June 2011 Study Group Forum

[tiniestdancer7]

i'm taking the day off. ugh frustrated.

[jim-green]

i'm taking the day off. ugh frustrated.

Me too, I've gotta go shave the dog.

[Eichörnchen]

Boo negativity! We can do this! And no, that's not some blanket statement of encouragement. I read everyone's posts, I see what people are working on, and I know that the people in this thread are capable. There's a reason we all started studying the day that we did, and not a day later. It's because these next 35 days are going to be where we make our final push to the scores that we want. Yes, we all envisioned ourselves getting 175s on 10 straight PTs before June 6 and having the real thing be just another walk in the park, but just because it's been a little more difficult than that doesn't mean we're not definitely going to get there.

There's a difference between not getting it because we just don't get it, and not getting it because we aren't there yet. Eich, I would kill to have your problems. You have the hardest part down with great scores in LR and RC. You have 35 days to master games, something that if you dedicate yourself to, will surely be accomplished. 2 weeks ago I was averaging -5 on LG, and yesterday I dropped -0 twice (LG and LG exp). Gev, RC does not come easy but you're going to break through soon. As you improve your LR from that -6/7 range to that -3/4 range, your RC will come with. Add a perfect 0 or -1 games section to that and welcome to 170-land.

Stop thinking about this mid-May deadline. I won't allow it. No one ever said getting into our dream schools would be easy. If you doubt yourself, I guarantee you that you'll fail. But if you stay positive, and do what you're capable of, you'll get there. We're all so close and the only thing that will stop us is ourselves. Let's dig our heels in and take this challenge head on!

This was great Mickey. I agree with you and now that I think about it, I am feeling better. I have gone -0 on LR (3 times I think) and in RC (only once though) so if I can get LG to that -1 - -3 level and really refine my LR and RC I might have a shot. I've taken about 4 days off and will start trying like hell again tomorrow. Until then I will be playing mortal kombat and sipping baileys.

And pk I loved the outline of the studying cycle. How true!

Mortal Kombat and Bailey's huh? You are too cool my friend.

Hell yeaaaaa. We had a birthday and a friend who started his 8 year long Phd program today, so last night we went out for margaritas and then went to my place for supernintendo

[xjykybl]

My worst part of RC is inferences. Any good techniques anyone has? I've read the MLSAT RC guide, but still not improved.

I use elimination for inferences that I am not sure about: eliminate choices that use extreme words, such as, never, almost, exclusively. Qualified statements are always better than extreme statements for inference questions. Also for some inference questions, scope shift is a frequency trick. For instance, the author recommends a theory to be applied to the economy in country A, but the inference talk about theory applied to social policy issues in country A. It's tricky because I sometimes choose the answer before I reach the end of the sentence, where the scope shift frequently happens.
So, in a word, for inference questions, the last straw for me is to use elimination method to rule out extreme statements and irrelevant or out-of-scope statement.

[Ginj]

So, just did Section 1 of pt52 (LR), tried...I think it was crumpetsandtea's?...method of doing 1-15 and then 25-16.

-1 on the section.

Happy dance time.

[jim-green]

My worst part of RC is inferences. Any good techniques anyone has? I've read the MLSAT RC guide, but still not improved.

So, in a word, for inference questions, the last straw for me is to use elimination method to rule out extreme statements and irrelevant or out-of-scope statement.

Thanks! this is very helpful.

[Strange]

So, just did Section 1 of pt52 (LR), tried...I think it was crumpetsandtea's?...method of doing 1-15 and then 25-16.

-1 on the section.

Happy dance time.

Could you explain this method or link the post?

[geverett]

i'm taking the day off. ugh frustrated.

Me too, I've gotta go shave the dog.

haha!

[soj]

Couldn't fall asleep till 5am last night--not because of the loud celebrations outside (those subsided at ~2am), but because of a freaking can of Coke I had with lunch for the first time in months.

I don't get it. Last semester I drank energy drinks to keep myself awake while cramming for exams, but they never seemed to work, even when I drank them for the first time in 5 months. And now, a can of Coke will keep me up three extra hours.

Took a break from LSAT prep yesterday, back at it today.

[jim-green]

As regards to the other parts of the application process, other than the LSAT, I think I have realized what to do at a tough law school interview. The answer lies in answer choice E for question 6 of Section 3 of PT B.

[jim-green]

Sitting down for PT 33.

How did you do? I think I got a 163 on this one. The 30s were harder I found.

[Ginj]

So, just did Section 1 of pt52 (LR), tried...I think it was crumpetsandtea's?...method of doing 1-15 and then 25-16.

-1 on the section.

Happy dance time.

Could you explain this method or link the post?

Eeeeh I can't sift through 93 pages of thread, but the theory is that you work up to doing the hardest problems at the very end instead of the middle of the section, since the more difficult questions are typically located in the 15-22 range. So, you begin by working chronologically through the section...1-15...and then skip to the end of the section and do 26-16. Works for some. Not for others. Give it a shot.

[jim-green]

Pkpop,
Do JG or you post the upcoming topics and schedule somewhere on the web? I no longer get JG's e-mails for the study room.

[theaether]

Been following most of the banter of this megathread but haven't posted really. Here's my progress:

Just took PT40 with PT21.2 experimental
LR: -3
LR exp: -2
LG: -1
LR: -3
RC: -2

Raw 92 Scaled 171

Big difference from previous PT14 score of 176 (beautiful scale there by the way). Not where I want to be right now...

[Strange]

So, just did Section 1 of pt52 (LR), tried...I think it was crumpetsandtea's?...method of doing 1-15 and then 25-16.

-1 on the section.

Happy dance time.

Could you explain this method or link the post?

Eeeeh I can't sift through 93 pages of thread, but the theory is that you work up to doing the hardest problems at the very end instead of the middle of the section, since the more difficult questions are typically located in the 15-22 range. So, you begin by working chronologically through the section...1-15...and then skip to the end of the section and do 26-16. Works for some. Not for others. Give it a shot.

What's the rationale for this strategy?

Might try it on my PT's this weekend

[soj]

Don't try to shave the bulldog in my avatar. He'll bite your hand off and then tell on you to Asha so you won't get into YLS.

[tiniestdancer7]

poor puppy

[mickeyD]

Really have lacked focus lately. Finals and final papers are starting to pick up so it's tough to pick up LSAT prep as well. Taking 2 PTs in a week for the first time so I need to get a lot done between now and Wednesday.

Hoping to drill all the 40s games sections this week and complete the MLSAT LR Guide. These next two weeks are going to be my *level up* in LR.

It's just tough when I have 5 finals and a paper. Not to mention dealing a landlord who is furious at the destruction of her house caused by my frat bros . Won't be too funny when she takes our 10K deposit though...

[jim-green]

Don't try to shave the bulldog in my avatar. He'll bite your hand off and then tell on you to Asha so you won't get into YLS.

And with a bitten-off hand, you won't be able to do the writing sample either.

[geverett]

172 on PT 33. Finally. Will post breakdown after I go over it all.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

172 on PT 33. Finally. Will post breakdown after I go over it all.

Good job! I went 88 raw on that one. Missed 6 on RC

[Ginj]

So, just did Section 1 of pt52 (LR), tried...I think it was crumpetsandtea's?...method of doing 1-15 and then 25-16.

-1 on the section.

Happy dance time.

Could you explain this method or link the post?

Eeeeh I can't sift through 93 pages of thread, but the theory is that you work up to doing the hardest problems at the very end instead of the middle of the section, since the more difficult questions are typically located in the 15-22 range. So, you begin by working chronologically through the section...1-15...and then skip to the end of the section and do 26-16. Works for some. Not for others. Give it a shot.

What's the rationale for this strategy?

Might try it on my PT's this weekend

I suppose it's essentially "warming up" your brain for the more difficult ones in a more progressive manner, instead of jumping straight from the easiest ones to the most difficult. Theoretically. Maybe.

[99.9luft]

In the court house. Really don't want to do a week of jury duty instead of lsat prep.

[soj]

In the court house. Really don't want to do a week of jury duty instead of lsat prep.

As the author of Passage 1 of PT26 RC said, some people get out of jury duty by claiming to have prejudices they don't have. Not that you should do it, but just sayin'.

Just took a look at the curves of PT46-56. Dayum, some pretty tough scales in there.

[judgekozinski]

Just here to check in. I took PT 56 about a week ago at the Princeton Review. I got a 161. This is 1 point better than my exam taken 2 weeks before on PT 55. This was really a poor test for me, my reading comp was too slow and LR were slow as well.

I just took PT 45, 168! I'm psyched, this is my very first perfect games section! Successsssss!!!! I'm not going to put too much weight on this though, I know these games were considerably easier than more current games sections. It would be sweet if games sections were always like that, I had 6 minutes extra upon finishing the section. My LR and RC weren't terrible, but I think I can do better. I need to speed up on both sections, but especially in LR. I tend to over think on these questions and waste time making sure I got the right answer. It would be best for me just to breeze through the section and only spend a little extra time on the harder questions.

Well I'm in a great mood right now, I just had my best scoring PT ever. I just hope I can keep my scores around or better than 168 on newer PTs, otherwise I will always have that high watermark to chase after. I'm excited to see what improvements I can make in the next month before the exam.