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Tl:dr - what LSAT prep course would you recommend and why, and do you know of any statistical analysis of which program is best?

For starters I am looking for a course - I'd prefer a set path of study with a class, partially because if I have a class and I pay for a course I know me and I'm more likely to study my butt off. I just feel I'd do better with a class than self study.

So me - I took the June LSAT and got a 158. I thought I did pretty well since my friends were all lower in the 150s, and I had mixed feelings about my score. My first practice test (done before any prep) was a 158, and after that the prep tests I took were 156-158, so I was frustrated that I didn't get any improvement, but that's largely because I didn't do my due diligence and study like it was my job. I also was thinking about a particular school where a 158 was certainly good enough, but after more research I've been convinced that it's in my best interest to retake. My main issue before was that it's my senior year and I already have a heavy courseload, full time with challenging courses (including senior sem). My gpa isn't fantastic - 2.9. So I really need to bump the lsat to get where I'd like to go.

So Princeton Review ultimate advertises a 12pt average increase, with 95% improving by at least 5, and 64% by at least 10. And Kaplan (which per most users I hear sucks) guarantees an improvement over your last score.

I've heard that Manhattan and Test Masters are the best options, but has anyone heard of their statistical performance and/or guarantees?

I can't speak for testmasters or any of the other courses but I did a Kaplan one over 5 years ago. I thought it was very well taught, admittedly I suspect I lucked out in terms of instructors.

Not to be a downer but you might want to consider busting your ass and making sure you get the best grades possible and postponing law school by a year. Why?? You have a heavy course load and a low GPA (very low for law schools). You need to get this up as much as you can to truly be competitive. Once school is done you can study up for the LSAT full time and give it the respect it deserves

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Hornet2011 wrote:I can't speak for testmasters or any of the other courses but I did a Kaplan one over 5 years ago. I thought it was very well taught, admittedly I suspect I lucked out in terms of instructors.

Not to be a downer but you might want to consider busting your ass and making sure you get the best grades possible and postponing law school by a year. Why?? You have a heavy course load and a low GPA (very low for law schools). You need to get this up as much as you can to truly be competitive. Once school is done you can study up for the LSAT full time and give it the respect it deserves

+1, As small as it may seem, an increase to a 3.0 would have you in a much nicer position

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benwyatt wrote:

Broncos15 wrote:

Hornet2011 wrote:I can't speak for testmasters or any of the other courses but I did a Kaplan one over 5 years ago. I thought it was very well taught, admittedly I suspect I lucked out in terms of instructors.

Not to be a downer but you might want to consider busting your ass and making sure you get the best grades possible and postponing law school by a year. Why?? You have a heavy course load and a low GPA (very low for law schools). You need to get this up as much as you can to truly be competitive. Once school is done you can study up for the LSAT full time and give it the respect it deserves

+1, As small as it may seem, an increase to a 3.0 would have you in a much nicer position

OP, I didn't read the GPA stuff before, but definitely focus on that for now and forget all this LSAT business until after you graduate.
Even with a high LSAT score, that GPA is going to be tough to overcome.

I pretty much just made the face in your avatar.

idk. Running through the figures with my current position it seems I have a fair chance at Tulane, Houston, Washington and Lee, Indiana (Bloomington). For the most part, I'm looking at 40s/50s. And those are all 'maybes' for me. I know I can get the GPA up a bit, just not to 3.0 in a semester. Having started to look at grids like this one, it seems that schools really do use blatant cut-offs, even if they say they don't.

http://www.deloggio.com/lsat/profilebar.jpg