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39 posts in the last 30 days

I had an interview at WashU almost a month ago and still havent heard back. At the time I had just gradauted in December and didnt really have plan for what I was going to do until law school in the Fall. Being that I havent heard back yet, should I send a little update as well as my continued interest or just let it ride and wait it out?

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I have noticed that with my last few PrepTests, my Blind Review scores have been within the range of my goal score. Whenever I Blind Review, I notice that I made little mistakes with my actual score that I would not have made if I had had more time to decipher what the question was asking. Should I start spending more time studying individual sections with proper time constraints? Or if I focus on gaining an even stronger mastery of the concepts (different LR question types, etc.), will adaptation to time constraints eventually follow?

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I'm finding that a lot of the time, I have to read the stimulus twice before I fully comprehend what has been written, no matter how slowly I read the first time. It's adding at least another 30 seconds to my answering time. Does anyone have any tips on how to improve my comprehension?

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So i've been studying for the lsat on and off for almost a year now.

I've taken the lsat 3 times already, and I'm scheduled to take it again in June. This one will be my absolute last try!

My question is, what study method will work best for my situation?

I am familiar with all the core concepts and i've been through the CC while studying for my previous lsat.

I have the books with all the previous lsats and the powerscore booka as well.

Should i purchase 7sage membership again? Should i learn my core concepts again? Or just do a lot of practice and BR until June?

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Hi all, just want to thank this community for all the tips and tricks and the positive environment you all provided. I started studying in January 2019, took the Feb 2019 LSAT, began studying again in May 2019, and then took the July LSAT and sent in applications in October. For study materials, I only used the free 7Sage offerings, which made a HUGE difference, and got hold of the PTs. Now my cycle is (almost) over--- I scored a 172 and got into my top school. I spent SO much time trawling this site for tips and advice, and I'm hoping to give back by sharing everything that worked for me in one post. (Also, I got the idea from @terrynicholasj and his great post!)

  • My master spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yK-ux9iLzRF8c4zfJieZC7cXNuzPaAWEJtwT6BWVzxA/edit#gid=0 was based off of @Pacifico Foolproof LG attack strategy. I would highlight games to remind me to return to them on set dates and used the far right tracker to black out games I'd worked on. Also, I foolproofed every game I encountered that I could not get -0 or within time on, including those during PTs. I'd squeeze in a game or two whenever I had the time, and they eventually added up to serious improvement.

  • Writing out RC & LR explanations: There's sheets in my tracker for this. I would write out detailed explanations for every single RC and LR question I got wrong, both explaining why the correct answer was correct but also ruling out all the wrong answers. Happy to give sample explanations if needed. This helped me to clarify the logic/thought process and provided excellent reading the night before the exam.

  • LR tips: Reading the stimulus (i.e. question prompt first) did MIRACLES for my score. The more I did this, the more I found myself able to even anticipate the correct answer before I'd read the multiple choice options. I also took photos of LR questions that stumped me, put them on my phone, categorized by type, and browsed them to practice the logic in my spare time. I also kept count of which types of LR questions were my kryptonite and grew to recognize them. When I encountered them on the test, I would write the question type there on the page (i.e. "Weak") signaling to my brain to pay extra attention to this question. When I did that, I all of a sudden would stop getting that question type wrong. In LR, I also aimed for the 20-for-20 rule (roughly), which is to get through 20 questions in the first 20 minutes.

  • Read widely to prepare for RC: I hated science passages, so I made a point of seeking out science longform articles all over the web, all the time, to read in my spare time. It reduced the fear I felt upon opening the test to a science passage and increased my familiarity with the lingo. But you can also do this with all kinds of articles! If you hate the literature articles, read literary criticism, etc. Reading the Atlantic, Longform.org, Longreads.com, and the New Yorker, etc regularly all kept my brain in constant reading mode and made attacking long passages less terrifying. Plus, sometimes passages would even crop up in the LSAT that I had already read about! Another good mindset is to try and enjoy the passages. I'd force myself to think, "Wow, this is really interesting," and in my free time I'd reminisce about my favorites. OK, I'm a nerd, but changing my mindset about RC actually allowed me to perform better in them.

  • Other RC tips: Also, when doing RC passages, I also added high level summaries on the side--literally one-word summaries next to each paragraph that read things like "hypothesis," "example 1," "conclusion." (You can also do this in your fun-time reading outlined in #4, since it's good to practice engaged reading!)

  • Practice anywhere and everywhere: On a train, on a plane, in a park... I did PTs and sections everywhere. Inuring myself to distractions was vital. And while I also practiced in a quiet, locked room, when distractions cropped up during the real thing, my prep was essential to giving me the psychological boost to ignore it. This also allowed me to get in as much time studying as I could, giving me 2 hours each day on the train to and from my full-time job.

  • BR'ing is real: I BR'd every LR and RC section I took, even when I did sections individually. I would return to every question I'd "starred" during the timed taking and try to think out the right answer without the time constraints. I logged the BR'd scores on my sheet as well. I swear this helped!

  • Avoid burnout and don't beat yourself up: There will be days when you're off, and your score drops on your PT/section/whatever. It happens. TO EVERYONE. Don't obsess. Whenever that happened to me, especially when I bombed a section, the next time I did that kind of section I would do it untimed, giving myself all the time in the world to look it over and relax, taking breaks and sometimes even doing only a page at a time. And usually, my score would bump back up to where it needed to be after that. I also learned that burnout is real, and a week off won't hurt you, but will do wonders for your mind.

  • Application process: Try to avoid too much forum-reading, as it can lead to insanity. Remember, you run your own race. For essays, I recommend include On Writing the College Application Essay by Harry Bauld. But I also truly believe that reading great non-application essays helped me with mine, and I would recommend anything in the yearly Best American Essays anthology, and essay collections from authors like E.B. White, Joan Didion, Jonathan Franzen, Zadie Smith, and other masters of the form who are brilliant at taking personal topics and spinning them into something profound and interesting. I'm no E.B. White, but reading their works gave me something to aspire to. I didn't use a consultant (although I hear they're great!) but I did have many trusted folks read my essays over and over and over again. And don't forget to back all your stuff up.

  • I love the quote, "Comparison is the thief of joy." Enjoy your success. Enjoy your progress. Take breaks. The LSAT takes dedication, but don't neglect your life in pursuit of a number. You're gonna do great.

    • Anyway, thank you again for your support and great tips. II really believe that 7sage, your tips, and practice helped me to improve and that I couldn't have done it without it. Take and use what you like, discard the rest. Anyway, you guys are great, your journey is your own, and I believe in you all! Happy to answer further questions.

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    Just finished the CC and currently I am studying full time. I've watched the post CC seminar and found it useful. I plan on Fps 4-5 LGs a day but not sure what to do with LR/RC. Should I be doing sections or drilling by types? If so how much is enough but not overdoing it? Thanks

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    So I finished the core curriculum and started taking practice tests a few months ago. I take a practice test every other day and review the test I took on my off days. I was told that the best way is just to practice by taking as many tests as possible and learning from them. I really want to complete at least 70 tests by the time I hit June (im at around 20) and so I feel very pressured to keep this routine. However i do see a downside of this method because I feel like I don't have much time to practice drills or foolproof logic games. When reviewing my PTs on my off days, I look at every question(even the ones I got right) which is why it takes me around 6-7 hrs. My scores fluctuate but its mostly been around 168 on PTs(14-32). I was just wondering if you guys think its more important to lay off taking tests and spend more time drilling games and certain question types or to keep on with this method?

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    Ben Mauk wrote an incredible cover story for the New York Times Magazine about a small town in Eurasian steppe that China wants to turn into a hub of the global economy. Really the article is about the BRI—China's trillion-dollar bid to build a new Silk Road—and the cost of connecting the world. It touches on everything from the history of Central Asia to the detention camps in Xinjaing. I've never read anything that does such a good job of helping me visualize and concretize the notion of globalization.

    Oh, also, there's an athlete who plays a horseback sport where you fight over a headless goat carcass and a man who sharpens a sickle next to Ben's head.

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/29/magazine/china-globalization-kazakhstan.html

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    I'm gearing up to start incorporating old material into my prep. Since retake PT scores really can't tell you much, I was thinking about simply breaking down my old material by sections I struggled with in the past. For example, instead of retaking a whole PT, I'd take 4 LR sections I struggled with from various PTs and simply retake those. I'm thinking that would bring the most value out of old material.

    Anyone else do this? Or anyone think retaking full-length PTs is necessary if you're like me and still have about 10 fresh tests left.

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    Hello, I am starting my search for what schools I would like to apply to with a specialty in Criminal Law. I was wondering if anyone knew of a site or somewhere where I can get a list of schools across the country with Criminal Law.

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    I noticed that a lot of schools require only 1 or 2, but you can send up to 4. Do most people only send the required number?

    I am conflicted because I would like to send at least one academic one and one work related one. What have people done in similar situations?

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    Meditations - Helpful for two reasons: one, helps you keep focus during studying and tests; two, helps you acquire a heart like a calm and reflective lake. (10/10 Most Recommended)

    Fooled by Randomness - Helpful for two reasons: one, helps put into context many of the abstract RC topics; two, it helps you overcome instinctual trap answers. (10/10 Most Recommended)

    Thinking Fast and Slow - Helpful for two reasons: one, helps put into context many of the abstract RC topics; two, it helps you overcome instinctual trap answers. (9/10 Highly Recommended)

    Predictably Irrational - Helpful for two reasons: one, helps put into context many of the abstract RC topics; two, it helps you overcome instinctual trap answers. (8/10 Recommended)

    Please do share if you guys have some recommended readings for improving your LSAT performance.

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    Hey everyone,

    I've been searching forums for quiet some time but I am now asking for help. I just started my LSAT studies this past week. I have purchased 7sage Ultimate along with the Powerscore Bibles the LSAT Trainer and damn near every single PT. I originally started with the LSAT trainer but switched over to 7sage as I am a better learner if its visual (JY videos). I took a diagnostic around Christmas and scored a 138. Bad...I know.....I was pretty discouraged. I am currently wrapping up my undergrad this semester. I have to balance classes with LSAT studying which isn't to bad, but I need to get in a better routine. I'm planning on studying 12-14 hours a week up until I graduate in May then around 30-40 hours a week from graduation till I take it (July) which is around 9ish weeks. My goal is to score at least a 160. If I don't hit it then I will retake in September. I am currently going through the CC on 7sage. Do you recommend supplementing it with another one of my books or just sticking it out with that? I am really just trying to get the fundamentals down at this point as my diagnostic reflects that. I struggled the most with LG and LR. I have a 3.52 GPA and don't consider myself dumb. It typically just takes longer for me to grasp concepts/not the best standardized test taker. Is there any advice out there? I am pretty desperate at this point. I can get some pretty bad anxiety and get down when things don't click. I know it just takes time and its a learnable test. I know I have the motivation but some of the work problems in the syllabus on 7sage don't make a ton of sense. It's been my dream to attend law school.

    Thanks everyone!

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    So im in my first month of studying but I want to take the July LSAT since you'll loose nothing, its a win-win. Because you will be able to cancel your score after you see it and also if you do, they will give you the chance to take it again FREE OF CHARGE.

    So my question is, if I do cancel my score, does that look bad to law school admissions?

    P.S I live in Canada(if that makes a difference at all)

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    Greetings everyone,

    I am reaching out to see if anyone can offer some advice/motivation. I have been studying for the LSAT for a little over a year. I’ve taken the exam twice, both times scoring less than my potential. I am a paralegal and my boss accomodated me last year and allowed time off to study. It looks like I will need to continue to prep for another try at the exam. I am feeling totally unmotivated and tired. However, I do not want to give up. I am not going to ask for more accomodations at work since I feel they’ve done enough. I also would like to look for a new job but haven’t done so because of the law school process. I’m feeling quite stressed and unsure of how to tackle test prep moving forward. Can anyone offer some tips? :(

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    Wednesday, Jan 30, 2019

    75950

    LSAC Survey

    Did anyone else get the Post LSAT Test Anxiety Survey email from LSAC? The questions are interesting. Only a few days after the test they can’t send out stuff like this. Don’t they know we’re crazy right now?

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    Wednesday, Jan 30, 2019

    3264

    Am I crazy?

    So I applied to schools this past fall and am 100% certain that I will be going to law school this upcoming fall. So far I've gotten into GW, BU, and Vanderbilt. I have taken the test 4 times now. 165, 165, cancel, 168.

    Am I crazy to want to take the March test just to see if I can get a point or two more? I have a feeling I will be waitlisted at the remaining schools I have applied to.

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    I have been waiting for my LSAC GPA. I never get an email informing me that it has been completed. But I just log in to my LSAC account, and when I click on “academic summary report”, I saw that I have a transcript analysis and a “summary “ at the end, with a “degree(summary) gpa”. Is that the so-called LSAC GPA?

    Thank you in advance!

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    So I remember reading somewhere that the international LSAT will not be going digital anytime soon (might be wrong). I actually want to take the digital LSAT since I study with my ipad regularly and like it. But I plan on staying abroad for at least another year. Does anyone know when the international LSAT will go digital?

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