The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[10052014]

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[jk148706]

Took PT 55

LR -6
LR -2
RC -7 (ran low on time!)
LG -3 (very hard 4th game)

163 - not thrilled

Looks like I need to drill my LG back into shape. also, I have to do more RC passages..

took in a public library. Man, my score keeps fluctuating from 163-171 because of RC, a random hard games.
like I said, I need to drill them it looks.

If u haven't yet, I'd recommend lsat trainer for RC. I used to be terrible at it (still nowhere near perfect), but the trainer really really helped me improve. It's all about dat argument structure.

[jk148706]

Was browsing some old lsat threads for motivation, and came across this from Oct 2010: someone retook a 161 and scored 180

PT Average - ~174
Expectation - 168
Actual - 180

Retake from 161... there's hope, future retakers!

[santoki]

edit-figured it out.

[odela]

Finished chapter 23, 24, and 25 of the LSAT Trainer. Will be taking PT 57 tomorrow.

[WaltGrace83]

I'm back! I took Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off. Did tons of stretching, yoga, and walking; watched baseball games; and didn't work my brain at all! I'm ready to go back at it today! I will hopefully have a lot more endurance now.

there is no good reason to rush to take the LSAT

This needs to be communicated to OLs outside TLS so badly.

Seriously, this. I have realized the importance of PTing to a score and not a deadline. Let's say you rush the LSAT and underperform to your capabilities. Let's say you are capable of a 171 and you rushed it and got a 165. You (probably) went from getting a solid scholarship at a T14 and perhaps even a shot at YHS to going to a lower T1. I mean, the employment/opportunity differences that 6 points will give you is EXTREME. Another example would be that if you are a 160 taker but you rushed it and got a 152, you went from getting a FULL RIDE to a local TTT to paying sticker. Aka, you missed out on 200+k. Wow. As I have told you all before, I have a sibling who scored a 147 on the LSAT, below the 25% of the local TTT of course. If he/she would have studied harder and smarter for another 3 months or something, perhaps he/she could have got a 158. That would have made a HUGE difference. All of a sudden, we went from talking about <25% LSAT and median GPA to medians at both! It would have undoubtedly led to at least a half scholly, saving at least 100k! I mean c'mon people!

I have gotten to the point where I am totally uncaring if I am working on this test for even another year. I can imagine how sweet it would be to get Yale or a Levy at uPenn or something similar. No matter what, an offer like that would make all of this stuff worth it. That's how I see it. I would rather "waste" a year before law school, developing my resume and having some solid experiences, then waste a year after law school looking for a job and trying to service my massive debt.

[alexrodriguez]

Taking back to back pts today. Going hard.

[alexrodriguez]

60 days. Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

[jk148706]

I'm back! I took Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off. Did tons of stretching, yoga, and walking; watched baseball games; and didn't work my brain at all! I'm ready to go back at it today! I will hopefully have a lot more endurance now.

This is so credited. Last time around, I pushed out as many PTs as possible with few breaks. Definitely tKing more time off this time, and I really think it's paying off.

[jk148706]

Taking back to back pts today. Going hard.

60 days. Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Thread is too quiet for two months out. How's everyone doing? Rebex where'd you go?

[santoki]

Taking back to back pts today. Going hard.

60 days. Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Thread is too quiet for two months out. How's everyone doing? Rebex where'd you go?

Maybe it means a decline in LSAT takers in June

[BaberhamLincoln]

Taking back to back pts today. Going hard.

60 days. Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Thread is too quiet for two months out. How's everyone doing? Rebex where'd you go?

Maybe it means a decline in LSAT takers in June

Is that a good thing? with a curve is less more?

[jk148706]

Is that a good thing? with a curve is less more?

It is a good thing, but has nothing to do with the 'curve.'

There is not actually a curve -- though that's what we call it -- bc the number you can miss to get 170 is predetermined. Before the test is even administered the number of q's you can miss to get 170, 160, etc. is already known by LSAC. They make this determination by giving those experimental sections and seeing how high/low scorers perform on those. So it's not *really* a curve bc the number of people getting 100/90/80 correct does not affect anything. Everyone could theoretically score a 180.

Still, it's a good thing to have fewer test takers bc it means less competition in the admissions process. If there are fewer test takers, there are likely fewer people with 160+s, 170+s (though the 175-180 range has actually increased recently)

[BaberhamLincoln]

The biggest (and most ironic) "problem" with TLS is that there are TOO MANY posts and people on here.
I am overloaded! Need some advice from those of you who have been using this site longer than I (I just started really going on here a few months back when I started to apply).

A study plan for a person who scored a 161 last year? That was a terrible day/morning for me, but honestly that score should have been expected. I studied really hard. Took 12 practice tests and was working full-time, serious relationship full-time basically, and also in the process of moving 700 miles. The move was unexpected but I took the test anyway. 161 was my PT average so 161 on the test should have been expected, like I said.

But I'm on some serious hold/WL now that I didn't expect to be on. And I need some ammo to get me off of them. So I'm going to shoot for high 160s in June.

There's probably 100 threads that can help me make a study plan, but I thought I would go on here and solicit advice first because combing through all the wealth of knowledge on here might take me an entire week. A week in which I could have started studying/worked on held essays...

[BaberhamLincoln]

Is that a good thing? with a curve is less more?

It is a good thing, but has nothing to do with the 'curve.'

There is not actually a curve -- though that's what we call it -- bc the number you can miss to get 170 is predetermined. Before the test is even administered the number of q's you can miss to get 170, 160, etc. is already known by LSAC. They make this determination by giving those experimental sections and seeing how high/low scorers perform on those. So it's not *really* a curve bc the number of people getting 100/90/80 correct does not affect anything. Everyone could theoretically score a 180.

Still, it's a good thing to have fewer test takers bc it means less competition in the admissions process. If there are fewer test takers, there are likely fewer people with 160+s, 170+s (though the 175-180 range has actually increased recently)

oh! yes yes makes sense, thank you.

[santoki]

The biggest (and most ironic) "problem" with TLS is that there are TOO MANY posts and people on here.
I am overloaded! Need some advice from those of you who have been using this site longer than I (I just started really going on here a few months back when I started to apply).

A study plan for a person who scored a 161 last year? That was a terrible day/morning for me, but honestly that score should have been expected. I studied really hard. Took 12 practice tests and was working full-time, serious relationship full-time basically, and also in the process of moving 700 miles. The move was unexpected but I took the test anyway. 161 was my PT average so 161 on the test should have been expected, like I said.

But I'm on some serious hold/WL now that I didn't expect to be on. And I need some ammo to get me off of them. So I'm going to shoot for high 160s in June.

There's probably 100 threads that can help me make a study plan, but I thought I would go on here and solicit advice first because combing through all the wealth of knowledge on here might take me an entire week. A week in which I could have started studying/worked on held essays...

The LSAT Trainer has a plan built in! But with June only two months away, your best bet is to tackle your weaknesses by drilling, and PT+ blind reviewing. REVIEWING IS MOST IMPORTANT. Hone in on why you thought your wrong answers were correct, and make sure that never happens again (as best you can). Two months seems like too short of a period to make a huge jump in your score if you ask me, but with your situation perhaps you have no choice (unless you do what everyone will tell you to do--wait, retake, and reapply).

[Straw_Mandible]

I am overloaded!

Don't fret; you've come to the right place. Can you share a bit more about which waitlists you're currently riding? I get the feeling that you should be aiming to sit out and reapply next cycle with, ideally, a 170+.

What study methods did you use to prep for your first take?

Also, is that a self-tar? If so, I have a follow up question about the status of that serious "full time" relationship you referenced.

---
Edit to add +1 to santoki's recommendation for the LSAT Trainer study schedules.

[BaberhamLincoln]

I am overloaded!

Don't fret; you've come to the right place. Can you share a bit more about which waitlists you're currently riding? I get the feeling that you should be aiming to sit out and reapply next cycle with, ideally, a 170+.

What study methods did you use to prep for your first take?

Also, is that a self-tar? If so, I have a follow up question about the status of that serious "full time" relationship you referenced.

---
Edit to add +1 to santoki's recommendation for the LSAT Trainer study schedules.

LOL!

Yes it's me. Tons of people have told me to not put my own face on there. I've told those people to go away.

I just feel like I'm SO CLOSE, I don't want to sit out a cycle. Also, I can't stand this job I'm in anymore (not why I'm going to law school, just a perk of leaving for law school). So for now, let's not talk about sitting out a cycle.

I'm on Northwestern's held list, and Univ of Chicago's WL.
I have no delusions about UChi, I won't get in. But NU has been my top choice all along, and I am going to go above and beyond what they've offered the held applicants as options. (Including retaking my shitty 161 LSAT.)

First take, I took 12 LSAT real tests and I did an entire Princeton Review book (though I've read on here that those suck. Good to know now.) Also worked through almost all of the LG Bible. I think there's another book I'm missing...

Studied for 8 weeks (I know for some of you that is a short time) and put in a decent amount of hours per week. But working 40 and being with my then-boyfriend at least another 40, I didn't prioritize LSAT like I should have.

Please, no scolding. Just helping. Thank you everyone!

[Straw_Mandible]

Also, is that a self-tar? If so, I have a follow up question about the status of that serious "full time" relationship you referenced.

then-boyfriend

Good to know.

Since you're on the waitlist of your top choice (NU), you should absolutely aim for a retake in June. But if it doesn't work out, consider reapplying next cycle.

It looks like you have not yet seen the LSAT Trainer or the Manhattan series. You should get those books ASAP, and I would recommend starting a Trainer study schedule and branching out/scheduling additional drilling time as needed. Do you know what your strongest and weakest areas are?

[sabzdee]

Hi all! Checking in, first post. I'm a Junior now looking to apply for law schools in the fall. I've got a 3.6 from an solid undergrad university (Tufts) and plan on taking the LSAT in June. My goal is 175+ to put in me contention for Columbia and maybe Stanford. I've done a few timed practice tests in sections and I have gotten about 8 wrong in the two LR sections (about 4 wrong in each), 10 wrong in the LG section, and none wrong in the CR section. For LGs I've been watching the sage videos after each time and I am starting to get familiar with the types of games.

Have you found that repetition of the logic games is an effective study strategy? Or do you recommend I really try to learn the games in and out before I start practicing. Likewise with LR - has anyone had success in just practicing them over and over? I tend to learn better that way but if the "theory" or "methods" are the way to go, well, I trust you guys.

Thanks!

[BaberhamLincoln]

Since you're on the waitlist of your top choice (NU), you should absolutely aim for a retake in June. But if it doesn't work out, consider reapplying next cycle.

It looks like you have not yet seen the LSAT Trainer or the Manhattan series. You should get those books ASAP, and I would recommend starting a Trainer study schedule and branching out/scheduling additional drilling time as needed. Do you know what your strongest and weakest areas are?

Makes sense! I will check those books out.

I believe that RC is my worst. I'm a writer, but I don't think I read fast enough sometimes. Gotta improve on my speed.

Then it's a toss up between LG and LR...I wish the writing mattered for something other than just being an additional hand cramp at the end of the exam.

[WaltGrace83]

Since you're on the waitlist of your top choice (NU), you should absolutely aim for a retake in June. But if it doesn't work out, consider reapplying next cycle.

It looks like you have not yet seen the LSAT Trainer or the Manhattan series. You should get those books ASAP, and I would recommend starting a Trainer study schedule and branching out/scheduling additional drilling time as needed. Do you know what your strongest and weakest areas are?

Makes sense! I will check those books out.

I believe that RC is my worst. I'm a writer, but I don't think I read fast enough sometimes. Gotta improve on my speed.

Then it's a toss up between LG and LR...I wish the writing mattered for something other than just being an additional hand cramp at the end of the exam.

REALLY impressed that you even got WL'd with a 161. You are wayyyyyy below median with that score. Did you cure cancer? A few things:

(1) The Trainer / Manhattan is credited - both are really great (I have them both and am reading them both/have read them both)
(2) Don't go to DePaul, Loyola, or Kent.
(3) I'd recommend that you don't even pay attention to any schedules. Go at your own pace. I thought I would be done drilling by the end of February - it's April and I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of my true capabilities. Even if it makes you sit out a whole other cycle. So what? My new mantra is this: Don't waste a year AFTER law school looking for a job and dealing with shitty job prospects that may cripple you for the next 40 years of your career; "Waste" that year BEFORE law school as you solidify your LSAT skills, resume, etc. Prep to a SCORE, not a DATE. 
(4) What was your process the first time? We want details.
(5) What is your score breakdown? For example: LR -5, LG -4, RC - 10.
(6) At a 161, you are solid on fundamentals. Work mostly on weaknesses. If you don't know what those are, find out!
(7) The key is review. By that, I mean "blind review."

EDIT: ALSO - NEVER EVER SETTLE. I know what TTT unemployment looks like. It is NOT pretty. Don't ruin your career - work that dead end job that you hate because working that job for a year is way better than working that job for a lifetime.

[Straw_Mandible]

Prep to a SCORE, not a DATE.

Agreed. Unless the date involves flowers, a movie, and dinner at an expensive restaurant.

[Louis1127]

I thought I would be done drilling by the end of February - it's April and I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of my true capabilities.

Thank God you posted this, Walt. I feel like I am way behind for 3 and 1/3 months studying, but I feel like even though I have improved alot, I still have potential to improve significantly.

[knowyourself]

and even on the date, prep to score.