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Hey everyone!
Anyone in LA preparing for the June LSAT (perhaps in the San Gabriel Valley/626 area)?
Open to meeting up for PT's, BR's, and to discuss Q/A's.
raytranr@gmail.com
Thanks!
PT Questions
raytranr712
- Joined
- Apr 2025
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- Free
raytranr712
Monday, Jul 28 2014
raytranr712
Sunday, Jul 27 2014
@
My tutoring was, and still is via skype. This was another reason I was a bit hesitant about reaching out for a tutor - I assumed that if it was not going to be in person that it was not going to be as good. But I had that exact same mindset about 7sage and was delightfully proven wrong...I sent a detailed email that outlined my status, process, concerns, and questions and when those were addressed - and addressed well - I scheduled the first lesson. One of the best investments in my pre-law process - helped push me into consistently hitting 99th percentile +
To put it another way... at first I felt like Michelle with the LSAT (just lucky to be onstage and finish the show)...then I felt like Kelly (had some success). Now, I feel like Beyonce. Wipe the charts without an announcement.
Best of luck!
raytranr712
Thursday, Jun 26 2014
I reached out to Jonathan shortly after reading this post 2 weeks before the June LSAT. At that time, I was averaging a 167, was hoping to hit the upper 170's, and unsure of whether or not I should postpone my test date until September. I had already gone through all materials, and was doing practice tests - there pretty much nothing to cover that I didn't already know.
I was pretty much against anything that would cost above $0 - but after being frustrated with a PT that didn't "hit" my target, I figured that investing some time (and money) would be worth figuring things out (Do I postpone and would I actually improve if I did? What specific things do I need to do? Do I get a refund if I pretty much just hear a regurgitation of stuff I already paid for? etc). I figured - yes, tutoring wasn't cheap (cheap for LSAT tutoring, but it's not exactly value-menu cheap), but not hitting my target score would cost me more (tutoring would be cheaper than not hitting my highest potential). Eventually, I decided to start off with 2 hours - at the very least, I would get clarity on my concerns and save some time.
I was incredibly glad I made that decision. There was no pressure, no frills, no BS - it was about figuring out where I was, what I was doing, and what I needed to do to get where I wanted to go. I received answers to all of my concerns (and postponed to September) and am seeing sections in a completely new light (the difference is akin to working through a dimly lit obstacle course without your contacts on, and working through one with your contacts on with perfect visibility).
The greatest benefit I gained from working with Jonathan was being able to do LSAT studying "my way" - we figure out the habits that are working, the habits that can be improved, the habits I need to break, and the habits I need to form - and break down a plan into solid, active steps so that I can improve - and these are things SPECIFIC to me that no group course can really do. (For example, I needed to take fewer practice tests, read passages in a certain way for practice so that I won't need to "think about it" down the road, and remember to always ask myself certain types of questions to verify my answers because I have certain habits).
On that same token, he also met me at my level to clarify how to improve. A 167 isn't bad (and I was prone to think I was the bee's knees and didn't need any help because I'd hit 175+ a few times...and I didn't want to be babied or treated like easy money) - I didn't have to deal with any "hand-holding bs" (I was perhaps, a bit crazy, had questions, sent in my stats, etc) - and we got straight to it and started doing work (identifying my problems spots: I was half expecting him to say something like "I see you have trouble with CR" - which would have initiated a bludgeoning eye-roll...but instead, it was stuff like "Walk me through how you handle X type of CR questions" followed by stuff like "see...you are doing xyz when you should be doing abc, so let's practice this approach..."). He was also to explain fundamental concepts that I overlooked - and we would figure out what I needed to do to build those foundations. In short, I am very confident that you will definitely learn something you didn't already know (now, you will be reminded a great deal of things that you knew but you had forgotten - but you will definitely learn something new). Whether you are already seasoned and want that extra jolt to hit your target, or if you feel relatively fresh and want a coach to guide you along, or whatever combination/variation in between, you can't go wrong with Jonathan.
raytranr712
Sunday, May 18 2014
This is an awesome, awesome chart...
raytranr712
Sunday, May 18 2014
Figure out a "warm up routine" to get you to the state of accuracy that you are in which enables you to hit the 170 during BR - it might mean some drills, it might mean reviewing old tests.
raytranr712
Wednesday, Jun 18 2014
Hey - I was/am in a similar position. I started preparing this February, initially for the June test. Two weeks before the June test, I was averaging between 167 - 173. Like you, I would be 0-2 in LG, with more in LR/RC.
I postponed my test to September and am presently scoring 174-178 during my PT's. I have SLOWED down the pace of my preparation since I have until September, and have done the following:
- Sought the help of a tutor - the high 160s is already an "A" and to get "higher than an A" I needed additional insight that was for me specifically. I highly recommend Jonathan from the 7 sage videos. Granted, a tutor isn't the cheapest thing, but it's worth that extra jolt.
- Spend more time reviewing my previous tests to figure out my habits. It is time consuming, but figuring out why the correct answer is correct and why incorrect answers and incorrect, and why I made the choices I made. Again, it's a pain, but the gains have been worth it.
- ^ That has worked particularly well for LR - catching all my little habits and tendencies. After identifying my habits and tendencies, I reached out to my tutor (Jonathan), and then started practicing "types" that give me trouble to break bad habits and form new good ones. After about 2+ weeks of that, I see LR sections in a completely new light.
- CR is a lot higher to diagnose - what I did that was most helpful was to do a few passages without time and work on my accuracy, and set increasingly restrictive time limits AFTER I hit my targets. (i.e., take as long as I need in this section and get no more than 2 incorrect - if I hit this target, I will try to finish it within 40 minutes...etc. If I don't hit the score, I take a step back/try again).
Good luck; hope this helps!
raytranr712
Thursday, May 15 2014
I'm just starting to recover from my burnout - take a "productive break" before you go back to bad habits. Read something, workout, play, sleep; reconnect with people who will motivate you and keep you positive - BUT keep your mind engaged. I suggest doing some light drills (redo a game, passage, some lrs) and maybe some of the essay prompts so you don't go cold.
raytranr712
Saturday, May 10 2014
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/squid-and-humans-evolved-same-eye
raytranr712
Wednesday, Jun 04 2014
I've considered what you have considered before - don't waste your money with Testmasters (or any other course for that matter). If you are willing to shell that kind of time and money as it is (abroad, living, eating, etc) I would advise you to consider emailing some of the 7sage recommended tutors. Compose a detailed email of your situation and your primary concerns and questions, and spend an hour or so with a tutor to pinpoint issues and immediate steps you need to take. A good friend of mine did the 7sage course with me, and he did a powerscore as well as a testmasters course afterwards - a he reports that it's a huge waste of time, effort, and money. I (grudgingly) decided to enlist the help of a tutor.
I hated the idea of enlisting a tutor - but not only has it saved so much money and time, it was absolutely worth it (I recommend Jonathan). Have a clear goal in mind, communicate that goal, and they can tell you the very specific things you need to do to get there without the BS.
At the very least, if after you spend an hour or so with the tutor you think "why did I ever listen to that random guy who posted on the forum" you would be absolutely sure in your decision to take an outside course (though I'm pretty sure you won't think that).
Hope this helps. Good luck!
raytranr712
Wednesday, Jun 04 2014
Definitely take your time - there is no "overnight success" possibility with the LSAT. The first time I took the test (3 years ago?) I prepared for 3 months - and it was not enough - but I acted out of fear because "I had to do it otherwise I would never have time to do it later" and it was "part of my plan" and there was "no other time" - and I didn't do so well. Fast forward to this year, I decided to start preparing for it and have been for about 3 months, and I'm doing A WHOLE LOT BETTER (first time = low 160s now low 170s). This "extra time" meant that I was able to be very productive (travel the world, make money, get a higher score, etc) - and it means a how different caliber of law schools/scholarship potential.
After 3 months of work and an "if not now then when / do it and get it over with / but what about the plan" battle in my head, I postponed to the September test because I have not been consistently hitting my highest score. It's a decision that I don't regret, but sometimes just mope over (and when I sometimes have the "if only I just did well the first time" thoughts) and I refocus by thinking of the following:
- I imagine graduating from law school with a mountain of debt and thinking: man, what I wouldn't do for some way to work intensively for three months to get rid of this debt/get rid of some of this debt (how bad would the "if only I had just studied for those few extra months for those points" feeling be then?)
- I imagine going through three years of law school, unhappy, thinking "I wish I went to X law school instead" and thinking "I would do anything to reshape the course of where things are going" (and then the "if only..." thought)
- Having talked to people going through law school ... if I can't tough out trying to ace the LSAT, how in the world am I going to deal with law school exams? Can't win the marathon if you are winded after a warm-up jog.
- Finally, I remember that I deserve "the very best" and that I need to put in the work and time to invest in myself. You've already been swimming and you are halfway across the ocean; you can stop at an island for a breather and to chart out your next steps - by why on earth would you decide that you've made it and stay on that island? Don't throw away the work you've already put in, and remember you deserve more than "halfway." Think - if I want people to take me serious in law school and after law school, I should at least take myself seriously before law school and do everything I need to do.
Don't give up - and let's be real - having to "re-plan everything" in your schedule is nothing more than a real life logic game, and is WAYYY easier than the LSAT.
Hope this helps!
raytranr712
Sunday, Aug 03 2014
I just messaged you with a bit more detail, but I highly recommend Jonathan from 7sage. He might be busier now that the September date is creeping closer - but if you are looking for a tutor, you should bite, scratch, and claw for him. A good two hour session might be enough to help trigger you through your plateau.
raytranr712
Friday, Aug 01 2014
Not sure how frequently you are studying - but consider taking a "productive break." Sometimes, you just have to let things digest appropriately. Consider taking a week off where you read (increase your reading speed, always helpful), work on law school admissions stuff (like your personal statement, rec letters, school research, etc - keeps you motivated), review (old drills, tests, mistakes, materials, concepts), and visit your social life briefly.
It took a lot for me to be willing to give myself a break - but a break doesn't automatically mean being lazy and unproductive. You can get a lot of the little things out of the way and re-motivate yourself and rest...which can help you see the test again in a different light (the difference between solving a problem when tired, and solving it after getting a great night's rest). You can also take care of the little things that get in the way when you are studying (errands, emails, movies and shows you wanted to watch, etc) so when you finally get back on the grind, nothing is there in your way.
If a need for a break isn't the issue, consider a very good study buddy or a tutor to really chat with to get into the specifics of what's in your way.
raytranr712
Friday, Aug 01 2014
Take your time. These things take a bit of time to digest - even after a bunch of drills, learning the "theory," and practice tests (sort of like learning to drive a car - it takes time before you "get" how to be behind the wheel).
Consider taking a "productive break" - review old materials in bite size chunks and improve your reading speed. Do old drills again to see if you can catch where you are struggling. Also - consider hiring a tutor (doesn't have to be a long term thing with a tutor, but a good tutor might help spot what's in your way which can help you figure out what you need to do differently).
Give yourself the time you need to make the progress you want.
raytranr712
Monday, Sep 01 2014
If you don't have time, definitely focus on the bigger picture. If you are practicing and want to improve, I suggest practice reading the passage (un-timed at first) as if you need to explain it to an intelligent 12 year-old (it's sort of like how they "explain" passages as they read through it during the lessons - explaining it bit by bit, then tying it into the entire passage, summarizing along the way and at the very end). Hit the questions, and if you did a great job explaining it to the 12-year old, you should retain the information necessary to answer the questions correctly.
Your comfort level answering the questions and the amount you get correct will determine if you need to do more or less explaining (if you spent a lot of time explaining, but got everything right really fast - then you could do less - notice where you spent a lot of time going into detail that doesn't seem to matter; on the other hand, if you are getting things wrong, you might need to invest more time; if you're like me, you'll start noticing the "types" of questions you are getting wrong and learn to pay attention to those).
Eventually, you'll need to do less "explaining" and it'll process more automatically as you read, and you can adjust your speed accordingly.
raytranr712
Monday, Sep 01 2014
This would depend on the person (I'm someone who jumped from 157 to about 176+ right now) - 7 sage was extremely helpful during this process, BUT it was not as if I got there once I finished the course (that depends on you and how you study). For me, I went through the course, got the concepts, and did a whole lot of practice tests and a lot of BR - and because I understood the "theory" that was taught to me from the course, I was able to learn to consistently apply them and to get comfortable "operating" with those theories (so rather than needing to "think" about it to get the answer correct, that way of thinking became my "default"). This takes time and practice - which varies from person to person.
It's totally possible - but I suggest that you don't look at 7 sage like a boat responsible for getting you to your destination - it's more of a gym - it has everything you need in it (pool, weights, treadmills, etc) and it's up to you to utilize and train and practice so that you can swim across yourself.
raytranr712
Monday, Sep 01 2014
I would only add: since you already have the trainer and 7 sage, don't spend any money on anything else EXCEPT for official LSAT tests OR for an extremely good tutor.
I did the same thing - quit my job in Shanghai, moved back home to LA, to take the September LSAT. Pwn it!