Bombed the LSAT...but don't want to retake

lndesantis902

Hi,

after studying for a full year I just got the June LSAT back. I bombed it. I was only 5 points above my diagnostic and I spent nearly six hours a day last summer studying before the school year. I spent my entire junior year miserable because of this test and I am forced to retake it two weeks after coming back from study abroad. My entire attitude for the rest of my time abroad has been ruined because I can't put myself through that misery again in such as short time frame.

I don't know what I want to do. I don't know if I should go to law school anymore, but I feel like I have no choice because there is literally no other option for me. I'm going into my senior year and see no future for myself. Should I retake the LSAT and risk scoring lower, or just not apply to law school at all?

JO_Oderah

If you really want to go to law school, then I think you should take two or three gap years and try the GRE or maybe consider getting accommodations, because you might be performing less than ideal due to extreme anxiety. You are extremely young and if you have American citizenship, good health and a college degree, then you are extremely fortunate and can become very successful in your life (e.g. nice salary, good marriage, work opportunities or whatever you define success to be, etc.) regardless of whether or not you go to law school. Law school is just a more linear track than entrepreneurship or trying to climb the corporate ladder. Either way, if you really want to become a lawyer, then if I were you I wouldn't quit. You don't have to enter law school right away. You can take some time off and get some experience and that will make you a way more competitive applicant for pretty much every law school, even if you aren't able to get a job at a name brand company.

Also, look into other LSAT prep companies for a different perspective. In my opinion, 7 Sage is the best LSAT prep company out there (especially for logical reasoning), but the different ways that other companies like the demon and reading comp hero explain questions can give you a different perspective regarding explanations and the best study practices that can supplement the material of 7 Sage and enable you to understand the reasoning and assumptions of stimuli more deeply and thus move through questions more quickly.

I think getting a legal education is the blessing of a lifetime, but there are so many other ways to be successful and do fulfilling work that enables you to live a comfortable life and make an impact. Maybe walk away from this test for about 6 months to a year, travel to a new country, get a job that seems interesting to you, research legal careers and shadow attorneys and then come back to the LSAT or GRE if law school is something you still want to do. Also, really consider seeing some sort of professional to see if you are neurodivergent or have dyslexia or anxiety, because certain conditions like these can really hold many extremely capable people back and make them perform well underneath their capabilities. Honestly, some people have to much anxiety surrounding this test. If they cared less and focused more on family, nature and their hobbies, they'd probably see a 10 point increase in their score just from that alone. Anyways... I'm not suggesting your frustrations aren't warranted. This test can be extremely annoying and sometimes I think the test writers are awful people, so trust me I understand where you are coming from. I wish you all the best and I hope this post helps you and others, because when I graduated college 7 years ago, I wanted to go to law school so badly and put so much pressure on myself. I took about two tests, saw how low my scores were and then just gave up, largely because I had limited perspective. However, I'm back to studying again 7 years later at the age of 29 and my studying process has been much much better this time around. ~

JMarshOU

Not to be short on a topic where you're this upset, however the answer heavily depends on what "bombing" the LSAT looks like for you. Is it a 155? If so, that's not a big deal and you have options. You're also still in school, you have plenty of time.

CBLawStudent

Take some gap years. If law school is still your passion, give another crack at the LSAT then.

lalemao-1

define "bombing"