So I'm in Philly today visiting Penn, and holy cow this city is a dump! There are overturned cars, smashed windows, lightpoles riped out of the ground and strewn around. Beer cans and bottles and other seeming remnants of some wild party throughout the downtown area.

It looks almost post-apocalyptic. If I didn't know better I'd think some epic battle occurred last night and the victors proceeded to pillage this normally beautiful community.

Is it always like this, or is it only once every 58 years or so??

Hey 7Sagers, had a student email me with a question that I thought you could help with. Here it is:

I seem to be struggling with the grouping games. Like which diagram to use, and if any key words support a diagram decision. I would also appreciate any further advice? Any example from prep tests 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, and/or all would be awesome.

Anybody else having trouble printing out the logic game bundle for pt 1-35? I have tried at home at and at work it will only let me print 60 out of the 300 something pages for some strange reason.

Hello everyone, I am currently a month and a half into LSAT studying. Just scored a 152 on a PT which is a 5 point increase from my diagnostic. I have been practicing a lot of LR and not much LG or RC yet. I am a senior, graduating in may and wanted to originally be applying for Fall 2018, but after reading about applying I do not want to apply until I am able to get 160+ on the LSAT. I just wanted to know if its a bad idea applying next cycle instead and focus on getting that 160+ score. The end goal is to go to law school without paying, but I cant shake the feeling that I'm wasting a year of time by applying next cycle.

As we move into a new week (sort of hard to believe it's February), I'm looking for another person (or a small group) in the CC phase willing to exchange short messages each day to help each other promote daily work and engagement with the exam. Here's to finishing the CC and moving forward!

Is there anyone here with a job that has lots of afternoons/evenings and less business hours? If so, how are you dealing with this?

I work Monday through Friday from 8:30-5:30. Would 2 hours a night and extra time on the weekends be enough? I've seen some other study schedules that make me feel like maybe this won't be enough to get the score I need.

Any help would be appreciated.

I am working my way through the CC currently and it's really paying off (wish I found 7sage months ago!). I'm wondering what you guys do when you get to the problem sets. Do you watch every explanation video or just the ones for the questions you struggled with?

Currently I'm watching every single explanation video regardless of how I performed on the question, but I'm wondering if I'm using my time inefficiently in doing so. I'm definitely improving but sometimes I think my time would be better used moving along more quickly. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Hello Everyone,

I recently took a live lsat course while working full-time I am definitely not ready for the test this Saturday. I am planning on retaking the course, but I don't know if I should retake the live course or opt into the online course. If I retake the live course it'll be $950 instead of the usual $1500, but if I take the online course it'll be $700 instead of the usual $950. Any advice?

Hi all -

Wanted to share a link to a strong law school resume that appeared on USNWR. There are comments throughout the resume from Mike Spivey (who is quickly becoming my favorite person) and the student. I thought it was a great and has given me a few ideas on how to change up my very boring resume.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2017-02-02/a-law-school-resume-that-made-the-cut

Join us on Saturday for a discussion with Glen @LSATcantwin about how he studied for the LSAT and scored a 171 on the December 2017 test!

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/126612109

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: +1 (408) 650-3123

Access Code: 126-612-109

Joining from a video-conferencing room or system?

Dial: 67.217.95.2##126612109

Cisco devices: 126612109@67.217.95.2

First GoToMeeting? Let's do a quick system check: https://link.gotomeeting.com/system-check

Hello 7Sagers,

I am taking the February 10th LSAT. It will be my 3rd 8:30am LSAT (but second with an actual score, as I cancelled my score my first go-around September 2016). My next LSAT will be either the June or July one - both of which are administered Monday at 12:30.

How have you all found studying/preparing for that test different from studying/preparing for the "typical" 8:30am test? I can provide more details on what exactly I mean, but I feel like readers will get what I mean.

If schools explicitely state on their websites that they only look at your highest LSAT score, will they care about your # of attempts or cancelations? Since there are no more restrictions on how many times you can take LSAT, I am wondering, let's say, five LSAT scores on your record is going to be deterimental on your application. Thank you in advance.

Hey guys! I am not sure how the blind review method works since I have only attempted it once (for the diagnostic)... not sure if I am doing it correctly. Could someone please elaborate? I have found it to be really time consuming but I would like to get the most out of it since I understand it is really helpful in prepping for the LSAT.

Hello everyone!

A couple weeks ago I posted a discussion and many people thought it would be a great idea to have a thread dedicated to helpful tips for those who have to balance working full-time with their study routine. Well here's the thread! I've tapped @"Cant Get Right" and @LSATcantwin, two Sages who worked full time while studying and still managed to score 170+ on the LSAT, to give us some helpful tips on what we can do to beat this test all while working 40+ hour weeks, taking care of families, running errands and all around keeping our lives afloat. Below are their answers in a Q&A Format, and I gotta say, it's some GREAT advice. So if you're feeling overwhelmed with work and study, definitely take a few minutes to read. I've also included the recording from @"Accounts Playable" 's AMA from 1/8/18 below. Starting at ~42 min he gives some awesome tips to those who go to school full time and are studying as well. Happy Reading + Happy Studying!

Q&A with @LSATcantwin

Score Range

Diagnostic: 151, Attempt 1: 157, Attempt 2: 163; Attempt 3, 171

Length of study time

Year and a half (May 2016 - Dec 2017). From May 2017 until October 2017 I studied about 20 hours a week.

What successful study habits did you incorporate into your routine while working full time?

Lunch became dedicated LSAT time. It was an extra hour I got to throw into the mix each day. I would eat and review questions or do LG. Half my commute was spent on public trans, I would do LG or study LR on the train as well.

What was your ideal study schedule and how did that help you reach your goal score?

Monday - Friday; Get to work an hour early and study. Study during my hour lunch break, study 2 hours or so at night when I got home. (4 hours or so a day) (2 hours at night included blind review of my Sat PT); Saturday; Timed PT; Sunday; rest.

How did you find the time to juggle work with studying?

Basically just took any "free time" I could find and dedicated it to LSAT.

What concrete tips can you give those who are struggling working full time while studying part time?

Burnout is real and it isn't only the LSAT that can cause it. Remember to give yourself breaks, down time and sleep. Don't compare yourself to other people studying. Lots of people are going to be studying full time or only working part time. They might make faster progress than you, but you'll still make progress I promise. Time management is key. With 40 hours a week dedicated to our job free time is hard to come by. It is even more limited when you have other responsibility to worry about (children, dishes, cooking, cleaning, friends, family...) I gave up running and working out for more time. Because I love cheese I gained about 20lbs over the year and a half....Time to start running again! haha! Remember to be as open as you can with your employer/family/friends. I sent a massive text to all my friends explaining my situation. I apologized and told them I was not ignoring them or blowing them off. I made it clear that my goal was T-14 and I was working my butt off to get there. My friends understood and did not hold it against me. I did much the same with my family.

What were some mistakes you learned during your study process?

Don't do things that are unnatural for you. I tried waking up before work (at 4am) to study more. My body hated this, and in turn, I got nothing out of those hours of studying before work. Don't try and break yourself. Slow and steady will win the race. Don't be afraid to take extra time to study. Working full time will slow us down. Don't create a timeline. The LSAT isn't going anywhere, so make sure you are getting the score you want before you take the plunge.

Any other tips for success?

If you can't teach something to someone else, you probably don't understand it yourself. During my studying I spent a TON of time on 7Sage. My favorite posts were specific to questions. I would open them immediately and try and type out an answer that explained the question. In so doing I was able to spot many weaknesses because sometimes I couldn't explain why the right answer was correct. Other times I'd be able to explain it with relative ease and these were questions I knew I understood.

Q&A with @"Cant Get Right"

Score Range

Diagnostic: high 140's,

Officials: 163, 162, 170, 176

Length of study time

Two years+ (Summer 2015 - Sept 2017).

What successful study habits did you incorporate into your routine while working full time?

I set a very low daily minimum study time--one hour most days. One hour is manageable on the worst of days, and so it always got me started which was frequently the hardest part. I enjoyed studying and so I often found myself engaged and wanting to continue. Other days, I didn't. On those days, I fulfilled my minimum daily requirement and allowed myself to leave it at that without guilt. Studying for the LSAT requires high energy, and when the energy isn't there the returns on study time are going to be miniscule. Recharging and managing your energy is essential. In all seriousness, I learned to view taking one night off a week to eat pizza and catch up on TV as an essential part of my study routine.

What was your ideal study schedule and how did that help you reach your goal score?

Morning before work was always best. After work, there was very low chance of having the energy to study at a high level. I began going to bed earlier and earlier in order to create more and more study time before work. This allowed me to, in at least some small way, prioritize LSAT over work. Work took more of my time, but LSAT got me at my freshest.

How did you find the time to juggle work with studying?

Strict scheduling. Time management must be done proactively which was not something I was really used to. For the first time, I made a google calendar and began chopping my days into blocks. I accounted for as much as I could. Work went down first. Then sleep. Then LSAT. Then everything else. And the everything else is really important, so you have to leave space for it. I tried to be ambitious at first and devote every waking hour away from work to LSAT and that burned me out real fast. Flexibility is also important. Sometimes you just need to take a week off when you just can't stand to look at the test anymore. One time, I was taking a PT on my day off and I had a total meltdown. You can't let it get to that point.

What were some mistakes you learned during your study process?

I didn't adjust my timeline to my reality. I thought I could work full time and conquer the LSAT on the side in only a few months. This is a mistake many people make, but I think it's particularly destructive for those of us who work. My best score while still working was a 163. I came a long way in that time and that was a score that would open a world of possibilities to me. I had enough savings to leave my job and study full time, so I acknowledge that my advances after that are perhaps of questionable value for those who aren't able to quit work. However, I do think it's worth acknowledging that most of the mistakes I made were not corrected until after leaving my job, and leaving my job was not a part of those corrections. I didn't even find 7Sage until after I quit working. Looking back on it, I realize that it is much more important to study correctly than to study full time. It just takes longer. Had I continued working but made the same shift in my mentality, I am positive I would have been successful. On the other hand, I could have studied full time for a decade without changing my mentality, and I know I would have never improved.

Any other tips for success?

Seek understanding rather than a score--understanding of logic, understanding of language, understanding of testing strategy, understanding of every component of taking the LSAT. If you achieve a higher level of understanding, a higher score will follow. If you chase a score, you will always be trying to push beyond your understanding rather than advancing it.

AMA with 7Sager @"Accounts Playable" 1/8/18

Wondering if anyone else is having this issue....

I’m noticing that some law schools ask for all your work experience (paid and unpaid) since age “x” to be on your resume but if I were to do that then my resume would exceed 1 page. Is it better to have more than 1 page or is it ok to exclude the not so important jobs/unpaid summer internships?

Thanks!

I plan on taking the the LSAT in June. My first score on a practice lsat was 140 (low, I know). I have self studied to the mid 150's and just started this program yesterday, praying it can get me in the 160's. I have a 3.7 undergrad gpa in elementary education (a joke, I know), military experience, and teaching experience. What I am trying to get at is, will a 160 with these other softs get me into ASU or a school near the same ranking?

What's your dream school? :)

English is my third language. This makes the LSAT especially difficult for me. I need as much help as I can receive. I started studying in late Oct, 2017. I was registered to take the Feb 2018 LSAT, but I withdrew my registration. I withdrew because, I was not where I wanted to be. I was averaging 140-145. Obviously, taking the LSAT in Feb would be a waste of time and money. I also am working one full-time and one part-time job. I do most of my studying on the weekends. I usually get home around 8 p.m. on week days. I probably will have to quit one of my jobs, in order to increase my study time. I just started using 7Sage as my main study material. I have not purchased a course yet. Any idea on how to approach the LSAT considering my situation?

Hello all,

I just wanted to see how everyone ‘studies’ and see if I’m on the ‘right track’. I’m going through the CC for the first time. How do you approach the problem sets? The lessons? Explanations? For example, even though I know why a certain answer is right I watch JY’s explanation to see what I might have overlooked or didn’t think of.

I'm curious as to how many of you 170+ scorers took your test while in school? My first real test was in December and I'm gearing up for February right now and let me tell you... Classes and LSAT Prep do not mix well!

I'm asking more out of curiosity than anything else.

In your own opinions, how different is a score of a 155 (first attempt score) versus a 157/158 (current score average) . Does it really make a difference for me to take the exam again? I feel like I am in the range where it could be the difference with just scholarships...any advice?

I applied to Harvard the other day. I don't have the lsat or the GPA so I anticipate a rejection. I've only told a few people that I applied because I'm embarrassed I even bothered. I gave the personal statement my all but obviously you can't write yourself into a school without the numbers.

I was feeling super excited to just finish the application but today I just feel stupid for it. Am I alone in this?

Hi everyone happy friday! I figured we could all use a logic related laugh so I wanted to share something I saw this morning that I thought was hilarious! Start watching at 2:30 for the logic related humor.

Are there specific schools that look down on retakes more than others?