Hi guys, I really need some consultation from an expert. But idk how and where from. I really want to go into t14 law schools, my lsac gpa is 3.5, not bad but also not good for those schools. And rn ill be taking my very first lsat in like a week, and I was very confident before because my drills were improving a lot, but I wasn't focusing much on time and pt, which i understand how it affects me now. In drills id get max 167, but in PT? in 150s, if a bad day then in 140s. And, I understand that I would have to instead apply for fall 2028 instead of fall 2027, and ig im fine with it cus its okay. But, Idk where to go to get help from? with how to properly do full length pts in such a time and how to fight off fatigue. I was thinking to get coach subscription, but idk now. Taking Nov lsat, with very low expectations, but still keeping my head up and trying my utomost best and then probably retaking it in april or june, and I really want it to be the last time.
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11 comments
First of all please recognize you are not alone. Do not despair that you're not where you want to be. Take a deep breath and exhale. Repeat as many times as it takes to become clear headed without a million thoughts running wild in your head.
When you have that clarity of mind, begin to reevaluate where you are in the process.
Take an honest stock of what you see as your strengths and weaknesses. Then, create a plan to attack your weakneeses.
From there start seeking out study groups and study forums that hit on what you see as your weaknesses.
Then, start focusing on drilling the areas you feel you need help in. I drill constantly and find I have inproved dramatically in my trouble areas. In addition, be sure you are timing youself when drilling. I am ADHD so I drill with 150% time which is what my testing parameters will be. I have gone from mid 140s to 160s in matter of weeks doing this.
The biggest help for me so far is SLOWING DOWN. Instead of hurrying through a section I take the time to ensure I am focusing on the information given and for sure the stimulus. Despite my internal monologue screaming at me to hurry tf up.
Full disclosure, I spent a few days going back to the very beginning of my study plan. I made sure I was solid on the basics and then doubled down on takng my time to read and comprrhend each question. This strategy has worked wonders.
This is just my experience. I hope it resonates a little or somehow helps. I am happy to study with you or answwer any questions I can as a fellow traveler on this road to the LSAT and law school.
Save your momey on a tutor. It sounds like you are more than capable. You just need to tweak your approach.
I might also recommend withdrawing from the November test. Wait until you are comfident that you can crsuh the test. Taking it now and getting a poor score could do more damage to your self confidence than you may realize.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
@IgnatiusJReilly Thank you, i really appreciate such a descriptive message! I was really thinking to withdraw, but I already paid for it, and money is a big thing for me. So, i was thinking to use this as a opportunity to get used to how the environment is etc so that when i take it the 2nd time, I would feel less nervous. and I'd love to study with you!
@mkuk I am on central time. I am available Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed after noon central until pretty much whenever. SaturdayI am available all day. Thurs and Friday I work at a law office until 430p central. I typically on 7 Sage by 6p on those days. Or just message me. Good luck with the first testing!
I'm In the same exact boat if that makes you feel better. Took October and it went really poorly, and timed PTs are still my weakness even though I do great on drilling. Thinking about taking a year to study for it differently and hopefully also take it for the last time in April or June.
@RedinaRapi I understand you, its really draining on pts! i genuinely love doing sections in drills, but in pts? i feel like my brain just wants to run away. I truly hope and wish you the best, and i pray we both make out of this!
If you're aiming to get a score good enough for the t14, there's very little reason to take the lsat now. You know that you're scoring far from your ideal score in drills, let alone pts. If you aren't relatively close to your goal score in practice, it's unreasonable to expect that it'll just jump up on test day.
Speaking from personal experience, I'd recommend being mindful of the number of shots you get at the test. There's a lot of benefit to having as many shots at the test when you are close to or even slightly exceeding your goal score in practice.
That all aside, I'd also think about why and how much it really matters that you go to a t14 school. If that's a goal, actually treat it like your goal.
@Adam I understand your pov, but since I paid for this testing, I cannot back down; if I cancel, then I won't be getting my money back. Since it's my first time taking the Nov LSAT, I will take this opportunity as a way to familiarize myself with everything, so when I take it again with more work put in, I won't have the first-time jitters.
@mkuk I'll leave you with this and won't @ you again because it's 100% your choice.
I get the sunk cost but compared to cost of law school and scholarship opportunities, the cost of registration for one lsat exam is small.
For example, if you're debating upgrading to coach subscription, eating $250 is almost that cost for just one month.
@Adam please dont worry about @ me, I genuinely love getting helpful info and different povs from everyone here! You're very right about law school costs. I will do my utmost best to not be discouraged by this test, and instead use the low score of nov lsat for the better for my next lsat. Again, thank you very much!
@mkuk For your timing fatigue, some things you can do to help build endurance is force yourself to not take a break when you might normally have when studying. Shake it off quickly and blaze on since we don't get to opt when to slow down in a pt and in the real test.
Likewise, if you haven't thought of this, try stacking sections on each other before blind reviewing them to simulate what it's like to do half the the test at once like on test day.
Non test ways to build endurance that can also help with focus that I found useful were essentially a meditation of a sort. It involved focusing on an object and just keeping my focus there on it, like a light switch, a dot on the wall, a chair, etc. Whenever you catch your focus drifting from your focus point, notice it, and recenter yourself back to the focus point.
Over time, you will be able to build up how long you can last and it's also good to try to mix it up by not doing it in a quiet place. This also doubles as a good mindfulness exercise so you might also see some benefits in other parts of your life. We're surrounded by distractions so much now in life and we tend to let them yank us around (not entirely different from how lsac tries to yank us around) and working this in can help you take a little more control if that's something that impacts you.
@Adam yesss, recently I started forcing myself to keep going on timed sections, and then I will pivot to PTs after every other week and then once a week. I also really like your mediation technique, its very unique and I will definitely have it marked down.