Folks, I am finally done with the LSAT!!! But that means I need to shift gears and start to focus on the second part of my JD/MBA application - the GMAT. What courses do people recommend? Are there any good free resources out there?
I haven't done a ton of research yet since I was really focused on the LSAT and I've only heard of Manhattan GMAT. ANybody has any thoughts on this company? Are there better courses/resources out there?
Thank you for any insight!
@mtilton0524 That really sucks. I'm sorry to hear!
I'm a singer in my previous life, so I learned to nip that cold at the bud when I feel it coming on. Here's my miracle cure for common colds:
Zicam 4x/day + Emergen-C 4x/Day + Dayquil 2x/day and NyQuil at night + tea with honey all day long (lemon is good to add) + wear and sleep under lots of layers (sweat gets all the crap out of your system)
If you strictly follow this schedule for 2-3days you should be able to stop the cold. I would continue for at least another day after you feel like you're better just for good measure.
If you're not better by Thursday, go to an Urgent Care, tell them that you need to get better asap because you have a huge exam on Saturday. They're doctors - they should understand the importance of an admissions exam. At the very least they should give you antibiotics or if they're really cool, and depending on your symptoms, they might give you steroid pills (don't worry - it's not the type of steroids that athletes pump, it's just pills, but they act super fast, and they're not harmful if you don't take them every time you get sick) - that's what celebs take when they need to perform and they got sick.
And do not try to "study through the cold" . You can probably do some review, watch some explanations, etc, but don't do anything that requires you to do anything timed or actively solve and reason. This is your body's way of saying it needs a break, so you have to oblige. Watch "Suits" instead :-) You'll be in much better shape for Saturday when you're well in a day or two!
Feel better!
@steve898 For those of us whose clothing has pockets, must we turn all pockets inside out? What about thick outerwear like parkas during the winter months?
I've never taken it in December or February, but I think the time i was referring to (it was last October) they had a rack to hang your outerwear before check-in. I imagine you can probably leave your phone in the pocket of your coat, but every test center might have a different set up. For NYLS it was literally at the very entrance to the LS before check-in. Not sure you'd want to leave your phone there since nobody is watching your stuff and people are coming in and out. For another center this rack could be in the testing room, in which case I wouldn't risk leaving my phone there in the off-chance it goes off.
I've never seen them check pockets but I think NYLS, for example, had metal detectors. (I honestly i repressed this memory so hard that details are hazy). I believe metal detectors could detect cell phones. Of course, you might be in a center that doesn't check pockets or use metal detectors and you might be able to completely get away with bringing in a phone. But I personally wouldn't take that risk because for me the convenience of having a phone doesn't outweigh the risk of not being admitted or being disqualified.
For those of you who attended - what's the best way to prepare? Would you recommend that I BR myself first and then attend the session as a second BR/Review? or just take the test and notate what I would BR?
@csb2169358 do not take your phone. No proctor will hold on to it for you. You are not allowed to have it past the check-in point. One time I took the LSAT it was pouring and they wouldn't let us take our umbrellas past the check-in point.
I would just take public transport or find a pay phone (they still exist!) or find an office at the school or college you're taking at and ask to use their phone... but do not bring your phone!!!
@jpooch14225 I was in the same boat as you (and still am). My BR's are consistently 170+ (average of 174) but I'm currently scoring in the 160s on the timed runs. So I can completely relate to your frustration of knowing that you have so much potential, and you're grasping the concepts, but 35 minutes is just not enough!
I have a technique that really helped me with timing on LR - maybe it will help you? It was easy to implement and immediately helped my scores, accuracy and confidence. I think you can probably get it down before December since its not some magical cognitive trick - its just a strategic approach to the order in which you do the questions.
I noticed two things were dragging me down in the course of taking timed exams:
1) I was getting stuck on questions and over-investing time. You're probably doing this. Everyone is. It's natural and it's a a trap!
2) I found that oftentimes the questions that were hardest for me were in the middle and they sucked the time out. On BR I would get to the end of the section and find a bunch of easy questions that would have been "low hanging fruit", but I didn't even get there because I spent 4 minutes trying to decipher that abstract SA question that I probably got wrong anyway. And it made me so mad upon BR to realize that I missed the easy Q26 that was a Main Point (which happens so often!)
Remember - each question is worth the same, so it's in your interest to get to as many questions as possible.
What I did was I started skipping around to make sure I get to all the easy, short questions that I am comfortable with. And that helps with my nerves because it boosts my confidence. I imagine it might help with your anxiety as well.
I identified the question types where my speed/accuracy was not ideal (NA and SA) and those that I knew I would get right, but would be time consuming (Parallel Flaw/Reasoning and Principle Application). So when I see that question stem, I circle the Q to come back to it later (I also make a circle on the scantron to make sure I don't mess up my bubbling). I also run like the plague if I get some twisted philosophical abstract question about morality because I know it's a trap and there are 10 more questions on subject matters I can grasp more easily!
Basically, I make sure I get to all the questions I can breeze through (Main Point, Argument Part, Flaw, Strengthen, Weaken, MBT) and then I come back to the ones that give me more anxiety knowing that I got to all the ones that I have the best chance of getting correct and I'm not leaving any easy points behind.
My timing is still not perfect, but I am generally able to finish an LR section, whereas previously I'd just leave around 5-6 questions unanswered. Now it's 0-2 (and they are the challenging ones that I might not have gotten right anyway).
I started using a variation of this technique on RC and LG as well. Set-up and reading the passage is where the biggest investment lies - so I'd rather invest in a passage with 8 questions and leave the one with 5 for last. I don't think it's true that passages and games necessarily get harder as the section progresses. Often I find that the 2nd or 3rd passage or game are the time-sucks. So I identify the ones with the most questions and the subject matters/game types I feel most comfortable and do those first.
I hope that helps!
This is such a great idea! Any chance you will add more sessions for those who are taking this PT over Thanksgiving?
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 yep. thanks for the solidarity. I was in utter disbelief because this kind of behavior is so out of the realm of expected test-day conditions. Wish I had known about your buddy - would have been great to have another voice to corroborate my story. I was only able to find one other person who took it at BK College that day and his proctors were not talking to I guess he was lucky to be in a different room. Sounds like your buddy might have been in my room though - hope they didn't get to him and he did well!
@476.rizeq I'm sure it is, but it's just a hunch (the guy looked very young and a lot like another proctor, and he behaved like he was out of place, didn't interact with the other proctors, and just had very youthful mannerisms, but I don't have any real evidence to "tell on them"). There was so much wrong with this administration that I needed to pick and choose my battles when I complained to LSAC requesting a retake. I didn't want to sound whiny by giving them a whole laundry list of grievances, so I relied on the strongest arguments. I was more concerned with the talking than the fact that somebody's teenage son had nothing better to do on a Saturday than help his mommy proctor an exam haha
Proctors:
Awful. I had 4 proctors (although I think one was a son of another proctor and not a proctor himself). We sat around for at least 30 minutes before we started filling out the Scantron. The main proctor who was reading the directions was rushing us because we were clearly behind schedule. Then they gave us the wrong Test Center number and we had to wait until the figure out what the correct number is. Then the three other proctors were talking over the timekeeper as she was reading the last timing instructions (you will have 35 mins to complete the section, etc, etc). And then they would not shut up for 2 sections. (I left after section 2 because I lost my focus and bombed RC). They also kept walking around the front of the room and in and out of the room while the test was in progress. It was extremely distracting. I raised my hand to ask them to be quiet and they ignored me for several minutes after which point I gave up. It literally sounds crazy to retell this story (on what planet do test proctors talk for over an hour??), but I assure you that this is real life. They seemed to be disorganized and confused.
Facilities:
Old, shabby, public university. No distractions other than the proctors. No noise outside or in the hallway. Th bathroom seems to be close enough to the room, but i did not need to use it. They have vending machines in case you forget a snack.
What kind of room: Classroom with individual fold-over desks
How many in the room: I'd say around 40. Way too many for the size of the room. Although there were enough desks, we were packed too tight together. I could easily see the papers of the people in front and to the sides of me. it was also distracting to be seated so close to other people.
Desks:
Awful. They had these tiny fold-over school desks that are not big enough to fit an open test booklet. No room for scantron, extra pencils, eraser, ,watch etc. I had to hold my eraser and extra pencils in my lap. I kept worrying about my scantron falling from under my booklet.
Left-handed accommodation: Some lefty desks were available
Noise levels: Other than the proctors, I didn't experience any other distractions
Parking: Not sure, didn't drive
Time elapsed from arrival to test:
1-1.5 hours. We stood in line for about 20 minutes. But the check-in was excruciatingly slow. I would say at least 30 minutes just to check in and seat my room. Then we sat in the room for a while while they figured out the test center number, distributed the booklets, etc.
Irregularities or mishaps: none, other than the proctors talking and not knowing the correct test center number.
Other comments: Avoid this test center at all costs. All the warning signs were there, but I didn't bother to read the reviews.
Would you take the test here again? Absolutely not.
Date[s] of Exam[s]: September 2016
@646256433qq847 where did you take it? I'm monitoring the interwebz for any posts about disturbing proctors. I'll keep you posted if I hear of anyone from your center.
I was also surprised that no one said anything in my room, but it must be the group mentality. Everyone wants somebody else to do the unpleasant thing and confront the person who is in a position of authority. and nobody wants to be on the proctor's shit list. Its terrible that as a test-taker you were put into that situation. Including 2 bullets from my complaint that I hope will illustrate why being put into this position is absolutely unacceptable:
- Proctors are clearly in a position of authority in this situation, and deciding whether to challenge this authority under the already stressful circumstances of the exam undoubtedly causes additional stress and mental distraction that paralyzes the ability to perform
- Test-takers rely on the proctors to assist them in handling any issues that may arise during an exam. When the distraction comes from the proctor, the test-taker has no choice but to seek a solution with no help. It is indisputable, that this is not how time during an LSAT exam should be spent.
thank you all. I will definitely keep ya'll updated. I'm glad you had great experiences those of you who did! I've taken it twice at Pace and New York Law and those test centers were amazing - respectful proctors, lots of space, silent. I should have read reviews about BK College since it turns out all the warning signs were there and that makes me nervous because I can't imagine my complaint would be the first - so why has the LSAC not addressed and fixed the problem if they cared?
It's just really devastating because like you said @cha610, I really did not get my fair shot. I was feeling really good on test day and was feeling so good at the start of the first section when I was breezing through those easy LRs, and to have my chance cut off by evil proctors is really really devastating to me. I've been studying for 2 years while working full time and I am just physically and mentally exhausted. This test has already kicked my butt, knocked me off from my "oh 175 won't be too difficult for me, NYU is def gonna be my safety" high horse. Having to go to battle with the LSAC over what I reasonably assumed was a basic right of a test-taker, is just the final straw.
This whole thing just feels like a cruel necessary assumption question. Like as a test-taker you assume your proctors would not be the cause of the disturbance, because otherwise how is that then a valid test administration? Yep, I need to stop thinking about the world in LSAT terms.
And @646256433qq847 Brooklyn College is TERRIBLE!!!! The desks are tiny - the open test booklet does not fit fully on the top of the desk. No room for pencils, eraser, watch, etc. you're sitting on top of each other. Literally could see everyone's scantrons. Terrible terrible terrible. Do not recommend to my worst enemy.
Thank you all! I will definitely turn to toplawschools and Reddit!
Anybody here took the LSAT yesterday at Brooklyn College?
I had 4 proctors and they were running around the front of the room and whispering to each other very loudly. In fact 3 of them were talking while the timekeeper was reading the instructions. The absolute lack of respect was appalling. I raised my hand hoping to let them know that the talking is very distracting, but they were so busy talking that not one of them saw me raising my hand (I was wearing a bright orange sweater). After I wasted a good minute or two trying to get their attention, I gave up.
Oh and they tried to give us the wrong (4-digit) test center code. I saved the day by pointing out that it is a 5-digit code which is on out ticket. But how is it that 4 proctors don't even have the correct information???
I had to leave and cancel my score because I completely lost focus on that RC section and with 10 mins left I only completed 1 passage, which is not how I have been performing at all. This would have been my third and final take so I am extremely disheartened. Even if I am allowed to take the test again in Dec, I wouldn't be able to apply early in the cycle in Oct, which was my intention.
I am drafting my formal complaint to LSAC and hoping to get another chance. Hoping to find others who were there that could support my claim.
I literally thought about this same question yesterday! Upon further reading, LSAC says that prohibited items include"mechanical erasers or erasers with sleeves". I think this would be considered a mechanical eraser.
I plan on bringing my Staedtler Mars Plastic and the actual eraser from the Pentel Retractable without the case, for when I need to change any specific answer choices. The Mars erases everything in sight - not ideal for spot-fixes on the answer sheet!
Hi JY and Dillon - what's the approximate timeline for the SuperPrep A, B, and C explanations? Any chance that they'll be up before the Sept test? Thanks!
Hey 7sage!
When will the explanations be available for the June 2016 exam? Also, will they be included if I bought a couple extra months on my ultimate pack? Thanks!
thanks @potatocowpower864 . I'm sorry I am a total GMAT newb and just learning the terminology - what's OG?
I am also thinking the GMAT will be easier, which is why I decided to tackle it after the LSAT and I know there are more administrations of it which gives you more flexibility. However, not sure it will come as easy for me as these test have come to you. I definitely am not scoring close to 174 on the LSAT (we'll see how Dec '16 went, but probably not 174) and it took me much longer than 3 months to get ready for it. I think i might need a real refresher on the math stuff.