Retaking the LSAT and when to apply

[Laurenbutler]

Hi,

I've read some helpful posts related to this topic, and I've overall understood that it is more beneficial to retake the LSAT and obtain a higher score than to apply early. I was curious if I could get some advice about my specific situation.

UCLA has been my top choice school, and I specifically want to be accepted to their Epstein Public Interest specialization. My undergraduate GPA is a 3.91, and I had been consistently scoring in the 167-169 range on practice tests even with one 171. I was still having the occasional test where I would score lower, but I was hoping this increased consistency of scoring in the upper 160s would lead to similar results on test day. I got my score today and received a 164. I am very disappointed, as I can no longer register for the November test now. Do you think I should retake the test in January?

Should I wait to apply until after I get my January score at least for schools with median GPAs in the upper 160s? I read that I can also apply now and let the schools know that I will have another score coming later, but I wasn't sure if there was really even any advantage to this over just submitting everything later. Also, I should note that UCLA's deadline is February 1st, while I would receive my January score on February 3rd, so I believe no matter what I choose, my score will arrive to them a bit late.

Thank you so much for any help and advice you're able to give me!

[Paul Marsh]

Hi Lauren! First off, congrats on having an actual LSAT under your belt. Even if it's not the score you were exactly hoping for, it's still a helpful benchmark to have.

I took a look at UCLA's numbers and ran your scores on a couple different prediction sites - with your excellent GPA and a 164 LSAT, you're already sitting on roughly a 50/50 chance of getting into UCLA. As UCLA only really considers your highest score, that chance can only go up. Due to that fact, I would definitely recommend re-taking the test. Your practice scores should give you confidence that you can bump that score up a couple points and further boost your chances (and, maybe just as importantly, boost your scholarship money!). Keep working hard, focus on the couple areas where you're still inconsistent, use the Forum and our tutors as a resource, and I have total confidence that you can get your test day score in line with your practice tests.

You're right on about a higher score versus an earlier application - a score that's even one point higher will generally beat out an earlier application. So as to your second question, here's a very helpful blog post from PowerScore about when to apply if you're re-taking:

https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid-24 ... -the-lsat/

Just to add a UCLA specific twist onto that blog post: UCLA is somewhat unique in that it does NOT use rolling admissions. This means that earlier applicants get basically no preference whatsoever. So if UCLA is your dream school, my recommendations to your questions would be to re-take and then wait to apply.

Anecdotally - I just graduated a few months ago as a public interest student from a very similarly ranked law school, so I know where you're at and I'm rooting for you. You've got this! If you have any more questions of course feel free to follow up below.

[Laurenbutler]

Thank you so much, Paul! This is so helpful. I actually hadn't understood previously that UCLA does not use rolling admissions, so that is reassuring. Would you recommend the same approach even for schools that do have rolling admissions? For example, USC has a priority deadline of February 1st, so I could submit for that deadline with my January score being added right after, but I know a lot of other students will still submit before I do.

[Jeremy Press]

Hi Lauren,

Same advice applies, even for USC. Your chances for admission with an application submitted now (with an LSAT several points below median) are not greater than your chances for admission later in the cycle (even at the February deadline) with an LSAT score that is close to/at/above the median. Commit to a couple more months of the study process, knock it out of the park in January, and you'll be in much better shape overall!

I hope this helps!