I would like to join. Thanks for putting this together!

@.e.u_89 & @, I know your pain very well and the responses of support and encouragement have been excellent from our peers. I took my diagnostic score and compared it to my original LSAT score from 2004, which was not great. My new score was 6 points lower than my 2004 test. I immediately felt dejected and frustrated, which was the same way I felt in 2004 when I turned my back on the LSAT and my hopes of a legal career. But after 12 years of doing really great work in the public sector, I realized I needed to conquer the LSAT and law school. Not because I am unhappy doing what I do, but because I know I can do so much more as an attorney.

The best advice I can give you, or anyone, is despite all the distractions and self doubt that creeps into the study process you are stronger. Remind yourself why you are doing this and what your end goal is. Keep going, you got this, in fact, WE ALL have this.

@, I take five section timed PTs to help build stamina for the actual test experience. I recommend using an older exam and just split it apart for each PT that way you can get used to having an extra LG, LR, and RC section which is more reflective of the actual test. Good luck!

@ said:

Someone with no experimental RC help me break these down please. I have the following listed as real:

Wynton Marsalis/Jazz

Dowsing

Children

Psychologists

Inferences

Appellate and Trial Courts

RC should only have 4. Are these broken up or did I mis-categorize?

The Psychologists was about Inferences. The RC list, to the best of my recollection, as I only had one RC section was as follows.

Jazz

Dowsing

Psychologists-Inferences

Appellate and Trail Courts

I work full time and am also a full time parent, so I know the difficulty of craving out time for studying. I will echo all the really helpful comments from others that a little bit of studying everyday is the best method to achieving success. I find that during my lunch break if I can drill some LSAT questions and then spend time reviewing them it is very helpful. I also try to spend about 45 minutes in the morning drinking coffee and reviewing notes while getting ready for work and I try to spend an hour at night after my daughter goes to bed to study concepts or do a lesson. If you are able to get a study buddy in your area that is helpful because it keeps you accountable to someone. My study buddy and I meet almost every weekend at least once, and sometimes twice, to take a practice test or review concepts.

Finally, to avoid burnout, I make an effort to read a fun book after studying and listen to an interesting podcast. Of course, if you have time to exercise that is also very helpful at least 15 to minutes just to clear your head. (If you have a kid, an unplanned dance party with him or her is really good at lifting your spirits. My daughter and I have a standing dance party every night before she goes to bed.)

@, I too am a NTS. The lawyers I work with are very helpful in discussing legal careers and expectations so I have a built in mentor network. But also, I attend professional conferences with an eye towards making new connections. Additionally, I use my professional network to discuss my career goals and to help identify possible contacts. My professional network has even helped with introductions with lawyers in my field of interest. Reach out to your network of associates and become active in professional organizations within your city and region. I think it is important to identify what the current job market is really looking for in newly minted attorneys. I am sure a mentor can help you craft a message that emphasizes how your current professional experience enhances employer's expectations and may even help guide you on what things/classes/activities you should purse to ensure you are more marketable. Good luck!

@ and @, I too am a non-traditional student and worry how that may impact my application. For those of us in the non-traditional basket, especially those of us with children, I think it is important to show in your application materials that you can achieve academically and shoulder various responsibilities. As my undergraduate and graduate days are long since gone, I am relying on my magna cum laude designation (3.86) and master degree (3.71) to show academic strength, but I am also offering my professional certifications and organizational achievements as my "extra curricular activities" to help round me out. And of course, study study for the LSAT.

Just as a follow-up regarding the suggestion of studying the GRE, The University of Arizona College of Law now accepts LSAT or GRE scores for admission. The U of A is an extremely respectable law school and I think it is telling of a possible trend towards acceptance of other qualifying tests for law admission.

Your score of 173 is a extremely respectable. I would not cancel, especially if your other admission materials show a consistent level of achievement. Remember, although the LSAT score does play a significant role into your overall admissions packet, your academic achievements, letters of reference, and personal statement provide the admission's committee more context regarding your ability to achieve and ultimately to become a successful alum of their institution.