Law School Discussion

Three years ago I got a -9.8, -8.5...

Long time no post, everyone. Hopefully some people here remember me.

I've been struggling with my plan to retake the LSAT this coming June. I took it in October and got a 166. This was nine points lower than my highest timed and realistic practices, and about six points lower than my average practice score under the same conditions.

My circumstances at the time I took the LSAT were not the best. In the week leading up to it my grandmother passed away, I ended a two and a half year relationship, and started a new one which moved way too fast. I don't think I slept more than four hours a night the entire two weeks prior. I went into the test feeling pretty good, though, and was certain that I would have a great LSAT score. I was completely deflated when I got my score.

I have been planning to retake in June with, believe it or not, less studying than the first time around. I prepped for the October test for well over a year, taking three to five PTs per week in the summer and two to four once classes started up. The LSAT took over my life, and I think it became so routine that I lost the will to really exert myself because I could just blow through and get 172s no problem. I get out of school at the end of April, and I plan to study only the three weeks leading up to the June test date. I'll take ten to fifteen PTs and drill the PS Bibles into my head again (is the RC worth picking up for someone who is consistently -0 to -2 in that section?). I think taking it easier will allow me to focus better when the actual thing comes around.

Recently, however, I've been doubting the need to retake. I've got a great GPA and am involved with a few student organisations and university committees, and I think I interview and write about myself very well. I think I will have a realistic shot at UMich (as a Michigan resident), UVa and Cornell, all of which have pretty good international law programmes. However, my dream schools have been Georgetown and NYU since I became interested in law school (well, and Harvard, but I've blown my chance there), but I'm a few points outside of their admittance range.

Any feedback, advice, et al would be appreciated. My ideal plans after law school would be work within the State Department or an international NGO, so if my chances of landing those would be highly improved with a better score (and therefore better school), let me know.

Thanks everyone.

Navy blue Detroit Tigers baseball cap
Brown Prada glasses
Seafoam pocket tee-shirt
Peppered gray American Apparel zip-up hoodie
APC New Standard jeans (still super-dark)
Black dress socks
White canvas sneakers

Dark blue girlfriend's junior high gym shorts
Green Eastern Michigan University Housing Staff shirt

Good times.

I got a 166. This was after consistently testing between 172 and 175. I'm incredibly disappointed in myself, which isn't something I'm used to at all. I thought I absolutely destroyed the test, too.

I can still go to Cornell, I guess, and I have a tiny chance at Georgetown (which is where I really want to go). I've got a 4.00 GPA on my side, but that doesn't really mean much given my score.

Thankfully, I'm not applying until next year (I'm still a junior), so I might retake in June. The problem is, I spent more than a year preparing for the October exam, and I'm not really sure I can do any better than I did, despite my PT scores saying quite differently.

@#!*.