What should I do? Future/application plans

[blessmelsat]

Hi guys,

I'm writing to ask for some advice on my future/application plans. I got my Jan lsat score and it was 167. I feel this score place me at an awkward position. My dream school is Duke but certainly this score is not high enough. I am wondering if I should continue to apply this cycle or apply early next cycle. I finished my undergrad in Dec 2020 and I really do not want to waste another year as I will be turning 24 next year. But I also want to take April LSAT, aiming for a higher LSAT and attending a T14 or even T10 school. What should I do? Genuinely seeking advice. Thanks for reading!

[Bruin1998]

I'm in a similar situation and if I were you I'd just apply next cycle. This cycle was supposedly super competitive (possibly the most competitive ever), so if you're aiming for a certain school w/ a January school (particularly in the t14s like Duke), I heard that you really only wanna apply if you hit at least median (preferably above median since many law admissions experts are predicting many t14s to raise their median by 1 point cuz of the high scores this cycle). Also since you're right below median for duke, you may wanna save off for next cycle so you can ED and have a better shot. provided you get the same score on your retake.
Either way I think holding off for next cycle is the best move. You can not only increase your LSAT and have a much better shot at admissions + scholarships, but you can also be a much earlier applicant and even ED to directly increase your chances. If you have a fee waiver you can always just apply this cycle to see what happens, but I'd say next cycle is the best move! Basically, the trade off here is you're simply getting a chance to go to law school a year earlier, vs. spending that extra year to get a better score/apply earlier to exponentially increase your admissions chances, and even save A LOT more money! To me, the choice is obvious.

[Adam Tyson]

As a counterpoint to Bruin's advice, consider this: what is the harm in applying, other than the application fee itself? You can still retake in April, and provided your score increases you may find that moves you off of a waitlist or increases your scholarship offers. If you aren't pleased with the acceptance offers you get you can always choose to delay (and believe me, one year at your age is nothing, a drop in the bucket of what will be a 40+ year career) and try again in the next cycle. Your LSAT may not be where you would like, but application decisions are based on many other factors, including your GPA, your Personal Statement, your Letters of Recommendation, and other "soft" aspects that aren't easily quantified.

My advice is that if you still would like to start law school this Fall, go ahead and apply, to Duke and to some other schools from which you would be happy to graduate. You either get an outcome you like, or you don't and then you try again, which is what you would do anyway if you didn't apply now. Go for it! Your score is great, and remember, a median score means half the students at that program scored below that!