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One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:30 am
by Toby Ziegler
. Anonymity
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:42 am
by MT Cicero
First, you goofed up your acronym in the 2nd word of your post. Tough start.
In all seriousness, I'd grab Manhattan as well. I really benefited from their LR and RC. My first timed test was 160 and I was able to get a 173 just over 2 months later on my LSAT with Manhattan and pithypike. Look up pithypike's method on here. Follow it. Stay focused. Drill your face off. Drill it off some more. As you get to a couple months out, bring in PTs under test conditions. Follow with thorough review, reverting back to whatever guides fit best for you.
Others may have better advice on how to spread this out over a year. I personally think 6 solid months would get just about anyone to their potential if they hit it hard.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:43 am
by Nova
Get these materials:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=195603
Start off by reading the PSBs and M. Drill question types once you finish reading about them.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:45 am
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:51 am
by Nova
Travis12 wrote:
That's the main issue I am running into,is deciding how to spread this out over a year without burning myself out too quickly, and without being lax because I am giving myself a year.
Just start slow by reading the guides
Its like riding a bike. You wont forget it after its internalized, so you may as well build a foundation now. Im guessing you wont be studying nonstop for a yea, which is fine. Putting the books down for a while and taking time off will be refreashing.
Just be careful about not burning through all the material too fast. Start with the oldest tests. Spend as much time as possible reviewing. Stay away PTs 50+ until like 3 or 4 months out.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:03 pm
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:13 pm
by MT Cicero
Travis12 wrote:Nova wrote:Travis12 wrote:
That's the main issue I am running into,is deciding how to spread this out over a year without burning myself out too quickly, and without being lax because I am giving myself a year.
Just start slow by reading the guides
Its like riding a bike. You wont forget it after its internalized, so you may as well build a foundation now. Im guessing you wont be studying nonstop for a yea, which is fine. Putting the books down for a while and taking time off will be refreashing.
Just be careful about not burning through all the material too fast. Start with the oldest tests. Spend as much time as possible reviewing. Stay away PTs 50+ until like 3 or 4 months out.
Brilliant avatar.
Good stuff. I don't want to start my prep 2-3 months out and not have enough time. It may be pertinent to note that I am married and have a little guy so I have a tad more on my plate than the average individual.
I was exactly the same. And I was TDY with the Air Force two separate times in the 10 weeks I had to study. Depending on the age of your son, I assume about a 8:00 bedtime? I was a drilling animal between 8:00-10:30 every M-F. I did about 4-6 hours per weekend day (2.5 per night after bedtime + a library trip for a PT usually).
My AF base is a 55-minute drive one way, so there's a nice almost 2-hour commute daily. And all I had to do was work 50-55 hours a week while I was there!
I say this all to let you know that it is 100% doable! Spend time with family. Be a wild man at night/early mornings & on the weekends. But as my avatar said, "A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
Good luck, break 170!
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:26 pm
by sublime
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:27 pm
by Clyde Frog
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:05 pm
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:28 pm
by magickware
Read all the guides at the sticky on top and make your game-plan from there?
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:35 am
by Toby Ziegler
Thanks everyone for the input, anymore input would be welcomed. Things that worked for you resources etc. Again thanks gang!
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:57 am
by MT Cicero
I followed this almost exactly:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =6&t=41657
I created an Excel spreadsheet on day 1 (and updated it over time). It had a nice matrix of all the sections, including every single LG by type. I conditionally formatted any one game to highlight yellow with a time > 7m59s and highlight red >10m or if I missed a single question. I started by drilling LG type (yes, I made 3 copies of every damn LG from the PTs). With a year, you could be pretty creative.
Realize that this is gravy. The meat & potatoes is simply getting into the PS and Manhattan guides and drilling sections. By drilling, I mean doing (for example) 2-3 LR sections from older PTs. Then, review them thoroughly! I usually left a little star on ones that troubled me or that I was less than 99.5% sure on! I would at a minimum review all starred and missed questions. Make copies if you want so you can get back through them, since you'll have a year. I would typically drill either LR or RC on a given day and LG every day, Mainly just doing easier games first and all of the same type (classified in a link within the link I posted above). I'd do somewhere between 6-10 games a night after drilling the other sections. LGs were more fun so I'd rather do them later at night when I'm a bit tired.
Again, follow the link up top and get to work!
My full, timed PTs came earlier than yours need to due to my truncated time schedule. Less than $200 in books & copies at FedEx and you'll be on your way.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:30 am
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:42 am
by alexrodriguez
Dude! I'm taking the test June 2014 as well!
That makes us best friends! I'll see you at a T14!
Hopefully you'll be in my section.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:27 am
by MT Cicero
Travis, yes you can write in the test booklet. I wouldn't recommend drilling with an answer sheet necessarily. That's a lot of hassle. I'm sure some people do. I just circled the correct answer while I was drilling, especially just on the copies I made of LG.
But yes, write as needed.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:36 am
by nyjets2090
sublime wrote:Nova wrote:Travis12 wrote:
That's the main issue I am running into,is deciding how to spread this out over a year without burning myself out too quickly, and without being lax because I am giving myself a year.
Just start slow by reading the guides
Its like riding a bike. You wont forget it after its internalized, so you may as well build a foundation now. Im guessing you wont be studying nonstop for a yea, which is fine. Putting the books down for a while and taking time off will be refreashing.
Just be careful about not burning through all the material too fast. Start with the oldest tests. Spend as much time as possible reviewing. Stay away PTs 50+ until like 3 or 4 months out.
After not looking at the material for 8 months I took a PT and scored exactly what I had been. Don't take that long of a break, but I don't think you need to worry much about "forgetting"
This.
Your speed might be off for games, but LR hits you like a wave. I think RC sticks with you the most. Studying for the LSAT I think has made me a better reader in general.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:46 pm
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:50 pm
by Toby Ziegler
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Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 6:44 pm
by JSRarri
louierodriguez wrote:Dude! I'm taking the test June 2014 as well!
That makes us best friends! I'll see you at a T14!
Hopefully you'll be in my section.
That makes three of us, hollaaa.
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:50 pm
by Toby Ziegler
Thanks guys for all your input, I am implementing most things that were suggested. I am always open to suggestions!
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:49 pm
by kiyoku
sublime wrote:Nova wrote:Travis12 wrote:
That's the main issue I am running into,is deciding how to spread this out over a year without burning myself out too quickly, and without being lax because I am giving myself a year.
Just start slow by reading the guides
Its like riding a bike. You wont forget it after its internalized, so you may as well build a foundation now. Im guessing you wont be studying nonstop for a yea, which is fine. Putting the books down for a while and taking time off will be refreashing.
Just be careful about not burning through all the material too fast. Start with the oldest tests. Spend as much time as possible reviewing. Stay away PTs 50+ until like 3 or 4 months out.
After not looking at the material for 8 months I took a PT and scored exactly what I had been. Don't take that long of a break, but I don't think you need to worry much about "forgetting"
Woww.. i thought that a long break would surely decrease one's score..
Re: One year to prepare, what should I do?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:54 pm
by Nova
Maybe a little at first because of rust, but its easy to get back into rhythm