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All, i have seen differing opinions on this, and i did try to search for previous discussion threads....

What is, in your opinion, the best way: reading the question stem first, or reading the LR stimulus..?

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So I started preparing for LSAT recently (last week), and I have bought the 3 bibles along with previous PTs.

What's your opinion about the bibles?

Is it true that the bibles are a waste of time? That's what I concluded from several people who studied the bibles then found out about 7sage. I consider myself lucky to find 7sage at an early stage.

I am really confused at this stage. My current thoughts are to study with the bible for the first couple of months then jump to 7sage buying the starter package(3 months) but, of course, there are worries along with that including getting confused with different approaches, burning some tests, wasting time with powerscore.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Last thing, I am planning to write it in June 2015.

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Hey everyone,

Let me just say first that I was going to post something re: my subject on TLS but I was afraid they would all shoot me down regardless of what I said...everyone here seems much nicer and not as crazy. :)

I sat for the December LSAT and scored a 157. I was doing practice tests around that range, so it was no surprise, but the two I've taken since then have been a 159 and a 160. I know it's not THAT huge of a difference, and the scores really aren't that great at all, but I really feel like it may make a big difference in my applications. I am registered for the Feb LSAT as of now. That being said...I don't want to eff up my chances by finally submitting an application in early March.

I've got a 3.56 GPA, my major GPA was a 3.85 from Wisconsin and I have a very obvious upward trend in my junior/senior years in school. I spent two years working at a law firm while in college. I'm currently serving an Americorps VISTA year, work as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for children who are abused or neglected and advocate for them in a courtroom, and spent a year working with children on the Autism Spectrum. I want to study Special Education/Disability Law and possibly Health Law, so I'm looking into some schools with very specific programs.

Schools I'm applying to (in order of ranking):

William & Mary (has a Special Education clinic)

University of Wisconsin

University of Minnesota

Northwestern

WUSTL

UNC

Richmond (already got in, and has a special education clinic)

Loyola (Childlaw Fellowship Program)

Michigan State

Syracuse (dual degree, JD/MS in Disability Studies)

Depaul

I guess my question is this: I know that about half of the schools I'm applying to are pretty far reaches (but are also schools with a reputation of having a more "holistic" view of applicants), while the other half are safeties. I'm excited I've already gotten into Richmond, as that is a promising option for me, but I don't know if it's more important to submit my applications to the other schools earlier, with a 157, or wait until March and maybe score a few points higher. I have technically submitted all of my applications, and all of the schools (except Richmond) emailed me saying they were holding my app until Feb scores.

Thoughts?! I know it's a lot. I just can't stop going back and forth!

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Hi 7Sage! I love this forum, sorry to pester you all again with walls of text.

Background: I started studying the June 2007 test. I did well on the RC/LR sections but only got halfway through the second game of the LG section before I hit 35 minutes. I think I got three wrong so ended up 6/23 for the section. Since then my entire focus has been on logic games. I've probably printed out some 40 games and completed them under timed conditions, and I've read the entire Powerscore LG Bible. I still can't complete 4 games in 35 minutes consistently. It's easily my weakest section despite putting all my focus on it.

I knew there was no chance I could study for the February exam with school going on so I decided to take last December's while I was traveling so I could see where I was at. I missed an entire game on the LG section (filled in all Ds for it so I might have gotten me a point or two) and scored a 166.

Since then I've taken 4 timed PTs and scored very well when I complete the LG section in time (172, 175) and worse when I don't (166, 167). Generally I lose very little on RC/LR (they're about equal losses for me) and that hasn't really changed since I started taking tests. That said I think the only way I'm getting accepted into a decent law school in Canada with my abysmal GPA (the program I'm in is terrible for GPA but that's another story) is with a T14 level LSAT. So I know that in all likelihood if continual drilling of LG sections is not improving my speed anymore I really need to be able to count on a -0/1/2 for each of the other three sections.

BUT I also know that reading about LGs dramatically changed how I approach them and how I think about them. In some ways it's good, in some ways I think it's actually slowed me down (surely a lot of my improvement can be chalked down to repetition). I am very nervous about studying RC/LR extensively only to destroy some innate logic I've developed before the LSAT or to slow down my reasoning as I usually finish those sections with 1-2 minutes. I'm also worried of making my logic formulaic (as stupid as that might sound), because the way I approach RC/LR right now feels pretty organic, and the way I do LG feels totally formulaic.

Of the questions I've gotten wrong, no type stands out. The only similarity between them is that they were all 4/5 star difficulty questions, but I have no types of question to drill/learn about specifically. So for anyone who has been at the point where they average -3/-5 or something like that on LR/RC and wanted to take that down to consistent -0/-2 did you manage it? And how did you go about doing it? Or if anyone found LR/RC came naturally to them did you find studying those sections specifically was actually detrimental? And if anyone thinks it's worth studying LR/RC, what would you say I should start with material wise? As for LG, is there any better speed improving strategy than to drill?

Sorry this is so long or if it all comes off as paranoid. I'm just feeling a little nervous after talking to schools and finding out the level of score I'll have to get to be accepted anywhere decent and am kind of lost on how to move forwards from here.

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Last comment thursday, jan 15 2015

Score Jump

Hi 7Sage community! I have a quick question for you guys:

I took the LSAT for the first time two and a half years ago and I really didn't do my best. However, I sat for the December 2014 LSAT and my new score is 6 points higher than my old one. So I know that law schools will be able to see both scores, but I've heard that they really consider the highest score. How true is that? I mean, should I be applying to schools with LSAT ranges that include my higher score or will I have to shoot a little bit lower?

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I would like to thank 7Sage for supplying the December 2014 LSAT. I know other programs do it as well, but I really appreciate 7Sage, J.Y. and the staff for allowing me to look over my mistakes on the 2014 Dec LSAT. I plan on taking it again on June 8th and feel confident that if I go through the course a 2nd time and go over the 2014 exam ( and any other PT I take), endlessly that I will do a lot better in June.

When I was studying for the Dec LSAT I put all my eggs into one basket, the Logic Games section. I would get 3-5 wrong and this was my saving grace. I was getting constant 156-157. Of course it's not the best score, but I felt good doing well in 1 section.. The others were average. In December of course, the games were a lot harder than most of the PTs I had taken (I think we all remember the rug game). I was never good at In/Out with a combination of Grouping, and I always put those off. Well, that bit me right in the ass.

That's some back story to my Dec. LSAT. I will be working hard for June! Congrats to anyone that did well in December and good luck to those studying for future LSATs!

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I'm curious of the accommodations made based on left handedness. I consider myself somewhat ambidextrous, although I write using my left hand. However, I am more comfortable in most right handedness situations, if that makes sense.

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Hello all,

I have been intensely looking at the LG explanations for every game since the first LSAT until the most recent one. Is this the best approach to take to get a perfect score on the real test? I feel the upcoming test will largely be just different variables for the same type of game? I really enjoy the explanations that J.Y. gives

Also, I have been looking for Study Guides for the LR and RC. I incorporated the Reading Comp Memorization Method and that seems to be useful. I am trying to improve with LR and I listened to all video explanations for the June 2007 LSAT. Can anyone supply me with these study guides and any advice to improve in LR??

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For statements with if and only if, does it matter which variable I write first?

Example: V is selected if and only if P is selected

the if and only if here is referring to P so the solutions in the book show

P (--) V

not V (--) not P

but if I wrote it out as

V (--) P

not P (--) not V

Would that be correct since this is a biconditional statement? if past would make P sufficient condition and the only if part would make P the necessary condition. Am I thinking of this correctly?

Also, can I think of biconditionals as implying that the two variable must always go together meaning that PV will always be together in the "in" group or in the "out" group. There is never a possibilities where one variable is in and the other is out. So, I could show them as a block in my diagram.

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I understand the difference between either or and either or but not both

I am confused about the diagramming aspect and not sure if my way is correct

Either or (implies possibly both)

So, I think of this in negative terms (absence of a sufficient condition)

not A -> B

not B -> A

A -> may or may not have B (so AB is also possible)

versus

Either or but not both

So, I think of this in positive terms (presence of sufficient condition)

A -> not B

B -> not A

In this case, there no other possibility (both AB can never be possible)

Is there a way to show this using double sided arrows or double not arrows? I am confused about that.

I know that double sided arrows ((--)) are used for biconditionals like "if and only if" and "if but only if"

and double not arrows ((-I-)) are used for neither nor

Is my reasoning correct?

Somehow I think that I have gotten myself mixed up with all this conditional logic stuff

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I am confused between the difference of these two forms of conditional logic

not A -> B

not B -> A

versus

A -> not B

B -> not A

Do both forms above really mean either or, but not both?

In one of the games explanations, I remember coming across a point that starting with a negative term as the sufficient condition, meaning where the absence of a sufficient condition guarantees a necessary condition is somehow different than starting with a positive term for the sufficient where the presence of a sufficient condition guarantees the necessary condition. BUT I am having trouble seeing if there is a difference in the meaning of the above two forms and hat kinds of inference I can make from them.

Can someone please clarify this? I am really confused.

Thanks,

Pamela

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Hello 7sagers,

The LSAT Analytics is a great tool to review what I got wrong. I also think the statistic chart quite cool--I can know my weakness in seconds! (I planned to categorize RC type by myself before I found this!)

I'm just curious about the difference between the "difficulty" and "priority"--I guess that "difficult" indicates percentage of 7sage(the lower, the harder, and vice versa), and "priority" means "personal priority"(one that I got wrong).

Is my understanding correct?

Thanks for replies.

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Does anyone have a good system for best incorporating the prep test explanations into his/her studying? I review them with the accompanying prep test but has anyone else figured out a better way to leverage this material to get better results? I feel like I'm wasting an opportunity by just reviewing the explanation for wrong answers.

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Last comment wednesday, jan 14 2015

Bottomed Out in LG - Help!

Over the last 4 Tests, I have completely blanked out during the LG sections. Its like I can't make inferences anymore. I don't know why either and LG used to be a strong suit. Besides going over the games sections again, does anyone have any recommendations?

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Last comment wednesday, jan 14 2015

Is it worth it?

I started studying for LSAT in July - I quit my job so that I could dedicate every waking moment to studying. I felt really good about where I was and was PT'ing at 166. Took the September LSAT and was incredibly disappointed when I got a 158. I usually get perfect scores on LG, so when that tricky section threw me off, I knew my score would be lower, but not that much lower! So I studied more for the December test, and was PT'ing even higher - 167-170. Again, I was devastated last night when I found out I only scored a 158 again.

So here's my real concern: my score doesn't reflect my ability at all, and it seems like I have a test taking problem--some serious nerves are causing me a lot of grief. I took 40 different practice tests. I only scored below a 160 3 times. That is seriously concerning to me. Is it even worth it to take the test a third time? I have this fear that I will inevitably get nervous again and wind up with a 158 for the third time. But I also really can't imagine waiting until next cycle to take the test all over again and waiting another year to go to law school. I had originally intended to apply for the 2013-2014 cycle, but unfortunately I experienced a string of deaths of people close to me during the summer when I needed to study but just couldn't. I don't think a 158 is a good enough score to get me into a school I'd be happy at. But I can't imagine waiting yet another year only to score the same 158 a third time.

So I guess my options are to go for it for this cycle with a 158 and hope I get in to one of the schools I want. Or to forego this cycle, put it off another year, retake in June and HOPE that my score will be higher even when I have so much doubt? And I have no idea what the dynamics around taking the Feb test would be.

I've just been mulling over these thoughts in my head for a day now and I could really use any outside opinion. I totally trust you guys and this forum has helped me a lot so I would appreciate any honest opinion. Thanks for taking the time to hear me out!

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Hi guys!

I started the Ultimate course about a few weeks ago and I work full-time. I've been getting up at around 5 AM to do the lessons until about 7:30 AM. I realized that when I try to study after work, it's much harder, especially when people are awake at home and I'm super tired from the commute and work.

My question is: Should I be working on something other than the lessons each day? I go through the lessons and do the practice sets (if applicable) but I'm not sure if I should be doing more. I took a TestMasters class a couple years ago that required 4-hr classes twice a week and hours and hours of homework on top of that. I'm not seeing anything like that with 7Sage and I just wanted to check in and make sure I'm not missing anything like important practice.

Even if there's no practice required, how do you all study while doing the lessons? Review notes or do problems all over again?

Thanks so much for your help!

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So my relationship with the LSAT has unfortunately been long. In college, I was determined not to/freaked out about taking a couple years off after school--which meant I had to get the LSAT done before I graduated. My initial diagnostic was a 157 and at the height of my PTs I was scoring in the mid to high 160's, my highest being a 167 (this was also before I took 7sage). I was scoring well for my goal (168-170) but was still over the time limit on each section by a couple minutes. But being the neurotic person I am, instead of pushing the test back--I took it. Weeks before the test my PT scores were fluctuating all over the place from a 166 here to a 155 there and that only made me more nervous (I have anxiety in case you couldn't tell). Anyways, test day roles around and I ended up with a 153--BELOW MY INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC. I was heartbroken--and still am. Anyways now my confidence is totally shot and I'm about to start taking PTs again so I was wondering if anyone has any tips on managing stress before and during the test and whether my goal of a 168-170 seems reasonable. Thanks a bunch in advance for all the help, I love this discussion board so far!

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Last comment tuesday, jan 13 2015

Full-Time Work and PTs

Hello everyone,

I took the LSAT in September 27, 2014. I got a 145. It was a confidence killer, but I picked myself back up and I have started my prep for a retake in June or October. I'm trying my best to forget what I learned the first time around and start from scratch on my prep work. I registered for the 7Sage Starter Course so I could start the lessons. I plan on upgrading to Premium this week. I took the June 2007 PT this weekend. I got a 149 timed and a 155 BR. I see it as progress.

Furthermore, I am a non-traditional student. I turn 30 next week. I've been out of school a couple of years. And I've been working on and off in customer service. I was unemployed the first time I was preparing for the LSAT. But I went back to work October 6, 2014. I work full-time (M-F 8:30-5PM) and I have a long commute through heavy traffic. By time I get home, I want to crash and have other things to take care of to live life. I work in a small call center and I can usually do the lessons and quizzes in between calls or on a slow day. But the problem is with the PTs. The only time I have a 3-4 hour block of time to devote to a PT is on the weekends. Unless I was to time each section individually instead the test as a whole then maybe I could do some through the week, but I would imagine splitting timed sections for a full PT would not be advised. I suppose BR could be split but not the timed PT. So, what I did with the June 2007 test was I took the fully timed 4 section PT Saturday, took a break, did my BR that evening (probably rushed a bit) and I reviewed and watched explanations Sunday and I'll continue through the week.

I'm trying not to rush through my 7Sage course but I am also trying to finish it with plenty of time. But I am also trying to take as many PTs as possible. I have 30-something weeks if I take October. I'm trying to figure out how many PTs I should take and when I should start based off my tight schedule. I have about 40 PTs and the three February ones in SuperPrep. Of course, I logically cannot take all 40 and can use some of them for 5 section practice runs. I'm thinking maybe I could start taking PTs earlier than on the study schedule and it can help me gauge my progress but I'm also worried about starting too soon and using up PTs too quickly. If it matters my biggest reasoning issues are in LR. LG and RC are mainly timing issues and I think extensive practice will help the logic issues there. I apologize that this was long but any advice would be appreciated.

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Last comment tuesday, jan 13 2015

Burnt Out

Hi all,

I've taken the LSAT twice already; in September and in December. My scores were about the same both times; 8+ points off from my goal. After careful consideration I've decided that I want to go to my top schools badly enough to continue studying and try again in June. However, after my disappointing December score as well as studying + full time work, I'm unmotivated and burnt out. Any ideas on how to get back into the groove of studying every day?? Any tips/advice would be appreciated :)

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Dear JY and the 7Sage Team,

I am ecstatic to be applying to law school and its all because of your wonderful program. In 3 months I went from a 146 to a 159 (even though I was scoring 162 on the PTs!!). Nevertheless, I am so thankful that you have made this program affordable, comprehensive, and fun! Without 7Sage I may not be where I am today. Thank you so much!

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Hey 7Sagers! Got a question in my inbox that I think you might be able to help out with. Here it is:

Hi I have a question about lsdas gpa conversition to ugpa. I graduated llb program in my country ı want to jd at top14 law school .fırst year İ took civil law but my grade was (FF) ,family law (FF),criminal law(FF) then ı entered University exam again and ı changed my law school . My school accepted all my fırst year and second year courses without civil law, family law,criminal law and in my transcript fırst year and second year courses writing (E) mean Exempt. but civil law,family law,criminal law courses grades were (FF) , I took these three courses again and my civil law grade(AA),family law grade (AA) , criminal law grade(AA), ı graduated from istanbul university. in istanbul university transcript these three courses grades were(AA) but In my previous university transcripts these three courses grade wriring(FF).If lsac accept my two transcripts of the three courses will be counted again.what can i do for this problem? or is this problem for my lsdas gpa calculation?Thnx a lot for your helping

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