I’m looking to submit everything tonight. My essay is probably off the normal route of delivery but I feel it’s the most accurate way to portray my desire to pursue law. Would anyone want to review and ensure you feel it is appropriate?
General
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I decided to take a gap year, so I am deciding where I should work. Which experience would be better for law school? Court bailiff or paralegal? Why? What is similar or different between these jobs?
Hi all,
For starters, I'm 21 years old and I will be graduating from college this winter. Over the past year, while going to school full time and working in the time not spent going to school, I attempted to prepare for the LSAT. I used Kaplan from around January '18 to June, and singed up with 7Sage in October. I took the LSAT 3 times; June, September, and November, and scored consecutively a 151,152, and 153. I don't know what I was expecting to happen as I was PTing in the mid-150's while hoping for a score in the 160's. Ultimately, my goal was always to score in the high 160's, putting me in a competitive position for Fordham & Cornell (I live in NY and will only go to NY schools).
After talking to many other students and reading tons of post on this forum, I'm starting to realize that delaying a cycle is not so bad at all, and is actually somewhat of a normal occurrence for many. In a couple weeks I will be finished with school, and can finally dedicate the kind of time to the LSAT that so many who have conquered the test have recommended. I plan on doing some extensive global traveling in February, but besides that I can devote a significant more amount of time to studying than I ever could have while going to school full time and working 21-28 hrs a week. So, it seems that I will allow myself the time between now and June to prepare for the June LSAT (and then again in July). I am about a quarter of the way through the CC, but because I have studied with Kaplan and self-studied after that, I am kind of out of order with my studying methods.
I'm wondering if anyone who has been in a similar position has any advice to offer as to a kind of daily/weekly schedule that would allow for the most improvement in the next 6 or so months. I have never been a full time studier before so the thought of devoting my self to one test, almost full time, is rather foreign to me. I know this answer can get very detailed and is specific based on the individual, but I was wondering what are the kinds of things that someone studying full-time would do to get a 165+ LSAT score, in addition to the 7Sage CC.
Thank you so much for any advice!
Did people who took the delayed test in Northern California get their scores back? I haven't gotten an email.....
Thanks!!
Sarah
Hello All,
I just wanted to say thank you to the community for this journey. My first LSAT diagnostic was a 141 and that was after working on some of the core curriculum. In June, I scored a 153--my PT average. I needed to make some changes to increase my score. Instead of going for volume of practice, I focused on quality and began to work with a tutor (shoutout to @Sami- she'll kick your butt). I also started doing blind review calls with J.Y. which was so helpful. RC was always my weakest section (we're talking -10 average); reading cases in constitutional law for my undergrad class forced me to grapple with difficult text which made LSAT RC manageable; read anything to get well rounded.
In September, I scored a 150. This was after scoring 161, 159, 161 on my last PT's Yeah, it was a terrible feeling but I didn't waste energy feeling bad for myself. From Sep-Nov I did some untimed practice to get back into it and then just really focused on timed sections; like two or three a day with fool proofing-- this was on top of undergraduate courses where I would do a lot of my reading. I only took 1 PT between Sep test and Nov test and scored a 161.
Don't lose your hope or confidence, put in the work, trust the system, and leave it all out there. I'm no LSAT master, but I am happy to answer questions or chat via PM if you need anything. It's the least I can do. Wishing everyone the best.
Lorenzo
Just got my November score back and i got a 155. (RC: -9) (LG: -6) (LR: -18) I'm not too surprised as my average for my last three PTs was 157.5, so it was within my "+ or -- 3" area. I seemed to do slightly better than my usual LG (which is -8), on par with my usual RC (which -10) BUT unusually bad for LR (my average is -7).
For January I'd love to get to 159 or 160 on test day. Any advice on how to get through this last push? What area i should focus on? Has anyone else been in a similar position and made this improvement?
So, I wasn't able to take the test on November 17. Mine was moved to December 1. My score still has not been released, even though the score release date is still showing as today. Will they still be releasing scores this late in the day?
I got back my Nov LSAT score and was not too thrilled with it. I was scoring much higher on my prep tests. I am torn between applying anyways to select schools and seeing what happens vs. studying more for the LSAT and applying next cycle. Any advice on what to do? Also, how do schools view reapplications- if you get rejected the first cycle, but apply regardless in the next? Thank you!
I've been studying on and off for about a year and a half. This past August I started taking it very seriously, but my score won't improve. I am stuck in the mid/high 140's. The higher I've ever scored is a 151. I've taken lots of practice tests, gone over them etc. I even took a power score class that I thought I was doing well in. In class, I was the one always answering the questions from my tutor and my classmates turned to me for explanations, and when doing the hw on my own, untimed, I got most of the questions right and I truly understood them. However, when it came to the real thing I did badly. The first time I took the LSAT I got a 148( Sept), and a 146 in Nov after taking the Powerscore class but to be fair I had a family situation the night before that kept me distracted during the test/kept me up the night before. I've also gone over the LG and LR Bibles. I took a practice test today and got a 145...
I am set to take it in January because I have a fee waiver and would like to apply to some schools to see what happens.I need to somehow break 160, which feels impossible.
I work full-time and my living situation is awful (family stuff), which I think might have something to do with my lack of improvement, but I can't change it.
I know there's always the option of waiting until next cycle, everyone tells me that, but I am so ready to go to law school, I've been working for almost 4 years in the legal field as an admin and now legal assistant. I am at the point where I am ready to take the next step. Doing the same thing for another year would kill me, I am not challenged at all and extremely bored. So I want to at least give it a try this cycle. I am interested in public interest. Any advice or ideas about what could work for me or what's worked for you is helpful and appreciated. Or if anyone has tips about law school apps that might be relevant to me, I'd love to hear them. I am desperate at this point and I just feel stupid bc I have really tried. Below is a little bit about myself to give some context.
LSAC gpa is a 3.3 ( got two NP's which LSAC counts as Fs, but will write an addendum as I have a legit reason for why it happened). URM. I work full-time/bad living situation so I have to study after work and in the morning outside my home.
Okay, so I haven't touched the LSAT since the September test. I have not reviewed the test itself, although I know how each section broke out (LR: -6, -6, RC -6, LG -3). I was / am relatively happy with my 163 although it only off-sets my 20 year old uGPA of 2.73 so much. I've got 7 applications outstanding. I do have 2 acceptances in hand, one of which I am happy with / would attend. However, as my 163 is still 2 points below where I was averaging at the time and only at median at a few of my reach schools, I am looking at studying for the March LSAT while the rest of this cycle plays out. Worst case scenario, I happily go to one of the schools I'm already accepted at. Best case scenario, I increase my score and get a better outcome on some of the other still pending applications. I'm anticipating wait lists (if not outright dings) for my reach schools.
So, here's the plan:
After that:
Continue to fool-proof LG (I've got a huge binder of games from my previous work ups).
Practice different techniques for RC. I tended to do better with RC than the scored -6. So I'll continue to work with that.
Start PTing about early February (assuming timing works).
I've only got 9 fresh PTs to work with, all "older" ones in the 30/40/50 range. When it comes time to PT, I'll mix fresh PTs with reused ones from further back in my prep.
I'm not going to register for the LSAT until just before the deadline. I'm willing to let my current applications stand on their own strength.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
and then my husband decided to sign-up and study for the LSAT.
Congrats to everyone who took November. Onward and upwards!
This was my 3rd time sitting for the LSAT, and I’ve never seen such a terribly botched proctor job before. Started with the administrative parts when we were filling out our personal info in the booklets and answer sheet... they had no clue about where the information was and took our admissions tickets from us at the door and argued with me at first when I said we needed them still.
Then on the first section they called 5 minute warning at 25 minutes. I knew they were wrong but this completely derailed my focus and I’m certain cost me points in the section. After they called time I informed them that they were 5 minutes premature and she apologized and started making excuses AFTER she told us to keep going.. probably continued talking and babbling for at least a minute afterwards meaning we really only had 4 minutes of adequate testing conditions out of the last 5.
They also whispered extremely loudly among one another through the whole test. I was sitting in the back of the room and it was just so distracting.
I know I have a time period to write a complaint to LSAC, but what more should I expect or maybe even ask for reasonably? If all I’m going to get is a “sorry they sucked, you can cancel your score if you want”, then it almost seems not worth it to me.
Appreciate the advice in advance.
7Sage has been wonderful. I want to stay connected to the community--read and post on discussion form, etc. Also, I'd love to keep watching LG videos, and look at free admissions course stuff. What do I have access to? Do I keep the same login as normal, but lose access to stuff?
Also, if I delete the app on my phone and re-upload the app later (I'm limiting internet for a while, until my apps are complete), will my account/password work? Sorry if this has been addressed before. I looked for the answer and couldn't find it. Thanks!
I’m seeking some advice from anyone whos underperformed on their first take.
I scored a 160 which is 5 points below my average on my November take. I’ve decided to sit out this cycle and focus on getting my score up as high as possible for the next cycle. Should I go through the CC again considering I was BRing in the 172-175 range before I wrote in Nov?
I also noticed I performed slightly worse as the test went on. My 5th section was LR and I went -8. My LR average on PTs is -3. Was there potentially some fatigue at play here? I never practiced 5 section PTs.
I also wasn’t incredibly healthy going into the test. Had lost about 10 pounds from stress and lack of eating. This is something I’m going to work on while studying in the future.
Thanks!
Hey everyone!
So that November LSAT...quite an experience. It was my first take, and I definitely think the test anxiety/adrenaline got to me, and felt myself freezing up and having trouble focusing for most of the exam because of how nervous I was. I think I probably got around a 162 (or less depending on the curve), which is 8 points below my highest score, and 4 below the average of my last 5 PTs. I really can't delay applying another cycle, I've delayed two cycles already and I feel like I'm just wasting my life away at this point. I gave myself this cycle to apply and that's it, I have to move forward with my life.
I'm thinking I should most likely register and start studying for the January exam, but I've been caught up with apps so I don't even know if I would be able to make a significant score increase by then. And then if I decide to take it in January, they wouldn't process my application until 3 weeks later when the score comes out right? How does that work? I can have my apps submitted in 2/3 weeks, but if I'm taking January do I just let them know so that they don't process it without my new score? I'm a little confused. Like some schools say they accept the January 26th LSAT, but their deadline is February 1st. And how much does having schools wait for my January score hurt me? Would love if someone could clarify for me and shed some light on this. I never really looked into it before because I thought November would be IT. But I'm not so sure now.
Thanks for your time :)
Sarah
Edit: my prediction was basically right I got a 163 :(
.
Hello,
So I just received my November LSAT score back and I am pretty disappointed: I got a 165, again. I took the LSAT for the first time and scored a 165 on the June 2018 administration.
Now, part of the reason I am pretty disappointed is because I felt really good about the November test and spent months studying with 7Sage. So this has me thinking: Is it worth taking it again in the Spring (to try to increase scholarships) or should I just accept 165 is my limit? I'm guessing it would look bad to have three LSATs all with the score of 165.
For more info, I have a 3.9+ GPA. The breakdown of November's test is:
-0 LG
-2 LR Section
-7 LR (all these were Question 16 and onward. I've never done so poorly before on a LR section. I don't know what happened.)
-8 RC (again, I've never done so poorly before on a RC section..)
My normal practice test score was a 169 and BR was a 174. Should I give it another go or just accept the 165 as a good indication of my ability? Is 3 times taking the LSAT too much? Thanks for your help and congratulations to everyone who did well on the November administration!
When do schools usually send out fee waivers after new lsat scores come out? A few days, a few weeks? Some schools do not offer need based fee waivers, and I'm hoping with my new score I may receive a merit based one. I don't want to apply if they'll be sending some out soon
I think there is going to be that option for July 2019, but I may be wrong. Was there the option to test, see score, and then decide if you want to cancel before? What times has that been an option? When will be the next times?
Hello 7sagers,
I am trying to develop a collection of as many early preptests as I can so that I can practice understanding question types. I understand how to get the latests PTs , but I cant seem to find a few on amazon. I need preptets: 1-6, 8, 17, 39, and maybe many tests in the 40s. Am I missing something ? It seems like they do not exist . I want to give myself enough tests to practice with and I cant seem to find them in numerical order , if at all.
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Hey all,
So I've heard ppl do warmups before the test. The January 2019 test is 8:30am.
Questions -
What should the warmup consist of? I've heard of ppl do entire LR sections for a warmup.
Where and when should you do the warmup for a 830 test? Should you do your warmup at home at like 730am, finish at 8am, drive over to test center (15 minutes), and get there by 820ish, and then just wait till 830 for the test room to open?
-- I would think it would be hard to do a warmup at the test center because many of the classrooms are closed off.
Any advice or suggestions on how to best mimic/approach test day would be appreciated. I've never sat for a real administered LSAT (so all of this is very new), and so I want to be as prepared as I can.
Many thanks!
Does it hurt you to be a STEM splitter, because you were a B science student in undergrad (due to prioritizing classes after relevant extracurriculars like lab work/publications), if you want to practice IP litigation? In other words, when applying for summer jobs, will you get dinged in IP lit for getting mostly B's in your technical classes?
I quit my 40-70 hour a week job to study full time for the November test in mid August. I was PTing near my goal, but I may have had an off day when I took the November test. If I'm going to retake the test I think I would want until at least March to retake, just to make sure I'm ready. If I do need to retake, should I look for a new job since a gap won't look great on my resume? I feel like it's tough to land a relevant part time gig, and I know I can't go back to a job as demanding as my previous one while studying.
Also, I've been volunteering 10-15 hours/week since leaving my job and plan to continue to do so, but will that alone be acceptable on my resume for such an extended period of time? Any advice would be really appreciated!