What to do?

[rezamza]

Hey there,
This is my third or fourth post on the forum and Im sincerely appreciative of all the amazing feedback. Ive just received my Dec score of 157. I cancelled my original June score long ago. I studied for two full months and was averaging mid to high-160s with my highest being 172 prior to the Dec administration. I'm in a bit of a situation because my UGPA is 2.9 and Ive been out of school for five years with no work experience conducive to law school or anything related to the type of law Im hoping to pursue. In addition, Ill be 28 when Fall 2016 admissions open up, and will be turning 29 shortly after beginning my first semester in law school.

In order to have had a decent chance of getting into my target schools (Fordham, UC's, Pepperdine), I would have needed a score of at least 165 (my PT average). So heres my question-

Should I spend February not only finishing applications, but also cramming for the Feb LSAT in order to apply late in the admission cycle for Fall 2015 to most, but not all, of the schools Im interested in, and possibly miss out on financial aid?

OR

Should I spend the next six months perfecting my studying methods and test-taking skills in order to guarantee at least earning my average score of 165 on the June LSAT in order to apply early in the admission cycle for Fall 2016 with a Early Decision Guarantee to my target school with the very high possibility of financial aid?

Ive discussed this predicament with a handful of people who mean well, though do not have the background or expertise to provide balanced and thorough advice...

Thanks

P.S. What are the possibilities of transferring after the first year into a better school and what would be some of the requirements?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Rezamza,

I'd usually say take the February LSAT simply to give yourself a shot at attending in Fall 2015, but there's a problem there: you've taken the LSAT two times already, and LSAC has a really harsh policy on taking the LSAT multiple times:

• "Normally, you may not take the LSAT more than three times in any two-year period. This policy applies even if you cancel your score or it is not otherwise reported. LSAC reserves the right to withdraw your registration, rescind your admission ticket, or take any other steps necessary to enforce this policy."
  
  From http://www.lsac.org/jd/help/faqs-lsat

So, if you take the February LSAT and don't get the score you need, you can't take the LSAT again until 2016. And given that you'd have to cram for the Feb test while finishing apps, that suggests to me that the safest course of action is to take the longer route and prepare for the June LSAT. Feel free to ask me any questions about that, though. It's not exactly crystal clear

As an aside, I have no idea why LSAC has this 3-times-in-2-years policy and I can't stand it. No one benefits from it in my estimation.

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi rezamza,

An argument can be made for taking the test in February and applying for admission in the Fall of 2015, but it will hinge on how you feel about a few key issues:

First, as a non-traditional student, putting your career on hold for another year is more significant than it would be if you were fresh out of college. Does that matter to you?

Second, you can build on the momentum from the last few months of test prep and finish strong in February, rather than wait for 6 months to take it in June (the latter can be a liability if you don't have a good study plan). However, how close are you to the "finish line," so to speak, and do you have enough time on your hands to lock a 165+? "Cramming" never really works when it comes to the LSAT. Can you devote at least 20 hrs/week to LSAT prep over the next 4 weeks?

Third, there is no guarantee your score in June will actually be 165+, and you might end up waiting for a year for nothing. Granted, you have a better chance of reaching that goal in June than you do in February, but it really depends on how much time you can devote to LSAT prep in the next 4 weeks vs. how you structure your studies over the next 6 months. Are you a procrastinator? Do you work well under pressure? If your answer to both of these questions is YES, maybe consider taking it in February.

As you point out, February is not the optimal time to apply, as most law schools practice rolling admissions. However, it's been a very slow application season, and schools are likely to wait longer in rendering decisions in the hopes of receiving late applications from more qualified students. Applying late is less than ideal, but it is no longer the kiss of death that it used to be in 2010.

Finally, yes - you will miss out on some financial aid. But, you should weigh that against the opportunity cost of forfeiting an attorney's salary for a year. If you're currently making, say, $60K/year, and plan on working for BIGLAW at $160K/year starting, that's a $100K loss right there (taxes, etc. not included in that calculation, obviously).

I don't mean to be playing devil's advocate here... just pointing out some issues to think through before making your decision. Clearly, if you're risk-averse, June seems the better option. It comes down to cost-vs-benefit: The only real benefit to taking the test in February is not having to wait for yet another year to enroll, which is signifiant assuming your current work experience is inconsequential to your future career plans. As Dave pointed out, however, the costs may be even higher: it's your last chance to get the score you need, you will certainly incur some penalty for applying late in the application season, and may well miss out on some financial aid. And, while there are no guarantees you will get the score you need in June, it will give you more time to study and not cram for it in the last minute.

It's a tough choice... let us know if we can help in any way.

Best,