4.0 GPA, 161 LSAT - Anxiety Issues Forum

[albatross92]

Hi everyone,
Congrats to everyone who did well on this last LSAT administration.
I'm a senior with a 4.0 GPA. I took the LSAT twice already - in June and October 2013.
For June, I was PTing in the 175-178 range. I canceled the score on the first test, as I thought I blanked on the first section, and that no matter how well I did on the other ones, it couldn't salvage that first section.
For October, I decided not to cancel at all, regardless of how it went. I kind of wish I did. I was PTing in the 177-180 range. And I just found out I got a 161.
I have severe test anxiety, and I've registered for December now, appalled that I have a score on my record that is 16 points below my PT range, and 3 points below my diagnostic.
Has anyone ever been in a situation like this? Does anybody have any ideas (e.g. relaxation techniques, anti-anxiety medications, etc.) that could help me realize my full potential on this test?
I'm just about ready to give up. I'd really love any help that anyone can give me.
Thanks.

[happycitrus]

Meditation is awesome. Check your pm, I sent you some (hopefully helpful) info!

[Rainy]

Take a deep breath. It will all be ok and it will work out for you. I was in an eerily similar boat to you - perhaps worse - and after two miserable years things are finally looking up for me.

Like you, I struggled with LSAT anxiety. This was new to me because anxiety had never really affected my academics or personal endeavors. I Cold-tested a 170 and routinely PTed at 178-180. I ended up canceling my first two scores and on my third attempt I got a 166, which was disappointing to say the least. Two years later, when I was eligible again, I retook a 4th time and got a 175 (just found out a few hours ago - yay!),

The difference maker for me was as simple as prescription Diazepam and relaxation techniques. I know the position you're in - there's nothing more demoralizing than not reaching your potential. Just know that there are others who have had similar experiences and you have it in your power to redeem yourself.

[thewaves]

Could you tell that you panicked on the test? Why didn't you cancel? My case is less extreme than the above poster's, but I did get nervous during my first exam. I put less pressure on myself and studied in more dispersed periods of time and ended up with a score much higher than the first. It is definitely possible!

[deebanger]

Meditation is awesome. Check your pm, I sent you some (hopefully helpful) info!

Hey! I would be very grateful if u send me the helpful info too. Thank you so much in advance!

[gobrue]

have you tried betablockers?

[happycitrus]

Meditation is awesome. Check your pm, I sent you some (hopefully helpful) info!

Hey! I would be very grateful if u send me the helpful info too. Thank you so much in advance!

Done! I'll try to find a youtube video of it tomorrow and pm that to you as well.

[EtherOne]

Does anybody have any ideas (e.g. relaxation techniques, anti-anxiety medications, etc.) that could help me realize my full potential on this test?

Check your pm.

[albatross92]

have you tried betablockers?

I haven't, but I've been taking anti-anxiety medication (nothing on the level of Xanax, something regular like Celexa, Zoloft, etc.) since the day after the October LSAT. Do beta blockers help?

[Teoeo]

have you tried betablockers?

I haven't, but I've been taking anti-anxiety medication (nothing on the level of Xanax, something regular like Celexa, Zoloft, etc.) since the day after the October LSAT. Do beta blockers help?

Beta blockers are a great option if you aren't asthmatic since they literally make it impossible for you to produce much adrenaline (keeping you anxiety free).

[appind]

interested in this even though the thread is old.

What is better for handling anxiety during lsat, beta blockers, adderall, or anti-anxiety meds like zoloft?
any such meds available as OTC?

ps: can this thread be moved to the prep forum

[malibustacy]

interested in this even though the thread is old.

What is better for handling anxiety during lsat, beta blockers, adderall, or anti-anxiety meds like zoloft?
any such meds available as OTC?

ps: can this thread be moved to the prep forum

Depends on your needs. Xanax alone raised my scores a few points.

[adil91]

Forget about Law School admissions that helped me out a lot

For the December exam I was extremely nervous about law school admissions and it was my first time taking it, I scored way below my diagnostics-159

For the February exam I completely removed thoughts about law school admissions whatsoever, took target schools out of my mind, I score above any diagnostic I took - 167

[Mack.Hambleton]

interested in this even though the thread is old.

What is better for handling anxiety during lsat, beta blockers, adderall, or anti-anxiety meds like zoloft?
any such meds available as OTC?

ps: can this thread be moved to the prep forum

I imagine adderall would have the opposite effect lol

low dose benzos are probably your best bet but beta blockers work too and you can combine them

No need for OTC just ask your doctor

[starry eyed]

do not take adderall if you aren't prescribed. i took it and underperformed

do you smoke weed op?

[appind]

are beta blockers effective at all score ranges or say going from 160s to 170s?

can you post what the score was before and after beta blockers or xanax?

i'd heard beta blockers reduce anxiety, curious as to what the difference between beta-blockers and anti-anxiety meds is.

[wonka]

Post removed.

[Moneytrees]

I would think long and hard before using any drugs during the LSAT. I knew people who took adderall on test day and bombed it. The best way to get rid of anxiety is to feel like you've studied enough.

[Moneytrees]

Also, OP, I under performed by about 5/6 points on two separate occasions. To this day I can't really recognize what happened. Truth is, sometimes you just don't perform your best on game day. The more you think about your anxiety, the more likely you are to get into your own head and become nervous on test day.

Keep everything in perspective. You have a 4.0, which is above every school's median GPA. Perhaps lower your expectations a bit and remind yourself that even if you don't absolutely kill the LSAT, you will have some great options due to your stellar GPA. That should ease some of the psychological pressure you have built up.

[appind]

betablocker BB propanolol seems to cross blood-brain barrier, does it still only affect the physical symptoms or a bit of mental symptoms too?

http://www.lexington-on-line.com/nafptsd2.htm

could adderall not help concentrate better in addition to BBs

Also, OP, I under performed by about 5/6 points on two separate occasions. To this day I can't really recognize what happened.

do you think now that BBs or benzos could have been useful

[Mack.Hambleton]

Adderall is going to make anxiety worse more than likely

[alexjinye]

How's this even possible? Dropping like 20 points on test day?
op must prepped under untimed condition or something and got that score.

If you can get 180 under test condition, it is just not possible to perform like this. I am at the stage where even if I don't understand what I am reading, I can still eliminate wrong answers to right and I can see the majority of internal logics. Granted, someone who can score 180 must do even better.

It is just not possible to make 25 more mistakes than the usual case.
And by the way, how do you get the 4.0 in school with serious test anxiety lol?

Study and retake.

[GospelLeague]

First, take PT and strictly limit your time to 30min per section, and possibly hire your friend as a proctor.

Second, try to love LSAT, and it will love you back.That's my motto for now.

[everton125]

How's this even possible? Dropping like 20 points on test day?
op must prepped under untimed condition or something and got that score.

If you can get 180 under test condition, it is just not possible to perform like this. I am at the stage where even if I don't understand what I am reading, I can still eliminate wrong answers to right and I can see the majority of internal logics. Granted, someone who can score 180 must do even better.

It is just not possible to make 25 more mistakes than the usual case.
And by the way, how do you get the 4.0 in school with serious test anxiety lol?

Study and retake.

I never had any real anxiety during tests I took in college, but was incredibly anxious during the actual LSAT (so much so that my legs cramped up, and I had a nice little panic attack). There is way more riding on the LSAT, which largely determines law school prospects, than any single test in college, which hardly ever count for more than 35% of a students grade for a single class. If you can't see why the LSAT would lead to anxiety where tests in college would not, that is on you.

I will agree that going from a 180 to 161 is a fairly drastic drop off (my test anxiety only led me to scoring three points below my PT average). But it is not beyond belief that it could happen to someone if they had a panic attack during the actual exam.