Need guidance on if I can meet my goal in time for Oct test

[wright2summer]

Hello. I am currently registered for the October 2019 LSAT test. began studying for the LSAT about 2.5 weeks ago. I have been using the Khan free online resources and practice tests. I've taken 4 practice tests and scored a 145, 152, 146, 144. I was discouraged that be score kept getting worse so I purchased the On Demand powerscore course and feel confident that this style of study will serve me well. I've watched the first lesson and receive my course books tomorrow so I can really begin to dig in. That being said I am trying to decide if I should delay taking the test until November to give myself adequate time to prepare. My plan initially was to take the October test with the option of taking the November test if I need to re-take it. My understanding is that the LSAT score is a huge indicator not only of which schools I can get into but also how much financial aid I can receive, is that accurate? If so, is it risky to delay taking the LSAT until November with my last option of retaking the test being January, in regards to it effecting my ability to be considered for good financial aid packages? Would I be able to receive my test scores back in time from the January LSAT, if needed within the window I would need for a completed application at each school I apply to?
I hope that makes sense.
I work full time and have two small children, but I am motivated and can be disciplined in my study, I just want to be realistic and strategic about my approach to getting a great score. Honestly, what should my target score be if financial aid and getting into a top 25 school be? I'm not looking at T14 necessarily. I was hoping to get a 164-165 but that feels so far away from where I'm scoring now. Would love any insight you might have.
Thanks!
Summer

[Jeremy Press]

Hi Summer,

Great questions! Given your busy schedule, a longer timeline to test day would probably be beneficial, especially since you're looking for a rather substantial improvement (15 to 20 points) from your current baseline score. If I were you, I would register for the November test and plan to take it regardless. The registration deadline for November is October 10, so don't wait too long to do that.

I'm assuming you're already registered for the October test, since its registration deadline has passed. If so, I would plan to take that exam as well, for a couple reasons. First, schools are only looking at your highest score anyway. Second, it's often helpful to have the experience of sitting for an official administration. It could really help to manage any stress on a second take, perhaps in November. Now if you get to the few days before the October exam, and you know you haven't reached the point where you could attain a score you'd be satisfied with, you can always withdraw your registration (up to the night before the exam) without it appearing on your testing record.

You are correct that the LSAT is the most significant "hard factor" in your law school application, and it will have the greatest impact, both on where you are admitted and the scholarship money you receive. While there's some chance that waiting to take the test until November will affect available scholarship money, you need to achieve a score that will allow you to be admitted first. So the priority is really to get that score as high as possible, and if it takes until November to do that, then you need to give yourself that time.

The January test does start to get late in the application process for some schools, but many will accept it. Here's more data we compiled on what schools would do with January scores during the last application cycle: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/which- ... -too-late/.

The most important thing is to keep working hard, stay on track with your On-Demand Course study schedule, and take a significant number of practice tests (at least 8-10, with full review of each).

I hope this helps!

Jeremy