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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.

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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!

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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)...

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I was wondering if anyone has any ideas how to PT like you are in the new LSAT test (3 sections but with an experimental, like what the new LSAT is like through June '22), but grade only the three sections? I want to simulate the test as closely as possible without excluding the time and energy it takes for the additional experimental section, and get a grade accurate to what I'd get with just the one LR section. And for anyone who's done this, do you recommend doing it like this?

Is there a way to properly grade just 3/4 sections?

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#help

Hi fellow 7sagers,

I have been using 7sage for lsat prep for quite a while, and I really enjoy using it and have seen some great improvements on my prep tests. However, I don't seem to see those improvements in my actual exams. I have taken it three times and the scores are nowhere near where I was in prep tests. Of course, the tests I have taken on 7sage are all timed and proctored, and I follow the blind review closely. My recent score on the prep tests mostly fluctuates around 168, and sometimes I get to 171 or 170. I literally finished a timed pt yesterday and scored an honest 172. But the test result that just came out was again a disappointment in the low 160s. I felt confident during the test, no debilitating anxiety, and there wasn't really any anomaly.

This is really frustrating, but I really want to get better. Is there anyway to overcome this? I hope I can get some answers and continue to improve. Thank you all in advance!

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Hey guys, I need advice is Bradbarbay lsat prep is good? I was thinking of doing it in addition to 7sage practice and work. I wanted to know before buying the package if it's worth the additional cost. I was thinking of getting the $50 access for each LG,RC and LR.

I hope to hear from you soon

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I really messed up the August attempt. It was my first ever LSAT, I guess the exam pressure and anxiety got the better off me. I ended up with a 148. I have been averaging a 155 and aiming for a 160 and above. Should I keep or cancel my 148 score? Please do let me know

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Hi all,

I just did my first PT and scored a 155 with a total of -27 missed questions.

However, according to the score converter on the homepage, -27 nets you an average score of 159 on all recent preptests. I simulated flex, could that have affected the score conversion? Or is this particular PT I did just an outlier?

Any info on this?

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Hi guys, I am signed up for the Oct LSAT and it will be my first time taking the test. I want to apply this cycle. My practice tests are really solid and I'm hitting my goal score but I'm worried things will fall apart on test day. Should I sign up for Nov too as a back up plan? If I sign up for Nov can I cancel if my Oct score is good enough? Any advice appreciated.

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Hey everyone,

I am thinking of taking the LSAT around June or August. I am aiming to apply for the cycle after the current one (Fall 2023 I am guessing .... correct me if I am wrong please... I am still figuring it out). Basically, I am sending out my applications a year from now (end of 2022).

I need to hit a 170 and have been studying 6 days a week. I started with a score of 143 about 2 years ago... Couldn't study since then because of school and I am finally focused on the LSAT. It's become my main focus.

I was wondering if I should do PTs about once or twice a week until I am done with the CC or wait till I get through the whole CC before I move to PTs.

I am really worried that i'll spend 1-2 months on the CC and then find that my score is not improving due to not practicing enough.

Also, with the time I have to study (about 9ish months): is it reasonable to hope to hit a 170+?

If anyone can share their experiences it would be really appreciated

Thanks in advance

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This site is unbelievably user-unfriendly. I can't figure out where anything is or how to use anything! I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually but in the meantime I feel like I'm wasting such valuable study time just trying to navigate this thing. Is there somewhere I can go to do timed practice sections? Are there video tutorials on how to use this site? I hate watching those things but it looks like I am going to need to for this program.

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I’ve been studying since February, and haven’t posted on this discussion board yet, but I’m feeling especially frustrated and lost with my LSAT journey lately. I had planned to take the test in October, and at this point, I don’t think that would advisable. I could push my test date back to November, but more realistically, I’m looking at a Spring test date for the 2023 academic year. I’m particularly frustrated given that in the last couple of weeks I’ve seen my PT score move backwards, and as someone who has already been out from undergrad for 3 years, delaying for another academic year is a bitter pill to swallow. Any suggestions on charting my best course of action would certainly be welcome.

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If I can master this exam (while 7 months pregnant, working full-time, & parenting a toddler), you can too.

Scored a 146 on a diagnostic back in 2018. Took the November 2019 LSAT and scored a 153. Took it again and scored even lower. Worked my ass off (used Khan Academy —> BluePrint —> LSAT Hacks —> 7sage) and scored 180 in August. I almost canceled my score.

I’m very tired. Need a nap and maybe some chocolate.

Update: see below for the topics I covered in the comments.

In the comments, I added tips around each of the following topics:

Note: found my diagnostic score and it was actually 2 points lower! (updated accordingly).

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My Aug’21 results came back (3rd test this calendar year) and I was blown away by how badly I fucked up. I mean I was averaging 169+ and repeatedly hitting 170-171 the last five or so tests before the actual exam and my score came out to be 162, which is one point higher than my first test. My highest score is 165 which was on the June exam, and I’m signed up to take it a fourth time in October. I’m just unsure if it’s worth it at this point. Based on my PTs, I’m definitely capable of hitting my goal of high 160s but it hasn’t happened during the past two tests (which I was actually confident about) and I initially wanted to apply by the end of September or early October so taking it in October will push back my applications to at least mid November. So I’m wondering if it’s worth taking it a fourth time and if I do and don’t perform better than my high of 165, will it negatively impact me my candidacy in any way? Just for a complete picture, my LSAC gpa is 4.02 from Berkeley Haas and my goal has been to get into a top 10 school, specifically in the East Coast. Please let me know if you have any advice!

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Hi everyone- I'm working on creating my CV for my application and I was wondering if we should still put down extra curricular activities if we've been out of school for a while. I participated in two clubs while I was in undergrad but I graduated 4 years ago. I also currently volunteer- should I be including that? Not sure how important extra curricular activities are compared to my professional experience especially since I've been out of school for a bit. Thank you!

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Hello everyone,

I am enrolled in October 2021's LSAT exam and I feel as if I am on the verge of a breakdown most of the time... I first started studying for the LSAT fall 2019 (without 7Sage), and got a 149 on my very first LSAT exam. It was the fall after I graduated college and the stress of finding a job and general income issues were deeply demanding and I decided to delay applying to law school until fall 2021 because I did not have the mental energy to focus on LSAT prep. In February-March 2021 after several months of studying with 7Sage I felt I had made progress when it came to content and accuracy, however timing was a major issue. I took the LSAT in April 2021 and totally FROZE during LG and essentially I guessed on the entire section because the timer filled me with so much anxiety that I could not access the memory centers of my brain to answer the questions. It was horrible and I fought the urge not to burst into tears on camera. So here we are, just shy of a month before the October LSAT and I just CAN'T SEEM TO WORK FAST ENOUGH. I keep getting to game 3 and having little more than 5 minutes left to complete the fourth and most difficult game. LR and RC swing back and forth from having 7-10 wrong answers which is not helping my confidence. I can't score higher than a 155 on my timed PT's, yet can score as high as 165 during blind review. I've recently started trying to begin LG with the hardest games and work backwards, but then the inverse happens and I guess on the easiest games that normally I would have gotten most correct on. I feel like I just keep on studying and nothing really happens to alter my overall performance and I'm extremely anxious about it. I work full-time, so I don't have the ability to do a lot of times exercises during the day, but am willing to suck up my after work exhaustion to try and improve on timing. I find myself wondering, can I even hit 163-165 in less than one month? Am I kidding myself when I think I'll be able to apply to schools before Thanksgiving? So please, if anyone has any advice on how to make the best use of my last month please share! I am trying to keep my cool, talk myself up, not catastrophize, but its not working....

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Quick rundown:

URM

3.92 UGPA

150 diagnostic

June 2019- 150 (canceled)

October 2020- 148 :(

July 2021- 157

August 2021- 165 :)

The LSAT and I have a very tough relationship. I started studying during my Junior year in 2019. I read through the Powerscore books and was confident I would be able to teach myself. I got 7sage and studied here and there, not super seriously since I had classes. I took the June 2019 LSAT (the first digital one that allowed you to cancel your score) and I got a 150. I only really took it so I could see how I would do with test day conditions, so I canceled. I continued to study haphazardly (I hated studying for the LSAT since there is no direct return to your studying efforts), hoping for my scores to magically hit 170. I quickly realized that just because I read the Powerscore books and went through the 7sage curriculum, that doesnt mean I studied in a way that would help my score. That is how I studied in school and was able to get a 3.92, but it did not work that way with the LSAT. I had to make the hard decision to take a year off after school to continue studying because I was not seeing the improvement I was hoping for.

Fast forward to 2020, I graduated, and now had more time to study. I drilled, took PT's here and there and got the Loophole book in hopes it would all click. I even finally accepted the fact that I may need a tutor, so I got one and studied with him for a few weeks. I did not want to take another year off, so I decided to take the October test. Sadly, I was not ready and VERY burnt out and got an extremely disappointing 148. I was crushed because it was even lower than the score I got a year prior that I canceled. I felt like an absolute failure and did not want to even think about the LSAT. Pressure from family made it very hard to think that I may need to take an extra year off. (Side note, family can be extremely toxic when it comes to the LSAT and law school application journey, I definitely almost cost myself a great cycle by being tempted to apply to appease my father, even though I knew my score was not where it needed to be. So for those out there struggling with familial pressures, you know what is best for you, trust your instincts.)

After taking a month or so off, and coming to terms with my additional year off, I got back to studying. I found another tutor @Constantine whose teaching style fit my learning style perfectly and with his help I found myself PT'ing in the 160's for the first time ever. It seemed to have clicked! I even PT'd at 168 before I took the July 2020 test. I was shocked by my 157 on that test because I truly thought it was relatively easy (but im convinced the curve was very tight with that one).

I continued to study and was luckily able to get some accommodations for the August 2021 test due to a condition I have that I finally got treatment for. After more studying and getting the time I needed on the August test, I found out yesterday about my 165! I was terrified to look at my score and was pleasantly surprised! Now I can finally kick the LSAT out of the corner of my mind that it has been occupying for years.

Now, with my long LSAT journey finished, here are my take aways:

Nobody knows the perfect way to study for the LSAT. Some can self study, some need structured classes, some need

a tutor. With that being said, its okay if you spend months studying one way and finding out it doesn't work. Use that information to try a new way. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and failure. Keep trying new ways and consider a tutor!

If you are not PT'ing where you want your score to be around test time, consider taking a later test. I think a lot of us

believe we will be lucky and miraculously score 170 even though our most recent PT's were nowhere near that. I wish I did not take the October test. I was not ready and I knew it.

The trick to LG is doing them often. After a time, like everyone says, it just clicks. The road to it "clicking" does take some time. Do one LG per day, if you can. Even a 1 star question helps you get the pattern down.

RC and LR are both tricky. LR was easier for me to get better at than RC. Once I started studying with Constantine, he

was able to help me get my LR from around -9/-10 to -3/-4. With RC, I had issues focusing. You really have to get yourself engaged with the story and not focus too much on the details.

The LSAT will force you to be very honest with yourself. My goal in the beginning was 170+. While I know I could have gotten there with more studying, I had to realize that the studying and mental anguish it would have taken me to get there was not worth it for me personally. Luckily, law schools look at applications holistically! You may also have to make tough life decisions in your LSAT journey, but in the end, as long as you know you did your best, whatever the outcome is was meant to be.

All in all, I wish everyone that is on their journey the best of luck. Do NOT lose yourself in the process. Your LSAT score does not define you or your overall intelligence. Although I will not miss coming to 7sage to study, I will miss the great community and the support.!

Be safe out there everyone! (3(/p)

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