I am searching for some advice on handling doubt.

I am doing very well on PT's, average anywhere from 7-12 wrong per test. However, of the 100ish questions, I feel very confident about 80 of them, leaving 20% of the test I am not 100% sure of. And of those 20 questions I am unsure of, I get 50+% right.

So what I'm asking for is, is that just normal? Because most times I grade a test I am expecting the worst and mostly end up with 170+ PT's. It's just such a weird feeling to be doing well and yet not feeling as confident as I should be.

I’m under the impression that schools emailing you to apply are doing so just to get there apps up, and therefore, have a lower admittance rate (although it’s obviously a business that needs attendees, too). I haven’t really given it much thought until I got an email from Harvard today. Any thoughts?

Is there any information I can glean from this language. Is it truly neutral? Just saw this on a status checker. Thanks.

Any thoughts on this school? It's obviously a amazing often clocking in at #7 in the USNWR rankings. I decided to apply here. I lived in NY for 11 years, and never met a person who went there. I half jokingly thought U Penn Law didn't exist, until a month ago when I had my first encounter with a real life U Penn recent graduate. Thanks a lot!

I took the past Dec and Feb test to squeeze into this past cycle. Did ok but knew I left so many points and law schools on the table.

I decided to retake the LSAT in July. I feel waaaay more prepared this time. However, because full refunds are offered to July takers who keep their scores, I decided to sign up for the Sept LSAT as insurance. It was only intended as insurance for if something weird happened on my July LSAT day, I'd have another option to take it and still apply early. If July went well, then I'd just cancel Sept and get a full refund (not just the $50).

But knowing even a difference of 2 extra points could have a huge impact of schools and financial aid, I'm now just thinking of taking it in regardless of what happens in July (although a 172 or higher I would cancel). This would mean taking it a 4th time vs. a 3rd time. However, at this point I don't think there is a real difference, especially if I could do better. Am I wrong to think this? Thanks.

I am about to switch to bubbling in groups. After each RC Passage, LG Game, and before I turn the page for LR. For some reason this scares me. For those who have switched, did you have this initial irrational (or maybe rational) fear? Was there an initial step backwards before you saw the gains? Did you see gains? And if so how much time do you think this saves? I will go into the laboratory (aka my desk) to see how it suits me, but I would love some thoughts too.

7Sage recommends reading the question stem first. I will start to play with this. However, in the Powerscore books they say DON"T read the question stem first and go on to give several pretty good reasons. I don't see where 7Sage gives it's cost benefits analysis/reasoning for why to read the question stem first. Am I missing where this is stated? And if not, any thoughts on why it is better to read the question stem first?

Are takes essentially unlimited now in the sense your highest score matters? Some people have been questioning this, and I was one of those people. However, schools incentives are too look at the highest score. And since this is a test that one can get better at and also since someone's score is really a range, it seems that it would just make sense for them to take the highest score and move on. Thoughts?

I'd love to know progress from people on the waitlist, and to know what schools are starting to pull applicants off the waitlist.

I went to Top undergrad known for having a tough curve. I double majored (math and Econ), am a urm. I have an exact 3.0 gpa. I took the lsat in dec and got a 160. I was pt-ing high at a 168/169 and just bombed that day. I’m retaking in feb. I spoke to the and they say taking the feb test significantly hurts my chances of admission. What min score would I need to overcome that? And are scholarships now not in play? Their avg is 165 and 75% is a 166.

To get a 170, do you think one should consistently finish all the questions in 30-32 mins? Which of course will allow some time to go back and double check answers that one is not 100% about. Should 170+ mastery allow for that? I’m trying to get my pacing down, and although I right at 35 mins for all the sections, I’m wondering if I should speed up a little.

I’m thinking of applying to U Chicago. It’s a perennial top 5 law school. But I don’t know too much about it relative to the other T14’s. And I read mixed reviews. Any thoughts on this school’s reputation and what it’s known for?

I forgot where I saw a clip of a taped section. After much resistance, I have decided to do it. Can anyone point me to where I can find a clip? Thanks!

What is considered early? What is considered in the middle? And what's considered late? I used to think applying in Sept or Oct was vital, but how much of a difference is there when you apply after only 10% of the applications are in vs. 40-50%. I'm wondering because if I turned in my apps before my Nov 17 LSAT test date came out, meaning my file would be complete mid-Dec, would that still be an advantageous time to apply?

LR “neutral expression” question

I got right through eliminating the other 4 answers, but I don’t know why answer (c) is correct. Any help would be much appreciated.

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Completely lost on this question. Any explanations would be much appreciated.

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Does anyone know if you send in a signature of intent to registrar, but sign up for the June test to help with waitlists and scholarship negotiation, would that be a problem? I know schools have different policies, but I am imagining that signing up for the June test wouldn't be some violation or get an admittance retracted.

After taking the LSAT a few times, I feel like the self-imposed pressure of the real tests has caused me to rush during the test. I've had trouble simulating the actual nerves on the test. I'm too relaxed during PT's. Truthfully, that relaxation is what I'd like to achieve, since it has helped me score high PT's. And I'll think some more on that. However, I want to shake it up a little. I am thinking of trying all the section in 30 mins. Obviously, there is a point where this becomes absurd. How about 25 mins? How about 20? I'll play around with it, but any thoughts on how to ramp up the pressure in PT's so that it can feel closer to a real test?

Is it worth it? Are the LR drill packets and LG bundle only available through premium? Would love your thoughts. Thanks.

I cancelled once, got a 160, and feel like I probably got a low 160's on the Feb Test. I have had many PT's of 170 or higher. I'm now thinking of taking the Sept test and just working the next 6 months on the LSAT. It feels ridiculous to have taken the test 4 times. And I know without a doubt that if I practice for 6 more months, and in a more in depth not scrambling mode (took sept, dec, and now feb) I can at least go high 160's. But how would a school look at a C, 160, 162 (guess), and then let's say a 168. Would they just take the highest score. Would they be forced to average? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I normally crush the LG section and I found it really hard. I couldn't get past a few inconsistencies (obviously on my end). But I would like to know just quick responses. Harder, typical, or easier than usual?

Dear 7Sage community,

As my account for the past 1.5 years is about to expire in an hour, I just want to say thank you for all the tips, encouragement, and wisdom. I applied last year, and got into a school in the mid 60's with no scholarship. This year I am going to a top 25 school with very, very close to a full ride. Wow what a difference applying earlier, with a much better score, and more fully flushed out apps does (basically a different applicant).

I could write all day about this. I kind of want to because I have learned so much in this journey that I would love to hand over this highly niched knowledge. But I will say this:

Just because you are a good person doesn't mean you are entitled to a good score. It must be earned. And in many people's cases, it took years. Some of my heroes on this website battled for 2 plus years to get their score, but it paid off BIG. I studied for almost a year and it paid off BIG for me. I was rejected from the school I will attend last year and this year they are rolling out the red carpet.

Your stories matter. Your humanity matters. But numbers matter most. If schools were to let in every great person or story, numbers at most schools would be down. So take the numbers component seriously. And if you have great essays or stories, that will definitely help. But get those numbers! I promise you, they are not playing around.

Do everything JY says. Obviously test what he says out. But he doesn't say things randomly with no thought (or at least not when it comes to the LSAT).

Take practice tests with 5 (or I recommend 6 sections). It drives me crazy when people are willing to do everything under the sun to prepare, but when it comes to PT, they take 4 sections. Then people say "the energy of test day will give you that extra boost." Ok, maybe it does. But aren't we trying to simulate test conditions as best as possibly. 5 sections are different than 4. And practice with 5 then get the additional "energy boost." I promise you, it helped me out.

The main difference between a 167 and a 172 is most likely test taking strategy. Of course better fundamentals helps, but at this point it's strategy.

Practice reading comprehension. Most people believe this is the hardest section to improve. That is because most people don't like to practice this section. LR is fun and you can do you a few questions at a time. I found LG fun. I hated RC, practiced it the least, and improved upon it the least. Practice it!

Don't be afraid to postpone a year. It was one of the most painful decisions of my life. It doesn't matter where you are in your life. But it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Sorry, but if you are just starting you LSAT prep, it's probably best to postpone a year. By the time you take your first real test, you will most likely realize you can do waaaaay better and it's too late (plus you have to start writing essays). Don't be afraid to wait a year (please refer to #7).

It's important to be able to break this test down. So taking your first PT in month 3 then retaking at month 5 looks very different than taking your first test in month 5. As you get close to test day, getting results are more important. So settling for cheap tricks versus really digging deep happens. So you can end up taking 3 tests in 6 months and very really studied in depth. Then you can become burned out after test 3 and then the real pressure happens. Wow, I have studied for 6 months and keep not improving. Is this for me? If i take it again I REALLY must do well! Don't do this to yourself. If after the second take you don't see big gains, take a year off and really go deep.

Get a tutor. Take all the pain and suffering that they had to go through and learn from it.

You don't only need big chunks of time to study. 20 mins here and there (in addition to the necessary big chunks of time) can really help and add up.

This test is a snapshot of where you on a highly specific set of skills right now only. It doesn't define you. But as you study for this test one can reduce their value to how well they did on their most recent PT. Don't get to high or too low on this. Study. Learn. And move on.

There are a million more things to say but I can't think of them. But for those in the deep dark jungle of LSAT study, I would come across the occasional 7Sage "Thank you" message and wondered if I were every going to be able to write one. I am. Thank you 7Sage! And best of luck to all of you who are studying! It is worth it. It pays off. It might take a little more time than you thought, but have faith!

I am very reluctantly considering paying for a admissions consulting company's help. I think $3000+ is insane. However, if I could get $3000 more in scholarships and/or get into a more desirable school I think it is worth it. Any thoughts? Have any of you paid for a service? And if so, what are your thoughts?

Do you look at all the answer choices if you know you are 100% certain on an answer choice before getting to E? There are many LR questions that I know are 100% right at choices A, B, or C (if I get to answer D I will go to E regardless, even if it goes against what this question is asking). I was thinking of just circling these questions and going back to them if I have time. Any thoughts would be much appreciated it.

How have those who have gone for local questions first in Logic Games found that strategy? I am about to try it out, however, I feel like the act of looking for them might cause a scattered feeling which might have a negative affect. And do you think the time it takes to hunt the local questions is worth it?