted with your Dec. score. The Feb. LSAT may give you clout as far as influencing your likelihood of getting more money. Regardless, you know you can do better - I'd start aiming for what you know you can do.
Are you participating in BR calls? If not, definitely do so! Just being social with fellow LSAT-preppers will really help your confidence and anxiety.
I decided to take on Saturday because I'm committed to applying this cycle. I felt good about how things went, but I registered today for the Feb test just in case. I'm planning to take this week off, then jump back into prep, focusing on sections that gave me the most trouble and taking 1 PT/week. I feel like I can definitely get better at LG and RC (both avg. -6/section).
I'm going to get my application ready for when the December score comes out, then decide whether to continue studying and take in February. I think you can cancel Feb registration and get a full refund after the December score comes out.
You are all so right. I think I am just so down from the initial disappointment that I am just over this stupid test. Also the fear of taking my last try in February, bombing it again and then having to pay for it with being stuck so late into the admission cycle.... that thought really scares me.
I'm kind of thinking about rolling with whatever score I get in December, shoot out my applications and see what kind of acceptances/scholarship offers I can potentially get. If it looks pretty bad, I will probably swallow my pride (for the second time around) and delay another year and retake next year in June or September....
So I think instead I may just roll with whatever score I get, see what kind of acceptances and scholly's I can get, and if I can't get as much as I like, or in any of the school's I'd like to go to, I'm probably going to swallow my pride for a second time and delay another year.... which I really, really don't want to do. This test and I just don't get along.
Good luck
Thanks again, and good luck to you too!!
Sending you a PM now!
I was wondering...so sounds like people delayed many years after college.
Do you work full time or part time now while studying?
How hard is it?
I will be very likely to study and work altogether and feel kind of stressful about it...wonder whether I can focus on study
If I have to work full time its going to take years to prepare I guess cuz I cannot take so much time for studying...
Can I PM you guys and get some advice as well?
Thanks!
I was posting on law school forums in 2012, and still find my posts some days.
Either way, I am basically at the point where I will be in the class of '20 or class of '21. I am lucky enough to have taken my last LSAT in February 2013 so I get a fresh batch of 3 retakes now with my first coming in February of 2017.
My first score was good enough to get into some middling schools, but not my dream school of UT Austin.
Basically, I am at the point where I will either get a score that is good enough to get into UT with a later application come the February exam, or I will accept a tier 4 schools offer with scholarship money. OR, and this is the big one, I will wait it out and just take the two retakes come June and September of next year to boost my potential.
It's a tough decision, but it seems like you are almost done. It has to be relieving to know you will be done soon enough and getting on with your professional life.
I am impatiently waiting for that day.
@rakinalikhan hopefully our scores will be in the range that will still get us into the school's we're trying to get in. I am just SO over this god damn LSAT. If I HAVE to take Feb I guess I will. I'm just not sure it will be worth it score-wise.
@"Tina Cho" Feel free to PM me! I've worked full-time throughout my entire LSAT journey. It's very much doable if you know how to efficiently plan out your study time.
@vduran1988 thanks for the comment! I've been following your other post on the forum in regards to lower tier schools in Texas. Sounds like we're sort of in the same boat. I didn't start college until later in life (I moved from Germany to the U.S. when I was 20) so I didn't actually finish college until I was 25) and have been taking time off since. I am very much ready to get back into now though, and feel like I do not want to waste any more time and get my life started. I've had many conversations with my dad (who is pretty much my idol and life consultant lol) and he told me to just wait out my score, see what kind of scholarship opportunities I can get, and get my life in law school started instead of putting my life on hold for another entire year.
I know many people on here don't share that sentiment and would rather wait, but I am seriously ready to stop delaying my life just because of this stupid test.
Hopefully your score is good enough for you to just go ahead and apply to the schools you want to get into!
We are in the same boat. I really just want to learn more about law, find my passion in it, and get to work! It's tough having to wait it out.
Good luck to you as well! I am sure you will have no problem getting in and law schools will be lucky to have you!
Yup, I'm German! Born and raised!
It's hard to make people understand the world of the LSAT and that law schools decision/waiting game. I know my boyfriend is getting rather impatient with this whole situation as well. It really is tough to wait it out. I just know that I do really well in academia. I love immersing myself in an intellectually stimulating environment, and it's been killing me not being able to get into law school sooner due to a low LSAT score (took the LSAT last year and performed horribly).
You sound like your head and heart is in the right place, and I'm sure you'll make the right decision once you get your scores! I like to believe that any individual that is passionate and motivated enough will be able to make it as a lawyer. I guess we just have to enjoy and ride out the journey until we get there!