Self-study
I have been studying for 5 weeks, at least 2 hours a day, and I am still getting so many questions wrong. I don't care if I get some wrong, but I want to get most right. I can never remember all of these acronyms they use on here, I can't tell the difference between different types of questions (sufficient assumption questions, pseudo-sufficient, Necessary, etc), and I don't understand how blind review works/helps. I don't want to take a break and "avoid burnout" because I am already 4 days behind. I would love to do tutoring, as I really think that would help, but it is so freaking expensive. I don't know what to do.
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4 comments
Sorry to hear that you're feeling so frustrated. @LukaDoncicForMVP made some great points that could definitely help you - I'd give very similar advice.
But aside from that, have you finished the core curriculum? That should be your first step. If you can't remember the question types, the Introduction to Logical Reasoning module has a cheat sheet that explains the question types and strategies for each. Also in that module is a lesson titled The Importance of Blind Review, which should answer your questions about how to blind review.
If tutoring isn't an option for you, I'd recommend trying to find a study buddy or joining a study group. Having at least one other person to study with really helps. I'm also trying to look for people to study with, so feel free to message me.
Hope this helped! I know it's frustrating, but be kind to yourself - you're doing great!
@rosebudmia thank you! That is super helpful. I realize that I may have just hit a rough section in my study plan (SA AND NA). When I heard that it’s been difficult for most other people, that made me feel better.
I spam a lot of basketball analogies here, but I think this one is particularly best suited for your case:
Mamba Mentality is a mindset that isn't about getting a result. It wasn't about obsessing about getting a ring, achieving records, or winning an MVP. Mamba Mentality is about the journey and the process of getting better every day. The LSAT can drive you into the mindset of only being concerned with the end result; a lot of people will be so quick to gun for the highest possible scores, but very few will understand and appreciate the journey that is necessary to get there.
I was in your same place not too long ago. I was the person who took practice tests every day thinking that the only thing that mattered was the score - nothing else. And when I didn't get the results that I wanted, I sank like a rock. What ultimately changed for me was seeing the LSAT as a process; focusing on understand each question and each passage and, most importantly, breaking the LSAT down into smaller pieces rather than trying to tackle the whole test.
I am not a guy in the 170s, so I'm not going to claim that I am some wizard who is going to magically transform you with my advice. But after more than a year of studying and seeing a lot of improvement in recent times, here's some advice I'd like to share:
Work on first understanding the stimulus. Practice understanding what premises are and how to spot the conclusions (on question types that have a conclusion). What worked best for me was studying up on pivot words and understanding conditional language. The core curriculum here and LSAT Lab videos on YouTube help a lot.
You say you are "4 days behind", but behind what or who exactly? The LSAT isn't a race, so if you're comparing yourself to other people and where they're at, it is important to understand that we're all on our own journeys and one person's success isn't going to screw up yours. If you're trying to impose a deadline on taking the test, it is best to remove that mindset. Pressuring yourself to rush just to meet a deadline is only going to make you do worse in the long run. The LSAT and law school will always be here, so why rush?
You say that "you don't want to take a break", but let me ask you something: if you are on a basketball team and you are injured, are you going to play on? Life isn't a movie where doing something theatrical like that will pay off. If you are feeling burnt out, then it is pertinent to rest. At the end of the day, it is a lot harder to come back from burning out than it is coming back from taking a few days of rest.
And lastly, focus on the process. It's okay to have goal schools and a goal score in mind, but constantly trying to chase it without focusing on the journey you'll need to take to get there will be very frustrating. Take it one day at a time and have fun with the process (because the LSAT can be made to be fun).
I know everything I said is very generic, but if you ever need more help or if you just want someone to talk to you, you can always reach out and I'd be happy to help.
@LukaDoncicForMVP that is actually a very helpful analogy. I’m one of those people who get easily frustrated when I don’t get something soon/immediately, although I know that is an unrealistic standard. You made very good points, and I’m going to try to follow them from now on