Applying Now vs. February

[lsattaker4778]

Hi there, I graduated undergrad 2 years ago and, as is the case with many here, am deep in the law school application process. I just got my October LSAT score back and am trying to decide whether it's worth retaking in Jan and applying late, or if I should apply now with my current score.

I scored a 171 but have been reliably scoring 173+ on PTs. I have a 3.67 GPA (from a top program, if that's relevant), so as of now would be below the median for the schools like Harvard and Columbia which I'm the most interested in. I think if I were to retake in Jan, I'd have a solid shot at a 175. On the other hand, the soft components of my application are pretty strong, I have a justification for the lower GPA (health issues my 1st year, other than which I maintained a 3.85+), and am afraid that applying so late may do more harm than good, even with a stronger LSAT score . Any advice? Thanks so much!

[Jeff Wren]

Hi lsattaker,

First, congratulations on getting a 171! That is an excellent score!

Second, it's quite common for people to score a few points lower on the real LSAT compared to their practice tests, so score a 171 vs. your practice tests of 173+ is nothing too surprising.

If you feel confident that you can score at least a few points higher in January, then I'd recommend taking it again. Generally, a higher score will outweigh any disadvantage from the applying later.