37 posts in the last 30 days
I've asked so many people and have always gotten responses that were all over the place about this. Someone please put my heart at rest and tell me whether schools in general have bias towards applicants who have multiple LSAT scores. I understand that fairly consistent improvement is good but if you could get a solid score in 1 or 2 tries, would you be better off than someone who needed 3?
Before I transferred to my degree granting school, I was cramming in a lot classes in the last semester before I transferred, and I ended up making a pretty dumb mistake. I missed a final, and ended up with a D in a Gen Ed class, and the professor would not let me retake the final. Is this worth an addendum? thanks in advance.
I took the Dec LSAT, now studying to retake for Feb.
To prep for Dec I purchased the premium package and took ~35 PT's with thorough BR (some PT's in the 40's and 50's and all 60-70's), scoring between 164-170.
I only have 1 fresh PT (PT 76) that is in the 60's and 70's, which I am saving for the week before the test. I have read that it is most important to PT with the more recent tests. Since I began studying for the Feb test, I have retaken about 4 PT's in the late 60's and early 70's and got excellent scores (obviously inflated).. but I am recalling a lot of the questions from taking them previously... so I don't think it is benefiting me as much as it should.
Should I start taking PT's I haven't done even though they are very early (PT 30 - 40?) Does anyone have specific recommendations for studying for a retake?
I got a 153 on my first attempt at the LSAT this December. I feel I can do a lot better than this if I continue to study. The problem is, I didn't register for the February LSAT on time and many schools close deadlines before June. I'm wondering if I should just wait a year after I graduate and work on my internship and studying so I can really dedicate time and get the score I want, or just be happy with my score and apply to schools with that. Any thoughts?
If you won the powerball? If I won, I'd be more likely to buy a law school than attend one.
I have to admit I am pretty frustrated and I thought Id reach out to see if there were any tips you guys had that worked well for being really mechanical in the moment, especially in LR.
I had to take some time off, and am back at it for my 2nd take in Feb (yes I know I should wait for June, but I still want to go for this cycle). I was a 166 Ave, under performed in Oct as I had to stop studying for a few weeks before and had to take (long story).
The great thing is now, I can in timed review, score in the high 170s, its like a hybrid BR as its more going back to the question (if I have time left over this is true there as well) and I can get my circled questions right very quickly and usually only miss 1-2 but the last 4 tests I seem to be at -7 my first go through.
I've been told its a confidence issue, as I talk myself out of correct answers, but I thought I would ask this group on their approach. Perhaps its something no one can answer, but when I seem to get into self doubt I dont process it with a mechanical approach. Anyone else experienced this? How did you get over that hurdle?
It not a lack of knowledge but as one of the Sages said, knowledge isn't enough. I guess I thought I would ask and maybe someone will share an experience or comment that will help it all "click".
I know as I do more PTs my timing will get faster leaving me more time to return to questions during the test, but Id rather get it the first go and not risk it.
I used the 7sage proctor app (android version) recently to do a PT and it's great!
I kept thinking "aw, I don't want to be doing this, it's not that important this early in my studying, I'll just abort and make this a casual practice", but the app is unrelenting. The announcer comes on and tells you to turn the page and get going and it motivated me to keep doing just one more section instead of giving up and soon they were all done!
Of course, I did this after having played around with the settings and voices on the app the previous day. I failed to notice I had set the elapsed time for the section to 28 minutes instead of 35! The app is very sneaky -- when you have it display an image of the analog watch face, the hands on the watch face even move faster so that it looks like you spend 35 minutes! I was relying on that watch face since the watch I ordered for the LSAT hasn't arrived yet. So it wasn't until the break that I noticed I had set the app to 28 minutes!
No wonder I had so much trouble completing the sections and even had to skip an entire logic game! And just a small brag: found out later that even with limiting myself to 28-minutes for 3 of the sections I still scored a 166 pre-BR. I'm shooting for 170s. LR sections are my forte: my pre-BR score was only -1 on both (including the one done in only 28 min). So my focus will be on LG (fun!) and RC (not so fun).
I'm signing up for 7Sage's Law School Prep course now that my LSAT prep days are over. The 7Sage LSAT course was so good and I've enjoyed this online community so much, I feel confident I'll learn a whole lot - and enjoy doing so - on the law school prep course. Anyone thinking of doing likewise? Would be great to go forth with some familiar 7Sagers!!!
Hi all, I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts regarding addendums for GPA's that may not necessarily be terrible. Before this last semester I had a 3.93 GPA. Unfortunately this last semester, between taking on an additional course and studying for the LSAT, it dropped to 3.79. I considered my GPA to be a fairly strong point considering I scored a 158 LSAT but now I feel like everything took a hit last semester alongside working full time as a paralegal. I'm wondering if it's worth my time to write an addendum to explain my drop in GPA due to studying for LSAT and work, I feel like since I'm applying part-time, a hectic schedule is what law schools will expect.
Anyone feel like some of the correct answers to NA questions on the recent exams aren't really necessary?
On PT 71,S1, Q22 I see how this would be a sufficient assumption but don't see at all how it's necessary. Performing the negation test wouldn't really destroy the argument since we are only talking about predatory pricing, not ANY pricing practice. And I remember having a similar problem on PT63 Q11 where I thought there's no way the correct answer is necessary.
On older tests the negation technique proved very effective but I feel like it's actually hindering me on NA questions from the more recent tests. Any advice on how i can adjust? This used to be my favorite question type, now it's not! Want these questions to be automatic.
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I did my first PT yesterday (37) under strict time conditions. I had previously done the June 2007 in timed 35 min sections, but had long breaks in between every section. When doing PT37 I found that in the race to finish I often forgot to circle questions if I wasn't sure.
As I BR and skim the questions I didn't circle, I often remember that I wasn't sure. Should I just consider them a circled question too?
Has anyone tried just checkmarking the questions they are sure about (100% or 90% or whatever level you're using) and BR-ing the unchecked questions? Feels more satisfying in a way to feel 'yeah, I got this' and check it than to say, 'erm, not sure, guess that's a circle, then'. Also, if there is time to revisit the question before time is up and you go back and get sure, you don't have to erase a circle.
I usually use a big arrow when I want to revisit a question if time permits, since I wouldn't have time to go to all circled questions and want to prioritize.
Hi, is anyone willing to pass some judgment on my personal statement and a character and fitness addendum.
Pretty personal stuff and I'm willing to have it read by whatever judgmental eyes will read it.
Definitely will exchange statements if anyone else is comfortable. PM me if interested.
Hey all,
I work in a business development role (partnerships, strategic relationships, sales, dealing with government red tape). I love getting people on board, convincing, solving problems, promoting ideas. I like the fast pace. I’m not looking for a career change. However, I’ve been looking at more education/credentials and I’ve not really been clear what exactly is the best fit based on what I do.
Some people tell me a JD is just for people who will be lawyers. However, I see some (not many) JDs leading corporations and nonprofits in many fields. Were their credentials on the right trek or was this just some early career confusion?
I’m leaning against joint JD/MBA simply because of the extended time commitment/break.
Appreciate your thoughts. Thank you in advance
Does anyone have any prior experience with the Three Wolf Moon and the LSAT? I have purchased it, but I'm tentative about using it during PT. Will its effects wane over each use?
Also, what's your average score increase while using it? I used it once last week, couldn't resist, and I scored 10 points higher than my first PT back in January without the 3 wolfs.
To play it safe, I'm saving it for Test Day.
Long story short I'm retaking in Feb. I've taken the 25 most recent PTs so I needed fresh material to go over in preparation for the retake. After noticing a subtle difficulty shift in the 70+ exams, I decided to combat the trickier LR/RC by drilling straight from the Cambridge difficult packets for RC AND LR. Granted they draw questions from PTs 1-38, but every question there has a 4 or 5 star difficult rating. I figure if I can train myself to combat those questions, and drill 25 of them at a time (for LR) as if they were a "normal" LR section I'll be much faster and more comfortable with the lengthier and more convoluted 70+ stimuli. I plan to drill all the difficult RC passages in the same fashion, using 4 difficult passages as if it were a normal RC section...Then with about 2.5 weeks until the Feb exam, I plan to retake/BR PTs 71-77. Has anyone tried this or something similar? What are your thoughts on this approach...Do you guys think it can work or do you think it's too much of a gamble because of the way the "new" LR stimuli is constructed and phrased? Thank you in advance for your input!
@"Nicole Hopkins" I know you had said we were recording them have you posted them?
Hello,
Has anyone ever taken the February LSAT? If so, did you find it more or less challenging than the other scheduled LSAT dates? Were the logic games any different than normal? I was told they have at least one weird or unusual game for February exams? is this true?
I can't really believe what I a going through right now to be honest. I studied diligently for 8 months...did the 7sage course did practice questions, timed sections, about 5 timed PT's and I cant even get past 140's on my timed tests....IDK what happens during timed tests...everything just flies out the window I guess? My last blind review was a 160...not the best but it at least means I understand something about this test....on my BR I am usually -5 to -9 on each LR section -5 to -9 on RC and -0 to -3 on logic games...Why am I not getting this on my timed tests? I have never ever studied so hard for something to see little to no results...to be honest at this point I just want to at least score in the 150's to move on with my life. I have never been a good test taker, but I always did either average or slightly above average, but with this test I just get no where. This test is of no indication what so ever to my future capabilities as a lawyer, or my intelligence, but for some reason it is truly making me depressed with a feeling of hopelessness.
I know posting things like this on a forum is inappropriate, but I def need to talk to fellow test takers because every time I talk to someone about my feelings with this test they just say "its only a test, and one bad test wont ruin your entire future."
Hi there, I got a December score that was 3-4 points below my PT average. I know I can do better, and my score on record is marginal at best for schools I am targeting. Should I apply now or wait until I get a (hopefully 3+ point higher) February score? And if I apply before receiving my February score and am rejected, can I reapply after receiving a higher Feb score? Thanks much.
I took LSAT three times. Sep 2014, did not have the time to study, 161. Oct 2015, did not sleep the night before (stress and fell sick), 164. Dec 2015, 169. Before the test, my PT scores were 170+ but never broke 175. For Dec test, I sat in the front row and the two proctors were whispering to each other on and on. At some point, I had to stop them. I did not finish RC (-5). I wonder if I should mention this Dec testing experience in my LSAT addendum? I do not want to appear to be looking for excuses for my score (even though I am still upset about it and wish i could have finished that RC!). I think I need an addendum for three takes anyway, so should I explain Dec score? But then I worry that when Adcom look at my previous two takes - they were bad too. What do people think?
Thank you so much for your advice.
p.s. I am a non traditional applicant (out of school for 10+ years). 3.86 GPA (physics and econ double major). I am applying to Yale, Columbia, NYU and a safety school.
Hello, 7Sage community.
I've lurked on these forums without posting for long enough. So here I am, humbly seeking advice from the wonderful 7Sage community. You'll have to forgive me, though, as brevity has, at times, eluded me. I suspect that this will be one of those instances, as I've not had anyone to reach out to in my LSAT preparation. Studying for the LSAT has been, thus far, a lonely endeavor.
After a few months of intense studying, typically pushing myself to study anywhere from 6 -- 10 hours a day for six or seven days a week, I burned myself out. In fact, I didn't know the extent to which I was burned out until I read Jonathan Wang's enlightening post on the subject. After some much needed reflection, I've realized that I had come to fear the LSAT, to fear failure--a mindset hardly conducive to effective learning and eventual mastery. So I took a few weeks off to clear my mind and reflect and meditate upon my fears and my mindset. I now feel ready to resume my studying, but I'm confused as to how to proceed.
You see, in the month leading up to my burnout, I, like many of you, became unsatisfied with the preparation materials that I had purchased from PowerScore (for LG and LR) and Manhattan LSAT (for LG). In my humble opinion, their preparation materials are lacking. Although I observed significant increases in my BR score over the last few months, unexpectedly observing a rise from a 157 (diagnostic) to ~170 (give or take a point) during BR, I always wondered whether or not I truly grasped the material and whether or not my methodology would translate on judgment day, during which all weaknesses are exposed. I wondered whether my increase was simply due to the enormous amount of time I spent with the LSAT or whether it was the result of their advocated methodology.
About halfway through my preparation, I stumbled across 7Sage's wonderful resources: the BR method, the LG videos, the articles penned (or typed, rather) by you wonderful individuals. As I increasingly supplemented my studying with 7Sage's methodology, I came to question all of the advice I had received from PowerScore and Manhattan LSAT. When I came across a suggestion that seemed odd for LGs in my other preparation material, JY's videos always seemed to offer a more sensible approach. I've come to trust the quality of 7Sage's resources and the individuals that maintain this growing community, and I'd like to implement 7Sage's curriculum into my preparation moving forward.
The thing is, I'm stuck. I've worked halfway through the PowerScore LR Bible and nearly all (I'd estimate 5/6) of the way through PowerScore's LG Bible and Manhattan's LG book, too. I've completed a number of RC sections and LR and LG questions (drilling specific question types) using the Cambridge PDF bundles. I've already completed nearly half of the material recommended by Pithypike on TLS. Thus, I wonder whether or not it'd be wise to begin 7Sage's curriculum at this point in my preparation. I do have the gift of time, which is undoubtedly a blessing. I'm lucky enough to be able to take the LSAT whenever I feel prepared enough to do so. My goal is, as everyone's should be, 180, and I won't take the LSAT until I'm scoring in the high 170s.
With that in mind, I ask how all of you wonderful individuals would approach integrating 7Sage's curriculum into my preparation moving forward. Would you simply integrate it and treat earlier sections, or those that I've completed in PowerScore and Manhattan LSAT, as "review"? Or would you start over, armed with an increased familiarity of the test, and learn to apply 7Sage's methods? (I suspect the latter to be more enriching, as I'm sure that the methods I'll learn in completing 7Sage's curriculum will be far superior to those that I've learned thus far and will require conscious and diligent application if I'm to master them.)
Also, I've read that many of you are supplementing the 7Sage curriculum with Mike Kim's The LSAT Trainer. I'm also wondering what materials are recommended for completing the course. I have the Cambridge PDF bundles of LSAT questions by type for 1 -- 38 and full-form tests from 38 -- 70. May I make use of these materials? Should I purchase Mike Kim's textbook if I'm to complete 7Sage's curriculum? I'm confused as to what materials I must have to complete the course.
To those of you that have read this incredibly long post, I truly thank you. If you've any input at all, I'd like to hear it. Thank you, again, 7Sage community.
Hey I was just wondering does everyone stick to the study schedule? I am a full time student, as well as work part time and was wondering if anyone actually sticks to it or just goes at their own pace?
Hi there, I have a very basic question about admissions. I am a traditional splitter with a relatively solid LSAT (169) but a 3.4 GPA. However my major GPA is a 3.65, and I have an upward trend, I have seen some people say that law schools take this into account, but does anyone think that it could have more than a negligible impact on schools in my target range? (Essentially 12-20 in the rankings)
Hey all,
I was doing fairly well on my LSAT prep, scoring upwards towards the 170s. However, having taken PT 72 and 73 my score has dropped dramatically down towards the lower 160s. At this point I want to put off this test till the next one offered after December. LR and RC were always my weakest, and I'm pretty certain they've gotten wordier and more difficult. I still have PT 74, 75, 76 left.. all advice welcome... I need it :-/
