Advice on this February test...issues, family. Forum

[Jimlaw123]

We'll it's been 2 years of heck. Trying to do this test, being in dire financial straits and just going through a lot of crap and sabotage from my family. I wanted a private tutor, could not afford one, and could not truly work to put time into this test. Did not take the January test though I heard it was easy on games (from a friend) and I am just very much stressed out.

I am probably anywhere from a 157-161 range depending on games. I wasn't able to get my time exemption for my eyes from my doctor (long story, just a bunch of crap) and I can't do this anymore. I've lost my friends, my life, my sanity due to not having the proper tools or teaching or coaching for this test. I am okay with whatever happens. My brother tired to get me to postpone again after them ignoring my request for help for the last year, this time they're going to be "different" (yeah right, horse dung), and I can't do this anymore. I've missed out on job offers and lucrative jobs and people I could have worked with for this test. I do think I'll be a good lawyer, but the LSAT to me is a money and time game. If you have money for a private tutor and the time to have 4-5 months subsidized by someone you can do very well. If you're a student like me, living in Los Angeles going against the grain it's almost impossible. I don't even know how I'm going to explain my 6 absence's during the test. I'm going to try and do 20 tests in the next 9 days or more. Walk through, then timed, walk through, then timed etc... 2N i get 1/2 time, and 2s I don't even know.

I can't do this anymore, this has truly made me lose a lot of my life. Family expectations with no help, my crazy mom calling me saying crap like "So you failed the test? you can't go to Yale" though these people have done nothing to help me, just made my life harder, wouldn't help me with a private tutor or a class. I started averaging a 137 on my first test, I think I've done all I can do on my own. I can't do this anymore... I have to move on. Good bye Top 20 law schools... it is what it is.. I just need a pep talk, being a minority applicant, damn... sometimes it feels like for my other friends (White) it was like a jump and a skip into law school, family understood, made the arrangements, helped.

For me, all of a sudden there aren't any funds, and people are going to yoga, and trying to push Lexus's, but we're brothers right? family huh? Whatever. I won't forget this.. It is what it is.. (sorry about the rant, had to vent, my family is truly a cancer and this test has almost broken me...)

[AAJD2B]

Jimlaw,

First, I want you to breathe for a minute. I understand your frustration. Please know that you are not alone in this. You need a clear head for February and I want you to go in there with the mindset of knowing you can conquer not just a test but each question, even if it takes you extra time to get there.

My short term advice is for you to take February, and if you don't score where you want to, retake in October or December. A June take can work too, but I am thinking you may need some time to change your environmental circumstances before you can really buckle down and conquer this test.

Keep in mind there are free LSAT services, even in LA, for those who need it. You should consider applying or petitioning to some test prep companies (Blueprintprep, Powerscore, Manhattan LSAT comes to mind)

I also think you may need to start changing associations and surrounding yourself with companies and people who understand the plight often faced by minorities to apply to law school. One company that comes to mind is For People of Color, Inc. They are based in LA and are hosting two all-day events at law schools targeted for those minorities in your same shoe. One is at Berkeley Law and the other at UCLA Law, I believe. I will PM you with details.

Please do not get discouraged. You just need to keep focus on your overall goal and realize that people's true colors will reveal itself if you attempt to do better. Consider it a blessing in disguise.

Please check your private messages inbox.

Hang in there!

[holdencaulfield]

Take a breath. Afterwards, read my responses below. Spoiler alert, it's tough love.

I've lost my friends, my life, my sanity due to not having the proper tools or teaching or coaching for this test.

Can you expand on this? Most people here will vouch that you can prep for the test without thousands of dollars in private tutoring. Using a few books and this website will take you a longs ways.

I've missed out on job offers and lucrative jobs and people I could have worked with for this test.

What jobs have you missed out on and how? Why did you not just accept one of those lucrative jobs and continue studying?

I just need a pep talk, being a minority applicant, damn... sometimes it feels like for my other friends (White) it was like a jump and a skip into law school, family understood, made the arrangements, helped.

Do you really think that just being a minority makes it more difficult on applicants? How so? Applying as a minority will probably give you huge advantages.

For me, all of a sudden there aren't any funds, and people are going to yoga, and trying to push Lexus's, but we're brothers right? family huh? Whatever. I won't forget this.. It is what it is.. (sorry about the rant, had to vent, my family is truly a cancer and this test has almost broken me...)

What do you mean? Does your brother make more money than you? Does your family give him financial support but not you?


I have not walked in your shoes, and I know practically nothing of what you've been through to get to this point. But if you want to be successful, you have to get a plan and make your own way. Don't depend on anyone else for anything. Work fast food if you have to and study at night. Scrape together $50 and buy LSAT's from prior years. If you don't understand a question, post it in this forum and ask for an explanation; people do it all the time. If you truly cannot afford books, I bet someone on here will send you his/her old ones; if not, PM me, and I'll find you some.

I truly feel for you because it's easy to sense that your family has screwed you over, and at the very least, made promises and never delivered; but from now on, don't put your fate/career in the hands of anyone but yourself.

[rinkrat19]

Obviously we can't really tell what you're going through or know your exact situation, but just from your vent... Why not take one of those lucrative jobs, get away from your toxic family, and give studying another go? It's perfectly possible to study effectively while working full time; plenty of people do it. It's also perfectly possible to study with a few hundred dollars' of books and practice tests and the free study guides on this site. People have gotten near-perfect scores doing it. Most people don't need a tutor or an expensive class, they just need some self-discipline and a good plan. It might not be AS easy for you as for the kid with the supportive family who pays for all his stuff, but it doesn't need to be as hard as you're describing, either.

[Jimlaw123]

Take a breath. Afterwards, read my responses below. Spoiler alert, it's tough love.

Jimlaw123 wrote:
I've lost my friends, my life, my sanity due to not having the proper tools or teaching or coaching for this test.
Can you expand on this? Most people here will vouch that you can prep for the test without thousands of dollars in private tutoring. Using a few books and this website will take you a longs ways.

Jimlaw123 wrote:
I've missed out on job offers and lucrative jobs and people I could have worked with for this test.
What jobs have you missed out on and how? Why did you not just accept one of those lucrative jobs and continue studying?

Jimlaw123 wrote:
I just need a pep talk, being a minority applicant, damn... sometimes it feels like for my other friends (White) it was like a jump and a skip into law school, family understood, made the arrangements, helped.
Do you really think that just being a minority makes it more difficult on applicants? How so? Applying as a minority will probably give you huge advantages.

Jimlaw123 wrote:
For me, all of a sudden there aren't any funds, and people are going to yoga, and trying to push Lexus's, but we're brothers right? family huh? Whatever. I won't forget this.. It is what it is.. (sorry about the rant, had to vent, my family is truly a cancer and this test has almost broken me...)
What do you mean? Does your brother make more money than you? Does your family give him financial support but not you?


I have not walked in your shoes, and I know practically nothing of what you've been through to get to this point. But if you want to be successful, you have to get a plan and make your own way. Don't depend on anyone else for anything. Work fast food if you have to and study at night. Scrape together $50 and buy LSAT's from prior years. If you don't understand a question, post it in this forum and ask for an explanation; people do it all the time. If you truly cannot afford books, I bet someone on here will send you his/her old ones; if not, PM me, and I'll find you some.

I truly feel for you because it's easy to sense that your family has screwed you over, and at the very least, made promises and never delivered; but from now on, don't put your fate/career in the hands of anyone but yourself.
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We'll thanks for the response. The job offers are in Television and entertainment field. Meetings with Agents etc... (I write T.V. shows, Movies and cartoons) I went to school (undergrad) to get a degree in something that is a 'skilled job' regardless of money, it will come and go, but pride and respect is something I feel that society makes it hard for Black Americans and especially Black Men to get. I'm a very respectful and prideful guy and I don't like what I see that happens within the business with the contracts, how their structured as well as in sports (I was an athlete).

I took the test the first time and I got a 143, second time I got a 148. I tried to do this during the time I was working, taking classes and took one prep course (blue print, wasn't good. Then I took Testmasters online, which kind of helped, what helped most was doing tests..). This is the end for me in that regard. I've dealt with situations with getting a huge eye surgery that helped my vision (I was pretty much almost legally blind, Biofocals etc...) and that was the last year of going to specialists for that situation.

I can't afford to be out here in Los Angeles work, and do the LSAT. Too time consuming and doing anything else for me just isn't going to work. I tried twice. My first 2 scores will be most likely ommitted due to my eye surgery, and I am doing the best I can with what I have. I found a tutor my family does this thing where when you don't need anything they're willing to help you, because you're doing "we'll" as soon as you're weak or need help they say they will then sabotage you, end up not having money, or not doing anything to help you. Calling you talking crap for instance my mother called me to chastise me about if I "Failed the Test" since I post-poned my January one. Things like that, we are a screwed up family, but if you're going to get funds for help in testing etc... you kind of go to your family.

Money is something I could have been making and been well into my career in T.V. for the last 2 years, but I knew if I did not do the test now, while I was still in school "mode" then I wouldn't go. I just know, how if money comes then you don't have the drive or the resolved to go through the heck that is school. This is kind of it for me. So that's how it is.

I don't mind the tough love, be harsh. I need a kick in the ass every once in a while.

P.S. the person whom spoke about "For people of Color" I'm in that group and I have expressed getting help for a tutor, they didn't know anyone that taught private but encouraged me. I am alright if I can get a high 159, but would love a 160 or above. That's the only way I feel to save my law school goal. But I cannot do this anymore, lost too much, being broke and living like a hobo isn't nice, I've used up all my savings, and lost a bit of my sanity, as well during these last 2 years of heck dealing with paying for my eye surgery (15,000) plus working and studying for this, and postponing my test about 6 times due to a lot of constraints and problems with my surgery. I can't explain it all and I know it will all count against me. I've dealt with a whole host of issues with my University and thought about suing them with a big law suit (still on the table, waiting until after my test, screwed with my GPA etc...) just it's been a long and crazy road. I'm trying to hold on, but I know this is it... this has to be. I can't do this test or have it hanging over my head anymore. I must move on... for my sanity.

My friends are good people and are in law school and give me advice, but they can't pass the test for me. I have to handle it, and it just sucks because the kid's I know and I am friends with are kind of "silver spoon" White and Black kids whose parents pulled out all the stops for them to succeed. My family does everything to try and sabotage me, then after I refuse to talk to them, they weasel there way back into my graces with thoughts of "family, and we are all we got" horse dung. This has shown me whom my real friends are, I lost a lot of people, friends, and things during this insane journey, but after this I am done. 9 days, and it's over. I cannot do this anymore.If I cannot get above a 160... then maybe I'm not cut out for law school... (I started at a 137- and I'm at a 157-162 range... maybe this is the best I can do...) also due to my eye surgery I don't read or react as fast, I tried to get a time exemption, my doctor didn't turn it in on time, LSAT wouldn't take it, so it is what it is. I cannot do this anymore, I'll just do it with a disability like the last time.. (with regular time I'm 157-162 range, I don't answer a entire passage in RC so that's an automatic -7 or -8).

Thanks to those that responding and a question on RC... it's all just a giant MBT question right? It must be explicitly stated in the passage, all of it? or implied? also I just need 2N or 2S anyone that can help, please let me know. Glad to see there are minorities and other's fighting for higher education. I hope you all win, I like to see more African Americans in higher education. I always hated being the token, in fact I still do..
.

[kenwash]

OP: I guess I'm just a bit confused as to why you can't work in entertainment and have this great career while studying for the LSAT at the same time. I totally understand (from experience!) that it's a ton of work. But really really...why can't you do both?

Like others have said, get away from your family ASAP. At this point, you are choosing to deal with their crap. They may make their case to get back in good graces with you, but you are the one that's accepting it. And if you need the funds for testing etc, you work to get the money. Getting money from the family you've described shouldn't be an option.

Do you actually want to be a lawyer? I ask because you said you wanted to be in "school mode" to study for the test or else you wouldn't go. It concerns me that you have to be in a certain mode to pursue a career in law.

I can relate to and have experienced literally everything you've said, so I really do get it! PM me if you'd like.

[BankruptMe]

Why do you really want to be a lawyer?

I think answering this question will answer whether to continue on or not.

It might sound trite, but it can be a powerful motivation to succeeding.

[Blackguy123]

Sounds like somebody has a case of the "mondays"