161 LSAT 3.52 GPA

[Roro_April1]

Hi all, I just wanted to get some outside opinions on my numbers, I've taken the LSAT couple times, first time received a 157, second time a 161. I want to apply to UW, UC Davis & UC Irvine, those are my top schools right now. What are your guys's thoughts, retake/ just move forward and focus on the rest of my application? If you could please outline pros & cons for both choices I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you.

[Adam Tyson]

There are very few cons to retaking, Roro_April1. There is the fee for taking the test, of course, and the additional time and effort that you would have to put into continuing your studies for the retake to make a difference. A little added stress, a little less sleep perhaps.

The pros are huge! A higher score improves your chances of acceptance and of scholarship money, and might give you a shot at some higher-tier schools if that interests you. I'm not sure which UW you are referring to, but assuming it's University of Washington then your LSAT is already good but your GPA looks a little low. Assuming that your already graduated, there is nothing you can do about the latter, but raising the former might help you overcome that hurdle. Your chances at Davis and Irvine look about the same, slightly better at Davis as Irvine has a higher LSAT median, and again, an LSAT boost would really help. None of these look to be out of reach, but none is a slam dunk either.

The pros here far outweigh the cons, in my opinion. If you are registered for September, crack the books and make a push to bring that score up. If not, then register for November and get to it. Consider a course and/or tutor to help you raise that score, and take advantage of every free resource you can find, including this forum, our blog, and our free webinars.

Good luck!