October 2012 Retakers Forum

[TheThriller]

Finishing LR by the end of next week and will be spending the week after that on RC directed study. Pretty much after that it's section drills and PTs.

Had to buy another computer charger ($85) which resulted in me loosing some money for food/alcoholic beverages. Even though I'm still in UG I hate asking my parents for money.

[rglifberg]

Yep..last one. Kinda unnerving huh? I usually PT around mid-160s as well btw. And yes hastings is solid but I don't think it's worth the cost. I cant rationalize taking on that debt. I'm really bummed.

It definitely is man, I can't wait for this perpetual waiting game to finally be over. Debt is also a huge factor for me, too. I'd rather attend a school lower in the ranks (still solid rep, of course) if it meant lower debt.

[NoodleyOne]

Fucking 171 on PT 29 today. Maybe it was the month+ off from PTing or studying, but my LR took a big hit (-7 overall, -3 RC and -1 LG due to misbubbling). When my Manhattan books get back I'm going to focus strongly on LR while doing some drilling of LG and RC to stay sharp. That was the worst I've done in LR in probably 10 PTs, including June.

[TheThriller]

Yep..last one. Kinda unnerving huh? I usually PT around mid-160s as well btw. And yes hastings is solid but I don't think it's worth the cost. I cant rationalize taking on that debt. I'm really bummed.

It definitely is man, I can't wait for this perpetual waiting game to finally be over. Debt is also a huge factor for me, too. I'd rather attend a school lower in the ranks (still solid rep, of course) if it meant lower debt.

I am the same way, very debt averse. Would you ever consider LS part time, say GULC over strong regional with money?

[jgirl]

Hi, everyone. Started lurking on TLS a few months ago, since I was pretty much clueless about law school admissions. Took a Princeton Review course and unfortunately didn't take it too seriously (since I wasn't serious about LS yet). Anyway, didn't prep the way I should have and ended up with a 156 after PTing around a 165. I think I was overconfident. This, coupled with a bad GPA, doesn't bode well for me. Planning on retaking in October now that I'm done with my senior year, landed a job and moved. I'm getting work experience right now but am unsure which cycle to apply in.

Geez, must be nice to be able to drop that kind of cash on something you don't even intend on taking seriously.

Yeah, it probably wasn't a good move in hindsight, but I was fortunate enough to leave undergrad without any debt. I lived at home all four years, had a job and earned scholarships. Considering everything, it wasn't that frivolous.

[espressocream]

I am the same way, very debt averse. Would you ever consider LS part time, say GULC over strong regional with money?

I'm looking into PT programs and would willingly go for it...except I have no work experience and when you apply
I'm sure they look at what you're doing/have a job and aren't just hanging around DC looking for one.

[Trout et al]

This will be my third try, as well. Are most of you guys studying everyday or taking days off? How many PT's a week should I be doing a week to build the stamina tqhat I lacked in Feb and June?

What are you referring to in discussing a lack of stamina? Individual sections? Fizzling out near the end of the test?


If it is the latter, there was a discussion in this subforum earlier in the year about a young man who was having trouble near the end of his pre-tests. He would start out strong then waver around the 2-2:30 hour mark. In an attempt to improve, he did a week of back-to-back testing (i.e. One 3:30 hour test, then, after a short break, another 3:30 hour test). It worked for him. I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend his course of action, as it might result in a bit of a burnout for other individuals, but it is an idea to play around with.

I might try that. Any advice on if I should go as hard as possible (4-5 PT's per week with drilling on other days) until about mid September and then slow down a little bit to rest, or the exact opposite where I ease into it ( just focus on drilling different LR/ LG sections most days for a couple hours and 2 PT's a week.) Or should I just go as hard as possible, 3-4 hours a day everyday with a day off every once in awhile all the way until october 6th? What is everyone's philosophy on this?

[rglifberg]

Yep..last one. Kinda unnerving huh? I usually PT around mid-160s as well btw. And yes hastings is solid but I don't think it's worth the cost. I cant rationalize taking on that debt. I'm really bummed.

It definitely is man, I can't wait for this perpetual waiting game to finally be over. Debt is also a huge factor for me, too. I'd rather attend a school lower in the ranks (still solid rep, of course) if it meant lower debt.

I am the same way, very debt averse. Would you ever consider LS part time, say GULC over strong regional with money?

That's a tough one. I'd definitely consider it, but it would depend on how much money I was making while doing PT. I think ultimately I'd still go with the $$$. 100k+ debt is scary now, I can't imagine what it's like once you start actually paying the loans back.

[052220151]

I'm still waiting on my PTs to show up. I got on UPS website to track my package, they were on a train, and it fucking derailed! WTF?

[NoodleyOne]

This will be my third try, as well. Are most of you guys studying everyday or taking days off? How many PT's a week should I be doing a week to build the stamina tqhat I lacked in Feb and June?

What are you referring to in discussing a lack of stamina? Individual sections? Fizzling out near the end of the test?


If it is the latter, there was a discussion in this subforum earlier in the year about a young man who was having trouble near the end of his pre-tests. He would start out strong then waver around the 2-2:30 hour mark. In an attempt to improve, he did a week of back-to-back testing (i.e. One 3:30 hour test, then, after a short break, another 3:30 hour test). It worked for him. I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend his course of action, as it might result in a bit of a burnout for other individuals, but it is an idea to play around with.

I might try that. Any advice on if I should go as hard as possible (4-5 PT's per week with drilling on other days) until about mid September and then slow down a little bit to rest, or the exact opposite where I ease into it ( just focus on drilling different LR/ LG sections most days for a couple hours and 2 PT's a week.) Or should I just go as hard as possible, 3-4 hours a day everyday with a day off every once in awhile all the way until october 6th? What is everyone's philosophy on this?

I would space out PTs with drilling of sections/questions that are giving you a lot of trouble. This early I wouldn't think more than two full PTs a week, and amp it up to three closer to the test, but you may be different.

[jigglebottom]

I'm still waiting on my PTs to show up. I got on UPS website to track my package, they were on a train, and it fucking derailed! WTF?

god?

[jigglebottom]

I remember an earlier post about using old test materials. (Totally tl;dred the last few pages)

This is something retakers are usually forced to deal with. I hope I forgot most of the material from about 50-66 already, but I do have some fresh, old tests. (1-20somethings)

These are still good for the most part correct?

[99.9luft]

restarted studying by drilling 90s LGs

Need to stop doing them late at night, when the brain is fried. Have to get my -0 mojo back this weekend!

PT# / #missed

1......-1
2...... -1
3...... -3
4...... -1
5...... -1
6...... -8
7...... 0
8...... -4
9...... -1
10.....-1
11.....-1

[espressocream]

Confession:

Have been majorly slacking off these past few days
for a few personal reasons.

So my daruma doll that my Asian studies teacher back in hs
gave me has come out and is staring at me to get that 170+...

Generic daruma doll that's supposed to help with goal setting:

[NoodleyOne]

No excuses! GET TO WORK!

[tarheelman1109]

Hi all! I'm so relieved to find this thread. It's nice to have a support system for those taking the LSAT a third time--most of my family is concerned about me postponing law school to retake. Anyways, i was trying to find an online class to sign up for in the next couple of days. Has anyone taken an online class (ie testmasters, manhattan, etc) or heard of any good classes? I was thinking about TM, but wanted some advice before i started! Thanks in advance.

[99.9luft]

Hi all! I'm so relieved to find this thread. It's nice to have a support system for those taking the LSAT a third time--most of my family is concerned about me postponing law school to retake. Anyways, i was trying to find an online class to sign up for in the next couple of days. Has anyone taken an online class (ie testmasters, manhattan, etc) or heard of any good classes? I was thinking about TM, but wanted some advice before i started! Thanks in advance.

I heard BP's decent: http://blueprintprep.com/online-lsat-prep-course

[99.9luft]

EDIT: needed stuff, got stuff. No longer relevant.

[andreskicdo]

Doing some chapters and LR drilling so far -2 out of 12. I think I need to take a break for now and get back at it a bit later today. Workout time.

[espressocream]

Back at it. I keep lurking in the law student/graduate forum and if that's not motivation (the debt, the depression, and the offers)....


I want to take a PT tomorrow, but I've done all of them (except some in the 40s) and I remember answers well.

[Volforlife]

Took my first PT since June today. 174! Even better because it was on a test I didn't use for my first round of prep (PT 40, and I didn't use 39-51). There is hope for my 170 yet.

LR -4
LG -1
RC -1

[NoodleyOne]

Took my first PT since June today. 174! Even better because it was on a test I didn't use for my first round of prep (PT 40, and I didn't use 39-51). There is hope for my 170 yet.

LR -4
LG -1
RC -1

Nicely done. For some reason the time off has killed my LR game, I think. Going to go through the Manhattan guide when it gets here first thing (although I may do it concurrently with the RC guide). 180land is approaching.

[EstherG]

Hi all! I did a lot of lurking before the June test and finally got up the courage to actually post.

Since I've started studying again, I've had a lot of inconsistency in my scores (especially in LR and RC). This was a big problem for me when I was studying for June, so its something I want to make sure I address this time. I searched old posts, but most of what I found was about the occasional outlier, and my scores seem to be fluctuating more frequently. (For example, I can go anywhere from -1 to -6 on two given LR sections, even on the same day). I'm wondering if this is a problem with my study plan or some kind of mental block/focus issue? Any insight is helpful

[sabanist]

After a few weeks of indecisiveness and tooling around on my own I've plunked the $500 down and bought the full Velocity course. I'm ready to do this.

You got this, worm

Since I've started studying again, I've had a lot of inconsistency in my scores (especially in LR and RC). This was a big problem for me when I was studying for June, so its something I want to make sure I address this time. I searched old posts, but most of what I found was about the occasional outlier, and my scores seem to be fluctuating more frequently. (For example, I can go anywhere from -1 to -6 on two given LR sections, even on the same day). I'm wondering if this is a problem with my study plan or some kind of mental block/focus issue? Any insight is helpful

The only real fluctuations I noticed in my first round of prep were when I started a new PS Bible, those scores rose but the others dropped. It was weird.
CC linked this website at some point and I love it. --LinkRemoved--
It tracks how you do on your PTs and tracks which question types you miss most often. It may be that your fluctuations are coming from differences in the number of question types that challenge you. This could help point to the problem.
If you aren't already doing it, make sure you mark every question you find challenging as you test, and go back and review those and the ones you got wrong in depth. You may begin to see patterns in where you're going wrong.

Nice job on the 174 Vol, and Noodley, I just started Manhattan LR and LOVE it. It's already worlds more helpful than the LR Bible. The map to 180land will be arriving in the mail shortly

[99.9luft]

restarted studying by drilling 90s LGs

Need to stop doing them late at night, when the brain is fried. Have to get my -0 mojo back this weekend!

PT# / #missed

1......-1
2...... -1
3...... -3
4...... -1
5...... -1
6...... -8
7...... 0
8...... -4
9...... -1
10.....-1
11.....-1

Today's LG drilling results - my curse of imperfect LG sections is still true, apparently. Can I puhleeeeaze not make dumb mistakes? This shit has got to stop in August

12.....-1
13.....-1
14.....-2
15.....-1