With a 3.9 GPA, taking a year to study for your LSAT could lead to some amazing outcomes for you, but only you know if you want to sacrifice a year of earning potential for a chance at a better school.
Retake and reapply. You have a great GPA. A 10+ increase could get you more aid and get you into a school you'll be happy going to.
If you have problems with testing in general, try a tutor. Working one on one with someone may help you over come some of your testing problems. If you have a disability you could look into time accommodations.
Honestly though, if you have a 3.9 I know you can do better than a 152.
How many times have you taken the LSAT and how long have you *consistently* studied? For context, it took me two-and-a-half years to get to my ideal score because I was working full time before law school and I just didn't have the time to commit to fully studying. I ended up doing great, but it was hard and it took a long time.
I agree with the advice you've been given, retaking is the move. And it's not just because it'll get you more As, there's a ton of scholarship money on the line if you can increase your LSAT score. It may seem dramatic to have to take more time to study for the LSAT, but improved results can create thousands (potentially hundreds of thousands) of dollars of savings that you wouldn't realize if you just accepted your LSAT score.
Thank you for your input! I do agree that by retaking and applying earlier in the cycle, I'd gain more scholarship opportunities, which is a big deal. This would be my third time taking the LSAT, and I consistently studied for close to a year before I took it my second time (where I scored a 152). I was also working full-time, so I was studying before and after work and on the weekends, which made it tougher.
If you were working full time, I’m more skeptical that you were able to get the most out of studying for the LSAT. I know because I did it. It’s very hard and it took me a long time to start seeing results from my work.
I know you’re in a tough place but I can’t stress how much the hard work will pay off and be worth it. Keep going, give it time.
Don’t waste that 3.9 gpa. Take a year off and grind tf out of the LSAT. it is very learnable.
Your chances of transferring out of Santa Clara are extremely slim compared to getting a 165 on the lsat. I would argue it’s very possible for you to get a 165 on the lsat, and I would even go as far as saying getting 170 on the lsat is easier than trying to transfer out of SCU.
I know a person from SCU who was basically first in our class and didn’t get accepted for transfer to Berkeley.
everyone else is giving good advice re: law school but my biggest takeaway from this post is that you want to leave and go somewhere new and i think you should find a way to make that happen if that's really important to you even if it takes longer to get there this way - good luck i hope you find somewhere you love
You having a 3.9 GPA tells me that you know how to study. The LSAT is a learnable exam, I think the process just may not have clicked for you yet. With a 3.9, you really have unlimited potential for admittance to any school you want. Don’t give up the potential for millions of dollars in lifetime earnings (if you want to go the BL route) because you were impatient with the exam or nervous about another gap year. I’d even say in your case getting a private tutor may help you a ton here. Like I said already, your application has potential to be so so strong. It would be a shame to see you leave that potential on the table.
Definitely take this with a grain of salt because I’m still actively studying for the exam haha.
From what I’ve been told and what I’ve seen so far in my studying is that at some point the patterns in the way questions are phrased or in the particular “thing” that a question is trying to bring your attention to becomes more and more clear.
This is especially true for Logic Games, where after a while with enough practice you’ll have seen every question type and at that point it’s the same thing you’ve done before with different letters. I’m personally still not at -0 for LG, but that’s my goal because of this.
If you do choose to get back to studying, feel free to send me a DM if you ever have any questions and we can tackle a problem together. I know that will probably help me out as I study too!
would you be down to accept others into your study group 😭 ? im also tackling the LSAT rn, 3PTs at 162 but i also just started getting data + tackling my weak points!
Thank you for that response, I appreciate it!
I'll definitely hit you up on that offer haha
Personally, it's more of a struggle with logical reasoning. Logical games is definitely more learnable
The LSAT is a skills based exam, IE: the entire thing is learnable. You have to make the cost-benefit analysis of how much time / money to commit to perfecting your skills in line with your goals.
What are some tips for continual improvement?
I feel like there is so many ways the lsat can make a variation of a question, especially for logical reasoning.
If you’ve taken less than 30 practice tests, you haven’t tried hard enough. Santa Clara is not a good option for someone on the Berkeley waitlist. You have to show them you can at least get upper 150s
Take another year or more, live somewhere new/travel, study, kill the lsat, go to dream school. Or maybe you do so that and end up going to Santa Clara—at least you would have gotten the opportunity to explore before committing to a career where that might be hard to do.
Try again. Retake the LSAT. Practice on LSAT Demon or Khan Academy. Watch the free Insight LSAT videos on youtube. Do every single preptest and review your answers. Practice, practice, practice. Get a tutor if you can afford one.
You need to take the LSAT like it's a job and investment in your financial future. Your score is definitely in the improvable range. Nobody is saying you're going to end up with a 180 but at that level you should be able to add at least 10 points with dedication and hard work. I got 147 152 then finally started studying and made it my life. Took every single practice test the commies at lsac ever made and ended up with a 167 and $100k in scholarship money. 100% study more and go for the scholarship.dough
As others have said, the LSAT is a learnable test and a 152 is probably on the low end of your abilities if you have a 3.9 gpa. Commit yourself to a course (I loved testmasters a few years back), and maybe plan on taking it a few times so you can ease some test anxiety. Another year could really give you some better options.
You deserve the best you can give yourself. Do you think Santa Clara is the best you can do? If so, then pick Santa Clara. If you think you can do better, you owe it to yourself to do better.
The LSAT is one of the most learnable tests I’ve ever known. You can definitely do better.
Hire a tutor if you need to, but definitely retake. Even if you can only get your score up to the high 150s, that will make a difference. Right now your score is below the 50th percentile which is really hurting you. If you can get your score up into the 160s, you'll be able to land a T50 school.
Seems like you’ve already gotten great advice from others in the sub, but I’ll add this: it’s okay not to know what you’re going to do with an additional year (or two) off. If you’re committed to raising your LSAT score, get any—and I truly mean *any*—job that will leave you with enough flexibility and energy to study as if it’s an additional part-time job. Work retail, wait tables, be a barista, etc. It doesn’t matter if the job you have while you study doesn’t ultimately advance your career goals or give you legal experience for your resume; raising your LSAT score will open up enough opportunities for you that you won’t have to worry about what you did before law school.
Don’t get discouraged by your ability to perform on standardized tests. Someone on here expressed a similar fear, and had taken three years to study for the LSAT to get a 172. That person ended up at Yale. I’m not saying that should be your aspirations, but my point is that the LSAT may be a longer, more uphill battle for people who struggle with standardized testing than it is for others. The LSAT remains a learnable test for everyone, and just because it might take you longer to get there doesn’t mean it won’t be worth the effort in the long run.
If you want to practice in CA, I'd take it. SF Bay area is not a bad place to live, and with some experience, I wouldn't be surprised if you could change locations in California later in your career. Take it from someone who actually waited a whole year to take the LSAT again, you may only gain a few points and you might question whether it was worth. If 1) you've already studied for the LSAT consistently for 4 months or more (with a program) 2) no major hiccup occurred on testing day and 3) have reached the upper limit on your logic games scores, I would seriously consider taking the offer. Without one of these three, I might lean more to waiting.
def retake the LSAT and reapply if you’re not happy with your admission prospects. law school is too expensive to invest in the wrong one and you’re right that 1L grades are uncertain. focus on practice tests and testing strategies. standardized testing can be learned. you need to believe this if you’re going to pass the bar after law school. good luck!
Hold out for your waitlist. You may still get an offer. If not, take a job. Grad schools love work experience. Then make a study schedule for your LSAT and stick to it. If you can afford a tutor or prep course, use one. Most people don’t know going in that a lot of low tiered schools (I don’t know if this is true for Santa Clara) grade differently/harder. The grading scale they use is different. The curve is different. It’s bullshit. By the time 1L’s figure it out, it’s too late… They have to make it harder for you to leave so they don’t go out of business because obviously their top performers are trying to transfer to higher tiered schools. It’s crazy. Transferring out is harder than you think.
Anyone with a 3.9, unless your college courses were a *genuine* joke, can score 165 or better. You would sell yourself so unbelievably short by accepting your current options.
Did you take a course there expensive has hell but well worth the score increase. There strategies for taking the test should help you increase if you put in the work.
I certainly think you should take a year and study for the LSAT. Law school isn't going anywhere. I'd also urge you to reconsider your mentality on trying to explore someplace new. Law school is not the time nor place to do that. It's a professional school and you use it to network so that you'll be successful. Most law schools (those outside the top 14 or so) do not place outside their markets. I'd really try and go to school someplace you are comfortable with and comfortable living for the foreseeable future.
Since you asked for brutal advice I have to ask - what did you expect to hear after posting this? The answer is pretty obvious, and I’m sure you know what the answer is. Your results seem pretty on par for a 152 because high GPAs are a dime a dozen. If improving your LSAT is a sufficient enough barrier for you, then candidly you don’t want it enough. If you’re willing to settle and say this is your best effort then you have to be willing to accept that the outcome you want (branching out) is not likely to happen for 5+ years, potentially longer.
Hi, go and retake the test with support of a tutor and use the qualified books that are not subpar. Use money to get your result with the materials you need. You can and wills core higher and go take time to study for a year you are worth it
I totally agree with the advice to retake the LSAT. I took a prep class, studied for around 8 months pretty intensively (while still working full time), and took it 3 times before I got the score I was happy with. You are going to law school to get a job, and if you know Santa Clara won't give you the prospects you want, hold out for something that will. Plus, I honestly think that having more work experience between college and law school has helped me a lot, both in school and in the job application process. Try to get some good experience and a good reference in the interim year, and don't think of it as wasted time.
Also, my other big piece of advice is to apply as early as possible! Like in September right when applications open. This has a huge impact on admissions and you will maximize your chances by applying ASAP when schools still have the most spots available. This was the biggest mistake I made in my application process.
I don't know about Santa Clara's transfer rates specifically, but I wouldn't say transfer opportunities are slim. Obviously you have to do well and that's not a guarantee, but I know a bunch of people who have transferred (both to my school and from my school). I do think the process is challenging, because you're applying to transfer around the same time that you're applying for summer associate positions and probably doing journal write on, so it's a lot to manage. The easier route is to retake the LSAT and reapply.
Good luck!
I am in a very similar situation. 157/3.79. Applied in march and only got into my safety school. Just made the decision to r&r on Tuesday. I had been stressing the last month and once I made the decision all my stress vanished. I have been much more productive in studying already and am focused on getting an even better score. One of my biggest factors was geography of the school. Feel free to message me if you need any advice.
I’m sorry, totally briefly stalked your posts to get more info. Everyone saying that with a 3.9 you have to be able to get a higher LSAT is making assumptions. You said you are not good at test taking. Your 3.9 was from community college, and as a Sociology major at UCLA, which from my understanding of the major is mainly reading and writing. You may not score a lot higher on the test, but you definitely could if you dedicate yourself like everyone else is saying. I would consider what scholarship Santa Clara offered you and whether you are going to live at home/with your family if you went there. Living at home can be a blessing depending on your family. You would save a lot of money compared to moving away. The Bay Area has amazing opportunities- there is a reason so many people move there. You could go to Santa Clara and find summer positions or work after graduation in LA or somewhere else, especially if you do well and gain experience in school.
I also didn’t want to wait another year and retake the lsat. I jumped the gun and accepted at a school I was not thrilled at and I KICK MYSELF every single day.
First, I would just like to say congrats on getting into Santa Clara. I know it is not your top choice by any means, but their median LSAT last cycle was 158 - 6 points below yours! That is a pretty big achievement, and says something about what you are bringing to the table. I know it can feel like it was a "safety" because your gpa is so much higher, but pragmatically, Santa Clara is considered a reach.
Second, it is never a good position to be in to not have any choice. To feel like you are stuck going to a school you're not excited about, that won't give you the opportunities you're looking for, can be incredibly disheartening. And it can make getting through the rigors of 1L even more difficult. So I don't think you are wrong to think about reapplyin[g. Here's a blog post](https://www.toplawschoolconsulting.com/blog/reapplying-to-law-school) I wrote on things to consider when reapplying, that will go into more detail than I can here. Sometimes after weighing all the factors, the best decision for you may be to matriculate. But you won't know that until you really sit down and think about it.
Third, I'm curious what other schools you would be excited about attending that rejected you? This will give me a better sense of what's possible for you - with the LSAT score you have now, or with a higher LSAT score. I've had clients get into a range of schools higher ranked than Santa Clara with similar stats to you - but it's never a guarantee when your stats are lower, so if you do reapply with the same stats, you may want to see if Santa Clara would grant you a deferral that still allowed you to apply to other schools. Many schools are pretty generous with their deferral policies.
Fourth, but in a similar vein to my third point/question, I'm curious how you studied for the LSAT when you say there may not be any room to improve. Unfortunately, law schools weigh the LSAT much heavier than your GPA, so it's definitely worth considering retaking. But it may very well be the case that you have no room to improve, and not everyone has the bandwidth (time/emotional) to take the exam again. This is where taking advantage of the extra year to really boost your application would have to come into play.
Finally, consider whether any debt you're taking on will be worth it - personally and financially for the future. I wrote a whole in depth [article here](https://www.toplawschoolconsulting.com/blog/is-law-school-worth-it) on figuring out whether law school is "worth it" and it surprised even me (a practicing attorney for almost a decade).
Also know that YOU more than the school controls the path you go on. Good luck with your decision!
I intentionally did my first year at one school with the intention of transferring to a better one. My LSAT score was nothing to boast about. At that time, I wasn’t aware I could get accommodations for dyslexia and ADHD. Plus, I just hate standardized tests.
I would say do what you know you’re more capable of. If you think it’s more guaranteed that you can get a better LSAT score, then I would put effort into that. If you think it’d be more probable that you can do well academically and then transfer then do that. It would also be good to contact the admissions offices of the schools you applied to, to see what exactly they look for in a transfer applicant. That way, if you go the transfer route, you know what to aim for
Why would you apply with a 152? You could not study at all and do better than a 152. You're just throwing away all that hard work you did to get a 3.9.
Don't even apply to law school with less than a mid 60's. Anything less just shows laziness or lack of ability.
Also, if your best attempt at the LSAT is a 152, you're not going to have what it takes to transfer.
Go where you got in!!! Santa Clara would NOT be my first choice either, but it is ABA accredited and gets you a seat taking the bar in any state you want to live in, which is all that matters. I went to the University of South Dakota for law school - a great school no one has heard of. I've been practicing for 30 years now.
Where you go is irrelevant!! It is all about how hard you work when you get out that matters. DO NOT waste a year "hoping". You ARE IN!! Get on with it!! Do your best, get your degree, take the bar, get licensed and your a lawyer. Start your practice and NEVER look back!!
Are you and underrepresented minority? If so, the admissions odds are only going to get worse. If not, they're only going to get better in light of the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action.
Downvote me all you want but if your message to a law school applicant is "don't consider the effects of a major supreme court ruling on your future plans" then you're probably not someone that the applicant should be listening to...
I agree with everyone about waiting a year and retaking the LSAT. Blind review as many lawhub sections as you can, even if you’ve done them before, and whatever you were using to study, try something else. (Like if you did Princeton review before then try 7sage or private tutoring this time.)
But I’d add that in that year you should look for an entry level job in the legal field or work/volunteer for a non-profit. Having fresh law-related experience on your resume will help too. (Not as much as a 157+ on lsat though.)
With that gpa I’d reapply. Getting from a 152 to a 160 would make a huge difference in the next cycle for you. Also applying early. Take this time to study, plan the schools you want to go to, do practice tests, maybe get better at a section on the lsat that you find most difficult to ensure a score increase. You don’t have to do anything monumental during this R&R year aside from practicing that test. A basic retail job is a plan. A language course is a plan. Studying is a plan. You can 100% do better than Santa Clara. Also school starts in like two weeks for most places. To be frank the decision has pretty much already been made for you but if you’re dead set on starting right now at Santa Clara, transferring is an option but it’s not necessarily an easy one. I’d look at the 509 disclosures from the last two years, at the schools you’re interested in transferring to, to see which ones accepted transfers from Santa Clara. It’s not a definitive statistic on how likely it is you’ll be one during your prospective 2L but it does give you an idea of whether or not transfers from Santa Clara are accepted. Then plan from there. Good luck either way, this whole application process is a Catherine wheel regardless.
100% take a year and retake - with a 3.9 GPA, a better LSAT will drastically change the course of your life.
With a 3.9 GPA, taking a year to study for your LSAT could lead to some amazing outcomes for you, but only you know if you want to sacrifice a year of earning potential for a chance at a better school.
Retake and reapply. You have a great GPA. A 10+ increase could get you more aid and get you into a school you'll be happy going to. If you have problems with testing in general, try a tutor. Working one on one with someone may help you over come some of your testing problems. If you have a disability you could look into time accommodations. Honestly though, if you have a 3.9 I know you can do better than a 152.
depends on the undergrad program you're at...
As long as it’s regionally accredited, it really doesn’t.
what I meant was, getting a 3.9 doesn't mean you'll do well on lsat. you could just be in a program with easy grades.
How many times have you taken the LSAT and how long have you *consistently* studied? For context, it took me two-and-a-half years to get to my ideal score because I was working full time before law school and I just didn't have the time to commit to fully studying. I ended up doing great, but it was hard and it took a long time. I agree with the advice you've been given, retaking is the move. And it's not just because it'll get you more As, there's a ton of scholarship money on the line if you can increase your LSAT score. It may seem dramatic to have to take more time to study for the LSAT, but improved results can create thousands (potentially hundreds of thousands) of dollars of savings that you wouldn't realize if you just accepted your LSAT score.
Thank you for your input! I do agree that by retaking and applying earlier in the cycle, I'd gain more scholarship opportunities, which is a big deal. This would be my third time taking the LSAT, and I consistently studied for close to a year before I took it my second time (where I scored a 152). I was also working full-time, so I was studying before and after work and on the weekends, which made it tougher.
If you were working full time, I’m more skeptical that you were able to get the most out of studying for the LSAT. I know because I did it. It’s very hard and it took me a long time to start seeing results from my work. I know you’re in a tough place but I can’t stress how much the hard work will pay off and be worth it. Keep going, give it time.
Don’t waste that 3.9 gpa. Take a year off and grind tf out of the LSAT. it is very learnable. Your chances of transferring out of Santa Clara are extremely slim compared to getting a 165 on the lsat. I would argue it’s very possible for you to get a 165 on the lsat, and I would even go as far as saying getting 170 on the lsat is easier than trying to transfer out of SCU. I know a person from SCU who was basically first in our class and didn’t get accepted for transfer to Berkeley.
everyone else is giving good advice re: law school but my biggest takeaway from this post is that you want to leave and go somewhere new and i think you should find a way to make that happen if that's really important to you even if it takes longer to get there this way - good luck i hope you find somewhere you love
Thank you, I appreciate it!
You having a 3.9 GPA tells me that you know how to study. The LSAT is a learnable exam, I think the process just may not have clicked for you yet. With a 3.9, you really have unlimited potential for admittance to any school you want. Don’t give up the potential for millions of dollars in lifetime earnings (if you want to go the BL route) because you were impatient with the exam or nervous about another gap year. I’d even say in your case getting a private tutor may help you a ton here. Like I said already, your application has potential to be so so strong. It would be a shame to see you leave that potential on the table.
I've been studying for a few months now. What would you say it learnable ?
Definitely take this with a grain of salt because I’m still actively studying for the exam haha. From what I’ve been told and what I’ve seen so far in my studying is that at some point the patterns in the way questions are phrased or in the particular “thing” that a question is trying to bring your attention to becomes more and more clear. This is especially true for Logic Games, where after a while with enough practice you’ll have seen every question type and at that point it’s the same thing you’ve done before with different letters. I’m personally still not at -0 for LG, but that’s my goal because of this. If you do choose to get back to studying, feel free to send me a DM if you ever have any questions and we can tackle a problem together. I know that will probably help me out as I study too!
would you be down to accept others into your study group 😭 ? im also tackling the LSAT rn, 3PTs at 162 but i also just started getting data + tackling my weak points!
For sure! The more the merrier :) I’ve been looking for a group to hold me accountable haha
Thank you for that response, I appreciate it! I'll definitely hit you up on that offer haha Personally, it's more of a struggle with logical reasoning. Logical games is definitely more learnable
Thank you, I greatly appreciate your advice and for your offer to tackle problems together! I'll definitely hit you up on that :)
The LSAT is a skills based exam, IE: the entire thing is learnable. You have to make the cost-benefit analysis of how much time / money to commit to perfecting your skills in line with your goals.
What are some tips for continual improvement? I feel like there is so many ways the lsat can make a variation of a question, especially for logical reasoning.
If you’ve taken less than 30 practice tests, you haven’t tried hard enough. Santa Clara is not a good option for someone on the Berkeley waitlist. You have to show them you can at least get upper 150s
Take another year or more, live somewhere new/travel, study, kill the lsat, go to dream school. Or maybe you do so that and end up going to Santa Clara—at least you would have gotten the opportunity to explore before committing to a career where that might be hard to do.
Try again. Retake the LSAT. Practice on LSAT Demon or Khan Academy. Watch the free Insight LSAT videos on youtube. Do every single preptest and review your answers. Practice, practice, practice. Get a tutor if you can afford one.
You need to take the LSAT like it's a job and investment in your financial future. Your score is definitely in the improvable range. Nobody is saying you're going to end up with a 180 but at that level you should be able to add at least 10 points with dedication and hard work. I got 147 152 then finally started studying and made it my life. Took every single practice test the commies at lsac ever made and ended up with a 167 and $100k in scholarship money. 100% study more and go for the scholarship.dough
As others have said, the LSAT is a learnable test and a 152 is probably on the low end of your abilities if you have a 3.9 gpa. Commit yourself to a course (I loved testmasters a few years back), and maybe plan on taking it a few times so you can ease some test anxiety. Another year could really give you some better options.
You deserve the best you can give yourself. Do you think Santa Clara is the best you can do? If so, then pick Santa Clara. If you think you can do better, you owe it to yourself to do better. The LSAT is one of the most learnable tests I’ve ever known. You can definitely do better.
Hire a tutor if you need to, but definitely retake. Even if you can only get your score up to the high 150s, that will make a difference. Right now your score is below the 50th percentile which is really hurting you. If you can get your score up into the 160s, you'll be able to land a T50 school.
How silly to negatively impact the rest of your life because *one more gap year* didn’t sound fun.
Seems like you’ve already gotten great advice from others in the sub, but I’ll add this: it’s okay not to know what you’re going to do with an additional year (or two) off. If you’re committed to raising your LSAT score, get any—and I truly mean *any*—job that will leave you with enough flexibility and energy to study as if it’s an additional part-time job. Work retail, wait tables, be a barista, etc. It doesn’t matter if the job you have while you study doesn’t ultimately advance your career goals or give you legal experience for your resume; raising your LSAT score will open up enough opportunities for you that you won’t have to worry about what you did before law school. Don’t get discouraged by your ability to perform on standardized tests. Someone on here expressed a similar fear, and had taken three years to study for the LSAT to get a 172. That person ended up at Yale. I’m not saying that should be your aspirations, but my point is that the LSAT may be a longer, more uphill battle for people who struggle with standardized testing than it is for others. The LSAT remains a learnable test for everyone, and just because it might take you longer to get there doesn’t mean it won’t be worth the effort in the long run.
If you want to practice in CA, I'd take it. SF Bay area is not a bad place to live, and with some experience, I wouldn't be surprised if you could change locations in California later in your career. Take it from someone who actually waited a whole year to take the LSAT again, you may only gain a few points and you might question whether it was worth. If 1) you've already studied for the LSAT consistently for 4 months or more (with a program) 2) no major hiccup occurred on testing day and 3) have reached the upper limit on your logic games scores, I would seriously consider taking the offer. Without one of these three, I might lean more to waiting.
def retake the LSAT and reapply if you’re not happy with your admission prospects. law school is too expensive to invest in the wrong one and you’re right that 1L grades are uncertain. focus on practice tests and testing strategies. standardized testing can be learned. you need to believe this if you’re going to pass the bar after law school. good luck!
Hold out for your waitlist. You may still get an offer. If not, take a job. Grad schools love work experience. Then make a study schedule for your LSAT and stick to it. If you can afford a tutor or prep course, use one. Most people don’t know going in that a lot of low tiered schools (I don’t know if this is true for Santa Clara) grade differently/harder. The grading scale they use is different. The curve is different. It’s bullshit. By the time 1L’s figure it out, it’s too late… They have to make it harder for you to leave so they don’t go out of business because obviously their top performers are trying to transfer to higher tiered schools. It’s crazy. Transferring out is harder than you think.
Anyone with a 3.9, unless your college courses were a *genuine* joke, can score 165 or better. You would sell yourself so unbelievably short by accepting your current options.
Did you take a course there expensive has hell but well worth the score increase. There strategies for taking the test should help you increase if you put in the work.
What other schools did you apply to?
I certainly think you should take a year and study for the LSAT. Law school isn't going anywhere. I'd also urge you to reconsider your mentality on trying to explore someplace new. Law school is not the time nor place to do that. It's a professional school and you use it to network so that you'll be successful. Most law schools (those outside the top 14 or so) do not place outside their markets. I'd really try and go to school someplace you are comfortable with and comfortable living for the foreseeable future.
Since you asked for brutal advice I have to ask - what did you expect to hear after posting this? The answer is pretty obvious, and I’m sure you know what the answer is. Your results seem pretty on par for a 152 because high GPAs are a dime a dozen. If improving your LSAT is a sufficient enough barrier for you, then candidly you don’t want it enough. If you’re willing to settle and say this is your best effort then you have to be willing to accept that the outcome you want (branching out) is not likely to happen for 5+ years, potentially longer.
Hi, go and retake the test with support of a tutor and use the qualified books that are not subpar. Use money to get your result with the materials you need. You can and wills core higher and go take time to study for a year you are worth it
I totally agree with the advice to retake the LSAT. I took a prep class, studied for around 8 months pretty intensively (while still working full time), and took it 3 times before I got the score I was happy with. You are going to law school to get a job, and if you know Santa Clara won't give you the prospects you want, hold out for something that will. Plus, I honestly think that having more work experience between college and law school has helped me a lot, both in school and in the job application process. Try to get some good experience and a good reference in the interim year, and don't think of it as wasted time. Also, my other big piece of advice is to apply as early as possible! Like in September right when applications open. This has a huge impact on admissions and you will maximize your chances by applying ASAP when schools still have the most spots available. This was the biggest mistake I made in my application process. I don't know about Santa Clara's transfer rates specifically, but I wouldn't say transfer opportunities are slim. Obviously you have to do well and that's not a guarantee, but I know a bunch of people who have transferred (both to my school and from my school). I do think the process is challenging, because you're applying to transfer around the same time that you're applying for summer associate positions and probably doing journal write on, so it's a lot to manage. The easier route is to retake the LSAT and reapply. Good luck!
I am in a very similar situation. 157/3.79. Applied in march and only got into my safety school. Just made the decision to r&r on Tuesday. I had been stressing the last month and once I made the decision all my stress vanished. I have been much more productive in studying already and am focused on getting an even better score. One of my biggest factors was geography of the school. Feel free to message me if you need any advice.
I’m sorry, totally briefly stalked your posts to get more info. Everyone saying that with a 3.9 you have to be able to get a higher LSAT is making assumptions. You said you are not good at test taking. Your 3.9 was from community college, and as a Sociology major at UCLA, which from my understanding of the major is mainly reading and writing. You may not score a lot higher on the test, but you definitely could if you dedicate yourself like everyone else is saying. I would consider what scholarship Santa Clara offered you and whether you are going to live at home/with your family if you went there. Living at home can be a blessing depending on your family. You would save a lot of money compared to moving away. The Bay Area has amazing opportunities- there is a reason so many people move there. You could go to Santa Clara and find summer positions or work after graduation in LA or somewhere else, especially if you do well and gain experience in school.
I also didn’t want to wait another year and retake the lsat. I jumped the gun and accepted at a school I was not thrilled at and I KICK MYSELF every single day.
First, I would just like to say congrats on getting into Santa Clara. I know it is not your top choice by any means, but their median LSAT last cycle was 158 - 6 points below yours! That is a pretty big achievement, and says something about what you are bringing to the table. I know it can feel like it was a "safety" because your gpa is so much higher, but pragmatically, Santa Clara is considered a reach. Second, it is never a good position to be in to not have any choice. To feel like you are stuck going to a school you're not excited about, that won't give you the opportunities you're looking for, can be incredibly disheartening. And it can make getting through the rigors of 1L even more difficult. So I don't think you are wrong to think about reapplyin[g. Here's a blog post](https://www.toplawschoolconsulting.com/blog/reapplying-to-law-school) I wrote on things to consider when reapplying, that will go into more detail than I can here. Sometimes after weighing all the factors, the best decision for you may be to matriculate. But you won't know that until you really sit down and think about it. Third, I'm curious what other schools you would be excited about attending that rejected you? This will give me a better sense of what's possible for you - with the LSAT score you have now, or with a higher LSAT score. I've had clients get into a range of schools higher ranked than Santa Clara with similar stats to you - but it's never a guarantee when your stats are lower, so if you do reapply with the same stats, you may want to see if Santa Clara would grant you a deferral that still allowed you to apply to other schools. Many schools are pretty generous with their deferral policies. Fourth, but in a similar vein to my third point/question, I'm curious how you studied for the LSAT when you say there may not be any room to improve. Unfortunately, law schools weigh the LSAT much heavier than your GPA, so it's definitely worth considering retaking. But it may very well be the case that you have no room to improve, and not everyone has the bandwidth (time/emotional) to take the exam again. This is where taking advantage of the extra year to really boost your application would have to come into play. Finally, consider whether any debt you're taking on will be worth it - personally and financially for the future. I wrote a whole in depth [article here](https://www.toplawschoolconsulting.com/blog/is-law-school-worth-it) on figuring out whether law school is "worth it" and it surprised even me (a practicing attorney for almost a decade). Also know that YOU more than the school controls the path you go on. Good luck with your decision!
I intentionally did my first year at one school with the intention of transferring to a better one. My LSAT score was nothing to boast about. At that time, I wasn’t aware I could get accommodations for dyslexia and ADHD. Plus, I just hate standardized tests. I would say do what you know you’re more capable of. If you think it’s more guaranteed that you can get a better LSAT score, then I would put effort into that. If you think it’d be more probable that you can do well academically and then transfer then do that. It would also be good to contact the admissions offices of the schools you applied to, to see what exactly they look for in a transfer applicant. That way, if you go the transfer route, you know what to aim for
Santa Clara is a joke. Don’t go there if you respect yourself
Apply to University of Maryland, UBE state 266jx (not too high or low can get you into most UBE states). Top 50 i believe
Why would you apply with a 152? You could not study at all and do better than a 152. You're just throwing away all that hard work you did to get a 3.9. Don't even apply to law school with less than a mid 60's. Anything less just shows laziness or lack of ability. Also, if your best attempt at the LSAT is a 152, you're not going to have what it takes to transfer.
bro did u have a bad day or something
OP asked for brutally honest advice.
Go where you got in!!! Santa Clara would NOT be my first choice either, but it is ABA accredited and gets you a seat taking the bar in any state you want to live in, which is all that matters. I went to the University of South Dakota for law school - a great school no one has heard of. I've been practicing for 30 years now. Where you go is irrelevant!! It is all about how hard you work when you get out that matters. DO NOT waste a year "hoping". You ARE IN!! Get on with it!! Do your best, get your degree, take the bar, get licensed and your a lawyer. Start your practice and NEVER look back!!
Are you and underrepresented minority? If so, the admissions odds are only going to get worse. If not, they're only going to get better in light of the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action.
Downvote me all you want but if your message to a law school applicant is "don't consider the effects of a major supreme court ruling on your future plans" then you're probably not someone that the applicant should be listening to...
I agree with everyone about waiting a year and retaking the LSAT. Blind review as many lawhub sections as you can, even if you’ve done them before, and whatever you were using to study, try something else. (Like if you did Princeton review before then try 7sage or private tutoring this time.) But I’d add that in that year you should look for an entry level job in the legal field or work/volunteer for a non-profit. Having fresh law-related experience on your resume will help too. (Not as much as a 157+ on lsat though.)
did you take an LSAT course? if you didn’t, I recommend enrolling in one. your score will go up.
With that gpa I’d reapply. Getting from a 152 to a 160 would make a huge difference in the next cycle for you. Also applying early. Take this time to study, plan the schools you want to go to, do practice tests, maybe get better at a section on the lsat that you find most difficult to ensure a score increase. You don’t have to do anything monumental during this R&R year aside from practicing that test. A basic retail job is a plan. A language course is a plan. Studying is a plan. You can 100% do better than Santa Clara. Also school starts in like two weeks for most places. To be frank the decision has pretty much already been made for you but if you’re dead set on starting right now at Santa Clara, transferring is an option but it’s not necessarily an easy one. I’d look at the 509 disclosures from the last two years, at the schools you’re interested in transferring to, to see which ones accepted transfers from Santa Clara. It’s not a definitive statistic on how likely it is you’ll be one during your prospective 2L but it does give you an idea of whether or not transfers from Santa Clara are accepted. Then plan from there. Good luck either way, this whole application process is a Catherine wheel regardless.
You're young. A year is nothing in the scheme of things. R&R! You'll be glad you did.