Applying as a split: do I cancel?

[irishlagger]

I have an all around decent profile and am coming from a highly regarded undergraduate institute, but my GPA is lacking (just above a 3, but I have an addendum that I think makes it a little less glaring). I scored a 165 on the November 2019 LSAT and just sat for the January exam. I feel like I did worse, but I'm not certain. Best case scenario I think I got a 167. Worst case is probably closer to 160. I'm not aiming too high (Ideally UW). My references are both from accomplished professors, and I'm confident in my personal statements.
The likelihood increase from 165 to 167 is pretty big, but I don't know how a lower score (especially one so low) would affect it, considering that they supposedly preference the higher one.
I guess my biggest question is which of four options should I take? I could: cancel my January scores and send with the 165, wait for the new score and hope, or send now and tell admissions that I retook (and ask them to evaluate now or ask them to evaluate after).
I've been freaking out about this for about 18 hours now, and don't really have anyone to ask. any advice would be amazing.

[Dave Killoran]

I have an all around decent profile and am coming from a highly regarded undergraduate institute, but my GPA is lacking (just above a 3, but I have an addendum that I think makes it a little less glaring). I scored a 165 on the November 2019 LSAT and just sat for the January exam. I feel like I did worse, but I'm not certain. Best case scenario I think I got a 167. Worst case is probably closer to 160. I'm not aiming too high (Ideally UW). My references are both from accomplished professors, and I'm confident in my personal statements.
The likelihood increase from 165 to 167 is pretty big, but I don't know how a lower score (especially one so low) would affect it, considering that they supposedly preference the higher one.
I guess my biggest question is which of four options should I take? I could: cancel my January scores and send with the 165, wait for the new score and hope, or send now and tell admissions that I retook (and ask them to evaluate now or ask them to evaluate after).
I've been freaking out about this for about 18 hours now, and don't really have anyone to ask. any advice would be amazing.

Hi Irish,

Thanks for the message! I assume UW here means Washington (and not Wisconsin, for example).

First piece of good news: a lower score won't mean anything. Law schools report the highest and so these days you are the highest score, and the others are irrelevant. With that in mind, let's briefly look at each option you listed:

• cancel my January scores and send with the 165: I don't think you should cancel, so I'd not choose this option.
  
  wait for the new score and hope: See my comment on #4.
  
  send now and tell admissions that I retook (and ask them to evaluate now): They will know you retook via LSAC reports, and most schools automatically wait to consider you when they have that info. It's only Feb 6th, so I'd pass here.
  
  send now and tell admissions that I retook (ask them to evaluate after): This is basically the same as option 2, since if you send now they'll basically hold you. So, I'd go this route—get it all in now and then wait it out. The 165 will get you in the mix, and if they see a higher score your chances become pretty strong.

I hope that helps a bit. Please let me know!

[irishlagger]

I have an all around decent profile and am coming from a highly regarded undergraduate institute, but my GPA is lacking (just above a 3, but I have an addendum that I think makes it a little less glaring). I scored a 165 on the November 2019 LSAT and just sat for the January exam. I feel like I did worse, but I'm not certain. Best case scenario I think I got a 167. Worst case is probably closer to 160. I'm not aiming too high (Ideally UW). My references are both from accomplished professors, and I'm confident in my personal statements.
The likelihood increase from 165 to 167 is pretty big, but I don't know how a lower score (especially one so low) would affect it, considering that they supposedly preference the higher one.
I guess my biggest question is which of four options should I take? I could: cancel my January scores and send with the 165, wait for the new score and hope, or send now and tell admissions that I retook (and ask them to evaluate now or ask them to evaluate after).
I've been freaking out about this for about 18 hours now, and don't really have anyone to ask. any advice would be amazing.

Hi Irish,

Thanks for the message! I assume UW here means Washington (and not Wisconsin, for example).

First piece of good news: a lower score won't mean anything. Law schools report the highest and so these days you are the highest score, and the others are irrelevant. With that in mind, let's briefly look at each option you listed:

• cancel my January scores and send with the 165: I don't think you should cancel, so I'd not choose this option.
  
  wait for the new score and hope: See my comment on #4.
  
  send now and tell admissions that I retook (and ask them to evaluate now): They will know you retook via LSAC reports, and most schools automatically wait to consider you when they have that info. It's only Feb 6th, so I'd pass here.
  
  send now and tell admissions that I retook (ask them to evaluate after): This is basically the same as option 2, since if you send now they'll basically hold you. So, I'd go this route—get it all in now and then wait it out. The 165 will get you in the mix, and if they see a higher score your chances become pretty strong.

I hope that helps a bit. Please let me know!

Mr. Killoran,
Thank you so much for your detailed response. I did, in fact, mean Washington, sorry for the confusion.
The biggest factor keeping me from sending the app in now was worry that I might score lower and ruin my chances preemptively. So just hearing that the lower score wouldn't end me is amazing news. I'd had my applications all ready for me to hit send, so I'm very happy that your recommendation is for my fourth option. So this helps me quite more than a bit. Thank you again for your reply. Now I can move on and focus on the waiting.

[Dave Killoran]

Alright, glad to hear we could help!

Hit send and let's hope for good news on your LSAT and apps. Please keep us posted!