The Official February 2015 Study Group Forum

[ilikebaseball]

Read first 4 chapters of Manhattan LR today. Feeling like it is helping me understand LR more. (Thanks Rigo) hopefully at the end of this book I PT and my LR is significantly improved. If I can hit the 167 mark on test day that's all I want. A three point increase and a significant boost for scholarships. I'll be happy with more obviously, but that is my base goal.

I was probably around your scores (around -14, or so combined?) and literally all I did was go through the "Most Difficult" packet and now I'm around 8-11. Just a thought. I'm actually going through it again for this test.

ETA: Its crazy how, by spending literally 3 days in a row on nothing but the toughest LR questions, how easy an LR section appears to be after that. Its like deep sea marlin fishing your entire life and then fishing on a lake.

[kang]

Read first 4 chapters of Manhattan LR today. Feeling like it is helping me understand LR more. (Thanks Rigo) hopefully at the end of this book I PT and my LR is significantly improved. If I can hit the 167 mark on test day that's all I want. A three point increase and a significant boost for scholarships. I'll be happy with more obviously, but that is my base goal.

I"m debating whether or not I should buy this... what other prep materials have you tried? & how would you compare it?

[Dr. Nefario]

I don't know how to compare it that well as I just started into it. I've had Kaplan and LR Bible before. I can compare more after I finish it, but I know there's people ITT who have used it and can help.

Baseball can you post the link to buy that packet? I'd love to dedicate my time after this book to something like that.

ETA: love the fishing analogy.

[ilikebaseball]

ya I will. Just do 10-15 at a time. Make sure you DONT time yourself and just take it slow. With each answer choice, make sure you don't just circle the right AC and move on... literally write on the side of each AC why an answer is incorrect before moving on.

Also, let me just say that I tried something new today that I thought made me understand the stimulus sooo much better. Just a simple visual. Around the conclusion of each stimulus I would put "(...)". Around every premise, I separated it with "I.....I". It was soooo much easier to figure out the core of the argument that way. You learn to read the stimulus as if its bullet points, rather than a whole paragraph. Your eyes direct you to the first premise, then your eyes direct you right to the second premise, then you mentally say "X...and Y....so....conclusion." its so simple, but it helped me so much today. When I missed problems it was cuz of the question stem, not misunderstanding the argument. I know most of you are fine with LR, but wow it make such a huge difference I thought I'd post it here for you great people in case anyone was interested. It really does help. It sounds like "what? That's stupid". Please try it for 10 questions of drilling haha

[Rigo]

[Dr. Nefario]

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm up to try anything for LR. I noticed immediately after starting the Manhattan book that I tend to misread arguments and started understanding the core more.

[NL2424]

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[LFCNY9]

well, i just think the pros in june outweigh the cons. The start time is later, so the sleepless night that occurs so often wont be a factor. Plus the extra four months of studying... like that may make you totally rethink the schools you're applying to.

But if you have retakes, its acceptable. I was just saying if it was your last take...like me. Except im this cycle (for now)

Rigo is right in most of the first time takers applying next cycle here have been studying for months now and have switched from September or December to February. So, I think if you're ready to take it then its good just to take it. Yes, there are benefits to taking in June with 4 months left of studying but there are some negatives also. The June test is on a Monday, some people might not be able to take off work. It is also in the afternoon which is a personal con for me because I'm a morning person and prefer to just wake up and take the test (but obviously not the case for many). And I think there would be diminishing returns in dragging studying out for another 4 months if you are truly ready to take it in February.

[necessary venting and self-reassurance]
This is one of the main reasons why I'm leaning towards taking the February exam (as my final attempt) and applying this cycle rather than postponing till June and waiting till the 2015-2016 cycle. Unfortunately, my LSAT prep began in July when I enrolled in a TestMasters course to prepare for the September exam. The courses' weekly PTs were essentially 62-71 and the games were scattered across 14 lessons. I didn't do well in September and expended valuable/recent PTs and sections. Retook in December; better score, but still not good. In my case, I don't think it would be wise to postpone till June due to the fact that I'm already running low on materials and probably couldn't set up a more extensive study regime with what I got. Not to mention finals in May/honors thesis due/the depleting tank of motivation.
Most of the schools I'm intending to apply to have deadlines accommodating the February score release, and if they don't, I could request an application hold. I'm expecting zero $$ but at this point I have to make this last attempt count and hope the lack of applicants and matriculates work in my favor #HailMary
[/necessary venting and self-reassurance]

Literally my exact situation, so thank you for saving me from having to type out a rant of reassurance of my own. I'll second your #HailMary

[179orBust]

Just got offered to be the head of one of the groups for my schools mock trial club. The competition is the weekend after gameday. The professor who is in charge is one I definitely plan on using for a LOR so I wanna impress him, but I don't want anything to deter me from LOLSAT studying these last few weeks... I don't know what to do.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. As you mentioned, you don't want ANYTHING to deter you from LSAT studying. This is especially true in the last few weeks leading up to the test. Just my opinion though, I'm sure others would feel differently.

[Dr. Nefario]

Just got offered to be the head of one of the groups for my schools mock trial club. The competition is the weekend after gameday. The professor who is in charge is one I definitely plan on using for a LOR so I wanna impress him, but I don't want anything to deter me from LOLSAT studying these last few weeks... I don't know what to do.

Explain to the prof why you don't wanna do it. I wouldn't take on too much during prep it leads to diminishing returns.

ETA: took sept while handling many personal issues and prolly should've posponed.

[Smallville]

Wont be able to study today and tomorrow unfortunately...

Slacker... Jk the struggle is real #whyisfebsoclose

[NL2424]

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[m27]

Weather is gross in NY. Ideal day to do nothing but LOLSAT

[NL2424]

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[Rigo]

[NL2424]

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[Rigo]

[NL2424]

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[NL2424]

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[Rigo]

[NL2424]

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[ilikebaseball]

20 days!

[Rigo]

[m27]

And I was being facetious. LSAC doesn't give a f about this forum.

Or do they?

[Rigo]