Hello all,

I am currently a third year student in law and political science at the university of Lyon, France, and I am planning to go to the US or Canada for the first year of my masters degree in international law. We have access to several universities for that kind of exchange, and I thought it would be interesting to have American students give me advice on which ones are better and why. The universities I'm interested in are:

- USA: Boston university, the university of Southern California and Brooklyn law school

- Canada: McGill, Montreal, and the university of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Could you guys tell me what you think about them and which one would be better according to you, especially for someone looking to study international law?

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to seek some advice from other 7sagers on tackling Flaw question types.

I have gone over the syllabus a few times on these questions and even memorized the different flaws that could arise. However, I am still averaging around 45 to 50% correct when dealing with these questions. (got the score from my LSAT analytics).

Im following the two step test - 1) Facts 2) flaw but still struggle with these questions.

Can anyone recommend any methods you have used in trying to improve with these question types. Ive noticed these question types appear quite a bit on the LR sections.

Thanks :)

Deleted

I finished the 7sage core curriculum and after finishing the first few PT's to which I have access to solutions, I noticed that PTs 39-51are no longer sold anywhere online... I am pretty upset because the ultimate course gives me guided solutions to 12 PTs to which I have no way of accessing... I feel like this is sort of unfair, and was wondering if anyone else was facing the same dilemma?

Ive looked online everywhere and the best I could find was the Manhattan prep books that include pt 40-51 but they are grouped by question type so there is no way for me to pull them apart and take LSATs under real conditions with these books...

Hi!

So sorry if this topic has been covered before, I just can't seem to find any information online whatsoever! I've completed my undergrad at an international university and am wondering if anyone has any insights or experience with how LSAC calculates grade conversions? I recall seeing on the LSAC website last summer that they are converted to superior, above average, average, and so forth, but the links seem to have been removed.

Does anyone know anything at all about this process? I'm terrified that my GPA will be lower than I expect and negatively affect my chances of admission this year.

Cheers!

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-54-section-4-question-09/

I've spent about 2 hrs dissecting this question and I just DO NOT understand it. At all. I've looked at discussion boards, books, everything. Please, for the love of God, HELP!

This happened!

(For those unfamiliar -- Left: Allison. Right: Nicole)

Okay, this question is outside the possibility of signing up now and possibly withdrawing. I am asking specifically about actually taking the test on September with no plan to withdrawal. Here's why...

I've been studying for a while now and have all but completely met my LSAT goals. I'd say I'm about 1-2 points away from the score I want to at least sometimes hit, though this is mainly to secure plenty of leeway to score within a desired range.

Since I've been studying for a while, I have absolutely decided to take the test in order to apply for next year's cycle. With this in mind, I really only have three test dates from now to the application process for the upcoming cycle ends. While I may not be 100% ready for September, I'm awfully close with just over a month to get closer.

Should I not achieve my goal from a September take, I still have two more takes (December and February), and September would only be a wasted take insofar as the potential impact a retake would have on my psyche. But should I count on being fully ready - which I believe I would likely be by December - I would only have one more potential retake available.

I would really love input on this from fellow 7Sagers, and I'll refrain from citing my personal pros and cons for taking in September no matter the circumstances until/if I get some feedback.

Thanks in advance!

The number of test takers that receive accommodations of time and a half per section is growing from what I can tell, has there been any thought from 7sage on making a four section test proctor that has 53 minute sections?

Admins please delete if I am crossing any lines.

These are MY notes from the free webinars put on David Busis and figured that I should host them somewhere for everyone to view/use. This is just scratching the surface for the breadth of information that David provides in the admissions courses, https://classic.7sage.com/enroll-admissions/.

Admission Webinar Notes

Look at the applications for schools you want to get into now, a lot of them share similar topics.

Timeline

-Should start in June, but July is sufficient

-Focus on research and building resume first

-Develop personal statement draft by end of July

-Line up recommenders, give time to reconnect (have conversation, grab coffee, email correspondence, etc)

-Come august you should begin edit the essays, let them evolve

-By September you should be proof reading the essays for easy errors (review it 4, 5, or even 6 times)

-If applications are ready in October, then apply, if not then wait until you have all ducks in a row and papers as best as you possibly can

-If you apply by thanksgiving you're still great and early, February to march is late and should consider waiting until next year.

Before you start you want to sanitize your Social Media, adjust privacy settings, delete embarrassing/not professional photos

Open prompts truly can be about anything

Don't necessarily write about why you're going to law school, if your resume shows real commitment to social justice, have wanted to be forever, then write about it

if your T-14 schools don't really care, write about something not focused on this

Personal Statement (600 - 850 words, if overwrite that ok, it easier to overwrite and cut then underwrite and add)

(There is more on PS below in this post)

-Make them remember who you are, do not brag about what you've done as that what your resume is for

-Diversity Statement, only write if you can write a really really good one, should generally be shorter than personal statement, if it wants to be longer than personal statement than maybe use that as personal statement

-Wont make up for low LSAT scores or low GPA, but could help put your application into the "Yes" pile

-Stories stick in peoples heads more than facts, remember you as the guy who "Locked keys in car, broke into own car, got arrested for breaking into own car"

-If you have a really good reason to be a lawyer, then write about it, otherwise DONT

Diversity Statement (little bit shorter than personal statement)

-A essay about how you would make the campus more diverse, not tied to ethnicity, religion, etc

-Only write diversity statement if you can talk about how your background shaped you

-A good one wont hurt you, but a bad one WILL

Resume (not the same as a job)

-List interests and activities (these two come up in interviews)

-Shows that you're an human being, humanize yourself

-Only include highlights, show off skills or highlights talents

-Keep to one page, admissions will scan for about 30 seconds, so make it scannable with plenty of white space and easy to read formatting

-Only include highlights

-Have quantifiable accomplishments

-Keep it to one page

Letters of Recommendation (need two or three)

-Around 3 LoR is best, no more than 5

-Academics weigh much more heavily

-Those who know you well are much more helpful

-Those who can tell stories about you, help illustrate your personality

-Can give them information about yourself, might include keys for what you want to be highlighted or how you've changed recently

-Reconnect and help them remember who you are or fill them in on what you've done since last seeing them

Character and Fitness Addendum

-Assume admissions can find out anything available via google, social media, etc.

-Disciplinary action at school or ever arrested, assume that everything you don't disclose will go back to bite you

-Figure out what you should call the incident, Class B or Class C misdemeanor

-Show them what you learned and explain to them why its not going to happen again

Weakness Addendum (Extenuating circumstances)

What happened, How are you trying to fix it, What isn't it going to happen again

-Is this a legitimate problem?

-Did i try to fix this problem?

-Is this going to occur in the future?

-Don't write about a weakness you don't want them to know

-Substantiate the lower GPA in mechanical engineering department with a pass rate for EIT /

-Spin this with being military minded, straight line thinking person for the past X years of life

Why school X essay (optional but NOT OPTIONAL, 1 page or less)

-Although these are stated to be optional they are not!

-This is an INTEREST TEST, if you don't write one or write about a generic reason this shows a LACK OF INTEREST

-Must write it if you have the option, this is a interest test

-Have to do research on the school, talk with students, admissions, graduates

-Cite unique reasons, classes, clinics, professors you want to work with

-Don't make it a generalized statement ("Great professors")

-Should be one page or less

Other Essays (Idiosynchratic)

-Compliment or emphasize other parts of your admission packet

-Use this to expound on your "marketing of yourself"

-Georgetown has 5 additional essays

-Use this emphasize one part of your essay, or if you didn't write about why you want to be Lawyer then write that

Brainstorming

-What 5 seconds changed your life, boil it down to a key moment

-When did you change your mind about something

-What is the hardest thing you've ever done

Personal Statement Webinar Notes

A good personal statement topic finds a good center between What Matters to You and What is an Interesting Story (where there exists the most overlap is what you should write about)

-In additional, a good personal statement where there exists an intersection between what Matters to you and What is an Interesting Story AND doest make you look like a douche

-A really good writer can make almost anything an interesting story (I am not a good writer thought....)

-Tells your life story, or a thin slice of your life's story

Do you have an incredible story (something that could be made into a Lifetime movie?)

-If yes, then you want to use that

-If no then DON'T use that --> Brain storm, general rule is that 1 in 10 ideas are good ones

Personal statement should have an internal before and after, should be a lesson that reflects a small journey you made

Questions to ask yourself to find a good topic

1) When did you change your mind, your beliefs, or your goals? Anywhere in your life where you took a new direction, a big inflection point. Maybe it is smaller than significant change, such as a psychodrama.

2) What is the most challenging thing that you've done? What is your mountain? This might be a really good topic because it presents movement 1- the challenge and movement 2- the solution

3) What contributed to your identity? What shaped you or what made you, you? Might be about how you grew up, such as had to raise your siblings. Maybe you were a parking lot attendant and had a bunch of time to focus on something, like reading.

4) What is most surprising about you? It forces you to dig deep about something that will be memorable. Maybe its a hobby, a skill that most people don't have, or an interest most people don't have.

5) (Most powerful statement) What 5 seconds changed your life? Doesn't necessarily have to be actually 5 seconds. Might be easiest to write because you have an identifiable changing point and have a before and after.

6) What made you want to be a lawyer? This is a good topic for anyone who has a good and sincere interest in becoming a lawyer, not a boring reason such as a stable or respected profession. Don't pretend you want to be a lawyer for some abstract reason because your resume will flush out that your interest isn't actually sincere. If you have some use for your UG degree.

Topics can meld together, such as a 5 second change that drove you to want to be a lawyer.

Dudes favorite essays:

1) Tourettes essay - about a time someone who has tourettes his whole life, seemed ordinary from his POV, but from someone else POV its pretty interesting

2) Defending a Neo-Nazi - a African American who ends up defending a Nazi in court

3) Coffee Shop - A 5 second change in this girls life, who normally didn't stand up for herself, but was a pivotal movement for her

4) Paper Cranes - Korean student who moved to Japan who had an inherent distrust for Japanese culture, while making paper cranes in a park

5) Max's Death - An VETs story about an Iraqi Soldier who died while trying to get his Green Card, focus's more on his relationship between the two NOT ABOUT MAX

6) Tourne - Someone who could make a type of food, tourne, and his struggle

7) Women like you - About a woman who was harassed in a police station in South Korea, turns that moment about being harassed into what are her core beliefs

The best personal statements touch on the MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE

Things to ask:

1) Do you play an active part in this story? If you're not active then the topic probably doesn't work

2) Can you illustrate the point with specific anecdotes and details? These are the "bricks" that build your essay. If you can't remember specific details about the event, it might be a shitty essay because it will be vague

3) Is the topic important to you? Can you write about it sincerely?

4) Is it "the time that"?

Things to NOT DO:

1) Don't say what you're not sincere about because you think its what they want to hear, the admissions will flush out your bullship

Bad Essays Example Topics:

1) The time I witnessed injustice essay, unless you were wronged or people you were connected to were wronged, then this is not going to seem sincere. Did you try to, or actually, do something about it? Did you actively act on that cause?

2) The Blah Business School Essay

-Did this experience working at the internship, or working at your job, matter to you? Did it change you? If not then it will feel like blah.

-Is your accomplishment something special, or was it just doing your job? Sometimes just doing your job can have a sense of nobility.

3) The essay about the obstacle that's not really an obstacle.

-Disappointments are not real obstacles

-Is this an actual obstacle or is this a disappointment?

4) The Two-Headed Essay

-Writer doesn't really know what he wants to write about and morphs into something weird

-Do I have more than one topic?

-Is every paragraph part of the same story?

5) The Headless Essay

-People writing about their resume or writing about

-Can you explain what this essay is about in one sentence or less? If you can't then you probably don't have a good essay

Notes from Admissions webinar on Personal Statement:

Personal Statement (600 - 850 words, easier to overwrite and cut)

-Make them remember who you are, do not brag about what you've done as that what your resume is for

-Diversity Statement only if you can write a really really good one, should generally be shorter than personal statement, if it wants to be longer than personal statement than maybe use that as personal statement

-Wont make up for low LSAT scores or low GPA, but could help put your application into the "Yes" pile

-Stories stick in peoples heads more than facts, remember you as the guy who "Locked keys in car, broke into own car, got arrested for breaking into own car"

-If you have a really good reason to be a lawyer, then write about it, otherwise DONT

Useful resource for examples of PS that worked

University of Chichago School of Law Admissions Letters: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/alumni/magazine/spring11/intheirownwords

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/node/1451

Hi All,

I'm currently registered for the September exam. I've been trying like hell to prep under regular test conditions since May so I don't have to use my ADHD as a sort of crutch to take this exam...but today I've just come to accept that it's a disability that I have and I will need more than the alotted 35 minutes to perform my best on this exam. When I BR I'm scoring in the high 160s/low 170s. And under actual time conditions I'm just all over the place from the high 150s-160s. I've set a routine where I meditate for 15 minutes prior to taking a PT, I listen to the same song to calm me down, I do push ups. But when I'm on the clock I just panic. (When I took the Oct '13 exam I had a panic attack during the 1st section and just never recovered, I should've cancelled..but I didn't)...so I've gone onto LSAC's website to request testing accommodations. I have all the forms from my doctor stating my condition and requesting extended time...but I'm sort of lost on the statement of need that I myself have to submit. What should I put? Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-54-section-4-question-20/

Could someone please explain why answer A is correct. I can get there by process of elimination as I understand fully why the other answers are incorrect. But I'd really like to understand the reasoning between A so I can say I have a "full understanding" of this question. It would be helpful if someone could give an example using numbers.

hello is there any idea of when JY will be posting the review of the June 2016 test? Test 78

I'm just wondering how I should study for RC?

Obviously Blind Review, but how much time should I spend going back and trying to figure out why my wrong answers were wrong? 99% of the time I can get the right answer. That's not difficult. It's doing it in the time constraint.

Looking for someone to study with.

I would like to ask this question.

For relative ordering.

Q - R- P - L

l

G - F

Given the above, who is, could, should or would be first and last and what is the order and ranking?

Also for the same problem.

Y - Z

l

V - W - M - X

l l

K C

Would someone please help me to understand this relative ordering. Thank You.

Hey guys,

I'm about to start taking sections with only 30 minutes instead of 35 to give myself more time pressure because

I found that 35 minutes feels a lot shorter during the test day. Has anyone tried doing this? If yes, what benefits

have you gained?

Hey everyone! SO, I am planning on taking the September test, hoping that it is my last one, but yesterday is making me wary of my prospects. For the past few weeks I have been working exclusively on RC, since that was my weakest section. I took PT 70 on Saturday, hoping to hit around a 163-165, but ended up getting a 156. Based on what I had been scoring on my timed, full sections of RC, and my usual scores on the other sections, this came as a big shock to me. I had been averaging from 3-6 wrong on RC, 2-3 on LG, and around 6 wrong on each LR section. Definitely looking for a bit of inspiration, since I totally fell apart yesterday when reviewing, and started to question whether I should even take the test in September. My BR was 164, also lower then expected. Overall, I was thinking maybe the results were due to not taking a full PT in a while, but I am really unsure what to do at this point. I really wanted to take the test in September and do well on it and be done with it, but like I said, this score is making me reconsider things. So for those much more wise than I, what should I do?????

Hey everyone,

Like many others, I do not come from a science background and therefore I find that I really struggle with Science passages/questions. I have been able to improve this in the RC section by practicing the memory method and focusing on becoming a more active reader. What I really struggle with is the detailed science questions that frequently appear in the LR section. I often find myself losing focus and then having to re-read or spending far too much time trying to figure out what exactly the argument is trying to say. I have tried to apply the same methods that have helped me in RC, but to no avail. I know skipping is a recommended strategy, but at some point I need to take on my fear, don't I? My goal score is 170+ and I am continuously losing points on these types of questions.

Has anybody else come across this problem; someone that has recommendation for me on how I can improve upon my embarrassingly inadequate science cred.

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

I don't know if this thread exists but I thought I would make one. I am really into apps that help me stay productive, organized, allow me to see the tasks I am working on, as well as how long I have stayed productive in a day. Please feel free to suggest any apps that help you all stay effective and focused on LSAT. :)

1. Trello: This is my #1 site. I have a board for LSAT and Habbits (LSAT) that I like to implement. Because LSAT can have so many components,LR,LG, RC, drills, PT, etc, it was hard sometimes for me to know the different things I was working on. I used to feel pretty stressed about keeping tabs on everything I need to work on and scheduling those things. This helps me visually see everything, schedule key drills on days, etc. Plus you can color code things. It's pretty damn good. The only drawback is that somehow my google and apple calendar don't automatically update when I make changes to my Trello calendar. This makes it hard for me to see everything LSAT related on a calendar unless I am logged in to Trello or I manually re-post my link on my calendars. P.S. I have the free account, and it works great. Anyone can make it.

2. Pomello: This keeps track of the hours I study on LSAT. This helps me see clearly the hours I have been productive in a day. The best thing about it is that you can log in Pomello your Trello account and you can access your boards. So you don't have to enter everything twice, and you can see how long you worked on something. It also schedules break for you, etc. I have only recently started using Pomello, so I don't see any drawbacks yet.

3. Stay Focused: I love this website. I have a hard time with staying off facebook etc. So I use this site to block it. You can just google this, and add it to your chrome. The best thing about this is that you can set the time you allow yourself on these websites. I have basically allowed myself 30 minutes total in a day surfing the websites. But you can change it. So its not a complete withdrawal from social life, but it is helpful in setting a limit for myself the time I am allowed to waste on them. :)

4. Productive: I have this app on my phone. It helps you develop a good habit. On a free account, you can have upto 5 habits that you would like to work on, which I think is plenty. I think one habit at a time is the best way to go because its hard to change as a person. It's extremely simple, gives you notifications, you can mark it complete, skip it, take notes etc. For example, I wanted to make it a habit to read an article from Scientific American before going to bed every night. It wasn't easy, but wanting to see my habit in the app go green helped me develop the habit of reading at least an article per night.

5. Flux: I thought I would add this, even though it's not a productivity app. You can download this app from google and it basically uses your location to adjust the brightness of the screen. So in the morning or at night you are not facing this harsh blue screen. It makes looking at the laptop any time of the day easy on the eyes and I think it helps in my eyes not feeling as tired. This is particularly helpful because I am always on my laptop, 7 sage or anything else. So I recommend it.

If you have any other apps or sites that help you stay productive please let me know. I am sucker for them because they are so helpful :)

Hi, I have a question about the method.

I'm not sure whether I'm doing it correctly...

I was doing review bfr checking the correct answers, but now doing aft checking answers.

Because I thought when I choose answer choice, I already have my reasoning to choose it...but is this not efficient?

Why do we have to do the reasoning explanation part again after solving the question? (bc we already choose the ans. based on our reasoning)

If you know the correct reasoning, you would not miss the question.

Also I'm worried whether my reasoning is correct or not, whether that's the reasoning that makes the choices right or wrong...

Maybe I did not understand the BR method correctly. But I'm not sure how ppl improve using this method...

Could anyone elaborate the method a little bit? and if you could answer or address my questions/concerns? :(

Why and how will ppl improve using the method?

Thank you,

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-55-section-1-question-25/

All of the statements follow logically EXCEPT:

A. Some influential art involves original ideas

B. Some 20th century art involves original ideas

C. Only art that involves original ideas is influential (CORRECT ANSWER)

D. Only art that is influential and involves original ideas is great art

E. Some 20th century art is influential and involves original ideas

Can someone explain why C is correct?

I went through and did my conditional diagramming:

Some 20h century art>> great art

Great art>>>original ideas ...... contrapositive: not original ideas>>> not great art

not influential>>> not great art ..... contrapositive: great art>> influential

So i can understand how great art is influential and involves original ideas but I am still unsure of why C is right. Is it because involving original ideas does not necessarily mean its influential?

Wednesday, August 10th at 8PM ET: PT 64

Click here to join this conversation: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/219480381

Please click the link and comment if you plan on participating.

You can also dial in to the BR call by using your phone.

United States +1 (571) 317-3112

Access Code: 219-480-381

The Full Schedule

And if you’d like to see the full schedule for upcoming reviews, here it is:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=7sage.com_ft05lsm54j4ec1s6kj1d1bbpv0%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago

Note:

I still have like 6 weeks until test day and I have improved a lot over the past two months. Reading comprehension is currently a work in progress but I'm feeling pretty good. What should I be doing from now until test day?

I'm sensing probably not?