Self-study
I've been at this horrible test for over 2 years now, and can barely crack the 150s. I've used every major platform, courses, private tutoring, and nothing moves the needle. I have a 3.1 lsac GPA so to even be considered anywhere decent is near impossible. I'm just so tired and disappointed. It feels like I'm trying to revive a dead horse with holding out hope that the 160s is possible. It just isn't at this point and I should really just pack it up, but my pride and embarrassment are in the way. The more I subject myself to this the worse I feel. I just wanted to vent here because it seems like everyone is so supportive. Is anyone else in a similar boat?
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9 comments
Maybe try for JDNext?
@SelinI this would be a solid alternative, but I already have two attempts on record. JDNext wouldn’t do much for me, unfortunately. Thank you for the support💕
You can definitely score in the 160s. Maybe try seeking accommodations? Also, if you take time to get some good work experience or do something interesting for a year or two while you study a bit more, then that should help you. Many schools including top ranked schools, like USC and Penn, ask candidates with low scores to explain why their scores don't reflect their ability to succeed in law school, so that tells me that law schools do accept candidates with low scores. Scores are a huge factor, but people with lower scores do get into law schools. Don't feel embarrassed. The exam tests a very specific way of thinking, and very smart people do in fact struggle with this exam. Also, I saw some students saying that this exam has been a barrier for them for like 10 years, so don't get too down on yourself. Keep your head up. ~
@JO_Odera thank you so much for this. I have 150% accommodations and it hasn’t moved the needle for me at all. I’ll try to explain my poor testing performance with addendums if I move forward in the process. Thank you again for the support! ♥️
Its definitely a hard exam. but its also learnable. In my personal experience I was stuck in the 130s and 140s for 6 months. took my first exam bombed it lol. But what really helped me see huge score increases in PTs was not learning all the little tricks and the gimmicks. I actually just focused on simplifying the exam into two basic parts. Treat most of LR as assumption based questions and treat everything in RC as structure based questions. you can also study "classes" of questions that function relatively the same. For example some of my drills are Flaw,NA,WSE because even though the end task is a bit different the overall process is actually the same. Find the conclusion, find the underlining assumption (gap). then predict the answer choice, read the answer choices carefully, then choose.
Something different I learned that may help you alot is to study formal conditional logic in philosophy. you dont need to understand everything but just how its used and why it exists. I met with a few 170s scorers it came up a few times. I tried it and it didn't work immediately but once I got a grip on it it helped me conceptualize the moving parts in LR and what is actually the point of what we are being asked to do.
If i could go back and restart all over again with what I understand now. Id say the biggest game changer at least in my experience is consistently identifying the conclusion and consistently understanding the method of logic being applied. once youve got it down you start to feel so much more in control. sounds hard at this point in time but try focusing only on spotting conclusions first consistently then build up from there. you'll see really quickly that there are subtle shifts in the words or ideas and that will make overall logic look clearer.
@Christ_Lindholm thanks for this. I’m great at spotting the conclusion and gap. I think the collapse comes from predicting. My predictions are always so off that they never help. Or it’s an answer choice but it’s somehow wrong. I don’t know. If I don’t throw in the towel I’ll consider studying formal conditional logic in philosophy. That I haven’t heard of before. Thank you so much again!
@fa4664 dont give up and good luck. you'll get there it just may not be in the timeframe that was originally expected. Just remember theres no rush law schools aren't going anywhere. also you could just need a little break for a month or two to let your brain soak in the information and build new connections. I am coming off one and it definitely helps with score increases and learning this stuff.
Im in a somewhat similar boat. I cant do a two year gap year and my last chance to take the lsat is on thursday, first one was a 152, spent 4-6 hours diligently studying (i used everyyyyy trick and approach to study) and when i PT i barely can get a higher score.
I'll be honest, Im a splitter with my GPA. But I hope you know youre not alone with the LSAT. I think the reality is that sometimes these sort of exams are not the way your brain works.
Dont be discouraged, there is a school for you out there. Maybe try looking abroad as well.
@Catpop oh gosh good luck on the exam this week! Rest up, and take it easy this week. You got this.
Also, thank you for the suggestion of possibly applying abroad. I’ll look into this. Again, GOOD LUCK! Please let us know how it goes! 💕