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I'm currently 19 and in my second year of undergrad, 5 quarters in (I go to a UC School).

I have a 4.05ish lsac gpa right now and I really want to attend a top 10 law school. I only have 4 quarters left for my transcript (I'll be applying to law schools my senior year), and I just took a diagnostic lsat right now and got a 155. I didn't take it as seriously as I should of, I kind of got lazy half way in and missed 10 each the last two sections and only 5 each the first two. There was a lot of distractions and I probably couldve done better, but in all honesty, no better than 160.

I don't really know where to begin (yes im familiar with the search function), but I want some practical advice for someone like myself. I took the test without even knowing or seeing a previous lsat question or even the names of the sections. It was totally cold.

Still, I want that 170+ because I don't want to waste my gpa.

any help is welcomed!

thanks to all, I hope to be a more active member of the forums

Welcome.

155 is a solid first score. It means you did better than like 60% of people who take the test for real, after having studied it. You shouldn't be prevented from scoring in the high 170's if you give it enough time.

I do not understand the quarters system but it sound like you are a sophomore and will be graduating in 2016. If that is correct then here is what you need to do: 1) maintain your GPA. That is the most important priority. Don't let anything interfere with it, especially LSAT prep. 2) take the test once, in June of 2015. That way you can apply early in the fall, and retake if you need to. 3) spend the next few months researching the test in general and spending time on these forums. Both will be immensely helpful when you actually start studying. 4) don't start studying yet; it's too early. 5) start studying in November/December of this year, and then be prepared to hit the LSAT books hard next January. Study through June, get a 180, go to Yale.

Spend the time between now and next winter learning HOW to study: research companies, prep methods, materials, etc. Whatever you do, don't start studying yet. It's too early and you'll run out of materials and it will be a waste.

If you're graduating 2015 and thus aiming to apply this Fall then you should probably start studying now and take the test in October.

Pneumonia wrote:Welcome.

155 is a solid first score. It means you did better than like 60% of people who take the test for real, after having studied it. You shouldn't be prevented from scoring in the high 170's if you give it enough time.

I do not understand the quarters system but it sound like you are a sophomore and will be graduating in 2016. If that is correct then here is what you need to do: 1) maintain your GPA. That is the most important priority. Don't let anything interfere with it, especially LSAT prep. 2) take the test once, in June of 2015. That way you can apply early in the fall, and retake if you need to. 3) spend the next few months researching the test in general and spending time on these forums. Both will be immensely helpful when you actually start studying. 4) don't start studying yet; it's too early. 5) start studying in November/December of this year, and then be prepared to hit the LSAT books hard next January. Study through June, get a 180, go to Yale.

Spend the time between now and next winter learning HOW to study: research companies, prep methods, materials, etc. Whatever you do, don't start studying yet. It's too early and you'll run out of materials and it will be a waste.

If you're graduating 2015 and thus aiming to apply this Fall then you should probably start studying now and take the test in October.

Thanks for the response. Honestly there was so much distractions, people yelling outside, roommates watching tv and playing video games, doors constantly closing and opening, I think if i had a better environment and didnt get lazy toward the end I couldve got like 5-6 more questions right lol.

But the quarters system is basically 3 quarters instead of 2 semesters. The problem with taking the June LSAT is that it literally is on the same week as finals
I can break it down for you:
fall quarter starts late september, ends mid december. winter quarter starts early january, ends mid march. Spring quarter starts early april, ends mid june.

So my viable options are february 2015 or october 2015. heres the catch, I can probably graduate a quarter or too early, meaning i can possibly study for lsat 2016 and take a year off between UG and LS? From what I here, K-JD is bad, and my major (econ) could possibly give me a decent job out of undergrad so maybe i could get WE?

Thanks for the encouragement and don't worry about the GPA, it's here to stay

bump?

Hi OP! In terms of LSAT prep, I was pretty much in your exact situation a year ago, as a sophomore in UG. I too took a diagnostic in a distracting environment, and I got a 154. I eventually ended up with a 174 on my first take in Feb 2014. So definitely don't be at all discouraged by the diagnostic. Other than that though, I'm not really sure what you're asking? Browse around the forums, the stickied study guides at the top of the LSAT forum, and the LSAT prep threads. Working for at least a year between UG and law school does seem to be TCR for LS admissions.

Not really sure what answers you're looking for here. Thanks for clarifying the quarters thing. Work experience is generally good, yes. If you ask some specific questions I think you'll get better answers.

First and foremost, focus on keeping you phenomenal GPA. With 6 months of prep (starting with the PS Bibles, moving to sectioned practice, then moving to 10 weeks of timed practice tests) I was able to go from 159 to 175 on test day. If only I could have had your GPA...

Seriously though, as others have said, focus on learning how to study. And learn how to maintain mental endurance.