Hello,
I am hoping someone could give me some guidance ..
I have been studying the fundamentals of the LSAT sans tutor/books/etc for the past year while working full time and have had moments of "damn! why can't I just afford a tutor!?" and stopped and reassessed my studying & approach. It was at that time (about a month ago) that I came across 7Sage. The one and only PT i have taken is the 2007 one and scored a 144 (very upsetting)
I
don't want to give up and think thats the best I can do since becoming an attorney has been a dream of mine since I was younger.
I am working through the curriculum and really taking the time to understand how to approach each section. Does anyone have any advice on anything else I should be doing to supplement the curriculum? I work 8-5 M-F, I study from about 6-9pm M-Thurs. & of course Saturday & Sunday.
I wanted to take the LSAT so I could apply for the fall 2017 school year, but I also don't want to give myself that deadline and add more anxiety to my progress, so I am open to waiting..
Any advice/guidance is appreciated!
Thanks guys
Comments
Take the lsat when you're ready. Law school isn't sinking over night. If it takes you a year to get your goal score, so be it. If it takes 2 years, so be it. The only thing it comes down to is you will to put in the effort. The test is learnable and you can do it too.
You're totally not alone. We've all been there (some still are).
How have you been studying for the LSAT over the past year? What study material did you have/use? I'm in a similar situation as you. I've been studying for nearly a year now, and had my fundamentals all wrong. I started out with the bibles and did not hone in on those fundamental skills enough, wasted a bunch of PTs, and wasn't nearly as prepared as I should've been. Took the LSAT last December, and totally bombed it.
Honestly, one PT is nothing. It's merely a diagnostic, if nothing else. That 2007 PT you took will show you how much you can learn and grow from here. I've started the 7Sage curriculum about 3 months ago, and I can honestly attest to its incredible effectiveness.
The best thing you can do is really take the time and go through the entire curriculum before you touch another PT. REALLY hone in on all of JY's lessons. Repeat those that you had trouble with until you understand them (like REALLY understand them). Don't set yourself a LSAT deadline. Law school isn't going anywhere. Set yourself an LSAT goal, study until you've reached that goal, take the LSAT and ace it!
I also work full-time 8-5 M-F, and I've dealt with burnout before, so keep in mind that burnout is a real problem, so you don't want to overdo it and stress yourself out.
I study right after work M-W take break Thursday and Friday and resume over the weekend. Sometimes I take a break on Saturdays, too. I can usually get in 9-10 hours of studying during the week and an additional 8-10 over the weekend.
You have to truly believe in yourself! You can do this!!
Feel free to reach out to me anytime you need a little positive reinforcement. I know I needed it after my LSAT fiasco and burnout dilemma.
@jennilynn89 Glad to know I am not alone.. The past year, I didn't really have a training plan/material. I was foolish and thought the LSAT was just "another standardized test"..and boy was I very wrong and got the wake up call I deserved.
Last December I bought the LSAT trainer and worked my way through it and I started to understand the break down of the LSAT and found myself being able to read an LR question and know what the question asked of me, I could come across a LG game and know how to set up a game board, and for RC I finally saw how the passage could be broken up (so I thought). In my mind, I was ready. So, I took my first PT about a month before the June LSAT and this is when I saw my 144 and immediately withdrew. I stopped, reassessed, and decided to purchase 7Sage. I have been working thoroughly through each lesson, like you said, even if that means spending 30 min on an explanation of a question or reading through the comments to find a way that makes sense to me.
In the past year, I have noticed a burn out trying to devote equal time to work & studying. I am going to take your advice and take a brain breather when needed. I hope I can see an improvement like you have in the near future.
I guess I am worried that come my next PT after fully finishing the curriculum I don't see an improvement (Need to shake this off !!)
I really appreciate the support..Its great knowing there are people here pursuing the same goal, thank you!!
pearlsPTs have; especially because there's not much of them! It seems you're focusing on all the wrong things which leads up to your anxiety and discouragement. I was on the same boat as you when my Feb LSAT score came in, but also like yourself, being an attorney is a dream of mine so I'm not and you're not going to let a bad attempt allow you to give up on your dreams! Also you're in the best care there is in terms of LSAT success....7sage curriculum does wonders to your performance and this forum is seriously so encouraging and uplifting....I love it here and I'm sure you will too. Give it your all and don't sweat it, and most of all DO NOT rush into taking an LSAT. If Sept is your goal LSAT so be it, but if your PTs are showing you still need more practice after Sept. then so.be.it. Take as much time as you need for this exam.....I've said this so many times because I want you all to learn from my mistake: A stronger LSAT score outweighs an earlier application ALWAYS. Good dayI also work full time as well, so I feel your struggles. I would search the discussions forums using the search bar to view other opinions on working full time and the LSAT. I remember Jonathon Wang either created a post or commented on one that I found very useful. I'll try and find it for you. If it's your dream to be a lawyer-don't give up!!!!
Pushing back to 2018 isn't the worst thing in the world, especially if you want to apply with the strongest possible LSAT score, another year of participating in this community will give you a massive return on your investment, if you're willing to make it.
To give you an idea, my diagnostic was a 150 in November '15 that turned it into a 169 for the June '16 sitting.
I studied while working 7-3:30pm.
Or 6-430 if you account for the fact I cycled to and from work... But more like 4:15am-5:30pm if you account for making food, stretching, and packing up to leave every day.
I only had a couple hours every night, even then I was sacrificing a lot of sleep at times when I had to.
With time, it will come, feelings of discouragement are part of it. This test breaks you, but 7sage will continue building you back up until you're prepared to succeed!
My financial aid will expire if I don't take advantage of this year's admissions cycle. I am definitely freaking out right now, and am right there with you. I am only 46% through the course, so I have been spending every moment available to me on 7sage. I hope I can finish by September! Btw, my diagnostic was 141, but I am seeing a HUGE improvement after the lessons.
Thank you again!!
Karen
I have always wanted to be an attorney as well and I too was willing (and actually ended up) pushing back my entrance into law school for the sake of a better score. I can't say that you will need to push your test date back, but I think you're in a great position with the mindset you have. If you aren't where you are goal-wise come test day, I would strongly recommend pushing back to a later date, even if that means waiting another year. The chance to earn even a modest score increase is well worth the risk of entering law school just a year later.
Just remember, your diagnostic is just that; a test to gauge your improvement. You only started a month ago and that's not long at all. You'll start seeing improvements reflected in your score once you finish the core curriculum and Blind review your tests...
You got this!
Next week I start my 4-month study routine. I'll list it below for you. Use it as guidance to build your schedule, or steal it if you want to.
1. Take a Prep Test on Monday (after work) and Saturday.
2. Blind Review Monday Prep Test Tuesday through Friday.
3. Blind Review Saturday Prep Test on Sunday.
4. After taking four Prep Tests separate the four test into sections.
5. Drill LR for 35 minutes on Tuesday before work; Blind Review during lunch break.
6. Drill LG for 35 Minutes on Wednesday before work; Blind Review during lunch break.
7. Drill RC for 35 Minutes on Thursday before work; Blind Review during lunch break.
8. Drill your weakest section for 35 minutes on Friday before work; Blind Review during lunch break.
9. Take a break when you need it.
10. Keep a notebook titled Positive Mental Attitude; write something to motivate you everyday.
"If you will it, Dude, it is no dream."
Since I work full time as well, some strategies that have helped me include creating a feasible weekly schedule which right now looks like sorta like:
6-615 am meditate
620-700 exercise
705-740 one section (right now it's LG... gotta get that LG house in order)
740-805 get ready for work and take my cute self to the office
6-9 or 10p.m. reviewing the section from the morning and working with my tutor (love you boo!)
Sat pt, br
Sun LG all day..until the end of August when it will become my rest day.
Thanks for posting and more importantly for getting back on that horse. You might fall off again, but please know it's all part of the process on the road to mastery. Good luck chica!
Take as long as you need. Many of us here started with a not-so-great diagnostic score. All that number tells you is that you need to study.
If becoming an attorney is your dream, make it a reality. Yes, the LSAT can be discouraging at times. However, the question is are you really going to let one test deter you from doing what you've always wanted to do with your life?
Crack open those books (or computer screen) and get to work!