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greyblob wrote:I am feeling pretty down right now. An '09 graduate, I quit my low-paying job in mid-February, opting for law school sooner rather than later. I started studying in March, but felt my improvement to be nearly nonexistent. My parents were kind enough to fund a Powerscore course, which I just started mid-April. So on the first test, I received a 153. I've been improving a little (with the exception of Logic Games...), so I was really upset when my second test today went down 6 points.

While taking the test, I think I halfassedly applied the techniques because otherwise, I'd only get through half of the questions per section. I also had 3 hours of sleep the night before (I have insomnia), which probably didn't help. I still feel as though I shouldn't have done this horribly!!

I am really freaking out right now. My (edit: initial) goal is a score of 170. Is this unrealistic for the October test? I just feel so stressed out right now. Maybe I should lower my expectations. I feel even worse because there are many people out there who are studying with a job in tow or who are still in school. Yet, here I am - majorly sucking.

afa_brandon wrote:

greyblob wrote:I am feeling pretty down right now. An '09 graduate, I quit my low-paying job in mid-February, opting for law school sooner rather than later. I started studying in March, but felt my improvement to be nearly nonexistent. My parents were kind enough to fund a Powerscore course, which I just started mid-April. So on the first test, I received a 153. I've been improving a little (with the exception of Logic Games...), so I was really upset when my second test today went down 6 points.

While taking the test, I think I halfassedly applied the techniques because otherwise, I'd only get through half of the questions per section. I also had 3 hours of sleep the night before (I have insomnia), which probably didn't help. I still feel as though I shouldn't have done this horribly!!

I am really freaking out right now. My (edit: initial) goal is a score of 170. Is this unrealistic for the October test? I just feel so stressed out right now. Maybe I should lower my expectations. I feel even worse because there are many people out there who are studying with a job in tow or who are still in school. Yet, here I am - majorly sucking.

you don't have to work, were handed a free $1300 prep course, and you're half-assing something in your own prep? not to be unreasonably harsh, but i feel like someone should tell you: that's pretty ungrateful. if your goal is 170, you should probably start behaving as though you DESERVE a 170, because my guess is the people who score in the 170s worked a hell of a lot harder than you seem to be.

furthermore, if insomnia precludes effective LSAT prep, how will it function with law school? i know nothing of the disorder, but it seems to me you should at least correct that before burning through too much prep material.

you don't have to work, were handed a free $1300 prep course, and you're half-assing something in your own prep? not to be unreasonably harsh, but i feel like someone should tell you: that's pretty ungrateful. if your goal is 170, you should probably start behaving as though you DESERVE a 170, because my guess is the people who score in the 170s worked a hell of a lot harder than you seem to be.

Furthermore, if insomnia precludes effective LSAT prep, how will it function with law school? i know nothing of the disorder, but it seems to me you should at least correct that before burning through too much prep material.

greyblob wrote:

you don't have to work, were handed a free $1300 prep course, and you're half-assing something in your own prep? not to be unreasonably harsh, but i feel like someone should tell you: that's pretty ungrateful. if your goal is 170, you should probably start behaving as though you DESERVE a 170, because my guess is the people who score in the 170s worked a hell of a lot harder than you seem to be.

Furthermore, if insomnia precludes effective LSAT prep, how will it function with law school? i know nothing of the disorder, but it seems to me you should at least correct that before burning through too much prep material.

I meant that I "halfassed" the questions not because I'm "ungrateful" or because I haven't been studying (sadly enough...). I felt pressed for time because I knew I couldn't finish all the sections, so was rushing crazily, which made me use the techniques less and less with each section.

Yes, I am trying to fix the sleeping problems that I've always had.

In any case, I suppose you're right; I should study [strike]harder[/strike] SMARTER.

greyblob wrote:

you don't have to work, were handed a free $1300 prep course, and you're half-assing something in your own prep? not to be unreasonably harsh, but i feel like someone should tell you: that's pretty ungrateful. if your goal is 170, you should probably start behaving as though you DESERVE a 170, because my guess is the people who score in the 170s worked a hell of a lot harder than you seem to be.

Furthermore, if insomnia precludes effective LSAT prep, how will it function with law school? i know nothing of the disorder, but it seems to me you should at least correct that before burning through too much prep material.

I meant that I "halfassed" the questions not because I'm "ungrateful" or because I haven't been studying (sadly enough...). I felt pressed for time because I knew I couldn't finish all the sections, so was rushing crazily, which made me use the techniques less and less with each section.

Yes, I am trying to fix the sleeping problems that I've always had.

greyblob wrote:
In any case, I suppose you're right; I should study harder.

MrKappus wrote:Trite thought it may be, it's really more about studying "smarter" than studying harder. The 2 reasons so few crack 170 on the LSAT (including me, sadly) are: (1) not many people can do it naturally, and (2) the methods for improving are both time-consuming and cognitively enervating.

Go through questions you got wrong over and over again until you understand precisely why you chose wrongly, and focus on one question "type" at a time while you do this (e.g., parallel reasoning Q's), and I doubt you won't see improvement.

Then again, a perfectly legit question would be why listen to advice from someone who didn't hit 170+.

crossingforHYS wrote:

MrKappus wrote: Then again, a perfectly legit question would be why listen to advice from someone who didn't hit 170+.

thats an ad hom.

LawLucy wrote:

greyblob wrote: So on the first test, I received a 153. I've been improving a little (with the exception of Logic Games...), so I was really upset when my second test today went down 6 points.quote]

Take a deep breath. If you are taking the October exam, I agree with another person, kiss your summer goodbye.
It is entirely doable to get a decent score. It is going to require alot of hardwork and dedication. Go out and buy yourself a monthly/day planner. Use it. Note how many hours a day you are studying (this will hold you accountable), use lots of plastic post-it tabs for pages you need to review and get rid of the self-defeating negative nelly on your shoulder.
It is hard to not freak out after an initial low PT when first starting. Use it as a tool to go back and review what you screwed up on. It is the only way to increase your score over time.
Go on to Amazon and purchase past PT exams, get onto Powerscores site and purchase their timer. do whatever you have to do.
Good luck