Is 4 months enough to improve 30+? Forum

[Joeshan520]

Took a diagnostic and scored an abominable 142. That being said I guessed on approximately half of the LG and RC sections because I ran out of time. I plan on taking the Blueprint live course in my area starting July 29th and ending ~October 4, then reviewing the materials and PTing every week until the December exam. I work full time as a paralegal in a big law firm, but my boss is willing to accommodate me to make all of the classes and I plan on staying up late each night to do every homework assignment and review. Is 4 months sufficient? Will taking the exam in December effect my chances for admission to T10 in Fall 2013? Shooting for Chicago, NU or Michigan. GPA is 3.6, non-urm.

Thanks!

[TheThriller]

Took a diagnostic and scored an abominable 142. That being said I guessed on approximately half of the LG and RC sections because I ran out of time. I plan on taking the Blueprint live course in my area starting July 29th and ending ~October 4, then reviewing the materials and PTing every week until the December exam. I work full time as a paralegal in a big law firm, but my boss is willing to accommodate me to make all of the classes and I plan on staying up late each night to do every homework assignment and review. Is 4 months sufficient? Will taking the exam in December effect my chances for admission to T10 in Fall 2013? Shooting for Chicago, NU or Michigan. GPA is 3.6, non-urm.

Thanks!

Yes, the later you apply in the cycle (January for you) the less chance that you will be accepted/waitlisted. If you want your cycle to go its absolute best, I would suggest taking in Oct. if you are dead set in starting law school next year or wait until next fall to start applying. You can always apply in Jan and then reapply everywhere in the fall if things don't go well but then you're just wasting tons of money in app fees.

[Joeshan520]

Thank you, MillerTheThriller. Is it safe to say that most schools are rolling admissions then? I'm really eager to go back and I don't really want to be a paralegal for three years.

[laxbrah420]

affect

[Joeshan520]

affect

Yes, after a day of proofreading a 65 page brief I should know better. Thank you.

[TheThriller]

Thank you, MillerTheThriller. Is it safe to say that most schools are rolling admissions then? I'm really eager to go back and I don't really want to be a paralegal for three years.

Rolling with specific day/date qualifications for Early Deadline or Early Application. Some are binding, some are not. But the credited wisdom is no matter if you apply ED or regular, the earlier the apps, the better. Good luck with prep!

[laxbrah420]

The only schools that rejected me were the ones I decided to apply to in Feb

[gbpackerbacker]

I improved my diagnostic of 150 to 170+ over a four month period with the PowerScore books, scoring a 180 on a timed PT in the process.

[Joeshan520]

The only schools that rejected me were the ones I decided to apply to in Feb

What were your numbers and where did you apply?

[Joeshan520]

I improved my diagnostic of 150 to 170+ over a four month period with the PowerScore books, scoring a 180 on a timed PT in the process.

Very impressive. Did you use any of the study guides found on this forum?

[gbpackerbacker]

I improved my diagnostic of 150 to 170+ over a four month period with the PowerScore books, scoring a 180 on a timed PT in the process.

Very impressive. Did you use any of the study guides found on this forum?

The PowerScore books.

[Joeshan520]

I improved my diagnostic of 150 to 170+ over a four month period with the PowerScore books, scoring a 180 on a timed PT in the process.

Very impressive. Did you use any of the study guides found on this forum?

The PowerScore books.

Ok, I know a number of the guides on here incorporate the PowerScore materials. Mind sharing your study patterns via PM?

[ashen]

So far 10+ points in one month.
30 in 4 months sounds doable

[ilovelawtays]

After paralegal-ing all day, I would recommend not staying up late to review and do homework. If you're in class two to three times per week and doing the assigned homework on the days you're not in class, and you're using your free weekend time effectively, there is no reason to kill yourself to stay up later. Aside from risking burn out, you're going to be exhausted and fail at both LSAT and paralegal-ing.

Another suggestion: stop thinking of it in terms of a 30+ jump and break it down a bit. Your first goal might be something like "Hit 150". You'll raise yourself to the middle of the pack and can continue progressing from there. Next, you might start trying to raise your score in 5 point increments each month or so, or maybe you'll focus on one section per month and really drill the concepts and problems until you're only missing a few questions here and there. The point is, if you start with something that sounds nearly impossible, you're going to get discouraged pretty easily. Give yourself something attainable to study for.

Remember: You have six months to study for this. Don't start out crazy extreme on day one. It will do you no favors.

[lawquestions1]

After paralegal-ing all day, I would recommend not staying up late to review and do homework. If you're in class two to three times per week and doing the assigned homework on the days you're not in class, and you're using your free weekend time effectively, there is no reason to kill yourself to stay up later. Aside from risking burn out, you're going to be exhausted and fail at both LSAT and paralegal-ing.

Another suggestion: stop thinking of it in terms of a 30+ jump and break it down a bit. Your first goal might be something like "Hit 150". You'll raise yourself to the middle of the pack and can continue progressing from there. Next, you might start trying to raise your score in 5 point increments each month or so, or maybe you'll focus on one section per month and really drill the concepts and problems until you're only missing a few questions here and there. The point is, if you start with something that sounds nearly impossible, you're going to get discouraged pretty easily. Give yourself something attainable to study for.

Remember: You have six months to study for this. Don't start out crazy extreme on day one. It will do you no favors.

I completely agree with this. I was getting frustrated because my scores did not jump 30 points after around a month. Even great runners had to learn how to crawl first.

[dowu]

After paralegal-ing all day, I would recommend not staying up late to review and do homework. If you're in class two to three times per week and doing the assigned homework on the days you're not in class, and you're using your free weekend time effectively, there is no reason to kill yourself to stay up later. Aside from risking burn out, you're going to be exhausted and fail at both LSAT and paralegal-ing.

Another suggestion: stop thinking of it in terms of a 30+ jump and break it down a bit. Your first goal might be something like "Hit 150". You'll raise yourself to the middle of the pack and can continue progressing from there. Next, you might start trying to raise your score in 5 point increments each month or so, or maybe you'll focus on one section per month and really drill the concepts and problems until you're only missing a few questions here and there. The point is, if you start with something that sounds nearly impossible, you're going to get discouraged pretty easily. Give yourself something attainable to study for.

Remember: You have six months to study for this. Don't start out crazy extreme on day one. It will do you no favors.

This is good advice.

OP, friend, I think its possible. However, it's going to require that you saddle up and do the damn thing. I am currently reading the manhattan LR book, as I've already read the LRB, to see if it helps tighten up my LR score. I postponed June for October, so I guess we'll see how things go.

In short, I think 4 months is a good amount of time. Eat, sleep, and breath LSAT until a week before test day. Good luck! PM me if you have any questions.

[Malakai]

Took a diagnostic and scored an abominable 142. That being said I guessed on approximately half of the LG and RC sections because I ran out of time. I plan on taking the Blueprint live course in my area starting July 29th and ending ~October 4, then reviewing the materials and PTing every week until the December exam. I work full time as a paralegal in a big law firm, but my boss is willing to accommodate me to make all of the classes and I plan on staying up late each night to do every homework assignment and review. Is 4 months sufficient? Will taking the exam in December effect my chances for admission to T10 in Fall 2013? Shooting for Chicago, NU or Michigan. GPA is 3.6, non-urm.

Thanks!

Big point gains can be achieved, if you are willing/able to work smart and eliminate your weaknesses by test day.

Even if you did all PT's from 1-65+, but didn't sort out your weaknesses and learn from the material/PT's in the best way possible for you, you could fail to hit that 30+ gain. Study smart.