Discussions

General

New post

30 posts in the last 30 days

Currently in the beginning stages of 7Sages CC, was wondering if I should incoprparate Loophole/use it in conjunction with 7sage, or use It after 7sage. Thoughts and feedback appreciated, as well as overall experience with Loophole in general.

0

Hello everyone I just signed up for the November LSAT. The available test dates are 11/12 - 11/14 but I do not get the opportunity to choose the day or time of the test. I'm assuming that LSAC will assign me a day and time as it gets closer to November but I just wanted to make sure. I tried looking on the LSAC website to answer my question or to see if I was missing something but I was unsuccessful.

TLDR; How to pick a day and time for NOV 2021 LSAT

0

Hi all. This morning I finally broke into the 170s. While I know I've still got some way to go (re: a real life LSAT to take) I wanted to share my story so far to give some hope to people like me who do not begin their studies in the 160s or even the 150s. Also, I think it's valuable to analyze the work one has done at multiple points of progress.

The beginning: I began studying for the LSAT in the spring of 2018. But, my journey was not at all constant. My first diagnostic I received a 149. I was crushed. My peers and family members had scores in the 160s and 170s. I felt destined to fall below my goals. I knew I needed some serious help to boost my score. That year, I took an online Powerscore course and read the Powerscore bibles. And let me tell you - my study habits were terrible. They were not purposeful. I expected the course to do the work for me. I did not even take whole practice tests because I was terrified about what I would see s my score after grading. But, four months later, I was accepted into a two-year work program. I chose to stop studying for the LSAT. I was afraid of failing. So, I just put the test behind me. I did not return to studying until October 2020. Even then, my attitude was terrible. I felt horrifically dumb when I got any questions wrong. I wasn't improving, and I was falling into the test maker's trap of zapped mental inertia, which further deflated my scores. So, once again thinking if I ignored the LSAT all together my problems would go away, I stepped back from studying again.

Now: I whipped myself into shape when I started studying in June of 2021. I plan to submit my apps the first day they open for the 2023 cycle. This time, my "diagnostic" (not really, I'd studied before) was a 158. Alright, doable. I read through the bibles once again, got the wonderful 7sage, read loophole, and this time had a personal tutor. I cannot stress how important my tutor has been to the journey so far. Having a person there to identify my weaknesses, strengths, and create a plan took away my biggest weakness; studying without purpose. Even with all of this improvement, I was stuck in the low 160s. I was working full time, barely sleeping, and hardly eating from the stress of packing in study hours at the end of the long day.

This week, I decided to focus on my mental health. And holy crap, did that work. I made myself get a full night's sleep every night. I ate three full meals, which I had not been doing. I make my goal more manageable. I said "all I want from this practice test is to improve my average." Prior to every other test, I thought - if i don't get a 170, my test was a failure. At the end of that week, I got a 170 timed and a 178 in blind review.

My study experiences are atypical. Many don't study for this test as long/as randomly as I did. But, I think the time I took away from the test was really valuable, especially for someone with such a low diagnostic. The processes marinated in the back of my mind for years. And then, when I was ready to study with purpose and accept that this test would not determine my success as an attorney, my score jumped. And by jumped, I mean a jump from low 160s to 170.

Long story short: everyone can improve by focusing on their mental health. Remove this stress from the test. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask :)

22

Hey y'all! I am a full time college student with a lot of extra curricular activities and I was wondering if anyone wanted to be accountability partners? I took the August exam and I am not satisfied with my score (especially since I was doing much better on the practice tests) so I am planning on taking the January one in 2022. I am aiming to score in the 150's-60's nothing too crazy. I am just now getting back into studying after over a month so i'm trying to get into the swing of things again. I wanna do like 10 hours a week until December. If you are interested please let me know!

0

I was consistently in the 170-172 range for a while and with the October test just a few weeks away, I've been studying more and doing 2 PTS a day. Today I got two 164s. Bothering me that these lower scores are consistent and that on review I'm seeing that I made stupid mistakes. Any advice on how to deal with this?

0

I did the full length section of LR from PT 65 that is part of the core curriculum. (After you finish all the LR lessons). But the questions were given to me in reverse order from 26,25,24...3,2,1 not 1-26. So the hardest questions were skewed towards to the front of the test and not the latter part of the test like a normal LR section. Does anyone know if this is on purpose or what the reasoning is for that? #HELP

0

Hi ya'll, I have been studying LSAT for about a year. I have taken the exam three times. I started off with 132, and brought score up to 143 on the second LSAT and got the same score on third one. I have used many different kinds of sites to study. Over summer, I brought score up to 151 on practice test. However, now it is down to around 145. My original goal was 160+, but it is less than in a couple of weeks till I take LSAT again ( I am not planning on retaking it again), and I do not see how I will be able to bring almost 10 points up in that short term.

Logical game is my strength, I get 0 to 5 questions wrong, so I am not focusing on logical game. I get around half questions right for logical reasoning ( I could get more than half right when I was scoring around 151 on practice exam, but now it is down to around or less than half). Reading Comprehension is terrible. I am trying to see if I can bring logical reasoning to the same level as logical game.

I have been just taking practice test and reviewing on the next day. If ya'll have any advice or studying tips or any kind of recommendations, please let me know!! I would much appreciate it!!

1

Basically what do you think is more determinative of ones expected score on the LSAT in October. More specifically, Since the October LSAT is 4 sections (1 Each of AR, LR, RC - with 1 test section) - Would it be more indicative to take the FLEX practice exams or take the regular Practice exams with 2 LR sections? My thought process is that if you are especially bad at LR - then only taking 1 would probably help your score. Therefore, practicing with the FLEX would probably give you a more accurate score rather than a 4th graded section.

I understand you still have the 4th section even if it is a test section so as far as getting tired and numb to questions as you go along would impact your score on the actual test etc. Suppose a perfect world where the first three sections on test day are the graded sections and 1LR, 1AR, 1RC - this would potentially be your highest possible score.

So recommendation's?

0

I am registered for the October LSAT and was wondering if there is any difference between the test depending on which day you take it...I think the options are the 9th, 10th, and 12th.

Was there a pattern on the August LSAT, for example if you take it the first day your experimental section will appear last, or is it just totally random?

And are all of the scored sections of the test the exact same across the different testing days, or are there going to be 3 totally different tests?

0

I posted this as a comment on my post "146 —> 180 (Thank you 7sage!) Very tired Mom edition": https://classic.7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/30244. But it has become difficult for people to find amidst the other comments on there, so I am posting it separately here. See the original post for my schedule, RC tips, and LG tips.

Comment below with your favorite books; would love to get some more ideas of books to read now that I'm in the midst of finally applying to law school!

My 15 favorite books that I read while studying for the LSAT

“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds…”- Rene Descartes

Books on Habits, Exercise, Mindset, and Psychology

James Clear - Atomic Habits: start here! This book inspires and has tons of practical resources on how to build routines, schedules, and habits that will allow you to thrive while juggling multiple priorities.

Dr. Ratey - Spark: From Dr. Ratey, I learned that exercise may be the most effective way we can combat depression and improve our brain functioning each day. Exercise has actually been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for depression. Research has shown that 3 days of exercise per week is as effective as regular doses of the antidepressant Zoloft.

Dr. Dweck - Mindset: From Dr. Dweck, I learned the importance of a growth mindset, which is the belief that our “inherent” traits ARE shapeable (including intelligence, personality) and how to cultivate one with practice. I learned how destructive LABELING is: both positive and negative labels are destructive. When we label ourselves and others we tend act consistently with those labels instead of growing in our ideals. They become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Books on Process, Mindfulness, and the Brain:

Dr. Daniel Siegel - Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation: From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that allows you to make positive changes in your brain–and in your life.

Thomas Sterner -The Practicing Mind: really honed in why focusing on the process is necessary. In order to achieve the goals we are striving for, we need to let go of the result, so we do not become impatient with the process. I learned from the stoics not to label what happens (the outcome), and this book affirmed this. “Failure” in the outcome is learning. Learning something new requires practice and involves mistakes. We will make mistakes when we are doing hard things and challenging ourselves.

Thomas Sterner - Fully Engaged: Better Results and Less Stress through Proven Techniques: To be fully engaged in life means that we have clear goals as well as the focus and skills to accomplish those goals with ease and a sense of calm awareness. This book explores specific techniques, such as thought awareness training and setting goals with accurate data, and demonstrates how using these techniques will not only help you reach your objectives, but will keep you engaged in each moment of your life, throughout the process of accomplishing those goals. Being thus engaged will result in less stress and more satisfaction in every aspect of life.

Dr. Ian McGilchrist - Ways of Attending: Attention is not just receptive, but actively creative of the world we inhabit. How we attend makes all the difference to the world we experience. And nowadays in the West we generally attend in a rather unusual way: governed by the narrowly focussed, target-driven left hemisphere of the brain.

Books on How to Study and Learn More Effectively

Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning: this book has given me a new strategy for studying for the LSAT that incorporates the latest research on the most effective ways to learn new subject matter. The focus of the book is memory and how to best promote long term retention of subject matter. It details the research behind the most effective study strategies we can employ to promote our memory. It offers many strategies all based in robust research. Each chapter is packed with studies and stories that capture real-life applications of the strategies. I highly recommend this book to anyone committed to lifelong learning. Even if you are beyond the years of formal study, you stand to benefit from learning better ways to retain information.

Cal Newport’s How to be a Straight A student:

Connection to other concepts: this aligns with what I’ve read about Growth Mindset - we are truly shapeable and if we want to be good students, we can hone the habits of good students. I love that this book allows for us to shape ourselves, with practice, into being good students. This book offers STRATEGIES that can help us be better students of life.

A big realization I had while reading this book was that the LSAT is a TECHNICAL exam, so my approach should be as such. So I am treating the test as this. There are a set of LOGIC rules that underlie the test. It is not a philosophy test, although there is theory behind the rules, it is really more of a MATH test. So my study approach should reflect this.

Books on Stoicism

Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations: I was deeply inspired by this book! This book is a collection of meditations that Marcus wrote to himself. He was encouraging himself and reminding himself to stay grounded. Each point could have been reflected on for 15 minutes or so. They reflected what Marcus was struggling with at the time or needed to remind himself of. It was a helpful reminder that no matter what we are doing, we need these reminders of what we are called to do in our lives. Thousands of years ago, Marcus Aurelius needed to remind himself that what other people think doesn’t matter.

Ryan Holiday -The Obstacle is the Way: What I learned from this book is about the philosophy of stoicism; this book is a modern day take on stoicism. There is an incredibly long tradition of stoicism dating back to the founding fathers and before that to ancient Greece and Rome. Ryan Holiday gives many examples of stoics in his books, much like James Clear does in his Atomic Habits. I was struck that Abraham Lincoln struggled with depression and was forced to manage it over the years. Ryan Holiday made the point that Lincoln’s depression gave him a unique perspective on his own mortality. He read voraciously which helped him manage his depression. It reminded me that nothing happens to us that we can’t endure. I enjoyed reading this book in conjunction with Marcus Aurelius, one of the original stoics.

Favorite Memoirs

Tara Westover - Educated: an incredible book. Something I learned from this book is that it is important to acknowledge the power that old ideas and ways of thinking have over us. They are passed down from generation to generation. To grow, we need to leave old ways behind and keep pushing before. A part of growing is leaving aside ideas that were passed down from our parents and grandparents. I think one of the most important lessons we can learn from the book is that we are shapeable. Our past does not define us. With effort we can grow and become capable of more in our lives.

Tori Murden - A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean: Was struck by how much this woman had a heart for the vulnerable and how much that drove her to do what she did. She protected her mentally handicapped brother from bullies. This is a true story of Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. McClure’s memoir is more than a woman-against-the-elements adventure tale; it is a story of courage, adventure, and personal discovery that will appeal to women and men of all ages. Beautiful, breathtaking, moving, and inspiring. I read this book in 24 hours.

Other Favorites

Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport: Minimalism is the art of knowing how much is just enough. Digital minimalism applies this idea to our personal technology. It's the key to living a focused life in an increasingly noisy world. In this timely and enlightening book, Newport introduces a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives.Digital minimalists are all around us. They're the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones. They can get lost in a good book, a woodworking project, or a leisurely morning run. They can have fun with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They stay informed about the news of the day, but don't feel overwhelmed by it. They don't experience "fear of missing out" because they already know which activities provide them meaning and satisfaction.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace - Nedra Glover Tawwab: Learning to set boundaries is an acquired skill that we can master through practice. Boundaries allow for healthy relationships with our spouses, children, family, friends, work, volunteer efforts, and ourselves. This book offers practical advice on how to identify when boundaries are needed in various aspects of life and how we can go about setting assertive boundaries. What I learned from Nedra Glover Tawwab is that actually “feelings of guilt” are inevitable when you’re setting boundaries in areas you haven’t before, but where boundaries are desperately needed. It won’t feel “good” to set much-needed boundaries but it will allow for a more joy-filled, balanced life.

86

I’ve only been working on questions and PTing digitally because I didn’t want to get used to doing them on paper but so often feel like I could really benefit from the paper format at least while going through cc and just figuring all the stuff out. Wondering if anyone has experience in studying/PTing on paper until maybe closer to the final few PTs before the actual test? Did you find it helpful to work on paper? Did you have difficulty switching over to digital later? Any thoughts are appreciated!

0

I just received the email from LSAC that October LSAT for Europe will be on Thursday October 14.

My issue is that I will start working for a company in Europe on October 1, and the first six months will be on probation. I am kind of anxious to ask for a leave during the first two weeks of employment, and obviously (since it is a branch totally unrelated to law) I cannot tell them that I am writing the LSAT.

Legally, I am entitled to 2 weekdays of holiday per month. However, what should I tell them if they ask me (I think they will because, on exactly that day, there is a training for new employees, and they explicitly asked me last month if that day would work for me to do the training session)? If I say something like "an unexpected private matter", it might raise suspicions (and, legally, they can fire me at any time during the first six months)...

0

Confirm action

Are you sure?