Retake-> course or self study? Advice please! Forum

[Hogwild]

So I took the June LSAT and hit my PT avg on the nose (158). I studied the PSB trilogy and wrote a summary of the main points of each. I took probably around 20 PTs over the course of two months or so with scores in the 157-158-159 area with a few outliers (155, 163 etc). My original goal when I started was a 165 and a T20 school. My GPA is around a 3.4 and my softs are pretty good too.

With that said, I didn't make my goal obviously, but it was my first time so I want to chalk it up to experience and move forward. I've been looking into taking a class but the only options around here are Kaplan or an online class. So I most certainly will be taking an online class if I chose to take a class.

Any advice? Should I take a class? Would that benefit me or should I study on my own? If I study on my own what should I do differently? I know I can do better. I am not a 75th percentile student.

[IndieTea]

I took a class...Testmasters. Personally, I think self-study is better. The course teach you that only their method is correct - and I don't think the same method works for everyone.

[david.patel]

If you have already done 20 preptests, I would recommend self study. I was in the same boat as you, self studying for a retake after having already done 20 preptests. Just find all of the preptests that you have not done yet and ration them. I used 20 for questions type practice and all the rest for practice tests. Good luck!

[sarahlawg]

don't do anymore practice tests until you've learned the test a bit better. go through the bibles and remember progress can be slow while you self-study. go through your old tests too. Master the subtleties in language of the lsat. Good luck!

[nelaw2010]

Self Study.

My suggestions:

LR:
ExamKrackers - I found it very helpful for improving LR performance
Informal Logic - Douglas Walton
Go to http://www.cambridgelsat.com/ and buy the LR sections by type. DRILL, DRILL, DRILL!!!! I bought all of them. I think this was probably the most helpful thing I did.

LG:
ACE the LSAT Logic Games - find it on amazon

RC:
How to Read Better and Faster - find on Amazon

Check out these links:


http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... ?f=6&t=396

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =6&t=41657

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=120471

http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/ (his Pure sequence approach is WAY better than Powerscore method)

After you have done ALL of this and gone through the PS bibles, start doing PT's again. Also, give yourself 2 days off before the lsat minimum. You cannot study until test day. Your brain is like any other muscle, it needs a break. Also make sure you exercise and have proper nutrition.

[Hogwild]

Well I guess it's about time to start studying. Man I'm not looking forward to it. I'm going to work back through the LRB and LGB again and do some of the problems on the tests I've already taken to help get the concepts cemented better. I have heard a lot about Manhattan RC so I may pick that up. RC tends to be my wildcard. I haven't done any the PTs in the 40s or 50s so I'll have a good number to get to work on. I have read a lot about intensive PT review as well. That's something that I never did to the extent that is recommended on TLS, so I'm hoping to see improvement through that too.

[sammacd25]

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