The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

[RZ5646]

Whatever guys. I read two prep books and I still can't get 180. Obviously it's the books' fault.

Any poll ideas? I still want to do "how many hours per week do you study?" but many of us are on spring break, returning from spring break, or giving up on work in anticipation of spring break, so it might be better to wait on that if we want somewhat accurate results.

Preferred location for spring break. I personally love Aruba!

Isn't that where that girl was murdered?

Coffee might be better. Plebs like me can't afford vacations so I wouldn't even know what to make the options.

Other suggestions?

[Rigo]

I personally love Aruba!

Isn't that where that girl was murdered?

Yes. Or at least disappeared.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappea ... e_Holloway

[The Abyss]

Whatever guys. I read two prep books and I still can't get 180. Obviously it's the books' fault.

Any poll ideas? I still want to do "how many hours per week do you study?" but many of us are on spring break, returning from spring break, or giving up on work in anticipation of spring break, so it might be better to wait on that if we want somewhat accurate results.

Preferred location for spring break. I personally love Aruba!

I went to Panama City Beach one spring break, worked one spring break, and backpacked 2 spring breaks. The backpacking trips were by far the best.

[biggestlawman]

How long can you study without a break? Or, how long do you study without a break?

[biggestlawman]

Whatever guys. I read two prep books and I still can't get 180. Obviously it's the books' fault.

Any poll ideas? I still want to do "how many hours per week do you study?" but many of us are on spring break, returning from spring break, or giving up on work in anticipation of spring break, so it might be better to wait on that if we want somewhat accurate results.

Preferred location for spring break. I personally love Aruba!

I went to Panama City Beach one spring break, worked one spring break, and backpacked 2 spring breaks. The backpacking trips were by far the best.

No interest in backpacking. How was PC Beach?

[jwelsh]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

[biggestlawman]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

No need to figure it all out at once! Do the Trainer and some drilling and PTing, and then see what else you need to do.

[Rigo]

Sounds like a good plan, jwelsh. If you want to save a little time, skip the LG chapters in The Trainer and instead just use the LGB. All around, 3 great books to start with.

& Welcome!!

[RZ5646]

How long can you study without a break? Or, how long do you study without a break?

0

[RZ5646]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

Trainer to start wouldn't be bad, though I hear its LG section is so bad as to be harmful, so skip that maybe. What was your diagnostic? If there's a section you're already fairly good at (say -3 or better), you might want to just skim the book and start drilling right away, returning to the book as problems emerge. If your diagnostic was lower then reading all the books first to build a strong foundation would be a smart idea.

[biggestlawman]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

Trainer to start wouldn't be bad, though I hear its LG section is so bad as to be harmful, so skip that maybe. What was your diagnostic? If there's a section you're already fairly good at (say -3 or better), you might want to just skim the book and start drilling right away, returning to the book as problems emerge. If your diagnostic was lower then reading all the books first to build a strong foundation would be a smart idea.

Never heard that Trainer LG was that pathetic! Is that true?

[RZ5646]

Never heard that Trainer LG was that pathetic! Is that true?

Gamerfish posted a rant awhile ago about how his LG scores actually went down after reading it. Several other people were less extreme but said they didn't find it that helpful either. I myself have not read it, so I can't say.

[biggestlawman]

Never heard that Trainer LG was that pathetic! Is that true?

Gamerfish posted a rant awhile ago about how his LG scores actually went down after reading it. Several other people were less extreme but said they didn't find it that helpful either. I myself have not read it, so I can't say.

Interesting! Met a 180er who told me to read the Trainer cover to cover before doing anything else.

[Shemp]

The trainer is the only book that I went through cover to cover and it worked out alright for me.

[biggestlawman]

The trainer is the only book that I went through cover to cover and it worked out alright for me.

Thanks for sharing, Mr. 175!

[RZ5646]

FWIW, I thought the Trainer's LR was okay (or at least the parts of it that I read). Just not as good as Manhattan's.

[TheWalkingDebt]

Agree with the trainer cover-to-cover before all else. It lets you learn the tree method (if it wasn't already intuitive) before powerscore introduces you to their terrible way of diagramming. Also, the LR is very good, but manhattan is still necessary to flesh out things in some more depth, or even just to have roughly the same info presented in a different way.

[RZ5646]

Agree with the trainer cover-to-cover before all else. It lets you learn the tree method (if it wasn't already intuitive) before powerscore introduces you to their terrible way of diagramming. Also, the LR is very good, but manhattan is still necessary to flesh out things in some more depth, or even just to have roughly the same info presented in a different way.

What's the tree method? Connecting a bunch of conditionals into a sideways tree?

[jwelsh]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

Trainer to start wouldn't be bad, though I hear its LG section is so bad as to be harmful, so skip that maybe. What was your diagnostic? If there's a section you're already fairly good at (say -3 or better), you might want to just skim the book and start drilling right away, returning to the book as problems emerge. If your diagnostic was lower then reading all the books first to build a strong foundation would be a smart idea.

163 on the diagnostic (-2 LG; -4 LR; -4 LR; -7 RC). I mapped out a schedule to get through the Trainer within a few weeks then I'll jump into drilling/supplementing with the MLR and LGB.

Thank you all for the feedback.

[santoki]

Post removed.

[jbrantley]

Checking in and officially committing to the June test (because, y'know, signing up on LSAC and sending $170 doesn't count).

I know the prevailing wisdom is drill, drill, drill and PT, PT, PT, but any thoughts on the best initial approach to study? I have the LSAT Trainer, the LGB, and Manhattan LR, but I'm trying to figure out what my first step ought to be. I took the June 2007 Test as a diagnostic and have a rough idea of question types to focus on, but I am leaning towards reading through the entire Trainer, LGB, and MLR first before moving onto drilling.

Trainer to start wouldn't be bad, though I hear its LG section is so bad as to be harmful, so skip that maybe. What was your diagnostic? If there's a section you're already fairly good at (say -3 or better), you might want to just skim the book and start drilling right away, returning to the book as problems emerge. If your diagnostic was lower then reading all the books first to build a strong foundation would be a smart idea.

163 on the diagnostic (-2 LG; -4 LR; -4 LR; -7 RC). I mapped out a schedule to get through the Trainer within a few weeks then I'll jump into drilling/supplementing with the MLR and LGB.

Thank you all for the feedback.

I'm not understanding how you can miss only 2 LG questions on a diagnostic.

This is a strange request, but could someone give me some psychological advice regarding LGs. I understand the theory behind all of it, but I have never been able to get less than -7 or so per section. What is the right mental attitude to approach these problems with? I usually freeze up on the third or fourth games. Again, my problem is not with not understanding theory, but how to really approach everything taken as a whole. I know this sounds whiny, but I'm at an impasse with myself here.

Thanks.

[nlee10]

UCI debuts at #30!

[jwelsh]

I'm not understanding how you can miss only 2 LG questions on a diagnostic.

This is a strange request, but could someone give me some psychological advice regarding LGs. I understand the theory behind all of it, but I have never been able to get less than -7 or so per section. What is the right mental attitude to approach these problems with? I usually freeze up on the third or fourth games. Again, my problem is not with not understanding theory, but how to really approach everything taken as a whole. I know this sounds whiny, but I'm at an impasse with myself here.

Thanks.

I took a few Logic classes in UG and have a general inclination for such logic games.

As for your question, have you watched the 7Sage videos? It might be helpful to see how someone else attacks the problems (grabbing initial inferences, how he starts diagramming, etc.) I think you're at an important juncture transitioning from understanding the stuff conceptually to putting it all together practically.

[RZ5646]

I usually freeze up on the third or fourth games. Again, my problem is not with not understanding theory, but how to really approach everything taken as a whole. I know this sounds whiny, but I'm at an impasse with myself here.

Thanks.

You need to practice more. Drill, drill, drill. Most people can get close to -0 untimed (i.e., "understand the theory"), but you need to practice and really internalize and hone those skills if you want to beat the time limit.

[jbrantley]

I'm not understanding how you can miss only 2 LG questions on a diagnostic.

This is a strange request, but could someone give me some psychological advice regarding LGs. I understand the theory behind all of it, but I have never been able to get less than -7 or so per section. What is the right mental attitude to approach these problems with? I usually freeze up on the third or fourth games. Again, my problem is not with not understanding theory, but how to really approach everything taken as a whole. I know this sounds whiny, but I'm at an impasse with myself here.

Thanks.

I took a few Logic classes in UG and have a general inclination for such logic games.

As for your question, have you watched the 7Sage videos? It might be helpful to see how someone else attacks the problems (grabbing initial inferences, how he starts diagramming, etc.) I think you're at an important juncture transitioning from understanding the stuff conceptually to putting it all together practically.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I've been using 7Sage for about 6 months now. It is a great tool. I took a symbolic logic course in UG as well and I did well, so using a disjunctive syllogism (very common rule of inference needed for games) for example is easy and natural for me.

Do you find that you do worse on games when you are having particular anxiety or stress in your life? I guess that's why I asked for psychological advice. I seem to be incapable of clearing my mind. Maybe that's the root of it? Would you mind telling what your experience has been with this particular issue?