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'ello chaps!

i've taken this thing twice- 164 and 165. i'm planning for this september's exam.

i was pretty disappointed in my 165 as i'd been PTing in the high 160s and low 170s. with around 2.5 months to go, Manhattan is about to start a "live online" course that will end a bit before the september exam.

As someone who is APPARENTLY on the brink of a 170+, and obviously aiming to break past 170, do you guys think such a course would be helpful?

I LOVED my Manhattan course. Manhattan as a company is flawlessly run with instructors that are both amazingly knowledgable and surprising approachable, always willing to help. However, I personally think that you would be slightly better off getting a tutor if you are already scoring so highly. It is not because I don't think the course will help you, I think it absolutely will. It is more because individualized tutoring may help you even MORE.

However, something to note is that you actually do get 30 minute "free" tutoring sessions every week when you pay for the course. This is also coupled with review sessions every week in which you can basically ask the instructors anything. So, in a way, you already do get some individualized attention.

TLDR: Tutoring may help you a bit more, but I think the benefits of the class will also help you quite substantially. It would be your call.

EDIT: it might be helpful to go through the material again though. I don't know. I really think both options, tutoring or course, would be really great for you.

Didn't you leave the test the second time in the middle of it?

thanks for the feedback. the main concern with tutoring is price--its astronomical and I feel like i'd feel hard-pressed to get my moneys worth per hour.

i may be leaning towards the course as it also forces me to devote hours to the test after work, which can be tough.

my prep has been so scattered and unorganized overall, so a curriculum/schedule may benefit me as well, i guess.

edit: my concern with a course, however, is that often times courses can be filled with people who are in the 150s looking for 160s as opposed to 160s looking for 170s. progress can be slow, depending on the course. it could end up being a crapshoot

WaltGrace83 wrote:Didn't you leave the test the second time in the middle of it?

that was my 3rd one! took section 1, and i just didn't feel good about it. i know it sounds dumb of me to have left but there were a variety of factors that day that just made for poor testing conditions.

my 165 was in october '13, to clear up any confusion.

santoki wrote:thanks for the feedback. the main concern with tutoring is price--its astronomical and I feel like i'd feel hard-pressed to get my moneys worth per hour.

i may be leaning towards the course as it also forces me to devote hours to the test after work, which can be tough.

my prep has been so scattered and unorganized overall, so a curriculum/schedule may benefit me as well, i guess.

edit: my concern with a course, however, is that often times courses can be filled with people who are in the 150s looking for 160s as opposed to 160s looking for 170s. progress can be slow, depending on the course. it could end up being a crapshoot

There were definitely some people in my class (2-3) that you could just tell didn't know what was going on. However, this can also be a good thing because the instructors explaining another's mistakes can firm up your own understanding. At the beginning of the course though we actually did a poll to see where everyone wanted to score. Most people were in the 165-170 range while many were in the 170-175 range. Overall, even if the course (or tutoring) helps you gain a few extra points, you'll more than make up for that in scholly money.

santoki wrote:

WaltGrace83 wrote:Didn't you leave the test the second time in the middle of it?

that was my 3rd one! took section 1, and i just didn't feel good about it. i know it sounds dumb of me to have left but there were a variety of factors that day that just made for poor testing conditions.

my 165 was in october '13, to clear up any confusion.

So I guess your 164 was a long time ago? Leaving the middle counts as a cancel (aka, a "take") correct?

WaltGrace83 wrote:

santoki wrote:thanks for the feedback. the main concern with tutoring is price--its astronomical and I feel like i'd feel hard-pressed to get my moneys worth per hour.

i may be leaning towards the course as it also forces me to devote hours to the test after work, which can be tough.

my prep has been so scattered and unorganized overall, so a curriculum/schedule may benefit me as well, i guess.

edit: my concern with a course, however, is that often times courses can be filled with people who are in the 150s looking for 160s as opposed to 160s looking for 170s. progress can be slow, depending on the course. it could end up being a crapshoot

There were definitely some people in my class (2-3) that you could just tell didn't know what was going on. However, this can also be a good thing because the instructors explaining another's mistakes can firm up your own understanding. At the beginning of the course though we actually did a poll to see where everyone wanted to score. Most people were in the 165-170 range while many were in the 170-175 range. Overall, even if the course helps you gain a few extra points, you'll more than make up for that in scholly money.

santoki wrote:

WaltGrace83 wrote:Didn't you leave the test the second time in the middle of it?

that was my 3rd one! took section 1, and i just didn't feel good about it. i know it sounds dumb of me to have left but there were a variety of factors that day that just made for poor testing conditions.

my 165 was in october '13, to clear up any confusion.

So I guess your 164 was a long time ago? Leaving the middle counts as a cancel (aka, a "take") correct?

Yup, 164 was in 2012. Leaving in the middle is a cancellation, and yes, therefore a "take".

the instructors going over some things that are more basic would be helpful for foundations and such, but hopefully the instructor keeps the class going at a brisk pace. they have to complete the whole curriculum regardless so i would assume that it would be the case. those "private" half-hour sessions are pretty enticing as well. excited to start up again after a month hiatus from the test!

I know you probably aren't going to push back your test date. However, Matt Sherman, the instructor of the Live Online Course prepping you for December is an absolute BEAST at the LSAT. His insight would be invaluable.

WaltGrace83 wrote:I know you probably aren't going to push back your test date. However, Matt Sherman, the instructor of the Live Online Course prepping you for December is an absolute BEAST at the LSAT. His insight would be invaluable.

so terribly tempting...but I do think the september exam is the one for me. the instructor for this course, laura baragona, has gotten some positive reviews as well. hopefully she can resemble matt sherman in a positive way! not physically, of course.

Have you considered reading through different material/a different book? A prep course is there to guide you. Only you can make improvements. If you are determined, organized, and motivated, I think you can do it on your own without having to spend 1k+ or so. The methods and material are out there already.