Page 1 of 2

Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:56 am
by chatham123
Just took a practice test downloaded from offline and scored a 146. I did it sporadically over the course of a few hours without timing myself. I realize this is a pretty low score and am wondering if I could significantly increase my score in order to be competitive. I have a 3.5 GPA. I scored pretty well on the verbal sections but horribly on the first section which I guess would be the analytical reasoning section, which didn't surprise me since my math skills are very limited.

That being said, what do most of you recommend in terms of a studying plan? Certain books? A certain prep course?

Thanks!

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:22 am
by monadologist
Sup homes, before you get floods of messages telling you to use the search function I'll try to help you out;
146 doesn't really mean anything imho since its totally cold and its akin to taking an exam in a foreign subject.

Get Powerscore's LGB, LRB, drill by type under timed conditions, always add an experimental section when you drill entire tests,
consider Manhattan to refine some diagramming and stuff; I'm one of the many who swear by Manhattan, especially for RC

After doing that for a couple weeks, take another PT, then you'll be in a position to judge whether its worth it or not

hope this helps

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:53 am
by ChaseInk
monadologist wrote:Sup homes, before you get floods of messages telling you to use the search function I'll try to help you out;
146 doesn't really mean anything imho since its totally cold and its akin to taking an exam in a foreign subject.

Get Powerscore's LGB, LRB, drill by type under timed conditions, always add an experimental section when you drill entire tests,
consider Manhattan to refine some diagramming and stuff; I'm one of the many who swear by Manhattan, especially for RC

After doing that for a couple weeks, take another PT, then you'll be in a position to judge whether its worth it or not

hope this helps
This.

I had a 148 diagnostic and, after two months of learning PowerScore's system, I ended up testing in the low 170s.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:58 am
by bceagles182
chatham123 wrote:Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146
It's not. Law school sucks.

Signed, unemployed 3L at the top of his class at a T1.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:16 am
by VegasLaw702
Absolutely worth it. Put in at LEAST 200 hours of dedicated study, and then re-evaluate. If you are scoring below 150 after that much effort, then it might not be worth it. I would say it it harder to go sub-150 than it is to get 170+, especially if you put forth the effort. Good luck!

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:42 am
by Gamine
The only way to go is UP. Count yourself lucky for having discovered TLS so early in your prep. Look at some of the study guides that have been posted on here - there is so much wisdom floating around. If being here doesn't add to your motivation to study and do the best you can then I don't know what will.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:55 am
by tehkris
I took the test with VERY minimal prep in February and scored a 139. After the depression I decided to get the bibles and actually, drill, and put the time in. I have not taken a full timed PT but if I'm anywhere in the 140's I'm going back to teaching elementary school and golfing every evening. Wait, why am I leaving this profession?

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:02 am
by NoodleyOne
tehkris wrote:I took the test with VERY minimal prep in February and scored a 139. After the depression I decided to get the bibles and actually, drill, and put the time in. I have not taken a full timed PT but if I'm anywhere in the 140's I'm going back to teaching elementary school and golfing every evening. Wait, why am I leaving this profession?
For reals... that sounds way better than 80 hour work weeks.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:15 am
by tehkris
NoodleyOne wrote:
tehkris wrote:I took the test with VERY minimal prep in February and scored a 139. After the depression I decided to get the bibles and actually, drill, and put the time in. I have not taken a full timed PT but if I'm anywhere in the 140's I'm going back to teaching elementary school and golfing every evening. Wait, why am I leaving this profession?
For reals... that sounds way better than 80 hour work weeks.
Boils down to pay, job fullfillment, and professional growth. If I don't go into admin I'm screwed. I started the grad program for Ed leadership and realized how much I'd hate being a principal. I will miss those summers off though...

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:31 am
by NoodleyOne
tehkris wrote:
NoodleyOne wrote:
tehkris wrote:I took the test with VERY minimal prep in February and scored a 139. After the depression I decided to get the bibles and actually, drill, and put the time in. I have not taken a full timed PT but if I'm anywhere in the 140's I'm going back to teaching elementary school and golfing every evening. Wait, why am I leaving this profession?
For reals... that sounds way better than 80 hour work weeks.
Boils down to pay, job fullfillment, and professional growth. If I don't go into admin I'm screwed. I started the grad program for Ed leadership and realized how much I'd hate being a principal. I will miss those summers off though...
Oh I get it. Plus saying you are a lawyer is a panty dropper.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:45 am
by Br3v
Most people on this site cold test around 150, you'll be fine.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:11 am
by nyjets2090
Definitely worth it. I never used the PS bibles, but alot of people around here swear by them. Pick them up, work through them and reevaluate. Just don't be mindless about it, careful study will produce results. The LSAT is very learnable, you just have to put time into it.

You'll want to work through those PS bibles, drill questions, and take at least 20 full PTs. There are great resources on here, including study groups. I'd say it's too late for June at this point but October is completely doable. 3 months is normal for most people, your results may vary.

With your GPA at a 3.5, you're looking at T30 acceptances with a 165+. Break the "magic number" (170), and you'll be looking at multiple lower t14 acceptances at the very least and sizable scholarships from others.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:13 am
by NoodleyOne
My 3.5/122 got me UVA and NYU.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:54 am
by chatham123
(Hope this is the right place to respond to everyone) Very helpful! Thank you. I'm graduating a semester early in December so I will be aiming for the October test. Hoping to get into UT-Law (I'm from Austin) but will be applying to East Coast schools as well. Good luck with all of your endeavors!

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:09 pm
by tehkris
NoodleyOne wrote:
tehkris wrote:
NoodleyOne wrote:
tehkris wrote:I took the test with VERY minimal prep in February and scored a 139. After the depression I decided to get the bibles and actually, drill, and put the time in. I have not taken a full timed PT but if I'm anywhere in the 140's I'm going back to teaching elementary school and golfing every evening. Wait, why am I leaving this profession?
For reals... that sounds way better than 80 hour work weeks.
Boils down to pay, job fullfillment, and professional growth. If I don't go into admin I'm screwed. I started the grad program for Ed leadership and realized how much I'd hate being a principal. I will miss those summers off though...
Oh I get it. Plus saying you are a lawyer is a panty dropper.

Oddly enough, saying you teach kids does the exact same thing.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:20 pm
by 3ThrowAway99
VegasLaw702 wrote:Absolutely worth it.
Edit: My bad. Thought this was referring to law school more generally. Not just to trying to improve score. But unless OP can improve to 170s level (which I think is doubtful despite all the anecdotes on here) then I think all the effort probably won't be worth it--i.e., it won't be worth going to law school. Even with 170s/3.5, law school could be a questionable proposition.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:30 pm
by Bronx Bum
Law isn't worth it in general. But who am I to tell you what to do?

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:33 pm
by 3ThrowAway99
Bronx Bum wrote:Law isn't worth it in general. But who am I to tell you what to do?

Never thought I would agree with Bronx Bum, but QFT.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:34 pm
by ookoshi
Bronx Bum wrote:Law isn't worth it in general. But who am I to tell you what to do?
TITCR

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:20 pm
by tuffyjohnson
NoodleyOne wrote:My 3.5/122 got me UVA and NYU.
Noodley, are you serious? 122 diag? GTFO.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:23 pm
by NoodleyOne
tuffyjohnson wrote:
NoodleyOne wrote:My 3.5/122 got me UVA and NYU.
Noodley, are you serious? 122 diag? GTFO.
Nah, I'm not, although my diag wasn't super high by any stretch. Anyway, while statistically people probably don't gain very much from their diag to test day, they also probably don't prep like TLS does. I think you could see some huge gains and get some good options if you study hard and well. If you insist on taking it in June you may not get as far, and if I were in your shoes I'd just take it in October.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:31 pm
by nyjets2090
chatham123 wrote:(Hope this is the right place to respond to everyone) Very helpful! Thank you. I'm graduating a semester early in December so I will be aiming for the October test. Hoping to get into UT-Law (I'm from Austin) but will be applying to East Coast schools as well. Good luck with all of your endeavors!
I think their 25% GPA is 3.5, but you have a shot if you can get to their median LSAT (167), especially since you're a resident. TX likes their own. ED might be worth resident tuition at sticker, in which case a 168 and ED on day one would be a lock.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:38 pm
by Br3v
OP be sure to go to LSAT prep section of this site, get on a plan, and kill the real thing a few months from now.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:20 pm
by chatham123
This is my first time ever using a law forum, and a forum of any kind, so I'm going to need some help with these acronyms. OP? ED? I'm sure these are probably very obvious but nonetheless I'm still confused.

Re: Trying to Decide if Its Worth It---Practice Score 146

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:23 pm
by Br3v
chatham123 wrote:This is my first time ever using a law forum, and a forum of any kind, so I'm going to need some help with these acronyms. OP? ED? I'm sure these are probably very obvious but nonetheless I'm still confused.
Teach a man to fish:
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... on#p112815