The Official February 2015 Study Group Forum

[kang]

I want to get everyone's opinion on watching videos. Do you guys think its find to watch tv/videos/movies etc during this month. I feel like it makes me brain dead and unmotivated to continue studying, but is this for everyone? or what do you guys like to do during breaks?

haha dude, you're thinking about this too much. Relax. You're gonna psych yourself out. Yes, its okay to watch tv as im doing at this moment.

LOL! Okay good. I always guilt trip myself into thinking, the high scorers probably aren't messing around like this...But shit, I'm only human..

i like to feel like i score decently high, lol. However, my first test I was very much like you. Sorta sciddish about every little thing. 2nd time I relaxed and just let things happen. The hard work will speak for itself, so don't be mentally ruining yourself before you even wake up in the morning. I gained 5 points the 2nd test. Just live your life like normal (although I'd recommend to stop the alcohol for now, as it kills brain cells and with a test that requires a high level of thought, why take the chance) and study.

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

[Smallville]

i like to feel like i score decently high, lol. However, my first test I was very much like you. Sorta sciddish about every little thing. 2nd time I relaxed and just let things happen. The hard work will speak for itself, so don't be mentally ruining yourself before you even wake up in the morning. I gained 5 points the 2nd test. Just live your life like normal (although I'd recommend to stop the alcohol for now, as it kills brain cells and with a test that requires a high level of thought, why take the chance) and study.

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

Call for Dr Pep(per) aka resident Bill Nye

[nlee10]

i like to feel like i score decently high, lol. However, my first test I was very much like you. Sorta sciddish about every little thing. 2nd time I relaxed and just let things happen. The hard work will speak for itself, so don't be mentally ruining yourself before you even wake up in the morning. I gained 5 points the 2nd test. Just live your life like normal (although I'd recommend to stop the alcohol for now, as it kills brain cells and with a test that requires a high level of thought, why take the chance) and study.

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

Call for Dr Pep(per) aka resident Bill Nye

lol. Well...binge drinking will do some damage to your body.

[JackelJ]

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

Alcohol doesn't actually kill brain cells. It can damage the neurons in your brain and cause the connections jumping from neuron to neuron to move much more slowly (which is why people have delayed reactions and coordination problems). The brain rebuilds these connections and can grow new neurons over time when you exercise your mind, I think its called neurogenesis or something. So moderate drinking (like 1-2 drinks) won't have many consequences. More than moderate drinking and binge drinking can cause memory problems. Either way, its better to just not drink when studying for the lsat because you rely on reasoning skills you develop and not just memorizing facts. It takes longer for the brain to develop these reasoning skills because it happens as the neurons make new connections and establish them. Nerd rant over

tl;dr - No, but don't drink before the Feb test

[kang]

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

Alcohol doesn't actually kill brain cells. It can damage the neurons in your brain and cause the connections jumping from neuron to neuron to move much more slowly (which is why people have delayed reactions and coordination problems). The brain rebuilds these connections and can grow new neurons over time when you exercise your mind, I think its called neurogenesis or something. So moderate drinking (like 1-2 drinks) won't have many consequences. More than moderate drinking and binge drinking can cause memory problems. Either way, its better to just not drink when studying for the lsat because you rely on reasoning skills you develop and not just memorizing facts. It takes longer for the brain to develop these reasoning skills because it happens as the neurons make new connections and establish them. Nerd rant over

tl;dr - No, but don't drink before the Feb test

Thank you!! That was very helpful. This really explains a lot. Kinda wish I quit sooner now

[ilikebaseball]

Does alcohol really kill brain cells? Even if you're drinking moderately? Holy shit. I didn't know this...I was going to stop because it took so much of my time. Thanks for another reason to quit!

Alcohol doesn't actually kill brain cells. It can damage the neurons in your brain and cause the connections jumping from neuron to neuron to move much more slowly (which is why people have delayed reactions and coordination problems). The brain rebuilds these connections and can grow new neurons over time when you exercise your mind, I think its called neurogenesis or something. So moderate drinking (like 1-2 drinks) won't have many consequences. More than moderate drinking and binge drinking can cause memory problems. Either way, its better to just not drink when studying for the lsat because you rely on reasoning skills you develop and not just memorizing facts. It takes longer for the brain to develop these reasoning skills because it happens as the neurons make new connections and establish them. Nerd rant over

tl;dr - No, but don't drink before the Feb test

Thank you!! That was very helpful. This really explains a lot. Kinda wish I quit sooner now

i feel a noticable setback if i drink even 2 days before a PT. I'm sure other people recover differently, but it surely makes you sluggish, if anything else. But you bet your ass I'll have upwards of a 60 dollar tab the night after the test

[peppermint]

.

[nlee10]

i feel a noticable setback if i drink even 2 days before a PT. I'm sure other people recover differently, but it surely makes you sluggish, if anything else. But you bet your ass I'll have upwards of a 60 dollar tab the night after the test

Yep. I notice it takes my body at least a day to recover even if I just get buzzed.

[Smallville]

so sadly didn't do too much today except the dual PT's and review some questions... planning to wake up and BR at least half the first PT b4 breakfast, and finish the rest and 7sage videos for ones I still have trouble with and then drill, tomorrow shall be an extremely productive day.... or else I shall take a TLS hiatus

[JackelJ]

so sadly didn't do too much today except the dual PT's and review some questions... planning to wake up and BR at least half the first PT b4 breakfast, and finish the rest and 7sage videos for ones I still have trouble with and then drill, tomorrow shall be an extremely productive day.... or else I shall take a TLS hiatus

2 PT's in one day is pretty productive. Its also pretty tiring, so good job. Your TLS hiatus threat seems like a weak threat haha. I think I'm going to have to take a TLS hiatus as I'm approaching 500 posts and spend more time on here than I should.

[nlee10]

What's considered an "easier" PT of the 60's? Want something to boost my confidence as I enter the "modern" era of the LSAT.

[ilikebaseball]

What's considered an "easier" PT of the 60's? Want something to boost my confidence as I enter the "modern" era of the LSAT.

PT 64 I found to be pretty easy

Getting away from the LSAT topic for a sec, how are everyones apps doing?

[RZ5646]

Getting away from the LSAT topic for a sec, how are everyones apps doing?

I haven't even thought about other stuff yet. Besides trying to get close to professors to help with LORs, there's nothing I can't do over the summer.

[nlee10]

PT 64 I found to be pretty easy

Getting away from the LSAT topic for a sec, how are everyones apps doing?

fsho.
I'm applying next cycle but I have LOR's and transcripts submitted.

[JackelJ]

Getting away from the LSAT topic for a sec, how are everyones apps doing?

I haven't even thought about other stuff yet. Besides trying to get close to professors to help with LORs, there's nothing I can't do over the summer.

ditto, applying next cycle

[RZ5646]

Is anyone else worried at all about LORs? I think I could get okay ones, but I don't really have a personal relationship with any professor. I've only ever gone to office hours a couple of times and I don't exactly dominate classroom discussions.

Of course, if TLS conventional wisdom is correct they don't really impact your application anyway, so idk...

[ilikebaseball]

Is anyone else worried at all about LORs? I think I could get okay ones, but I don't really have a personal relationship with any professor. I've only ever gone to office hours a couple of times and I don't exactly dominate classroom discussions.

Of course, if TLS conventional wisdom is correct they don't really impact your application anyway, so idk...

What I did (I had decent relationships with them, but still) when I approached them and gained their acceptance, I handed them a copy of my personal statement and I handed them a one page essay (not included in any of my apps, but just to showcase my passion) over what I want to do with my law degree. The latter document doesn't have to be anything formal. I tried to make it as personal, emotional, and passionate as possible. I also tried to motivate them to make hyperbolic statements that would catch the eyes of adcoms. Yale has really good examples of these on their website, one of these being "I've taught to a lot of kids going to law school, and X is by far the most driven, hard-working, and passionate student I have ever had"

Just those two documents, and an email with the Yale tips.

[RZ5646]

The beginning of fall semester senior year is the standard time to ask, right?

[ilikebaseball]

The beginning of fall semester senior year is the standard time to ask, right?

I asked for mine at the end of July, with a September 10th, deadline. That way, I could apply pretty much as soon as law schools opened their apps (usually september or october 1st) Definitely give them 5-6 weeks. Mine took the entire length of the time. Also, send friendly reminders every 10 days or so.

[gamerish]

Post removed...

[kang]

so sadly didn't do too much today except the dual PT's and review some questions... planning to wake up and BR at least half the first PT b4 breakfast, and finish the rest and 7sage videos for ones I still have trouble with and then drill, tomorrow shall be an extremely productive day.... or else I shall take a TLS hiatus

2 PTs sounds pretty productive to me ...!

[kang]

i feel a noticable setback if i drink even 2 days before a PT. I'm sure other people recover differently, but it surely makes you sluggish, if anything else. But you bet your ass I'll have upwards of a 60 dollar tab the night after the test

Yep. I notice it takes my body at least a day to recover even if I just get buzzed.

We should all hit up a bar after the the real thing!


I'm pretty sure I drank on most Fridays nights (just a couple of beers, nothing hard core) before taking a test on Saturday. haha...I'm hoping that abstaining this week will boost my score next Saturday? ahhh lol

[kang]

I'm applying next cycle as well. Got my LORs and transcript already submitted though.

My LORs aren't that great...Does this matter? It seems to be like if its not detrimental to your application than its okay?

[nlee10]

I'm applying next cycle as well. Got my LORs and transcript already submitted though.

My LORs aren't that great...Does this matter? It seems to be like if its not detrimental to your application than its okay?

Shouldn't really matter too much as long as they're not saying like bad things about you, lol. But then again, I'm not really aiming for like T6 or anything crazy.

[RZ5646]

I'm applying next cycle as well. Got my LORs and transcript already submitted though.

My LORs aren't that great...Does this matter? It seems to be like if its not detrimental to your application than its okay?

From the countless hours I've wasted on TLS poring over admissions advice, the answer is no, unless you want YS. Every other school is 99% numbers driven, so you'll perform exactly as your numbers predict unless you have an extreme case like your recommenders secretly hating you and writing letters that are actually malicious.