February 2012 LSAT Study Group Forum

[Sloth Hero]

I have been studying on and off (when school allows (upper division philosophy :s)), but my last preptest was a 178 which was exciting, and my average range is 171-174 so I might as well start hxc studying and sit in feb. They'll be plenty to do as I have 50+ preptests left and plan on doing all of em'.

Anyone else aiming for NYU/Columbia?

LETS BE FRANS

I am aiming for Columbia! I haven't taken a preptest since my cold diagnostic but hopefully my scores won't be too far from yours when I start on Monday!

/frans

That's a good place to aim for, Columbia is wonderful (but i can't pass up living in The Village). GL when you start taking PT's, and if you don't happen to nail it right away don't get disheartened, this test is pretty easy to learn.

I have been studying on and off (when school allows (upper division philosophy :s)), but my last preptest was a 178 which was exciting, and my average range is 171-174 so I might as well start hxc studying and sit in feb. They'll be plenty to do as I have 50+ preptests left and plan on doing all of em'.

Anyone else aiming for NYU/Columbia?

LETS BE FRANS

I'm in much the same boat. Philosophy major, overload of upper division courses before graduation, aiming for NYU or Columbia I've been lurking/posting occasionally on TLS for years and years, but finally committed myself to the February LSAT after deciding to take a gap year. I'll be doing a Blueprint course starting December 10th, and am already worried that I won't have enough time to score well, considering that I've barely started prepping on my own

Congratulations on the great start

Don't mean to derail this thread, but what are you studying? My school is pretty analytic which is annoying, so when I write I try to pull it as far towards the continent as I can. Wish i went to chicago or something :s

[062914123]

.

[outlookingin]

Don't mean to derail this thread, but what are you studying? My school is pretty analytic which is annoying, so when I write I try to pull it as far towards the continent as I can. Wish i went to chicago or something :s

Hmm, I would definitely say the philosophy department at my school leans towards the analytic (as I assume is the case with the majority of schools in English-speaking countries), but a professor whom I work closely with is very interested in continental philosophy, so I think I have a healthy mixture in terms of exposure, haha.

Can I ask why you specifically want to go to NYU or Columbia? Is it NYC?

NYC is hugely compelling... man, that would be so great. That's kind of what I worry about regarding UT--it's not portable and there's a solidly high chance that I'll have to work in Houston or Dallas, versus my hometown of Austin. A degree from NYU or Columbia would be really portable...

So I've taken the past couple days off for Thanksgiving, but I'll get back on it in a couple days, with virtually no breaks until Christmas.

[Sloth Hero]

Don't mean to derail this thread, but what are you studying? My school is pretty analytic which is annoying, so when I write I try to pull it as far towards the continent as I can. Wish i went to chicago or something :s

Hmm, I would definitely say the philosophy department at my school leans towards the analytic (as I assume is the case with the majority of schools in English-speaking countries), but a professor whom I work closely with is very interested in continental philosophy, so I think I have a healthy mixture in terms of exposure, haha.

Can I ask why you specifically want to go to NYU or Columbia? Is it NYC?

NYC is hugely compelling... man, that would be so great. That's kind of what I worry about regarding UT--it's not portable and there's a solidly high chance that I'll have to work in Houston or Dallas, versus my hometown of Austin. A degree from NYU or Columbia would be really portable...

So I've taken the past couple days off for Thanksgiving, but I'll get back on it in a couple days, with virtually no breaks until Christmas.

I spent a few weeks in Manhattan, mostly in Greenwich. I want to live the rest of my life there.

And my philosophy department mostly does research in free will, action theory etc. No one to help me with my thesis on foucault! ((

[Gisney]

Well I want to go to Columbia based on the school. Ive never been to New York which is really sad. I am one of the bad Americans who have traveled more abroad then in the States.

In LSAT news I have lost all motivation and seriously need it back. It is just so damn hot here now and all I can do is lust for airconditioning

[willwash]

Highly encouraged tonight!!!!!!

PT 62 tonight. LG kicked my FUCKING ASS, for a minus EIGHT (Yikes!), HOwever, I went -3, -1, -3 on the other sections for a raw 87, AKA, 169!

Suggests to me that all I need to do is hammer the living shit out of LG until the test. Easiest area to improve, so they say...

[bernaldiaz]

Highly encouraged tonight!!!!!!

PT 62 tonight. LG kicked my FUCKING ASS, for a minus EIGHT (Yikes!), HOwever, I went -3, -1, -3 on the other sections for a raw 87, AKA, 169!

Suggests to me that all I need to do is hammer the living shit out of LG until the test. Easiest area to improve, so they say...

I had a similar result the other day on PT 56. -8 LG, -1 and -3 LR, and -5 on RC. Except I've sort of been all over the place with all the sections on my 4 PT's so I'm not sure it's so clear cut for me where to focus. What has the average number of questions you miss in LG been? My 4 LG sections in order are -13, -2, -5, -8. Perplexing, but I'm definitely making strides even if the PT's don't exactly say so.

[willwash]

Highly encouraged tonight!!!!!!

PT 62 tonight. LG kicked my FUCKING ASS, for a minus EIGHT (Yikes!), HOwever, I went -3, -1, -3 on the other sections for a raw 87, AKA, 169!

Suggests to me that all I need to do is hammer the living shit out of LG until the test. Easiest area to improve, so they say...

I had a similar result the other day on PT 56. -8 LG, -1 and -3 LR, and -5 on RC. Except I've sort of been all over the place with all the sections on my 4 PT's so I'm not sure it's so clear cut for me where to focus. What has the average number of questions you miss in LG been? My 4 LG sections in order are -13, -2, -5, -8. Perplexing, but I'm definitely making strides even if the PT's don't exactly say so.

-8 is a really, REALLY bad LG for me lately. What the hell PT did you get -13 on?? I've been averaging -4 or better for the past few tests (-4 on games would have gotten me a 173 tonight). I'm thinking, though, that LG on 62 are harder than avg, and the other sections are easier, because I don't think I'm at the 173 level yet, which was indeed reflected on tonight's test. Either way, It's good to know that I'm where I want to be on 3 out of 4 sections. My trend is looking good too, with 161, 168, 169 for my last 3 PTs.

[willwash]

I'll have to go back and post my section subscores for my previous tests. I've improved so much in LR and RC that it more than cancelled out that horrible LG section for a one point improvement.

I've been using Manhattan LSAT LR book and Kaplan 180. Kaplan 180 was particularly helpful to me for LR. After working through all the args in that book, the LR on the actual test seemed like a joke.

[bernaldiaz]

Highly encouraged tonight!!!!!!

PT 62 tonight. LG kicked my FUCKING ASS, for a minus EIGHT (Yikes!), HOwever, I went -3, -1, -3 on the other sections for a raw 87, AKA, 169!

Suggests to me that all I need to do is hammer the living shit out of LG until the test. Easiest area to improve, so they say...

I had a similar result the other day on PT 56. -8 LG, -1 and -3 LR, and -5 on RC. Except I've sort of been all over the place with all the sections on my 4 PT's so I'm not sure it's so clear cut for me where to focus. What has the average number of questions you miss in LG been? My 4 LG sections in order are -13, -2, -5, -8. Perplexing, but I'm definitely making strides even if the PT's don't exactly say so.

-8 is a really, REALLY bad LG for me lately. What the hell PT did you get -13 on?? I've been averaging -4 or better for the past few tests (-4 on games would have gotten me a 173 tonight). I'm thinking, though, that LG on 62 are harder than avg, and the other sections are easier, because I don't think I'm at the 173 level yet, which was indeed reflected on tonight's test. Either way, It's good to know that I'm where I want to be on 3 out of 4 sections. My trend is looking good too, with 161, 168, 169 for my last 3 PTs.

Haha it was my first PT, #29. I did it cold without any studying. I was great in LR without any studying (-0 and -2) but the LG was just a different animal from anything I had ever seen before. My trend right now is 164, 166, 161, 165. I'm not psyched with the progression. I think I was hoping for something that looked a lot more like yours. I think it's just a matter of getting some consistency. On the different tests I've done well on each section type at some point, but I always have one really crappy section that brings me down. Luckily we have a while to go until test day. Have you taken it before or is this your first prep?

[bernaldiaz]

I'll have to go back and post my section subscores for my previous tests. I've improved so much in LR and RC that it more than cancelled out that horrible LG section for a one point improvement.

I've been using Manhattan LSAT LR book and Kaplan 180. Kaplan 180 was particularly helpful to me for LR. After working through all the args in that book, the LR on the actual test seemed like a joke.

Is Kaplan 180 just a prep book? I've been using Velocity and I like it a lot but I'm set to finish it up in like 2 weeks and want to keep having a bit of structure.

[willwash]

I'll have to go back and post my section subscores for my previous tests. I've improved so much in LR and RC that it more than cancelled out that horrible LG section for a one point improvement.

I've been using Manhattan LSAT LR book and Kaplan 180. Kaplan 180 was particularly helpful to me for LR. After working through all the args in that book, the LR on the actual test seemed like a joke.

Is Kaplan 180 just a prep book? I've been using Velocity and I like it a lot but I'm set to finish it up in like 2 weeks and want to keep having a bit of structure.

It's really just a compilation of all the really tough questions from previous PTs with pretty good explanations. It's not a "system" like PowerScore. It's kind of like running with a parachute, and once you take the parachute off you feel like you're flying.

I'm not familiar with Velocity though so I can't compare. I'm only a few chapters into Manhattan LSAT LR

[outlookingin]

Well I want to go to Columbia based on the school. Ive never been to New York which is really sad. I am one of the bad Americans who have traveled more abroad then in the States.

In LSAT news I have lost all motivation and seriously need it back. It is just so damn hot here now and all I can do is lust for airconditioning

Well it's freezing balls cold here... I would take steaming hot jungle over bleak gray fields any day.

[outlookingin]

Highly encouraged tonight!!!!!!

PT 62 tonight. LG kicked my FUCKING ASS, for a minus EIGHT (Yikes!), HOwever, I went -3, -1, -3 on the other sections for a raw 87, AKA, 169!

Suggests to me that all I need to do is hammer the living shit out of LG until the test. Easiest area to improve, so they say...

I had a similar result the other day on PT 56. -8 LG, -1 and -3 LR, and -5 on RC. Except I've sort of been all over the place with all the sections on my 4 PT's so I'm not sure it's so clear cut for me where to focus. What has the average number of questions you miss in LG been? My 4 LG sections in order are -13, -2, -5, -8. Perplexing, but I'm definitely making strides even if the PT's don't exactly say so.

-8 is a really, REALLY bad LG for me lately. What the hell PT did you get -13 on?? I've been averaging -4 or better for the past few tests (-4 on games would have gotten me a 173 tonight). I'm thinking, though, that LG on 62 are harder than avg, and the other sections are easier, because I don't think I'm at the 173 level yet, which was indeed reflected on tonight's test. Either way, It's good to know that I'm where I want to be on 3 out of 4 sections. My trend is looking good too, with 161, 168, 169 for my last 3 PTs.

Haha it was my first PT, #29. I did it cold without any studying. I was great in LR without any studying (-0 and -2) but the LG was just a different animal from anything I had ever seen before. My trend right now is 164, 166, 161, 165. I'm not psyched with the progression. I think I was hoping for something that looked a lot more like yours. I think it's just a matter of getting some consistency. On the different tests I've done well on each section type at some point, but I always have one really crappy section that brings me down. Luckily we have a while to go until test day. Have you taken it before or is this your first prep?

Wow. SUPER jealous of both of your LR scores. I am confident that I will eventually get it together (I average -3 or -4 per LR section), but it is a loooooong uphill climb. And very boring. I wish I had started with better habits, such as using Kaplan 180, instead of going straight to the sections and just hoping that things would start clicking. As for your games scores, they will for sure get better. I started out completely mystified and now its rare for me to get -2. I think the games terrified me so much that they sort of forced me to use the "good habits" of reading the whole LGB very carefully and drilling each game by type like 3 or 4 times.

[Sloth Hero]

Haha. Anyone want to trade their -2/-3 RC scores for my -0/-1 LR scores? :>

hate dat rc

give me some lockean prose and I'll tear it up while the curve gets wrecked

[Easy-E]

Anyone doing Velocity LSAT for this administration?

[Gisney]

Well I want to go to Columbia based on the school. Ive never been to New York which is really sad. I am one of the bad Americans who have traveled more abroad then in the States.

In LSAT news I have lost all motivation and seriously need it back. It is just so damn hot here now and all I can do is lust for airconditioning

Well it's freezing balls cold here... I would take steaming hot jungle over bleak gray fields any day.

So we should trade places for awhile! Its a blistering hot beach where I live

[Gisney]

Just finished my first PT since my cold diagnostic in July. The results are encouraging!

Cold Diagnostic:

Pt 22
RC: -7
LR1: -5
LG: -7
LR2: -6

Raw Score: 76
Scaled Score: 161

PT Test Today after almost 4 months of studying

PT 40
LR1: -2
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -2

Raw Score: 94
Scaled Score: 173

So my studying seems to have been productive! Super excited!

To be fair I found the RC of this test extremely easy so we will see if I can keep it up Wed when I take PT 53

[man_utd_4l]

Anyone doing Velocity LSAT for this administration?

I am currently using Velocity LSAT for Logical Reasoning section and I love it! Dave's materials have helped me pick up on a number of test patterns that I probably would not have recognized on my own. Dave does a great job of breaking down the question types and offering LSAT strategy for each specific question type. After going through the Logical Reasoning materials I feel that I am engaging the questions more actively. I find myself being able to eliminate wrong answer choice quicker. If anything the Velocity materials have changed the way I think about the questions. With all of this being said, I cannot tell you the exact gains I made after using the Velocity LSAT materials. Keep in mind that LSAT takes time to learn and there is no one source of information that will lead you to a perfect score. I myself have been using a combination of the Manhattan LSAT materials, the powerscore bibles, and most recently the Velocity LSAT materials. They all build off of each other, but I do have to say that the Manhattan and Velocity materials seem a bit more advanced than the powerscore bibles. My final word on the Velocity materials is that they are great as along as you utilize them in the correct way.

[willwash]

Just finished my first PT since my cold diagnostic in July. The results are encouraging!

Cold Diagnostic:

Pt 22
RC: -7
LR1: -5
LG: -7
LR2: -6

Raw Score: 76
Scaled Score: 161

PT Test Today after almost 4 months of studying

PT 40
LR1: -2
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -2

Raw Score: 94
Scaled Score: 173

So my studying seems to have been productive! Super excited!

To be fair I found the RC of this test extremely easy so we will see if I can keep it up Wed when I take PT 53

Are you saving the newer tests for closer to test day?

[Gisney]

Just finished my first PT since my cold diagnostic in July. The results are encouraging!

Cold Diagnostic:

Pt 22
RC: -7
LR1: -5
LG: -7
LR2: -6

Raw Score: 76
Scaled Score: 161

PT Test Today after almost 4 months of studying

PT 40
LR1: -2
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -2

Raw Score: 94
Scaled Score: 173

So my studying seems to have been productive! Super excited!

To be fair I found the RC of this test extremely easy so we will see if I can keep it up Wed when I take PT 53

Are you saving the newer tests for closer to test day?

No. Next week I am taking 59 and begining of Jan I am takingall the 60s. Just easing my way in and I left myself room after the newest ones to fix any problems that may come up. Why do you ask?

[outlookingin]

Just finished my first PT since my cold diagnostic in July. The results are encouraging!

Cold Diagnostic:

Pt 22
RC: -7
LR1: -5
LG: -7
LR2: -6

Raw Score: 76
Scaled Score: 161

PT Test Today after almost 4 months of studying

PT 40
LR1: -2
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -2

Raw Score: 94
Scaled Score: 173

So my studying seems to have been productive! Super excited!

To be fair I found the RC of this test extremely easy so we will see if I can keep it up Wed when I take PT 53

Are you saving the newer tests for closer to test day?

No. Next week I am taking 59 and begining of Jan I am takingall the 60s. Just easing my way in and I left myself room after the newest ones to fix any problems that may come up. Why do you ask?

Nice score on PT40!! You killed it. I am still puttering around in the below-40's, specifically for LR practice, though I think I'll transition into the 40's and 50's in a couple weeks, then all 50's and 60's after Christmas. Hopefully.

[Underoath]

Just withdrew from the December LSAT, now going to take it in Feb. It's ridiculous because just last week I am down to missing -9 on LR for both sections. I know that still isn't great compared to others here, but I used to miss more than half. I don't think I'm at my full capacity.

Is Feb too late to apply to schools? I'm already going to submit my apps by the end of Dec. A hold will be placed on my app until my score is received.

[Easy-E]

Anyone doing Velocity LSAT for this administration?

I am currently using Velocity LSAT for Logical Reasoning section and I love it! Dave's materials have helped me pick up on a number of test patterns that I probably would not have recognized on my own. Dave does a great job of breaking down the question types and offering LSAT strategy for each specific question type. After going through the Logical Reasoning materials I feel that I am engaging the questions more actively. I find myself being able to eliminate wrong answer choice quicker. If anything the Velocity materials have changed the way I think about the questions. With all of this being said, I cannot tell you the exact gains I made after using the Velocity LSAT materials. Keep in mind that LSAT takes time to learn and there is no one source of information that will lead you to a perfect score. I myself have been using a combination of the Manhattan LSAT materials, the powerscore bibles, and most recently the Velocity LSAT materials. They all build off of each other, but I do have to say that the Manhattan and Velocity materials seem a bit more advanced than the powerscore bibles. My final word on the Velocity materials is that they are great as along as you utilize them in the correct way.

I'm on the second week of Velocity (comprehensive course), and I'm enjoying it. In previous study efforts, I never really looked in depth at question types, and the typical answers. Dave's methods have proven quite useful thus far. I used a combo of Manhattan and PS for the October test, but I really flaked on studying. I'm enjoying the (slightly) more structured approach of Velocity. I'm very much looking forward to applying Dave's LG methods, as this was a big problem section for me with other approaches, and his seems significantly different from another inference-based approaches.

What # week plan are you using?

[Easy-E]

Just withdrew from the December LSAT, now going to take it in Feb. It's ridiculous because just last week I am down to missing -9 on LR for both sections. I know that still isn't great compared to others here, but I used to miss more than half. I don't think I'm at my full capacity.

Is Feb too late to apply to schools? I'm already going to submit my apps by the end of Dec. A hold will be placed on my app until my score is received.

Technically no, its not too late, but it's really going to hurt your chances, especially if you're and splitter and/or trying to get some $$$. I'm retaking in February (161 in October), and just chalking up an extra year of W/E.