Hi everyone.
I have really bad news.
We are taking down all of our free Logic Game videos on YouTube on November 15.
Two months ago, LSAC's legal department requested that we remove the videos on copyright violation grounds. We immediately retained Quinn Emanuel, one of the best law firms in the country, and worked with two amazing lawyers (one of whom used to be a 7Sager) to try to work this out with LSAC. Despite our efforts, they remain firm. Our remaining option was to litigate but we don't have the resources to pursue that path.
On November 15 our LG videos will no longer be available to the public for free. They will still exist, but only to students enrolled in a full 7Sage course. This way, we can track usage and send licensing fees accordingly.
These videos have been free for nearly eight years. In that time period, we created an alternative to the paradigm of expensive, in-class test prep in the form of free and low cost, on-demand lessons. I'm sad to see these free videos—a mainstay of both our business and social mission—go. I've had many students tell me that they couldn't afford a course but fully utilized our LG videos, which made me very happy. I've also had many tutors tell me that they don't tutor LG anymore because there's no need to. It makes me feel good to know that we made an impact for some students.
I wanted to see in quantitative terms how much of an impact the LG videos made.
We ran the numbers and generated the chart below. This is data pulled from our analytics. We did our best to exclude retakes, older data, and other data that might inflate scores. Look at the blue and grey lines for LR and RC. They peak around minus 3 or 4, meaning more 7Sagers got around 3 to 4 wrong per section than any other number. Compared to the full population of LSAT takers, this curve is likely left-skewed simply because they're all 7Sagers, a group of students who take their studies seriously. Still, the distribution is relatively normal; you can make out the curve. Relatively few people get -0/-1 on those sections.
Now look at the orange line for LG. The peak of the curve sits at -0/-1. Take a second to think about this. This means more 7Sage students taking PTs got an LG score of -0 or -1 than any other score. That's not normal.
https://i.imgur.com/wbGCrjb.png
I'm curious about the actual exam data on the yearly LG curve over the past decade. My guess is that the curve moved left, meaning the average student has been significantly improving on LG. The actual LG curve might even look similar to ours, since everyone had access to our LG videos. If true, this could offer an explanation for LSAC's increasing preference for weird, miscellaneous games.
Anyway, back to the fact that we're having to remove all our LG videos from YouTube, which is really the point of this post: I'm sorry. If I don't sound more upset about it, it's only because I've had two months now to absorb the blow.
You probably have questions. I'll try to check back here today and tomorrow to answer the ones I can.
75 comments
LSAC yet again coming up with another way to make the LSAT more inaccessible :neutral: This is incredibly upsetting but thank you nonetheless for all the time and effort you've invested into this program.
I'm so sorry this happened. I came to 7Sage, like many people, through the insightful, funny, calm and easy-to-follow LG videos.
But there's so much good news here, J.Y. You've boosted the scores, understanding, hearts and minds of hundreds of people, and we are eternally grateful. Also, you'll still be doing it! For as long as you can stand it.
Even though it's obviously a more admirable social mission to spread your LG wisdom to anyone who wants it, including those who can't afford to pay, the truth is it is a product worth paying for.
Also, in terms of the business mission, I don't think you'll need the free entry point anymore. I remember taking a mock test in Wilmington, Delaware, and the person sitting next to me expounding the virtues of the 7Sage videos without me mentioning it first. Last weekend at the LSAC Forum in NYC, I was waiting for the debt-handling master dude to have some one-on-one with him, and the random person waiting on line next to me? Total 7Sager. The word has spread. Thank you.
Fuck the LSAC. Pretty much all I have to say about that.
7Sage you're still amazing and I thank you for everything you have done to help people reach their dreams. I would not be where I am now without you and I will NEVER forget it.
Thank you for doing your best to make LSAT study material free/low cost. I found this course through the free videos which led me to purchase the Ultimate course. Very happy with my choice
Thank you for being awesome.
Such a shame to hear this. Yet another -however incremental- way LSAC has increased the barriers to education. Have you though of offering just an LG course with the explanations? I would imagine you’d be able to sell such a course under or around the $100 price point. That way at least those who are less financially fortunate will have an easier time accessing these great lessons. Regardless, the damage has been dealt. Keep keeping on JY, I’m a huge advocate of what you’re doing.
A new RRE question: LSAC promotes their free study materials on khan academy, and goes on about how they want everyone to have an equal shot at law school, but then takes down the free LG explanations.
I find it ironic. Regardless, thank you JY, for making LSAT explanations availible to those of us without the money to buy tutors. I know I would not be able to do it without 7sage! Your course is very affordable compared to some of the stuff out there, and it is super helpful for those of us who are auditory learners. I love hearing your explanations! They are really the best.
An idea: maybe you can offer a package that is only for LG at a lower price? Or maybe a pay-per-access system (like, most recent 10 PT solutions for LG for X$). That way, students can buy access as they wish? Anyways, that is just an idea to make it accessible for a low cost :)
I just wanted you to know that myself, and others, are very appreciative for everything you've done! :)
Came back to 7Sage to just post about this -- I was lucky enough to get a good enough score on the July exam, but as I prepared for alternate scenarios of taking the Oct/Nov exams, I was already stressed out because LSAC had basically no test centers near me (or they were all enrolled). And now they've decided to take away resources that have allowed so many to learn about the LSAT before committing to a particular course, which is unbelievably frustrating.
There's so much about this process that is unbearably stupid and at times pretty outrageous, but without a community like 7Sage there would be little to offset the ills of the system. Regardless of what happens, 7Sage is the best option out there for LSAT studying, and even though LSAC may have raised the bar for accessibility, 7Sage still allows way more people to think about law school. Thank you for everything!
Will you offer alternative way for the LG access? Maybe another package just for all the games or open access to starter package ?
Ugh, LSAC continually finds ways to make hurdles higher for everyone. This is so pointless and meritless and... ugh. All the things. Thank you so much for how you have advocated for all of us - I also wouldn't be where I am without 7sage (and am so lucky to even have the 7sage community live on in school!). I know that this is a massive disappointment, but the 7sage model will continue to level the playing field and help people with fewer resources thrive in the legal field. (3(/p)
Thank you for letting us know. I am so glad that I heard of 7Sage through your logic videos online, and it is unfortunate to hear that they will have to come down.
Are you thinking about having the logic game videos available to all students, regardless of what package they have purchased on 7Sage?
That future students will be deprived of such a great benefit that I enjoyed and that was so powerfully effective in my studies and ultimately transformative in my life is deeply upsetting to me. LSAC's action may help correct the curve, but it will inevitably be at the expense of those with the least privilege and most restricted access to the means of bettering themselves and their communities. Rungs on the ladder upwards are few and far between as it is, and that a sturdy and reliable one is being removed by the gatekeepers is unconscionable.
@xadrianas6x881 @conormunson75 @yjm1998940 @analivaldez480 @oatmeal1133788 @siyao0215737 @charitylehmann316 @jonesr375 @shanecou007633 @leahbeuk911 @jennaenelson863-e-nelson @zacharytsmith26826 @analivaldez480
THANK YOU
Thank you for always being there for all of your students. Is there an option to leave explanations up for PTs that have been released to the public by LSAC? They’ve added a few more for digital familiarization, and if LG for those tests stayed up it could still help students who can’t afford a course package.
This is such a bummer. I added three more months to cover November and January's test because I need help on Logic games. Sure enough, November's test came back and I missed my mark big time. I didn't have time to finish the last TWO logic games, so they were all guesses, with only one lucky right answer. January is looking grim as well now. I'm a first generation law school hopeful, doing this whole application and lsat thing on my own... without enough money to go premium. My soul hurts! However, I am grateful for the community here and all the resources I do have access too. But bummer.
I thought I understood it as they would only be removed from youtube due to liscening issues stemming from the fact they were being made availabe for free. Considering they were in fact available for free, it seems the natural next step would be to only have them available for people who have purchased a 7sage course. It was stated, " They will still exist, but only to students enrolled in a full 7Sage course". I guess this could be interpreted as excluding starter courses due to the word "full", even though thats quite ambiguous. But then following the previous statement this explaination was given, "This way, we can track usage and send licensing fees accordingly". To me, if the point is to be able to track licensing it seems that the starter should be included as well. The videos went from totally free to not even being attainable with a $180 course. Did they raise the price of the licenses too? How does this work?
I am very glad I found 7Sage in time. The ways in which higher education is becoming inaccessible to those without the financial means to get there is disheartening. Though expensive, 7Sage is still cheaper than many other options. Thanks for doing the best you can.
omg i cried at this. truly really crappy news. if i signed up for the cheapest course package would i still be able to have access to LG vids? i can't afford much more than that and LG videos were already a life saver for me :(
J.Y., you are simply wonderful. I know how disappointing this is for both you and all of the students who will be affected. But the profoundly positive impact of these videos being free for so long will stick around. Everyone is so grateful for the time that we had with those free resources.
@czechoutnic844
This may not help your situation right now, but I wanted to let you know that we do have a "score guarantee" that says if you have an unsatisfactory score, to show us the report and we will extend your course until the next LSAT test administration date.
Of course, I hope you score high and don't have to take advantage of this! But, just letting you know in case something goes awry.
Hi JY and 7sage, I am very sad but at the same time motivated and inspired by what you guys have done so far. It really does make me work harder to be someday able to serve a similar cause. Thank you guys for being awesome.
Hi @kameelahp462, @marine4life6798246, and @emanning2942
Sorry for the trouble. We rolled out a fix and you should now be able to access the Logic Games video explanations for the PrepTests you have access to in your course.
Let us know if you're still having issues.
@bigjoec894 said:
When the access is shut off, will we just lose the videos, or will we lose access to the entire explanation page (e.g. https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-58-section-3-game-3/ ).
In particular, it would be cool if we could still at least see JY's recommended target time for each set.
Also, it would be super cool if someone would go through each video and transcribe JY's opening thoughts (e.g. "this is an easy one", "this is the hardest game in the set", etc.), and add that to the text of the page that we'll retain access to once the videos are locked down. But that's probably pretty labor intensive.
Hi there,
Thank you for the suggestion. I confirm that we will keep the target time information available.
This is unfortunate. Those free youtube explanations were exactly what lead me to being an Ultimate + member on this life-changing website. Shame shame shame. Thanks for letting us know JY.
@conormunson75 said:
I've paid for the Starter, which is all I've really needed, but this isn't enough to continue to view the explanations? I'm writing on the 25th of November, would hate to lose access 10 days before the test. Any way around this?
I'm in the same boat, Conor. I imagine that they've done the math and that paying the royalties per view just isn't cost-effective for someone who only paid for Starter. :( But I'm also uncomfortable paying an extra $170 for 10 days of access leading up to the exam. Ultimately, though, that's a choice that could be made.