Re-take?

[shchoi]

I'm a Powerscore student (I took the online class in March). I just got my Sept LSAT score - 166 - and I'm not sure if I should retake or not..

I'm a little disappointed because I've had a few practice tests towards the end of my preparation with higher 160s and a 173. But I'm also relieved, because I think I could have easily gotten a lower score, given that so many things could have gone wrong on test day and one or two mistakes can make a big difference. Also the missed questions on each section were a pretty accurate representation of my strengths and weaknesses (Total 4 missed on LR / 6 on games / 6 on RC).

I'm not sure if it's worth studying again and retaking. I started a new job, so I have significantly less time to study now (vs I had nothing going on over the summer), and I need to work on other parts of my application. At the same time, I feel like an increase in my score by just a couple points will really boost my application for a T14 school. I'd love to get some scholarship too and it seems like LSAT is a huge factor in scholarship decisions.

If you have any advice about my situation, I'd appreciate it a lot.

In case this helps: my undergrad GPA is around 3.9, I have a master's degree and a couple years of work experience relevant to the field of law I want to pursue.

Thank you so much!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi shchoi,

First off, congrats on that 166! While you could have scored a bit higher, this still puts you in the top-5% of all test-takers. Not too shabby. The big question seems to be whether to re-take in December.

As you can imagine, it's mostly a personal decision. Are you capable of a higher score? Yes, it looks like you are. For some people, this alone is enough to make them retake: they will never be happy unless their score reflects their true potential. It doesn't sound like you're that kind of person, or else you wouldn't be posting this question in the first way. So, here's a more rational way to think about this: costs vs. benefits.

Let's start with the benefits: obviously, a higher score will help you gain admission into a (slightly) higher caliber of school. However, a 166/3.9 combo already makes you a strong contender at most of the top-14 schools, except perhaps for HYS. Your soft factors are good, so unless there is something terribly wrong with your application, I'd be stunned if you don't get into at least a few of the lower-ranked top-14. You also have a decent shot at schools such as Columbia, NYU, Penn. A marginally higher LSAT score (high-160's) will definitely increase your chances at the aforementioned schools, but remember: you only need one school to offer you admission A significantly higher score (172+) will make you a strong contender at the top-3, and obviously a candidate for merit-based aid.

What are the costs? First, the most obvious cost is risk. What if you score the same (or worse)? You mention you could have easily gotten a lower score... it could happen to anyone, and could happen to you in December (chances are it won't - but you never know). Not having enough time to study increases that risk. Then there is the opportunity cost of spending 6 more weeks preparing for the LSAT, instead of doing something more productive. Last, you will delay your applications by 2 months, which is arguably not a smart move when it comes to rolling admissions. This is less of a problem now than it was 3 years ago when applications were off-the-charts, but the old-school mantra still applies: the earlier you apply, the higher your chances of getting in. The only score that would make this worth it, in my mind, would be a top-1% score. So, unless I am confident I can pull this off by December, I would probably not re-take.

This cost/benefit analysis changes dramatically if the benefits were higher than anticipated, or if the costs were lower. For instance, if you feel like you'd be "settling" by going to, say, Penn over Harvard, then I guess you have no choice but to retake. Likewise, if you really depend on receiving merit-based aid at some of the top-14 schools, you would need a higher score for sure. You may still receive merit aid with your current numbers, but definitely not at a top-14 school.

As you can see, this is a deeply personal decision... Hopefully this helps you frame the question better. Let me know if I do anything else to help, and good luck with your decision!

[shchoi]

Thank you so much for your reply. You make some very good points and I'll definitely consider them in my decision.