Anyone here study while working full time? Forum

[surf]

In a Testmasters course right now, but I know I won't be where I need to be (160 or +) by December. Probably going to put the test off till June or Sep of next year. Just graduated. Plan on getting a job full time in January and will continue studying then. I'm stuck in the 140s/low 150s. I can't seem to dig myself out of this hole. Shitty but hoping to make some progress over a long haul of 8 or so months studying on the side. Anyone have advice or experience with studying while working full time?

Went to college in another state, returned, and have about 2 friends that are left here...lol so no bars on the weekend for me. I'll have time to study on weekends. I'm determined to get into the 160s.

[js1663]

If you're not improving when you have plenty of time and you're not working, your situation is only going to get worse, not better once you start working. If the testmasters course isn't working maybe you should look into other methods of studying for the LSAT. However, it seems from you situation you will not get much better than 4 months with no other work or obligations to study for the LSAT. If you can truly get serious, spend 2 hours a day studying, etc and adjust your studying habits and methodology (there is plenty of great material on this site) your target should be December.

With that said there really wont be any difference December or June for when it comes to admissions for the class of 2019. However, I think you need to be realistic about how you're gonna improve under tougher conditions when you're not improving now.

[phillywc]

Tons of people here studied while working full time jobs. Some worked super demanding hours and still studied. I was working full time and a full time student.

It's really just about discipline. You have to make the time for it. Very doable.

[penncon]

I second everything js1663 said. I'm currently working an office job and wake up around 530am to get 2 hours of studying in before work. I also study during my hour lunch on less hectic days. On the weekends, I study for 4-hour sessions trying to clock in at least 3 of these. I aim for about 25 hours a week at a minimum which is a part-time job. I'm hoping I'll be ready by December/February. Its hard and it takes a lot of sacrifices in other parts of your life. If I were you, I would use this time while unemployed to make the most progress in my LSAT score.

[Lying Lawyer]

If you're serious about this you're going to have to sacrifice some of your weekends. Your test is probably going to be on a Saturday morning anyways, so use it to study. It's when you are freshest, since you are studying after a night's sleep. Sometimes during the week you're dead tired after an exhausting day. This past Monday for example, I couldn't study, I had an eviction to do. It wasn't the physical toll of moving stuff out of the house because I didn't move much. It's the tension of knowing that this person, who could have prevented this by leaving, was going to be there and you never know when they act up. She decides to start screaming and throw herself on the floor. I even offered to pay her U-Haul. I had to call the cops back because I thought she was going to do something stupid. It was such an emotionally draining morning, I couldn't study. I had to pass. You're going to have to sit down a few days a week for a few hours but your weekends are your best bet.

[HRomanus]

Studying with a full time job is really doable, but it definitely sucks. When I study enough, I fall behind at work. When I catch up at work, I fall behind on my studying. Obviously we understand our priorities - the LSAT - but it makes life miserable in the interim. The worst part is Friday night, when all you want to do is relax from the week and yet you're forcing yourself to bed so you can get up for a Saturday morning LSAT PT.

[dontdoitkid]

I was working full time last fall when I previously took the LSAT. Honestly - it's doable, but as many people have said here, it's pretty unpleasant. I followed a weekly schedule that consisted of me working from 6:00am-7:00pm give or take and then studying 7:30-11:00. From my experience I found that most of my issues weren't with the studying itself, but with what it did to the rest of my life. Things like socialization, healthy eating, exercise and rest became much more difficult to include in my schedule, and I think that's what really hurt my ultimate test performance last fall. Your mileage may vary of course.

[JazzyMac]

I'm currently studying while working full-time. The hours are about normal, 45ish most weeks, but it's pretty draining. Trying to balance sleep, exercise, and anything else (taking my dog for a walk, etc.) is extremely difficult. I'm finding that even taking a shower steals time. It's definitely not ideal.

[whereskyle]

Some days i would get home from work, eat, do a PT, and then go to bed. No doubt everyday I would do at least something LSAT related. If you want a T14 score and you're starting in the 140s, then there's no question that studying for the LSAT has to be your regular, second job. When ppl ask what you do with your free time, you should say, "I study for the LSAT." Every now and again you should do something recreational for yourself, but I thought of time as opportunity to prepare for the test for about 6 months.

[BearsintheRafters]

I'm currently working an office job and wake up around 530am to get 2 hours of studying in before work.

I would second this advice. I took the June LSAT after about 4-5 months of hard studying. I studied and took PT's after work, and I wish that I had studied in the morning. In the last month of prep, I would take about 2-3 PT's a week; one on Sunday, and then 1-2 during the weekdays. I would watch my score dip by five points every time I took a PT after working a full day. Your brain is definitely flying at half mast when you study after work.

[Blockofcheese]

I work a full time job and am taking the test in September. It absolutely can be done, but it also isn't going to be easy. You have to make sacrifices because this isn't college anymore.

I wake up around 5:30 most mornings and study for an hour or 2 before I go to work. I focus on doing difficult areas/areas I have trouble in the morning because I know that when I get home I need some down time. I try to study for an hour or so at night, and then try to head to bed well before 10. For me personally, I need at least 8 hours of sleep to keep going all day. This works well for me, and I've managed to see a lot of improvement over the last month.

Once you figure out what your balance is, you find a way to make it work. Not everyone needs that much sleep, and some people can't study at all in the evenings. It's all about figuring out what works for you. If you really want to do this, you'll find a way to make it work.

[surf]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Is the student who takes 6-8 months of studying going to do worse in law school versus the student who studies for only 2 months? Have heard a few people say LSAT success is not indicative of how your performance in law school would be, but I'm not sure.

I've worked at a firm, talked to many attorneys, and have had this as my goal for quite some time now. A lot of people in my TM class are only going to law school because they don't know what else they want to do, or don't want to enter the real world (their words).

I'm not in that boat. Only problem is I have a feeling it's going to take me a while to get a grip on this test, and I'm not sure if this is a bad indicator of how I'll do in law school. I'm not an idiot by any means but I'm also no genius who can study for this in one month and kick ass either. My boss at the firm was saying he only got mid 150s but has had pretty good success...so who knows. Hoping I can overcome this.

[flash21]

Yep - wake up 4 am to go to work for 5 am to 330 pm, study basically until I literally start dozing off, sleep, wake up at 4am again and repeat. Also going to the gym during the week.

I dont go out on weekends very often and don't drink alcohol (this is basically for LSAT purposes). You've gotta sacrifice a lot especially if you're like me and your initial score was in the gutter.

[Aurelius85]

I'm with everyone else...working full time and studying is definitely possibly but it requires plenty of discipline, sacrifice, and focus. I've been studying for about 10 months now and still have plenty of work to do if I'm ever going to get to where I want (high 160s). I don't work full time (5-6hrs per day) but with the volunteering (Big Bros) and the interning I do (DA's office) my schedule can definitely get hectic. Most importantly, you've got to develop a schedule that works for you and one that will allow you to study effectively and comprehend what you're doing. I don't mean to knock anyone's habits, but I've found that studying less than 2.5hrs is not substantial for me: not only do I not focus as deep as when I study for a longer period but I'm not able to get to everything I need to work on that day. And in my opinion, the only way to conquer the LSAT is to master the building blocks of the exam which require a deep and thorough understanding of the different elements in every section. So developing a schedule is essential along with being consistent and following that schedule day in and day out, week after week, month after month. Whether that schedule is 3-5 hours before or after work or weekends is up to you, but you've got to be consistent and you have to be honest about sitting down and studying long enough to truly understand what you're working on. All the best.

[MEAhrnsbrak]

Don't get discouraged! I started off in a similar situation as you. I've worked full time the entire time I've studied for the LSAT. In my situation, I think my job helps me focus. I have a limited time to study and it helps me make sure I make the most of that time! My first test was around 155, but after I started studying and learning all the different techniques my scores plummeted and I scored in the 140s multiple times. I took a couple of weeks off because I was so frustrated, came back, and scored a 158. Then I picked up the Trainer and the Manhattan books and my scores have gone up to where I am consistently scoring above 165. I remember the beginning phases of my testing where I was shooting for a 165, but couldn't actually fathom achieving it because my scores were so low. Now my goal is a 172 (-0 LG, -5 RC, -4LR), because over time all of the hard work and time spent is paying off. I highly suggest taking time off between studying. It can be as short as a couple of days, but I think my time off was invaluable in letting my brain digest everything I was learning. Good luck studying!!

[Louis1127]

I don't work full-time, but I am taking 15 hours and I work 20 hours a week and am studying.

Like you, I started in the mid 140s and am PTing in the low 160s now and still improving looking to go significantly higher. It will be slow at first and it's hard, but if you put the work in, you can do it.

Lying Lawyer speaks the truth- you are going to have to sacrifice your weekends. Not every second of your weekend, but at least 4 hours on Sat and Sun, depending on how much you get done at nights during the week. It will suck, but it's worth it (literally thousands and maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars).

In the words of TLS legend Earlcat, STOP TAKING PTS. Seriously, start doing every problem- game, LR question, RC passage and subsequent question untimed and understand what you are doing wrong. Get your hands on some explanations, although Testmasters probably has some, so you're likely good there.

And please don't listen to anyone that says that someone who studies for a long time for the LSAT somehow does not deserve their score, or isn't as good as someone who takes it cold, or whatever the hell the new thing is to say. That's just people trying to spin it to make themselves look good or feel good. A [insert any score here] is a [insert that same score here], and that's just the way it is.

See you around. Good luck!

[meeshellzswell]

Checking in. Talk about Monday motivation while I sit here at work. I took the June LSAT cold and did horribly. Signed up for the December LSAT but I have also found it difficult to study while working FT. Aiming for upper 160's, IDEALLY would like to break 170. Looks like it's time to sacrifice some sleep and alcohol until LSAT time

[surf]

Checking in. Talk about Monday motivation while I sit here at work. I took the June LSAT cold and did horribly. Signed up for the December LSAT but I have also found it difficult to study while working FT. Aiming for upper 160's, IDEALLY would like to break 170. Looks like it's time to sacrifice some sleep and alcohol until LSAT time

Right on. Alcohol was the second to go out the door, after the greens. Been sobered up for about a month and a half now. Nice to have a clear head. Good luck

[regulartime]

Three words: The LSAT Trainer

I am working full time and have had to do a lot of work after hours when I get home. The LSAT Trainer is very focused and can be done in an hour to an hour and a half a day. It has made a huge difference for me in my PT scores, especially LG.

[nmjensen]

Hi- I've been lurking around the forums for a while but decided to post; I second the LSAT Trainer! I took the LSAT in June while working FT (40-45 hrs/week) and didn't devote nearly enough time to studying. The LSAT Trainer is super helpful in pacing and scheduling lessons and PTs.

I usually do a LG before work, do a lesson during my lunch hour, and study for about 2 hours at night. I spend weekends at the library doing PTs. Next week I'll start doing PTs every other evening. I don't mind staying up late but I think a little break between work and a practice test is crucial; otherwise my brain is fried.

[KikiJM]

Hi,

In addition to making full use of mornings, lunch and weekends. I listen to videos and mp3s at my desk and in the car whenever I can.

I have deleted the offensive link. Again, I am sorry.

[Louis1127]

Hi,

In addition to making full use of mornings, lunch and weekends. I listen to videos and mp3s at my desk and in the car whenever I can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93gIiNI ... EG&index=1

The link above is one of a series of videos that have helped me a lot.

Please stop spamming all of our LSAT threads.

Sincerely,

Louis1127

[BP Robert]

I'd estimate around 25% of LSAT studiers are also working full time. Many are doing so while they're in school. Very doable, but it does require some extra discipline.

I'd recommend that you try to do an LG section or a RC passage or eight LR problems every day before you leave the house for work, in addition to whatever other studying you're already doing.

Best luck.

[KikiJM]

Hi,

In addition to making full use of mornings, lunch and weekends. I listen to videos and mp3s at my desk and in the car whenever I can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93gIiNI ... EG&index=1

The link above is one of a series of videos that have helped me a lot.

Please stop spamming all of our LSAT threads.

Sincerely,

Louis1127

Look, relax. I know that maybe you have a job to do but sometimes you can exercise restraint and courtesy in dealing with people. I am preparing to sit the September exam, not selling anything nor do I have a stake in whether anyone ever looks at the link. I have shared the same link on only two posts. I only did so because I saw others sharing links and I benefited from that sharing and thought that I would contribute rather than only take information from the site. I sincerely apologize if that is spamming and did not know that it would be a problem. It is funny, I have been using this site for months and never posted and the first time I decided to post this happened. Geez. A real turn off.