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I need some urgent advice. I'm a senior in college and I've been stressing over the LSAT for a long time, originally wanting to take it in June then postponing it to October but currently PTing I'm still only in the 160-165 range because of all the accumulated anxiety ( I have really bad LSAT anxiety because I know how fucking important this is). I seriously get brain fog every time I PT just because of all the stress.

My diagnostic after reading the first chapter of the Logic Games Bible was a 165 and this was TWO years ago before I started seriously studying. Also, I've gotten perfect scores on each section before (or -1, -2 timed) so I know I'm capable but I just have a lot of stress.

I'm worried about taking it in December because by then a lot of seats would have been filled already.

I have a 3.92 GPA at an Ivy league school so I was thinking of maybe taking a year off and applying next cycle...? and would taking it in October AND December and again next year look bad to admissions?

Please help!

EDIT:
Just took PT 59 and got a 166 without "brain fog". But I really want to get into a top law school so maybe I should just take it in December or take a year off...

Please keep the advice coming! I really need to make a decision quickly...

gg2 wrote:I need some urgent advice. I'm a senior in college and I've been stressing over the LSAT for a long time, originally wanting to take it in June then postponing it to October but currently PTing I'm still only in the 160-165 range because of all the accumulated anxiety ( I have really bad LSAT anxiety because I know how fucking important this is). I seriously get brain fog every time I PT just because of all the stress.

My diagnostic after reading the first chapter of the Logic Games Bible was a 165 and this was TWO years ago before I started seriously studying. Also, I've gotten perfect scores on each section before (or -1, -2 timed) so I know I'm capable but I just have a lot of stress.

I'm worried about taking it in December because by then a lot of seats would have been filled already.

I have a 3.92 GPA at an Ivy league school so I was thinking of maybe taking a year off and applying next cycle...? and would taking it in October AND December and again next year look bad to admissions?

Please help!

Same. exact. issue.

I have a 3.95 in biochem and used to PT in that same range. I would ace section, but bomb others. I would advise you to not take the exam. I can tell you from experience that your brain fog will probably be exponentially worse on the real thing if you experience it on the PTs. For example, I panicked so much that I did't finish an entire game.

I am not paid by TestMasters, but I am still going to advocate them. They clarified everything, and their method gave me confidence and stamina. I used to PT 160-165 but the average over my last 8 PTs has been a 171.5 with the maximum being 178.

My first round of studying I also used the Bibles, and I don't think it was enough for me. Invest in a good prep course if you are serious about burning off that mental fog.

Summary: If you are mentally foggy on PTs I think you just aren't ready to take the exam.

gg2 wrote:I need some urgent advice. I'm a senior in college and I've been stressing over the LSAT for a long time, originally wanting to take it in June then postponing it to October but currently PTing I'm still only in the 160-165 range because of all the accumulated anxiety ( I have really bad LSAT anxiety because I know how fucking important this is). I seriously get brain fog every time I PT just because of all the stress.

My diagnostic after reading the first chapter of the Logic Games Bible was a 165 and this was TWO years ago before I started seriously studying. Also, I've gotten perfect scores on each section before (or -1, -2 timed) so I know I'm capable but I just have a lot of stress.

I'm worried about taking it in December because by then a lot of seats would have been filled already.

I have a 3.92 GPA at an Ivy league school so I was thinking of maybe taking a year off and applying next cycle...? and would taking it in October AND December and again next year look bad to admissions?

Please help!

Hold on...so how long have you been studying?

If you "fog" during practice tests, there is something more than just normal testing anxiety going on here. That's not normal. Take a year off, get a job and get that shit worked out, because it doesn't get any easier once you get to law school. Your entire career will rest mainly on the final exams of your first-year classes. See a therapist, take up yoga or meditation, drink more; I don't care. But a practice test should NOT be an emotional experience of that magnitude.

msquaredb wrote:

gg2 wrote:I need some urgent advice. I'm a senior in college and I've been stressing over the LSAT for a long time, originally wanting to take it in June then postponing it to October but currently PTing I'm still only in the 160-165 range because of all the accumulated anxiety ( I have really bad LSAT anxiety because I know how fucking important this is). I seriously get brain fog every time I PT just because of all the stress.

My diagnostic after reading the first chapter of the Logic Games Bible was a 165 and this was TWO years ago before I started seriously studying. Also, I've gotten perfect scores on each section before (or -1, -2 timed) so I know I'm capable but I just have a lot of stress.

I'm worried about taking it in December because by then a lot of seats would have been filled already.

I have a 3.92 GPA at an Ivy league school so I was thinking of maybe taking a year off and applying next cycle...? and would taking it in October AND December and again next year look bad to admissions?

Please help!

Hold on...so how long have you been studying?

I was going to prepare for the LSAT the summer after my sophomore year so I began reviewing the LG bible and PT'ed once and got a 165 one chapter into the book. Then I changed my mind and didn't study until February of this year, but because of classes... it was on and off and pretty much useless. I got "serious" only this summer where I studied everyday or almost everyday and did pithypike's method...

rinkrat19 wrote:If you "fog" during practice tests, there is something more than just normal testing anxiety going on here. That's not normal. Take a year off, get a job and get that shit worked out, because it doesn't get any easier once you get to law school. Your entire career will rest mainly on the final exams of your first-year classes. See a therapist, take up yoga or meditation, drink more; I don't care. But a practice test should NOT be an emotional experience of that magnitude.

You're right... I think I emotionally made the LSAT into the-end-of-the-world or something.

Hey, so I get freaked when I take PTs all by my lonsesome self as well. No bueno, but I can relate. In short, I am a supreme worrier.

So, I am taking the test in December. Not ideal, but there ya go. Now, for your situation, you are not even out of college.

Ok... And you want to go to a top law school?

Well, I think you totally can. So, let's look at a few top ones:

Harvard 2015: 76% at least 1 year out of college
54% 2+ years out of college

Yale 2015: 19% directly from undergrad · 42% 1-2 years out · 38% 2+ years out

Stanford 2015: --- dang, couldn't find it.

Well- the point is that taking some time off isn't bad. I'm not saying to do it just because a majority of people do- but if you're planning for the long term- well, some time off to get a job, mature, be with family, travel, study, whatever... may be what's best to fulifll that goal.

Or- if that sounds horrible- then maybe December is right.

So, I've looked at some of your other posts, and it seems that this is not a last-minute test jitter freak out, but rather a culmination of freaking out that has accumulated to this post.

Dear me, how I can so relate. You are not alone.

Anyway- I would look at what your goal is- and what you are doing to get there- what needs to be done to get there and what you want to do.

I would look at the purpose of taking the test this October- is it necessary to fulfill your goal for law school and a career? Is it because the idea of postponing makes you cringe? Telling people you had to postpone because you weren't ready/too stressed.. whatever (and, who cares by the way?-- but, yes, it's hard because we as people desire the approval of others)-Is it pressure from your family? Is it just self inflicted pressure? Is it pride?

Ya, a lot of questions- but when you're a lawyer some day I wonder if it will matter that you're 40 or 41 when you are sitting in your office...

I wish you the best of luck, and to ask yourself this question: "In view of my goals for the future, what is the wisest decision to make right now?"

This question works for a lot of things.

Good luck! You will figure all of this out

austinyo wrote:Hey, so I get freaked when I take PTs all by my lonsesome self as well. No bueno, but I can relate. In short, I am a supreme worrier.

So, I am taking the test in December. Not ideal, but there ya go. Now, for your situation, you are not even out of college.

Ok... And you want to go to a top law school?

Well, I think you totally can. So, let's look at a few top ones:

Harvard 2015: 76% at least 1 year out of college
54% 2+ years out of college

Yale 2015: 19% directly from undergrad · 42% 1-2 years out · 38% 2+ years out

Stanford 2015: --- dang, couldn't find it.

Well- the point is that taking some time off isn't bad. I'm not saying to do it just because a majority of people do- but if you're planning for the long term- well, some time off to get a job, mature, be with family, travel, study, whatever... may be what's best to fulifll that goal.

Or- if that sounds horrible- then maybe December is right.

So, I've looked at some of your other posts, and it seems that this is not a last-minute test jitter freak out, but rather a culmination of freaking out that has accumulated to this post.

Dear me, how I can so relate. You are not alone.

Anyway- I would look at what your goal is- and what you are doing to get there- what needs to be done to get there and what you want to do.

I would look at the purpose of taking the test this October- is it necessary to fulfill your goal for law school and a career? Is it because the idea of postponing makes you cringe? Telling people you had to postpone because you weren't ready/too stressed.. whatever (and, who cares by the way?-- but, yes, it's hard because we as people desire the approval of others)-Is it pressure from your family? Is it just self inflicted pressure? Is it pride?

Ya, a lot of questions- but when you're a lawyer some day I wonder if it will matter that you're 40 or 41 when you are sitting in your office...

I wish you the best of luck, and to ask yourself this question: "In view of my goals for the future, what is the wisest decision to make right now?"

This question works for a lot of things.

Good luck! You will figure all of this out

Wow thank you so much! ... I felt like you just read my mind. some questions you posed really struck a chord in me
and it always makes me feel a lot better that other people on the forum are in a similar situation.

Good luck to both of us then!

also, cool avatar haha

Never take the LSAT until "ready". As a rule-of-thumb, you are ready when your practice scores are consistently 3-5 points above your target test-day score. By "consistently, I mean over the course of at least 10 consecutive tests. This rule doesn't apply to every test taker - some people score above their practice scores due to adrenaline, etc. - but it's a good guide for the vast majority.