The Official September 2016 Study Group - WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS Forum

[Mikey]

Have note checked in in a while.

Rethinking September take. 167 is competitive for all the schools I want. Would it be better to go into the admissions game with my current score, and up it in December for more $$$, or take September test and risk lower score pre-applications?

Hmm, do you think you can raise your score? I know 167 is around what you were PTing. From our talk before, I think your score is definitely competitive and could get you some money at the schools you want. But I'm not sure if there will be any harm if you take the LSAT again and score slightly below your first take, but I might be wrong.

[Hennessy]

Have note checked in in a while.

Rethinking September take. 167 is competitive for all the schools I want. Would it be better to go into the admissions game with my current score, and up it in December for more $$$, or take September test and risk lower score pre-applications?

If you think you can do better, I'd say to retake if you have any interest in some higher ranked schools or more money. Each point over that 167-168 margin seems to be really impactful on admissions and $$$.

I'm retaking. I'm asking which makes more sense:
apply --> take in December
take in September --> apply

[ponderingmeerkat]

Have note checked in in a while.

Rethinking September take. 167 is competitive for all the schools I want. Would it be better to go into the admissions game with my current score, and up it in December for more $$$, or take September test and risk lower score pre-applications?

If you think you can do better, I'd say to retake if you have any interest in some higher ranked schools or more money. Each point over that 167-168 margin seems to be really impactful on admissions and $$$.

I'm retaking. I'm asking which makes more sense:
apply --> take in December
take in September --> apply

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. FWIW, my plan is to apply day 1 (15 Sept??) with my current 167 and try to get some safety schools in the bag who will probably take my 167 with $$. Then retake in late Sept and apply to my more competitive "reach" schools in the T14.

[34iplaw]

Have note checked in in a while.

Rethinking September take. 167 is competitive for all the schools I want. Would it be better to go into the admissions game with my current score, and up it in December for more $$$, or take September test and risk lower score pre-applications?

If you think you can do better, I'd say to retake if you have any interest in some higher ranked schools or more money. Each point over that 167-168 margin seems to be really impactful on admissions and $$$.

I'm retaking. I'm asking which makes more sense:
apply --> take in December
take in September --> apply

Oh, I'm not certain. I would assume to take it in September and apply once you get your score. I'd check with someone more versed on this, as I'm really not knowledgeable on it.

[pretzeltime]

Have note checked in in a while.

Rethinking September take. 167 is competitive for all the schools I want. Would it be better to go into the admissions game with my current score, and up it in December for more $$$, or take September test and risk lower score pre-applications?

If you think you can do better, I'd say to retake if you have any interest in some higher ranked schools or more money. Each point over that 167-168 margin seems to be really impactful on admissions and $$$.

I'm retaking. I'm asking which makes more sense:
apply --> take in December
take in September --> apply

Oh, I'm not certain. I would assume to take it in September and apply once you get your score. I'd check with someone more versed on this, as I'm really not knowledgeable on it.

I would take in September if you're able to get your PT average up by then.

Why put it off?

It's also somewhat unlikely that you're going to tank the second time IMO. Not impossible but unlikely

[Mikey]

Cleaning quote house. I put the questions in a spoiler just so there isn't a inanely long post on here.

My reasoning and answers are in the spoilers. HW4#45 - Oct 04 LR 2 #23 is the one that messed me up the most. The following one, June 07, is an issue as well I think.

HW#30 - Oct 05 LR 2 #12

[+] Spoiler

HW#30

I initially picked [D]. On a second run through knowing I got it wrong, I picked [A]. Initial go, I was deciding between these two answers.

[A] I ended up with via POE this time. I see why it is right. Ultimately, we are saying that the critics are wrong in saying that it is incompatible with western spirit, so it makes sense that the answer is the negation of this statement.
I eliminated this quickly both times. The stimulus says nothing in regards to achieving happiness or any synonym thereof, so we know it isn't necessarily true and cannot be the answer to a main point or main conclusion question.
[C} I eliminated this one quickly both times as well. This has nothing to do with the argument being made other than mentioning a key word or two.
[D] I eliminated this time [initially picked], because I caught the wording in D this time. No where does it say in the stimulus that psychoanalysis provides one with anything. The question I am curious as [and I asked testmasters as well] if the following could be correct 'psychoanalysis allows for the possibility for one to follow a rational life plan'
[E] I eliminated both times. Stimulus makes no mention of other psychological thoughts nor any comparative judgements.

HW4#36 - June 98 LR 1 #1

[+] Spoiler

This is a question I remember being really irritated by the lack of a conclusion in the stimulus.

Both times doing it, I quickly eliminated...

[A] Stimulus indicates no negative tone nor judgement ("overrate") on societies placing emphasis on rules.

Stimulus emphasizes following rules - not not following them - even if its against ones' self interest.

[E] Runs contrary to the stimulus an would indicate a negative judgement from the speaker on societies and their notion of duties, but there is no indication of that.

...

[C] I eliminated the first time. I missed the language trick in further defining what the idea of a duty further contains. I think I had some implicit bias here as well where I thought, 'why would they ever make people follow rules against their own self interest?'

[D] is the original choice I picked, as I didn't like [C]. It didn't seem to violate anything in my mind, but I think I made the mistake of paraphrasing a self-interest to being a duty...although I suppose my interpretation of [D] could also force [C] to be correct and, therein, cannot be correct.

HW4#45 - Oct 04 LR 2 #23

[+] Spoiler

I arrived at [C] both times with this question. I think my thought process for eliminating A, D, and E, was good though and is as follows.

[A] runs contrary to the passage in that 'governments have a strong obligation to ensure that all voice have an equal chance to be heard' and the sort of prevailing theme that big money in politics is bad, but the government shouldn't be footing the bill.

[D] runs contrary to the passage in that 'people should certainly be free, within broad limits, to spend money as they choose' and would also conflict the ideas about equal voices. Why would wealthy people be singled out from donating? Maybe everyone can donate $10.

[E] seemed to be a bit odd. For one, it mentions each candidate and other candidates. There could be candidate A running for some school board position. Should they be able to spend as much as candidate HRC or DJT who is a candidate for POTUS GE? Clearly, that would trigger the idea that candidates outspending rivals is a bad thing.

Given I mixed these two up both times, this is my reasoning while knowing [C] is wrong....

[C] I feel that it is wrong, because it uses 'at a low percentage of their total cost is warranted' whereas a lower percentage could still be way too much. Romney & Obama spent something like $1B each. 10% of that, which would probably qualify as a low percentage, would still be $200M between the two candidates. Perhaps, that is too expensive of a campaign, and, according to the stimulus, the government should not fund it.

I was about to add that [C] forces to be right, but I don't think that's actually correct. I think my initial reason for eliminating was that I felt it ran contrary to the idea that people should be free to spend their money as they choose, but, looking at it now, I suppose that the stipulations in could qualify as some broad or general limitation.

HW4#57 - June 07 LR 1 #8

Odd note, I got this right when I took my initial diagnostic... decided to just check

[+] Spoiler

I confidently eliminated B, C, and D, and, ultimately, chose E over A.

I got rid of, as we don't know anything about the popularity of the cars from the stimulus.

[C] I got rid of, as, like in , we know nothing about the technical problems and whether that's the only thing holding electric cars back.

[D] I eliminated for two reasons. The stimulus doesn't state anywhere that the cars will increase the level of emissions. In addition, A must be true if D is. Proponents think that they will be emission free. If they increase the total level of emissions rather than reduce, it will have a worse environmental consequence than proponents may believe.

As for [E], I, honestly, do not get why it is wrong. In the stimulus, we are given three options for energy to power and charge the batteries. All three are shown to produce considerable environmental damage. We are also told that proponents of the electric car maintain that, when solved, will result in an abatement of the environmental degradation caused by automobile emissions. We are told that these cars, unless new energy sources are built, will not do this. I could see and argument that E proves A to be true and can be wrong on that metric, but I don't see why E is wrong.

[+] Spoiler

HW4#45 - Oct 04 LR 2 #23
A. I agree, it goes against the argument and should be eliminated right off the bat
B. Correct, although I did skip over this one at first but didn’t eliminate it. If there’s a max limit on spending, they will still have their freedom to spend and no candidate will have an “unfair advantage”
C. I see how this can be tempting, but we would have to assume that the percentage that the government would be subsidizing would not only be the same for all candidates, but also for the same amount of money spent by each candidate. Either way, this wouldn’t solve anything because the arguments says governments should not subsidize expensive campaigns.
D. same as you said, it does against their whole freedom to spend belief
E. Doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t solve the issue of one candidate having that advantage spoken of

HW4#57 - June 07 LR 1 #8
A. Correct because the proponents believe that this electric car will be better once widely used due to it being emission-free, thus ending environmental degradation. But this isn’t true because the argument’s author is saying that charging the electric car’s battery has to come from on one of the 3 talked about environmentally hazardous places.
B. popularity is irrelevant
C. not something to be put in the conclusion because it doesn’t talk about the whole charging the battery idea
D. We don’t know this.
E. is tempting and I see why, but this isn’t the concern that the argument’s author is trying to convey. This is a tough question and I kinda got stumped on it but the argument’s author is only bringing up an issue (car battery and 3 places) that the proponents didn’t take into consideration. HE himself isn’t concluding anything about environmental degradation, nonetheless anything about NET reduction. He’s just saying that the electric car won’t be as “good” as the proponents believe, which makes A right. I see how this one is confusing but this is the best explanation that I could come up with.

HW#30 - Oct 05 LR 2 #12
A. Correct because of your exact explanation. If people can be defeated by unconscious desires and this is the reason why it’s incompatible, what happens if there is a way to avoid being defeated by it? This is what the author’s argument is saying is possible through psychoanalysis, which is that Freudianism in fact isn’t incompatible, which is A.
B. Happiness? Irrelevant
C. A new trend? There’s no talk about this, just like you said
D. A rational life plan? There’s no talk about this either. Or like you said, the stimulus says nothing about providing anyone with anything at all, nonetheless a rational life plan.
E. I agree, this one makes no sense. The argument is saying that it’s incompatible, but the author is saying that’s not quite. BUT, we know NOTHING about any other psychological theory, so this gets eliminated quickly

HW4#36 - June 98 LR 1 #1
Can’t find this one?

I hope this helped at least a little, lol.

[amta]

i bring you a real update from my studying. finished the LR bible last night. starting the real game tomorrow. two PTs a week on wednesday and saturday, then other nights two timed sections (LR, LG/RC alternating). sundays and fridays off.

[20170322]

Pro tip for Logic Games:

When you get a can't be true question, scan the answer choices for those involving the most restrictive variable. Then, try that answer first. This method has saved me a lot of time.

[Mikey]

Pro tip for Logic Games:

When you get a can't be true question, scan the answer choices for those involving the most restrictive variable. Then, try that answer first. This method has saved me a lot of time.

Will keep that in mind, thanks.

[Mikey]

Did a single timed LR section just now. I felt ok about it considering it was the first timed section I've done since before the June test. I definitely know I missed at least 1 or 2, but I will BR it in a bit and share my results

[20170322]

Debating what the best way to continue with my prep is. I'm starting to get bored of just drilling, especially when PT scores have been so high. I'm considering doing a PT every other day for the next 3 weeks to build endurance and get more used to the entire test.

[StopLawying]

Debating what the best way to continue with my prep is. I'm starting to get bored of just drilling, especially when PT scores have been so high. I'm considering doing a PT every other day for the next 3 weeks to build endurance and get more used to the entire test.

This is a bad idea, you might burn out. Why switch your approach when PT scores have been so high? I wish I was bored of getting high scores.

[Alexandros]

I've been doing a lot better on the LSAT recently and have been feeling really hopeful about reaching the 170s! I really want to get into Yale/Harvard/Stanford and I have the GPA for it. So I decided that I am no longer planning on taking in September and signed up for the December LSAT.

I've been doing really great and believe it or not, that is what motivated me to wait until December to take. I think it will allow me the proper time to really go through the courses and study schedules properly and be confident that I am ready. I want to go in there ready to kill it! If for some reason I end up scoring in the 170s consistently before September, I will write the test then. But I really feel so much more positive that I have the extra time to devote to my studies. When I signed up for September I had no idea how hard it would be to go from a 151 to a 170. The good news is I have developed a great process that is working for me and I don't want to have to speed through what I am doing.

Besides, putting in 6-8 hours a day is sort of burning me out. So I am going to cut back to 4-5 for a bit and see how that works for me. Working and taking the LSAT sucks!

Sounds like a solid plan! (So long as you're not leaving us, that's not allowed, but I take it you aren't!) You've made and are continuing to make major progress and I'm sure you'll be able to comfortably crush December no problem.

[Barack O'Drama]

Pro tip for Logic Games:

When you get a can't be true question, scan the answer choices for those involving the most restrictive variable. Then, try that answer first. This method has saved me a lot of time.

Love this tip, Sweet! I actually started to utilize little strategies like this and my LG score and speed went up drastically.

Debating what the best way to continue with my prep is. I'm starting to get bored of just drilling, especially when PT scores have been so high. I'm considering doing a PT every other day for the next 3 weeks to build endurance and get more used to the entire test.

You know yourself better than anyone. If you think that is a good idea for ya, I say go ahead. I think we often get caught up in certain LSAT advice that may apply to some, but not all. You are probably the most dedicated LSAT-studier I have ever heard of, so I don't think you'll burn out as long as you take breaks from prep when needed. Try it out and if it feels like too much, cut it back bit.

[Alexandros]

So my LSAT while dealing-with-distraction skills are not a level where I can deal with RC on an airplane aisle seat. Bad idea.

But I managed to get through M LR chapter on conditional logic and do 15 practice questions timed. Definitely good practice. Hopefully I'll be able to do the rest today if I get a moment of quiet.

This morning - 6 logic games, 35 min for 5, -2 from the ones I could mark (stupid mistakes. argh.)

[Barack O'Drama]

I've been doing a lot better on the LSAT recently and have been feeling really hopeful about reaching the 170s! I really want to get into Yale/Harvard/Stanford and I have the GPA for it. So I decided that I am no longer planning on taking in September and signed up for the December LSAT.

I've been doing really great and believe it or not, that is what motivated me to wait until December to take. I think it will allow me the proper time to really go through the courses and study schedules properly and be confident that I am ready. I want to go in there ready to kill it! If for some reason I end up scoring in the 170s consistently before September, I will write the test then. But I really feel so much more positive that I have the extra time to devote to my studies. When I signed up for September I had no idea how hard it would be to go from a 151 to a 170. The good news is I have developed a great process that is working for me and I don't want to have to speed through what I am doing.

Besides, putting in 6-8 hours a day is sort of burning me out. So I am going to cut back to 4-5 for a bit and see how that works for me. Working and taking the LSAT sucks!

Sounds like a solid plan! (So long as you're not leaving us, that's not allowed, but I take it you aren't!) You've made and are continuing to make major progress and I'm sure you'll be able to comfortably crush December no problem.

Thanks Alexandros! I appreciate it. Don't worry. I'm not leaving and here is a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street to demonstrate how much I'm never leaving, lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVAsGCOl8Ak

[ngogirl12]

I'm officially going hardcore with prep as of today.. I reviewed a bunch of MBT questions..

I have a question for September takers, are people working on their personal statements? I kind of have an idea where I want to go with mine, but would love some guidance or know what other people are doing i.e. working on their personal statements or just focusing on the LSAT..

I have a very rough draft that I am working on editing little by little. I think it provides a nice break from ongoing and mostly monotonous LSAT prep.
I think it is good to start early because although writing my first draft took about an hour I am seeing that the edits and changes I am making are going to take forever. It is really something you want to be perfect.

Thanks for your response.

Did you read books to help you out? I kind of have an idea and an opening but am a little confused as how to link it to other parts of my essay.. I'm thinking getting some books might help me out..

Are you working on it every day or only dedicating one day a week for it?

[ngogirl12]

I'm officially going hardcore with prep as of today.. I reviewed a bunch of MBT questions..

I have a question for September takers, are people working on their personal statements? I kind of have an idea where I want to go with mine, but would love some guidance or know what other people are doing i.e. working on their personal statements or just focusing on the LSAT..

I'm a rising junior so I'm not even really thinking about applications beyond where I want to go/score I need to get there. But on a semi-related note what are people doing to prepare for the writing portion of the LSAT? I think I posed this question somewhere else but don't remember getting an answer.

It seems like something that's non-trivial to your application but nobody ever talks about it on these forums. Are people writing the essay when they PT? Are you just kinda looking at the prompt and thinking about what you would write? Are you not even bothering to think about the writing portion until a week or two before the test?

I mean if schools are going to look at the essay, shouldn't it be something that people care about instead of an afterthought?

Oh lucky you!

I plan on doing a few of them right before the test along with my PT's, but not go too crazy with it. I think it's a compare/contrast essay right? Choose one scenario and explain why you went with that one.. I think for splitter/borderline applicants (so splitter or when deciding one application against the other) adcomms look at the writing sample to make their decision, so yeah it is important.

[proteinshake]

social media is a total shitshow (is this two words?) right now

[Barack O'Drama]

I'm officially going hardcore with prep as of today.. I reviewed a bunch of MBT questions..

I have a question for September takers, are people working on their personal statements? I kind of have an idea where I want to go with mine, but would love some guidance or know what other people are doing i.e. working on their personal statements or just focusing on the LSAT..

I have a very rough draft that I am working on editing little by little. I think it provides a nice break from ongoing and mostly monotonous LSAT prep.
I think it is good to start early because although writing my first draft took about an hour I am seeing that the edits and changes I am making are going to take forever. It is really something you want to be perfect.

Thanks for your response.

Did you read books to help you out? I kind of have an idea and an opening but am a little confused as how to link it to other parts of my essay.. I'm thinking getting some books might help me out..

Are you working on it every day or only dedicating one day a week for it?

I haven't read any books as of yet, but I am planning on getting something. I am probably going to use The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions
Heard good things about it from personal friends and online, so I figured I'd give it a shot!

I don't work on it everyday. I sort of just add/edit when I think of something I want to change. I have a really good skeleton that I am working on editing, but I think most everything I want to say is written and it is just a matter of dining the most clear and eloquent way of saying it.

So, yeah, I would say I probably work on it 1-2 days a week. Sometimes I end up just randomly thinking of an idea at 2am and end up working on it then for an hour, but that has been rare.

Also, I should add that I wrote like 3 personal statements outlines and ended up growing this one to a full, 2-page statement.

[Mikey]

social media is a total shitshow (is this two words?) right now

Are you talking about the whole cop thing?

[appind]

social media is a total shitshow (is this two words?) right now

referring to BLM-police?

[proteinshake]

social media is a total shitshow (is this two words?) right now

Are you talking about the whole cop thing?

yes.

[appind]

social media is a total shitshow (is this two words?) right now

Are you talking about the whole cop thing?

yes.

man, that livestream of the cop shooting is heartbreaking

[20170322]

Drilling RC has been fairly successful. I recommend it to anyone struggling with RC. Just like LR and LG, the best method to learn is repetition.