The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[10052014]

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[Warehouse]

Hey guys,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. Finally finishing up my last couple finals this week and then I'm delving into my LSAT studies once winter break starts.

I've worked through the first few lessons of the The LSAT Trainer and I'm following Mike's 16 week study schedule with the 10 New Actuals. This plan should leave me a month or two to really focus on full PTs and addressing weaknesses with supplemental materials before June. I'm eager to start dedicating some serious time into the Trainer. I've heard some rave reviews. I'm shooting for a 172.

I'll be around this thread until test time in the summer. Good luck to everyone with their studying!

[Gamecock15]

Okay, as someone who is new to the LSAT, can someone explain to me what they mean by "drilling"? I keep reading it over and over again as a strategy. Is it just going over as many test questions as quickly as possible?

I've been researching all of the different study plans out there, but there's so much lingo that I simply just don't know. I'm starting to pick up things, such as LR, LG, PT, etc. However, some things take longer and it's hard to figure out what the best plan is when I don't understand all of the terminology.

It's just a little overwhelming reading so much information with a new abbreviation thrown in every other sentence.

[dardardelight]

Okay, as someone who is new to the LSAT, can someone explain to me what they mean by "drilling"?

Gamecock15,I think of drilling as if it is a cross between "practice" and "game-time" . Let's take the sport of wrestling for example .. When you drill moves for wrestling, you want to go Full Speed and simulate a real match. The only difference is that you work on a "selected" and "narrow" set of moves; for example, you could just work on double-leg take downs ( 10 times in a row, at full speed).

LSAT drilling is probably pretty similar. Pick a "type" of questions, like LR Most Strongly Supported or LG sequence, and try to do 10 questions in a row at around 15 minutes. You want to simulate the real test as much as possible and keep it (somewhat) timed and make sure you go through every correct step in answering the question. Yet, it's still 'practice' because you're picking a select group of questions that you may be a little weaker in (or strong and want to reinforce), and drilling the hell out of it until you get your timing and accuracy. Eventually, I'd say "drilling" turns into good habits, which turn into correct answers on the test.

I think the best way to drill is to get the cambridge questions by type, and work on like 10 or 15 questions in a row. Make sure you don't exhaust all the questions in a short interval of time. It's better to practice 10 double-leg take downs at full speed every day, then to do a hundred in one day. Good luck! And if anybody either disagrees with me or has anything to add, please do. This is just my personal way of defining "drilling".

[dardardelight]

come on guys, lets get some action in this thread, WE WILL ALL GET a 170+ SCORE!

Jaylawyer, I don't think most of us have really started yet..hopefully in about a month, it'll be a different story. And what happened to your hiatus lol? Just kidding.. I think we need you here in the thread as much as possible because you're like an ultra-motivator.

I nominate you and straw_mandible as co-captains of the June 2014 LSAT thread

[Gamecock15]

LSAT drilling is probably pretty similar. Pick a "type" of questions, like LR Most Strongly Supported or LG sequence, and try to do 10 questions in a row at around 15 minutes. You want to simulate the real test as much as possible and keep it (somewhat) timed and make sure you go through every correct step in answering the question. Yet, it's still 'practice' because you're picking a select group of questions that you may be a little weaker in (or strong and want to reinforce), and drilling the hell out of it until you get your timing and accuracy. Eventually, I'd say "drilling" turns into good habits, which turn into correct answers on the test.

If this were Facebook, I would like this. Thanks for the explanation.

I'm worried about getting burned out if I start studying too early. I'm spending this week researching the LSAT and figuring out test methods. I get back to the States on Thursday evening and I'm going to spend the weekend seeing friends and family that I haven't seen since I started school in August. Then I plan to order books online Monday and start studying then.

I suppose I should have taken advantage earlier in the semester of the fact that I currently attend school with a lot of Harvard Law students. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Is anyone else here a junior in college and applying directly after undergrad?

[Louis1127]

I'm worried about getting burned out if I start studying too early

Is anyone else here a junior in college and applying directly after undergrad?

Burnout is probably inevitable in a journey of this length and importance. I am sure that between now and gameday this June every single one of us in this thread will need to take two or three days off to rest our brains, probably multiple times.

And to your question at the end of your post, yep!

[WaltGrace83]

Just registered for the LSAT guys. I thought it didn't open until tomorrow? Anyway, hardcore prep starts tomorrow!

[Rasputin805]

Just out of curiosity, are there many retakers in here? I'm retaking after a bad October exam and I am just wondering how to approach studying for June with so much time (good problem, I know). When I studied for October, I was traveling and never had a strict schedule that I followed. With such a hit and miss study plan, I am planning to simply start fresh, but I worry about burn out/running out of materials. I have looked at Noodley's guide to a retake and it seems like an awesome plan, but it seems to be based on a more condensed time frame, such as June-October. Anybody in the same boat as me? What kind of schedule are you guys looking at as far as when you move from reading/basics to drilling and on to PTs? I just want to get this LSAT monkey off my back and kick its ass once and for good. I'm ready to put in the work in a more structured format this time around and I look forward to keeping up in this thread for the next 6 months.

[10052014]

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[O Captain My Captain]

174 days left to study for a 170+

Good luck ladies and gentleman

[powder]

I hate to be back in one of these threads, but here I am. Working fulltime so hopefully I'll be ready in June.

[Straw_Mandible]

Let's take the sport of wrestling for example .. When you drill moves for wrestling, you want to go Full Speed and simulate a real match. The only difference is that you work on a "selected" and "narrow" set of moves; for example, you could just work on double-leg take downs ( 10 times in a row, at full speed).

GREAT analogy. Are you a wrestler, dardar? I spent about 9 years of my childhood drilling double-leg take downs.

In other news: I just registered for the LSAT! It was a thrilling and formative moment in my life.

My testing center is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, and it happens to be the university where I have been studying every single day since September! Walking there on June 9th will feel like any regular old day of PTing. I'll just happen to have the luxury of a live proctor and a few other students to share in my suffering and/or success.

LET'S DO THIS.

[Louis1127]

Okay, as someone who is new to the LSAT, can someone explain to me what they mean by "drilling"?

Gamecock15,I think of drilling as if it is a cross between "practice" and "game-time" . Let's take the sport of wrestling for example .. When you drill moves for wrestling, you want to go Full Speed and simulate a real match. The only difference is that you work on a "selected" and "narrow" set of moves; for example, you could just work on double-leg take downs ( 10 times in a row, at full speed).

LSAT drilling is probably pretty similar. Pick a "type" of questions, like LR Most Strongly Supported or LG sequence, and try to do 10 questions in a row at around 15 minutes. You want to simulate the real test as much as possible and keep it (somewhat) timed and make sure you go through every correct step in answering the question. Yet, it's still 'practice' because you're picking a select group of questions that you may be a little weaker in (or strong and want to reinforce), and drilling the hell out of it until you get your timing and accuracy. Eventually, I'd say "drilling" turns into good habits, which turn into correct answers on the test.

I think the best way to drill is to get the cambridge questions by type, and work on like 10 or 15 questions in a row. Make sure you don't exhaust all the questions in a short interval of time. It's better to practice 10 double-leg take downs at full speed every day, then to do a hundred in one day. Good luck! And if anybody either disagrees with me or has anything to add, please do. This is just my personal way of defining "drilling".

If I may add one thing to this solid analogy:

When you start out drilling, don't go for time unless you understand the logic behind each section already. This is what I am going to do: drill slowly at first, not worry about time at all. Once I get better, I'll factor in time. Hopefully by the time in switch to full PTs my timing will be better than when I started. If not, I've got PTs 40-70 to improve timing.

TL;DR IMO it's ok to take it really slow when drilling at first

[Straw_Mandible]

If I may add one thing to this solid analogy:

When you start out drilling, don't go for time unless you understand the logic behind each section already. This is what I am going to do: drill slowly at first, not worry about time at all. Once I get better, I'll factor in time. Hopefully by the time in switch to full PTs my timing will be better than when I started. If not, I've got PTs 40-70 to improve timing.

TL;DR IMO it's ok to take it really slow when drilling at first

^ This is credited. In drills, especially in the early stages, it's important to avoid sacrificing accuracy for speed. Speed will come through comfort, proper form, and repetition.

However, I do think it's important to find that ever-shifting threshold between pushing the pace and rushing. If you think you've made mistakes in drilling because you felt rushed, then you should slow down, think clearly, and practice proper form. Then gradually crank up the heat until you become comfortable going through the same moves at lightning speed. (Again, the wrestling analogy is golden.)

tl;dr - In drilling: Always push the pace. Never rush. Find your threshold, but don't get too comfortable.

[Gamecock15]

I'm feeling accomplished already.

Took a diagnostic today (June 2007). Going to go over the answers tomorrow. I hoped for at least a 150, because it seems about 20 points is the most anyone ever improves, and I ended up with a 155. If I had put more effort in, I probably could have gotten a little higher (I took it on an empty stomach, I had about ten minutes time that I didn't use at all), but it's definitely an okay starting point. So, thus, I begin my goal to improve by 20 points to a 175.

I also registered for the LSAT! Didn't have to pay anything because I got a waiver. So glad that's taken care of.

They may be baby steps, but those baby steps will lead to bigger leaps eventually.

Good luck to everyone officially registered!

[Bosh]

Just out of curiosity, are there many retakers in here? I'm retaking after a bad October exam and I am just wondering how to approach studying for June with so much time (good problem, I know). When I studied for October, I was traveling and never had a strict schedule that I followed. With such a hit and miss study plan, I am planning to simply start fresh, but I worry about burn out/running out of materials. I have looked at Noodley's guide to a retake and it seems like an awesome plan, but it seems to be based on a more condensed time frame, such as June-October. Anybody in the same boat as me? What kind of schedule are you guys looking at as far as when you move from reading/basics to drilling and on to PTs? I just want to get this LSAT monkey off my back and kick its ass once and for good. I'm ready to put in the work in a more structured format this time around and I look forward to keeping up in this thread for the next 6 months.

I'm in the same boat as you. I didn't do as great as I wanted to in Oct so I decided to postpone and retake in June. I feel like I needed more time to prep and 6 months seems perfect to reach my goal. I got the Cambridge drill and going to drill all sections 1-38 from Dec to mid February. And then Do Sections by timing it from mid February to Mid march to improve my timing using PTs 19-38 and then start doing full PTs 39-71 from Mid March to June 09th. I hope that could help me prepare for June and a 172+.

[WVU_2015]

Hey everyone,

Checking in for my first post and about to sign up for June 2014. About to finish my last final tomorrow, and then LSAT hard as soon as I get home for break. I have the PS Bibles LG LR, Manhattan RC, LSAT Trainer, newer prep tests from 30-something up - thank god for using Amazon gift card surveys to good use .

[famousblueraincoat]

Still debating whether I should register or not. I just got promoted at work (/brag) and haven't had any time at all to study. Not even during lunch, which I have to work through.

Should I wait a cycle?

[rebexness]

Still debating whether I should register or not. I just got promoted at work (/brag) and haven't had any time at all to study. Not even during lunch, which I have to work through.

Should I wait a cycle?

Wait a cycle as in apply in Fall 2015?

Are you a K-JD or close to it? Is the job going to give you money to save up to lessen your living expenses/whatever? How much spare time do you have to study? 5.5 months is still plenty of time- and then you still have next October as well.

If it allows you to save a bunch of money and/or is something preftigious, you might consider delaying.

[famousblueraincoat]

Still debating whether I should register or not. I just got promoted at work (/brag) and haven't had any time at all to study. Not even during lunch, which I have to work through.

Should I wait a cycle?

Wait a cycle as in apply in Fall 2015?

Are you a K-JD or close to it? Is the job going to give you money to save up to lessen your living expenses/whatever? How much spare time do you have to study? 5.5 months is still plenty of time- and then you still have next October as well.

If it allows you to save a bunch of money and/or is something preftigious, you might consider delaying.

I was planning on applying for Fall 2015, but taking the test ASAP in order to get it out of the way and go enjoy myself until its time to start law school. Its not I-banking or anything, but a pretty decent salaried gig. And I'm living at home until I figure out where to go next.

I have maybe 4-5 hours each day during weekdays and plenty of time on the weekends. Time isn't so much the problem as is energy to study after a grueling day. Then again, law school is probably twice as exhausting. Decisions, decisions!

[Straw_Mandible]

If you're applying to start in the fall of 2015, then your options are June, Oct, or Dec 2014. Same as everyone ITT, I'm assuming. I suggest that you register for June, prep for June, and if you don't feel ready by June 8th at 11:59 pm, then push it back to October. There's really no downside, even if you're not sure yet how prepared you'll be. Burn that bridge when you cross it.

[famousblueraincoat]

If you're applying to start in the fall of 2015, then your options are June, Oct, or Dec 2014. Same as everyone ITT, I'm assuming. I suggest that you register for June, prep for June, and if you don't feel ready by June 8th at 11:59 pm, then push it back to October. There's really no downside, even if you're not sure yet how prepared you'll be. Burn that bridge when you cross it.

Great advice, as always! I just registered for the June '14 exam. Thanks for the morale boost! And good luck to everyone!

[Bully]

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[politibro44]

Registered for the June 2014 LSAT today! Got a legit testing site about 15 mins from my house at a non-accredited law school. I figure it will be a good reminder of why it's so very important to ace this test!

The maxim I'm trying to live by in these days far out from the test is to never go more than two days in a row without studying and/or looking at LSAT questions. Ideally, one would beast mode like Straw and do something every single day.

For us full time workers, I find studying in the morning before work to be very effective. You will have to change your sleep schedule a bit and make sure to rise early, but it's worth it knowing that you accomplished your most important task of the day by 9am.