10 replies to this topic

[emie]

Hey guys,

Sorry to start another one of these, "should I cancel?" threads, but I could really use some advise- I am terrible at personal decision making.

So I wrote for the first time October/11 and got a 153...I had a really big range going into it (155-167) but still scored a little lower than even my lowest one. I had a hard time deciding whether to re-write because I only applied to one school (uwo) this cylce..I am only in third year, and uwo offers a combined program where it lets me finish my Honours degree and JD in 6 years instead of 7. But, I didn't want to waste my second try by rushing into it...

I decided last minute to re-write, and studied again for about a month...I felt better going into it, and scored (162, 166, 159) in the only timed PT's I did during that month. However test day didn't go so well...I had LR-LG-RC-LR-RC

- I panicked during the first LR after the proctor called 5minutes and ended up guessing on the last 5.
- I was only able to finish 2 LG because I spent way too much time on the first one and had to do the apartment game twice (because I messed up the pet rule and didn't catch myself until the end of it..)
- RC-- went really well...finished with extra time, unfortunately from what I've read on these boards, this was the experimental one
- LR2-- went better than the first, but still guessed on the last few (around 2-3 I think)
- RC2-- I was really disappointed to find another RC because I was hoping one of the sections that didn't go so well would be experimental and not RC...for some reason my reading was slower than normal and I really rushed through the last passage..guessing on 4/7.

I think I have a really good shot at getting in at uwo with the combined program if I get my score around 160, however, now I am not even sure I want to go there...I want to work in the area of health law in the future...more so in the area of policy making rather than litigation, but I hadn't taken the time to look at dal or alberta because I didn't want to move away. And now that I've had a closer look at them, I feel like I would enjoy their courses a lot more..although I do love the strong community atmosphere at UWO.

Next year...my first choice would be Dal, then uwo, then Alberta....the issue I am having with my score is that Alberta averages LSAT's so I feel that if I take the chance in not canceling my score...odds are against me and I am pretty much closing the door at Alberta (which I would rather not do)...However, if I don't cancel, I realistically won't get in at UWO this year...although as hard as it may be to believe, I know someone who got in with 154 to the same combined program I am applying for in December last year (I just can't help but wonder that if she got in that early with that score, if I was going to get in..I would have already..:s )

I don't know if my gpa is relevant here but it should be around a 3.6-3.7 (I didn't calculate it, but that's what they told me when I applied at uwo...it doesn't happen through the online system for the combined program) they also advised me to re-write...

So what would you do if you were in my situation???

Any input is appreciated! (Sorry for the long post)

[jin45]

Cancel to keep Alberta in play.

[vanillacupcakes3]

agreed. cancel and take your time so you kill it the third time.

who knows what next year will bring at the u of a, but this year they raised the cut off for first round acceptances by a hefty margin. I believe for a 3.6 its a 165 and 3.7 is a 163 (check the alberta thread though to be sure), and so far it hasn't been lowered. With another score around 153 (worst case scenario but you don't sound overly confident on your performance), you would basically need 180 to be considered after they average.

uwo may be out of play if you cancel but your in your third year, you have lots of time. and if you write again and do really well you put yourself in scholarship range. good luck!

[Bonin18]

I would cancel in your position but you don't really have to. Schools generally do not mind three attempts other than u of a. And they are going to average your next one anyway meaning your gonna have to kill it to bring your average up to snuff. As for your current test with a bad LG and medicore LR performance you needed to own RC in order to pull off your target. It sucks your first one was not scored. Look on the bright side though, your GPA is very good. Apply broadly next year and give the LSAT the respect that it deserves. With a 160+ you will be admitted somewhere next year if you apply broadly enough.

[hillsofmexico]

If I understood corrrectly, this was your second writing. You still have another opportunity to write. I'd keep this score as you probably did better than you imagine. There is a lot of room to do better than 154, even if you only got thruogh two games. I got a 156 while only getting six--!--correct responses on my LG in December. I'd keep the test.

If you happen to rewrite the LSAT, 3 PTs are not going to cut it. I imagine you studied more than just the 3 PTs but you need to recreate the test day circumstances as often as possible. I had about 5 weeks of intensive study between January, 2012 when I found out my score, and the February sitting. I went through about 15 5-section PTs and about an additional 6 6-section PTs in the last couple weeks. Although I'm superstitious about the test, I feel doing a test every day or so helped with nerves during and now in the post-test, LSAT purgatory that we're in.
You probably did better or just the same, I'd roll the dice and hope for the former.

Best of luck comrade

[KER_2012]

I wouldn't cancel. Yes, you're applying to Alberta and Alberta averages, but since you already have a 153 you're already disadvantaged by the averaging system, regardless of your February score.

Like hillsofmexico said, you may have done better than you think you did, the LSAT can be hard to predict. If you cancel you never get to see your score. I don't know about you, but that would really bother me.

I'd keep your score and sign up for the June writing. This time study for more than a month and do much more than three PTs!

[showsbear]

If you got in to UWO this year, would you be happy with that, even though it means forgoing Dal and UoA?

If you didn't get into UWO this year, would you be kind of relieved, because it means you can now apply to Dal and UoA?

Whether or not you should cancel depends on how you answer these questions.

If you would be really happy to get into UWO this cycle, knowing that it means both Dal and UA are out, then you should take the chance and let your score ride. It's true that if it's a mediocre score UoA would basically be out for you in the future, as per vanillacupcake's post, but that's your third choice school anyway so I think it'd be worth it to take the gamble and try to get in at UWO this cycle. If it doesn't work out, you'd still have your 1st and 2nd choice schools next year, and another shot at the LSAT, and you'd have a very strong chance at either school once you grad.

On the other hand, if you would be kind of secretly bummed out getting admittance at UWO this cycle, because it means you won't be attending DAL or UoA, then you should cancel your score. It wouldn't be worth it in that scenario to let a possibly bad score eliminate your shot at UA next year, if you're not really hoping for UWO this cycle.

I think though, that if Dal is really your top choice school then the question of cancel / don't cancel is all a bit moot anyway. On a third writing, you should be able to crack 160, and with your GPA, an early application to Dal (before Nov. 1st), and a full degree (it's notoriously difficult to gain entry in 3rd year at most schools, but UWO may be different, i don't know) you would be extremely likely to get in. And if you got in, that's where you would go, right? So if Dal is what you really want, then cancel or don't cancel - doesn't really seem to matter.

On an unrelated note - I'm curious as to why, if you're in third year, completing a combined JD and an honours degree would take 6 years? Or even separately add up to 7 years? A JD alone takes 3 years - does your honours degree really require an additional 3-4 years to complete? Becuase if so, I gotta tell you - IT'S NOT WORTH IT. My "honours" degree has done absolutely nothing for me job wise and i could have gone to grad school / law school w/o it. In retrospect - a waste of time, money, and energy.

Edited by showsbear, 18 February 2012 - 12:06 PM.

[yoni45]

showsbear, on 18 February 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

On an unrelated note - I'm curious as to why, if you're in third year, completing a combined JD and an honours degree would take 6 years? Or even separately add up to 7 years? A JD alone takes 3 years - does your honours degree really require an additional 3-4 years to complete? Becuase if so, I gotta tell you - IT'S NOT WORTH IT. My "honours" degree has done absolutely nothing for me job wise and i could have gone to grad school / law school w/o it. In retrospect - a waste of time, money, and energy.

I believe she meant that it's either 6 or 7 years total... =)

(as in -- 7 years normally, for 4 years UG and 3 years law, or 6 years accelerated for both... )

[showsbear]

yoni45, on 18 February 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

I believe she meant that it's either 6 or 7 years total... =)

(as in -- 7 years normally, for 4 years UG and 3 years law, or 6 years accelerated for both... )

Oh yeah, of course she did. Man, I derped hard on that one.

[emie]

Thanks so much for your input!! I decided to wait it out....because as some of you pointed out, I would already be at a disadvantage with my 153 at Alberta anyways- and their lsat standards seem pretty high...and also not knowing would really bug me (even if the result is awful). So only about 1 more week of waiting (!)

Showsbear,

with the whole uwo/ Dal decision...I've decided that if I get in at uwo this year, then I'll end up going because I really like how their first year is set up...and then after that, I can still change my mind and transfer to Dal if I feel like I've made the wrong decision? And if I don't get in at uwo this year, then I'll still be at peace because it gives me more time to think about where I want to go.

[KER_2012]

I think you made the right decision! Scores will be out soon, best of luck to you