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

[Rupert Pupkin]

Morning fellow studying fools,

What are some YouTube videos you watch to get into the study mindset, get in the zone, or just great videos to develop basic LSAT skills. There's only so much I can read and drill each day, lets share some other vids that'll help us all out in more ways than one!

motivation:

https://m.youtube.com/user/LawSchoolChannel -- the Stanford video is great.

study music:

https://youtu.be/eEwConCie60

ah dude the Skyrim soundtrack is great. I have listened to the Interstellar soundtrack too many times to count. Its great- after a while I feel like im in a mental blackhole only surrounded by the information I am studying

[Barack O'Drama]

Morning fellow studying fools,

What are some YouTube videos you watch to get into the study mindset, get in the zone, or just great videos to develop basic LSAT skills. There's only so much I can read and drill each day, lets share some other vids that'll help us all out in more ways than one!

motivation:

https://m.youtube.com/user/LawSchoolChannel -- the Stanford video is great.

study music:

https://youtu.be/eEwConCie60

I've literally watched every video from the LawSchoolChannel. Multiple times in some cases. They are older, but they are good motivation for sure.

[proteinshake]

Wow. I just got my worst LSAT PT score in over 6 months. 167, with -5 LG, -4 RC, and -7 LR (usually my absolute best subject).


Brb, dying.

which PT was it?

[20170322]

I was recently prescribed some anti-depressants, and I REALLY hope they're not the cause of my score drop, because I'd hate to have to choose between a good LSAT and being happy.


ETA: PT 74

[Doubting Law]

I just signed up for the 7sage online program. Its a great resource if anyone is looking for a regimented and organized online study plan.

[Doubting Law]

I was recently prescribed some anti-depressants, and I REALLY hope they're not the cause of my score drop, because I'd hate to have to choose between a good LSAT and being happy.


ETA: PT 74

Think of happiness being a good LSAT score.

[20170322]

I was recently prescribed some anti-depressants, and I REALLY hope they're not the cause of my score drop, because I'd hate to have to choose between a good LSAT and being happy.


ETA: PT 74

Think of happiness being a good LSAT score.

Eh, that's all well and good, but sacrificing mental health to pursue a high test score seems penny wise and pound foolish.

But it was probably just a fluke of a PT, so it's largely irrelevant.

[Rupert Pupkin]

I was recently prescribed some anti-depressants, and I REALLY hope they're not the cause of my score drop, because I'd hate to have to choose between a good LSAT and being happy.


ETA: PT 74

Think of happiness being a good LSAT score.

Eh, that's all well and good, but sacrificing mental health to pursue a high test score seems penny wise and pound foolish.

But it was probably just a fluke of a PT, so it's largely irrelevant.

Sounds like you just had an off day! I would be aware of this being a possibility, but don't shoot yourself in the foot in the health or LSAT division by over-thinking that this medication is an issue, otherwise, it will be. You will crush the next one!

[jdealla]

Hi all. I thought that I'd join this thread as I'm planning on taking the Sept test for now, although well see what I'm PTing in Aug.

First diagnostic on PT 62 was 154 (I ran out of time and guessed on 17 questions) and a few days later I took PT 1 and got 162 (which I'm not counting as great bc I've read that performance on old PTs isn't indicative of how you'll do on more recent ones). I'm working my way through the Trainer and the PS Bibles right now, but I plan on using Manhattan too. I'm shooting for 170+ bc this whole law school thing isn't going to happen if I don't get $$$. I'm already in 30k debt from undergrad and I havent been able to make a dent in it even though I've been working for 5 years (although being a teacher in NC barely makes you enough to live and eat). I'm looking to go into PI. GPA is 3.34 LSDAS.

I've got my own thread going as a log of my prep so feel free to shoot over there and check it out.

To all of those struggling, just like almost everything, this test is NOT about innate ability, at least not past an initial phase. It can be drilled, learned, practiced, and conquered. At least those are my thoughts on it now. We'll see how I feel about that come a few months.

Good luck to all!

[proteinshake]

I have like 10x better energy and focus for studying on days I workout than on days I don't.

[Gluteus]

Guess this will be when I take my first official LSAT.

I have 20 hours a week for the next 10 weeks to dedicated to the LSAT, then 30-40 hours a week for the next 4, and then 10 hours a week for the remaining weeks before the test.

Right now my #1 priority is being able to do all the LGs from the Cambridge set without any mistakes and in an appropriate time frame. If I can get to the point where I am always in the -3 to -0 range on LG, I am almost guaranteed a minimum of ~165 on the actual test because besides my diagnostic I have never scored less than 40/50 on LR or 20/28 on RC.

That being said, I'm also aiming to get LR to a consistent 45/50+ and RC 24/28+

[YupSports]

Took PT 62 today and learned a very important lesson:

I need more carbs and calories in my diet during this weight cut. I was in a fog the entire test (couldn't focus, had to read questions 2 or 3 times, misbubbled 2 sections), and it showed:

RC: -7
LR 1: -4 (ran out of time)
LG: -9 (ran out of time and misbubbled)
LR 2: - 8 (more misbubbling)

160

I have been finishing LG and RC with at least 3 minutes to go in drilling with perfect LG and roughly -3 RC - this is quite an unrepresentative test.

Alas, I will review it and learn from it!

Better to figure all of this out now (nutrition wise) than on test day!

[Rupert Pupkin]

Took PT 62 today and learned a very important lesson:

I need more carbs and calories in my diet during this weight cut. I was in a fog the entire test (couldn't focus, had to read questions 2 or 3 times, misbubbled 2 sections), and it showed:

RC: -7
LR 1: -4 (ran out of time)
LG: -9 (ran out of time and misbubbled)
LR 2: - 8 (more misbubbling)

160

I have been finishing LG and RC with at least 3 minutes to go in drilling with perfect LG and roughly -3 RC - this is quite an unrepresentative test.

Alas, I will review it and learn from it!

Better to figure all of this out now (nutrition wise) than on test day!

I've been cutting hard and working out relentlessly in addition to LSAT prep as well. I've been sticking to my meal plan and it definitely has an effect on your focus and energy if you divert from the plan. If you want more carbs, but are reluctant for cutting reasons, I eat a large breakfast with a lot of carbs (oatmeal, ezekiel bread) and then post-workout. The rest of the meals I cycle down the calories, usually have green veggies and sometimes a carb source like sweet potato or rice, but I noticed the large intake in the morning gave me enough to utilize all the carb calories I was eating and feel energized, whilst effectively cutting as well. Make sure your healthy-fat intake isn't too low either. I would crash and wasn't myself for eating "too lean" for too long of a period.

You'll get back on track! Everyone has an off-day

I have like 10x better energy and focus for studying on days I workout than on days I don't.

Me too! Helps out with the prep so much

[proteinshake]

Took PT 62 today and learned a very important lesson:

I need more carbs and calories in my diet during this weight cut. I was in a fog the entire test (couldn't focus, had to read questions 2 or 3 times, misbubbled 2 sections), and it showed:

Better to figure all of this out now (nutrition wise) than on test day!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/calcarbs.htm

[New_Spice180]

How long did it take you guys to start getting games down without having a problem with setup? I'm looking at some of the times a lotted for some fairly hard games, and I keep thinking to myself "I could barely get the setup, how can i get this game with all the game boards in 8 mins"?! I've done 30 games of assorted nature repeated them 3-5 times each so far, I know I'm still a nematode when it comes to logic games, but how long did it take some of you before you really started getting the swing of logic games, timing and setup wise?

[sottovoce]

Hey guys,

Do you know if the Cambridge Logical Reasoning Questions by Type packets are available anymore? Or do we have to purchase the PowerScore ones now? Is there a difference?

[Barack O'Drama]

Hey guys,

Do you know if the Cambridge Logical Reasoning Questions by Type packets are available anymore? Or do we have to purchase the PowerScore ones now? Is there a difference?

Best,
Bardia

Nope they aren't available anymore from the website. You can buy the packets used for around $1000 to as high as $1800 for the entire set. I haven't seen just the LR ones.

I don't know about the PS packets, but I don't think there is as many.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Hey guys,

Do you know if the Cambridge Logical Reasoning Questions by Type packets are available anymore? Or do we have to purchase the PowerScore ones now? Is there a difference?

Best,
Bardia

Yeah unfortunately they are not available anymore, and the people who have them and are willing to sell them are asking outrageous amounts of money for them.

I have been using the PS "By type" books. They are great since they organize all the questions for you- I just wish they had explanations for wrong answers..

[proteinshake]

Hey guys,

Do you know if the Cambridge Logical Reasoning Questions by Type packets are available anymore? Or do we have to purchase the PowerScore ones now? Is there a difference?

Best,
Bardia

Yeah unfortunately they are not available anymore, and the people who have them and are willing to sell them are asking outrageous amounts of money for them.

I have been using the PS "By type" books. They are great since they organize all the questions for you- I just wish they had explanations for wrong answers..

have you tried using the Manhattan forums for wrong answers? https://www.manhattanprep.com/lsat/forums/ -- this plus the 7Sage LG vids is all you need as far as explanations go!

[Rupert Pupkin]

Hey guys,

Do you know if the Cambridge Logical Reasoning Questions by Type packets are available anymore? Or do we have to purchase the PowerScore ones now? Is there a difference?

Best,
Bardia

Yeah unfortunately they are not available anymore, and the people who have them and are willing to sell them are asking outrageous amounts of money for them.

I have been using the PS "By type" books. They are great since they organize all the questions for you- I just wish they had explanations for wrong answers..

have you tried using the Manhattan forums for wrong answers? https://www.manhattanprep.com/lsat/forums/ -- this plus the 7Sage LG vids is all you need as far as explanations go!

No I haven't, but thanks! This is exactly what I need!! Definitely, using this as a resource for now on. Don't know how i missed this. Better sooner than later I guess haha

[dietcoked]

Is anyone else here originally registered for the June test date and just feel too unprepared that they're switching to September? I am pretty confident that it's a better idea to just skip June (and 100% confident that I would do better studying this summer and taking it September) but the lost $175 is making my heart palpitate.

[proteinshake]

Is anyone else here originally registered for the June test date and just feel too unprepared that they're switching to September? I am pretty confident that it's a better idea to just skip June (and 100% confident that I would do better studying this summer and taking it September) but the lost $175 is making my heart palpitate.

please withdraw and take in September for the sake of your future. if you waste one and take in September and realize you need to take again, you'll be much better off having two takes rather than one left. a lot of people end up having to take three times and you don't want to regret wasting a take. If you don't feel ready, you aren't ready. so you have two options here: waste $175 OR waste $175 and one of your takes. (you're wasting $175 no matter what you do, just withdraw).

[Barack O'Drama]

Anyone have any luck with late night studying? Sometimes I just feel like I have a bunch of energy at night, plus it is quiet around the house. I have always been quite the night owl and end up staying awake until 4-5am most nights. I figure at least this way I'll be doing something productive. Perhaps getting an extra hour in may be the difference in a couple points by the time I write the test in September.

Just to add: I also study during the day, usually from 9am till lunch. Then from about 2pm-4:30pm I usually take about an hour and a half between 12-1:30 to eat lunch, read news, and go for a run. So I average a total of ~5 hours a day.

Wondering what some pros and cons may be? I probably wouldn't do anything major, perhaps review? Read some prep material out of Trainer, and maybe drill a bit. No practice tests or anything.

Thanks in advanced

[proteinshake]

Anyone have any luck with late night studying? Sometimes I just feel like I have a bunch of energy at night, plus it is quiet around the house. I have always been quite the night owl and end up staying awake until 4-5am most nights. I figure at least this way I'll be doing something productive. Perhaps getting an extra hour in may be the difference in a couple points by the time I write the test in September.

Just to add: I also study during the day, usually from 9am till lunch. Then from about 2pm-4:30pm I usually take about an hour and a half between 12-1:30 to eat lunch, read news, and go for a run. So I average a total of ~5 hours a day.

Wondering what some pros and cons may be? I probably wouldn't do anything major, perhaps review? Read some prep material out of Trainer, and maybe drill a bit. No practice tests or anything.

Thanks in advanced

I usually stay up pretty late (like now) but I'm slowly scaling back the time I go to sleep so that I can go to sleep around 10 and wake up at 6 for the summer. this is better for me since I'm a lot more productive in the day (plus I'll be ready to wake up early the day of the exam ) I think a con of staying up late is it might mess you up if you don't adjust to going to sleep and waking up early before exam time comes.

[Barack O'Drama]

Anyone have any luck with late night studying? Sometimes I just feel like I have a bunch of energy at night, plus it is quiet around the house. I have always been quite the night owl and end up staying awake until 4-5am most nights. I figure at least this way I'll be doing something productive. Perhaps getting an extra hour in may be the difference in a couple points by the time I write the test in September.

Just to add: I also study during the day, usually from 9am till lunch. Then from about 2pm-4:30pm I usually take about an hour and a half between 12-1:30 to eat lunch, read news, and go for a run. So I average a total of ~5 hours a day.

Wondering what some pros and cons may be? I probably wouldn't do anything major, perhaps review? Read some prep material out of Trainer, and maybe drill a bit. No practice tests or anything.

Thanks in advanced

I usually stay up pretty late (like now) but I'm slowly scaling back the time I go to sleep so that I can go to sleep around 10 and wake up at 6 for the summer. this is better for me since I'm a lot more productive in the day (plus I'll be ready to wake up early the day of the exam ) I think a con of staying up late is it might mess you up if you don't adjust to going to sleep and waking up early before exam time comes.

You're 100% right proteinshake. I feel like my sleep schedule is messed up due partly to insomnia I've had since a child, and staying up till the sun beings to rise--mostly a bad undergrad habit. I think it may be better to try to work on going to sleep at a better time. I probably do study better during the day, so maybe it would be better to get better sleep, study harder during the day, i.e., wake up and begin studying at 8am.

Thanks! Now to find out how the hell to ever sleep anymore lol