Hi all,

I got my Sept LSAT score back today and got a 153 (bummer) and am mulling over what to do - if anyone had any advice that would be greatly appreciated!

Here are the circumstances:

SOS :)

How important is the LSAT score in getting a scholarship? I'm an international student and from a poor family. I must get a full scholarship and it's the only way I can afford going to law school. I took the LSAT once and got 175. Is it enough? Should I take it again and try to get a better score or should I work on application essays and other things? Which schools give out more full scholarships to international students? Thank you for your advice!

Hey all!

JK on the title, there are just going to be some difficult decisions to make in the coming months. This post is mainly me just decompressing after receiving my LSAT score and asking for input from others on my current situation, as I don't like to just sit and think to myself at times like these.

So like many people, I got my score back today and was kind of disappointed with the result. My last three PT's averaged like 162.7 and I got a 159 on the actual test. The main school I was highly considering was the University of Utah and their median LSAT is 158. My GPA is 3.92, so I'm not really worried about being accepted, but the issue is that I don't think I will receive much in the way of scholarship money. Utah changed their residency policy so now if you are classified as an out of state student (which I would be) you have to pay out of state tuition all 3 years (base is around $38,000, they are still figuring what the final number will be). I am pretty debt averse, so being over 100k in debt after school sounds like a bad financial decision. My "safety" school (I use quotations because I would enjoy living in the area because I love the mountains and am not really going into law for the money) is the University of Montana. Their median LSAT is 154 and I would be paying significantly less in tuition. I plan on going into environmental law, and Utah has a top 10 EL program, while Montana does not.

For some reason I seem to have a weird ego thing where I would be less excited about going to a school ranked where Montana is ranked (although I could probably accomplish the goals I have there). As for taking the test again in November, I seem to have no motivation to go through prepping and actually taking the test again. I am just trying to make the decision whether to apply with my current score and get into Montana and most likely Utah (but without scholarship money), or to apply to Montana in October with the 159 and then retake in November to see if I could get a better score for more scholarship money at Utah.

So a few questions for everyone: How highly do you consider school (and program) rank when comparing schools if you would enjoy living in both states and would plan to stay in those states to practice law? Given the information in this post, would you recommend applying to both schools in October with the score I have or to apply to Montana in October and then retake in November and apply to Utah in December?

A lot of this post might be me getting my thoughts and feelings off my chest, but I feel that is the best way for me to rationalize the score I got since I tend to be way too hard on myself when it comes to things like this. Thanks in advance for any insight!

Admin note: edited title, no all caps please

I had planned to apply to law school during this cycle, but things in my life have changed. The new circumstances already had me leaning toward waiting to apply next year, and getting my LSAT score today basically confirmed that waiting is the right choice. I have already requested LORs, and one professor has already completed the letter. Now I will not need the letters until next year. Is there a specific protocol for how to address this with them? Can I just send an email or should I meet with them in person?

After getting my September LSAT score, I'm pretty disappointed. I first took it in June without much preparation, and got a 151. After studying the entire summer, my PT has been around 160. However, my September score was almost the same as my score in June. I plan on taking the November LSAT, and I would really appreciate if you guys could please give me some studying advice. Thank you!

Hey fellow LSAT'rs!!

I'm looking for a study partner to each other motivated, accountable, and problem solve. Basically someone who'll be my buddy every step of the way on our LSAT prep. One of the deficiencies with online courses is that you don't have the same accountability as in-person courses have. This, I believe, can be somewhat mitigated by a steady partner--especially someone local to periodically meet up.

Goals: I've done some study before, but I'm starting afresh with the full Ultimate+ syllabus. My diagnostic score was 156, however, 170+ is my ultimate goal (really 175+ so I get into Harvard problem-free, but that's just a touch delusional :-)). I'm serious and committed to doing whatever it takes to get a high score.

If you're interested, please message me here or via txt @347-770-5573 to discuss times etc.

So I am about to resume prep for the Nov. test after getting my results today. Unfortunately, I have used all of the pt's at KHAN. Should I restart my account fresh there to go along with 7 sage's core curriculum?

Do I get to see what my transcript or what the admission will see? I’ve graduated forever and a day ago and I honestly don’t remember mg gpa and what I did badly on. Makes it hard to write an addendum.

Hey guys, this may be a stupid question, but for the admission ticket photo, must I actually go to Walgreens or CVS and get an actual passport photo to upload to the LSAC site?

Or can I just take it with my smartphone (meet all the requirements laid out by LSAC) and upload that?

Thanks.

Looking for opinions from those of you wiser than me! I scored a 159 on September LSAT...exactly my practice test score. Here's the complicating factor...I missed 12 on LG, also typical for me. Long story short, I have a weird spatial learning disability that makes diagramming and inferring from diagrams quite difficult for me. I am a non-traditional student at 49 years old, have a great GPA and Phi Beta Kappa membership from undergrad, am finishing an MA in the spring, and owned my own business for 20 years prior to this endeavor. So, do I try to find some additional LG resources to complement 7Sage and re-take in November? I'm not aiming for Top 14 but financial aid is an imperative. TIA for your expertise!

I just typed out this mass of text for a comment, and thought maybe it could help others as well. This response was in regards to a question about overcoming nerves and test day stress. Hope it can be useful for you:

Simulate the real experience, and induce even more pressure.

Be realistic, and thus, relaxed

Be healthy

Nerves only exist when there are contradictions in our own minds, such as: having deep desires to achieve things that we know we probably can't actually achieve, or placing overwhelming value for specific results even when we know some things are not within our control (I use to have these contradictions in my head, and they rocketed my stress). Reconciling with our own self, and having our expectations connect with reality is the best way of getting rid of nerves, but if that isn't possible right now, then try to simulate even more extreme stress, so that the stress on the test day seems more tolerable in comparison (Imagine going sky-diving to overcome the fear of heights).

Why does it say this? "unofficial score report"

LSATers,

As I'm sure all of you are studying extremely hard, I would expect that many of you haven't heard all that much about the Congressional hearings on Dr. Christine Ford's allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. For those of you that have, as prospective law school students, what are your thoughts on them? (Dr. Ford's testimony, Judge Kavanaugh's fitness for the Supreme Court, the way sexual assault allegations are handled going forward, the bitter partisan divide, etc.) All points of view are welcome!

Hi all,

I took September and, upon reflecting, found that the pressure of test day--the environment, being around other test takers, the proctors, etc.--certainly through off my game. I'm curious if anyone has come up with strategies to practice and ultimately overcome pressure on test day. Just so you know what I have already tried:

I had been practicing in the same test center location several weeks leading up the exam, so it was not because it was a foreign/unknown environment;

I have practiced most types of meditation and mindfulness practices, and even did one before the exam.

Open to other suggestions as I prepare for Nov 2018!

Thanks!

Happy Friday, ya'll

I've been thinking a lot about my personal statement and I've decided to talk about an experience that reaffirmed my commitment to justice and pursuing law but it might be a little controversial. Basically, I had an encounter with a retired cop and a lot of his stories were really glamorized stories of what was essentially police brutality and power trips. By no means do I want to come off as a police-hater. I have a lot of respect for law enforcement and I believe that good police officers carry out justice. In fact, I have a few police officers in my family.

It was just a really eye-opening experience and I think it might show my commitment and passion for law and justice.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks!

I have two situations I want to ask you guys about:

A while before and during my prep for LSAT and law school, I started doing angel investing, and got incredibly close to 2 founders at now multi-million dollar companies. I've changed and developed enormously during the last year or so, especially during the process of helping with their companies. I feel like they know me and speak for me better than any of my professors, and probably any past colleague or boss can. They have all eagerly offered to write and basically wrote it on the spot when I asked them if they would be my referrer, but I am not sure if I should use these. From an outside perspective, there is obviously a potential conflict of interest, as I am a partner and a shareholder in their life's work. Do you think I should use these letters?

One of my favourite professors has agreed to write a letter for me, but the thing is, I got a B-, and a B in his classes, meaning, I was not only not a top student, but in fact, a low performing student. However, that professor, who taught me marketing and entrepreneurship, knows that he affected me deeply, and is part of the reason why I changed from my traditional banking career, and went into the start-up world and then started getting involved in venture capital, and can provide a unique perspective to my application. It probably won't be too personal though, because it was about 5 years ago, and he probably didn't pay much attention to me. Do you think I should use his letter?

I really appreciate any insight on this topic. I know it may be a tad unusual, but I honestly don't quite know what to do. I'll probably end up using them though, if there are no strong objections, since I don't want to re-use past references and have been self-employed for too long now.

Hi all! I'm wondering whether (& to what degree) student activism belongs on a law school resume. It was one of my main extracurriculars and leadership roles, but I'm not sure how much to say if it involves a branch of an explicitly left national student organization, or organizing around raising university service workers' wages and unionization struggles (things that law schools probably aren't so keen on either?)

Thanks in advance!

I do pretty decent on RC section and by and I thought I’d share a resource that I love that I think would be good for people to practice reading comprehension on science topics.

It’s a website called sciencedaily.com and they have abstracts from a lot of scientific journals. It’s laid out like a normal online newspaper but it is all very heavy sciency stuff on lots and lots topics. In length they’re about what a RC page is.

Anyway, I read it for fun and it does make you familiar with a wide range of science topics without getting too long and too deep into specifics

Hello,

So I'm just looking at my very rough draft for PS and I'm quoting someone I've worked with in the past and I'm opening my PS with a very brief conversation with him. And as a direct way to quote that person to help illustrate my principle in life/work ethic, I threw in the word "half-ass." Once again, I didn't say it. S/he did. Will this make admissions officers cringe? Since I'm going to directly quote him, it would sound super awkward if I rephrased it like "halfheartedly" because that's not how colleagues at work speak to each other in an informal setting. Well at least I know that's not exactly how the conversation went.

What do you think? I mean it's not an F bomb but I don't know what to do with this. Should I not risk it? #supercautious

Hey guys!

I've seen lots of great posts about listening to podcasts, reading books, or watching informational youtube videos on subject matter that you struggle with. However, I have yet to come across something that deals with agriculture. I don't know what particularly it is about this topic that just baffles me and I'm trying to familiarize myself with it. If anyone has any suggestions for books or podcasts or any other media form I can engage with for my benefit, it would be much appreciated!

https://i.gifer.com/RFCG.gif

Premises: 1) a survey of 17-year-old has found that many who do not drink report having taken a pledge to refrain from drinking; 2) almost who drink report having never taken such a pledge

I wonder whether what these premises establish is a mere association (some weaker form of correlation) instead of a correlation???

Admin note: added link

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-69-section-1-question-24/

Does anyone have recommendations on main conclusion questions? I am struggling in that category and can not seem to get it down. Seems like my biggest problem is finding the conclusion and premise when there is nothing but an argument starting with But,although, and however. The easier questions I don't seem to have issues with, its when we start getting towards that the harder questions.

longtime submarine here. just had to share. almost wish I were making this up.

first night, I dreamed that my score was six points lower than my target score.

second night, I dreamed that my score was SEVEN points lower than my target score.

last night, I dreamed that I got the email, opened the mail app on the phone, but the message was corrupted/glitched and crashed the app, forcing me to check the LSAC website on the computer, only to find out that I messed up the bubbling for biological information and the test score was cancelled as a result.

pretty worried what the dream will be tonight lolol.

Hey everyone! If I need to add something to my application after I already submitted it, can I do so? I realized my doctor didn't fill out one question, and I originally didn't think it was crucial, but now I'm thinking it may be necessary. Any advice on how to go about this?

I can't imagine how informative and fruitful law school fairs and campus recruiting events must be for y'all Americans, but yesterday I had a chance to meet a few school reps who came to visit my city in Canada. It was my first time meeting anyone from the admission committee, talk about the process outside the online 7sage forum, and was shocked to see so many other eager and passionate applicants (in real life).

It was overall a very uplifting experience because I could really see the passion they had for their programs. Well, I got to meet one of the Assistant Deans for a school I was interested in applying, and I instantly bonded with her over our passion for biotechnology and drug discovery! I worked as an anti-cancer research assistant for a couple of years before taking this route as a law school applicant. Turns out she was also heading the Innovations & IP clinic of that school. I think I ended up talking to her for about 20 minutes and then she asked for my personal contact before I left the fair.

This morning, I got in touch with an IP law professor of that school (who happens to be very famous in the scientific world for her research), who happens to work with pharmaceutical and biotech firms in the city the school is located in. I had a phone call after that and she got me in contact with the people who can help me secure a summer job in their R&D department even before law school started. This is super exciting!

Of course, I need to work really hard to meet their median LSAT score on the November exam to be a qualified applicant, but the moral of the story is, when you are genuinely interested in a school's program, do your homework, and ask questions nicely, the reps will guide you in a way and help open doors for you. Just wanted to share some positivity during this anxious time!