The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

[RZ5646]

I apologize if this is a really stupid question: Are you guys preparing for the writing portion? I've never seen anyone on this thread discuss it.

I'm going to sorta prepare for it just so I don't look like an idiot, but I'm not spending more than a few hours on it.

Started reading a book on personal statements today. This is going to be tough.

[Rigo]

I apologize if this is a really stupid question: Are you guys preparing for the writing portion? I've never seen anyone on this thread discuss it.

No, don't waste your time. It doesn't count towards your score and most, if not all, schools don't look at it for an admission decision.

Schools know you don't write your best after a grueling 3 hours. The prompt is super easy anyways. Just pick a side and go with it. A good faith effort is all that's needed.

[NL2424]

..

[RZ5646]

Every time I start to feel okay about LG something new comes up that throws me back into a pit of despair.

[The Abyss]

Just drilled 20 Weaken Questions

18/20, -2
19/20, -1 after BR.

Not bad, but also not good enough. Timing was not an issue.

[pianoman4]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

[RZ5646]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

Don't forget about Manhattan. It may be the best... I'm probably starting it later today.

[Rigo]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

Definitely The Trainer and Manhattan LR.
Not a fan of LRB.

[pianoman4]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

Definitely The Trainer and Manhattan LR.
Not a fan of LRB.

I've read compelling reviews about MLSAT being better than LRB as well as some that counter that claim. I've started with the Trainer and plan to finish it before moving onto Powerscore. I'll definitely be testing myself as I go along and will see if I still need the MLSAT after I finish those two books. I think I have enough time to do the material that I have and decide later if more is needed.

[Rigo]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

Definitely The Trainer and Manhattan LR.
Not a fan of LRB.

I've read compelling reviews about MLSAT being better than LRB as well as some that counter that claim. I've started with the Trainer and plan to finish it before moving onto Powerscore. I'll definitely be testing myself as I go along and will see if I still need the MLSAT after I finish those two books. I think I have enough time to do the material that I have and decide later if more is needed.

Mike Kim worked for Manhattan so The Trainer and Manhattan complement each other very nicely.
Good luck!

[TheWalkingDebt]

What have you guys found more useful for LR, Trainer or LRB?

Definitely The Trainer and Manhattan LR.
Not a fan of LRB.

I've read compelling reviews about MLSAT being better than LRB as well as some that counter that claim. I've started with the Trainer and plan to finish it before moving onto Powerscore. I'll definitely be testing myself as I go along and will see if I still need the MLSAT after I finish those two books. I think I have enough time to do the material that I have and decide later if more is needed.

I heard the same thing about Manhattan over PS. So I built a solid 20-week study schedule (still tweaking it). It required some mixing and matching to group together the different question types, but it ended up being doable. I ended up prioritizing the MLSAT over PS, with PS as a second info/drill source. It's definitely an intense amount, but I think more is generally better.

[gamerish]

Post removed...

[Rigo]

Oh my god. I actually did a game within the suggested time (done in 6:50, recommended about 7 minutes) and went -0 on it. Holy shit. It was just a level one basic ordering game but I don't even care, I'm basking in this.

Told you it would happen!

[RZ5646]

Oh my god. I actually did a game within the suggested time (done in 6:50, recommended about 7 minutes) and went -0 on it. Holy shit. It was just a level one basic ordering game but I don't even care, I'm basking in this.

I know that feeling... congrats.

My trouble is doing that consistently. Sometimes I'm in the zone and do a bunch of games really well, and other times I just can't get things to click and I'll end up brute-forcing half the questions because I missed important inferences.

I finished the LGB yesterday, so I think I'm going to go through all my drill games again starting tomorrow while also reading Manhattan LR.

[179orBust]

Oh my god. I actually did a game within the suggested time (done in 6:50, recommended about 7 minutes) and went -0 on it. Holy shit. It was just a level one basic ordering game but I don't even care, I'm basking in this.

I know that feeling... congrats.

My trouble is doing that consistently. Sometimes I'm in the zone and do a bunch of games really well, and other times I just can't get things to click and I'll end up brute-forcing half the questions because I missed important inferences.

I finished the LGB yesterday, so I think I'm going to go through all my drill games again starting tomorrow while also reading Manhattan LR.

Manhattan LR is terrific.

[RZ5646]

Manhattan LR is terrific.

I read a couple chapters out of the LRB and it seemed okay, but I've never heard anything good about it here so idk if it's even worth finishing. I'm planning to use Manhattan as my main LR book and only use the LRB if I'm really struggling and need a different strategy.

[TheWalkingDebt]

Officially checking in! Glad to be part of the June contingent. Looking forward to starting my prep soon. So you all would say just nix the LRB entirely from study plan if I have the MLSAT LR? It'd be unnecessary essentially?

[Rigo]

Officially checking in! Glad to be part of the June contingent. Looking forward to starting my prep soon. So you all would say just nix the LRB entirely from study plan if I have the MLSAT LR? It'd be unnecessary essentially?

Welcome! It doesn't hurt to do both, but if you were to only choose one then choose Manhattan. It is judged to be a little more advanced though so maybe start with The Trainer. Or just jump off the deep end. It's a really smooth read though.

[TheWalkingDebt]

Officially checking in! Glad to be part of the June contingent. Looking forward to starting my prep soon. So you all would say just nix the LRB entirely from study plan if I have the MLSAT LR? It'd be unnecessary essentially?

Welcome! It doesn't hurt to do both, but if you were to only choose one then choose Manhattan. It is judged to be a little more advanced though so maybe start with The Trainer. Or just jump off the deep end. It's a really smooth read though.

Yeah. I've been reading a lot of info on these forums. I have it structured as the LSAT Trainer as a standalone the first three weeks, then LGB and Manhattan LG grouped generally by games type, then Manhattan LR and LRB roughly by group type, then Manhattan RC for a few days, then two months of prep tests basically daily.

I feel lucky enough to not have a job or school, so I can dedicate 8-10 hours a day everyday.

[Rigo]

I feel lucky enough to not have a job or school, so I can dedicate 8-10 hours a day everyday.

8-10 hours a day is excessive, but you do you. I get headaches after even 5 hours of LSAT.

[lawjag2015]

I feel lucky enough to not have a job or school, so I can dedicate 8-10 hours a day everyday.

8-10 hours a day is excessive, but you do you. I get headaches after even 5 hours of LSAT.

I wish I could quit my job and just study for this test. IMHO, to master this test, one should study 8 hours a day for 4 months plus. Analysis(BR), correcting mistakes, bringing time down, seeing patterns, getting such good feel of the exam that one knows that time will not be an issue, reading a book, reading a good magazine with RC conditions applied, doing games without any inferences.....the list goes on. This test is important!

[179orBust]

Drilled some NA questions while watching the Packers/Hawks game and went 24/25. Great way to get by the commercials.
Maybe I'll drill another 25 during the Pats game.

[RZ5646]

Seconding the thing about wanting to quit everything else and just study for the LSAT. If you're in school and/or working there's no way you'll reach the same peak score as if you had no responsibilities besides prepping. That's one of the reasons people say standardized tests are biased in favor of the wealthy.

[Rigo]

Seconding the thing about wanting to quit everything else and just study for the LSAT. If you're in school and/or working there's no way you'll reach the same peak score as if you had no responsibilities besides prepping. That's one of the reasons people say standardized tests are biased in favor of the wealthy.

Let's be real though: basically nobody studies for the LSAT 40 hours a week. Sure you'd have more time to allocate if you had less responsibilities other than the LSAT, but most high scorers work full-time or go to school full-time.
The argument about standardized tests favoring the wealthy is more about systemic poverty and k-12 education stunting educational growth for a lifetime.
Also blah blah blah causation argument blah blah blah.
If anybody is actually studying for the LSAT 40/hours a week, please chime in. It's completely unnecessary.

[lawjag2015]

Seconding the thing about wanting to quit everything else and just study for the LSAT. If you're in school and/or working there's no way you'll reach the same peak score as if you had no responsibilities besides prepping. That's one of the reasons people say standardized tests are biased in favor of the wealthy.

I agree. I know how to prepare, and I know that I can prepare and do much, much better in the test if I had nothing else to do for the next 4 months. But, I just have to forget about that and punish myself by working full-time and studying 4+ hours a day in order to be successful. I just need to come to terms with that!