The Official June 2017 Study Group Forum

[dj9i27]

Hi guys. Started my prep a few weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good. GPA is 3.9, LSAT diagnostic was 160. I was really shaky with LGs a few weeks ago but I'm starting to be more confident. Having some trouble with flaws in LR. Anyone else dreaming about receiving a high score on this test constantly? I just keep thinking what a high score on this test could mean for the rest of my life and I just get so excited/nervous.

What's good with all of these 3.9+'s 160 diagnostic people in the past few days?!?!?

Anyways, welcome! With that GPA, you definitely should aim for a top score and nothing less!

I'm not even going to bother applying now.

Seriously, 12 years ago when I started college, I had no idea my GPA could ever be so important. I was top 10% of my class with my 3.5. Only 2 people in my class even had above a 3.9. Heck, our Grand Marshall only had a 3.98. If only I had known.....

you're still over me, but if you've been out of UG that long I think they're slightly kinder.

[34iplaw]

A lot of rewards seem to be fairly exclusively rewarded to high UGPAs, but I could be absolutely wrong.

[34iplaw]

Hi guys. Started my prep a few weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good. GPA is 3.9, LSAT diagnostic was 160. I was really shaky with LGs a few weeks ago but I'm starting to be more confident. Having some trouble with flaws in LR. Anyone else dreaming about receiving a high score on this test constantly? I just keep thinking what a high score on this test could mean for the rest of my life and I just get so excited/nervous.

What's good with all of these 3.9+'s 160 diagnostic people in the past few days?!?!?

Anyways, welcome! With that GPA, you definitely should aim for a top score and nothing less!

I'm not even going to bother applying now.

Seriously, 12 years ago when I started college, I had no idea my GPA could ever be so important. I was top 10% of my class with my 3.5. Only 2 people in my class even had above a 3.9. Heck, our Grand Marshall only had a 3.98. If only I had known.....

you're still over me, but if you've been out of UG that long I think they're slightly kinder.

Yeah - I feel you. I probably wouldn't have taken so many classes either... other problem of really big schools where a lot of the humanities classes grade much more favorably than many other majors.

Your case sounds pretty extreme and probably warrants an addendum explaining the grading system there I think. A 3.5 being the top 10% is definitely not remotely close to the norm.

[Saylor1720]

Did both sections of LR from PT 8 today.

LR1 untimed: -4
LR2 timed: -1

Not sure how that happened. Did better under timed circumstances. Granted I've seen a lot of these questions before. So I could've subcontiously knew the answers? But it didn't feel as so. Either way a little confidence never hurt anyone

[dm1683]

Hi guys. Started my prep a few weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good. GPA is 3.9, LSAT diagnostic was 160. I was really shaky with LGs a few weeks ago but I'm starting to be more confident. Having some trouble with flaws in LR. Anyone else dreaming about receiving a high score on this test constantly? I just keep thinking what a high score on this test could mean for the rest of my life and I just get so excited/nervous.

What's good with all of these 3.9+'s 160 diagnostic people in the past few days?!?!?

Anyways, welcome! With that GPA, you definitely should aim for a top score and nothing less!

I'm not even going to bother applying now.

Seriously, 12 years ago when I started college, I had no idea my GPA could ever be so important. I was top 10% of my class with my 3.5. Only 2 people in my class even had above a 3.9. Heck, our Grand Marshall only had a 3.98. If only I had known.....

you're still over me, but if you've been out of UG that long I think they're slightly kinder.

Yeah - I feel you. I probably wouldn't have taken so many classes either... other problem of really big schools where a lot of the humanities classes grade much more favorably than many other majors.

Your case sounds pretty extreme and probably warrants an addendum explaining the grading system there I think. A 3.5 being the top 10% is definitely not remotely close to the norm.

Yeah 3.5 is super low for a 10%er. Did you go to Princeton or something? My school parties hard and our median is still like 3.2. I love grade inflation.

[Alexandros]

Hi guys. Started my prep a few weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good. GPA is 3.9, LSAT diagnostic was 160. I was really shaky with LGs a few weeks ago but I'm starting to be more confident. Having some trouble with flaws in LR. Anyone else dreaming about receiving a high score on this test constantly? I just keep thinking what a high score on this test could mean for the rest of my life and I just get so excited/nervous.

What's good with all of these 3.9+'s 160 diagnostic people in the past few days?!?!?

Anyways, welcome! With that GPA, you definitely should aim for a top score and nothing less!

I'm not even going to bother applying now.

Seriously, 12 years ago when I started college, I had no idea my GPA could ever be so important. I was top 10% of my class with my 3.5. Only 2 people in my class even had above a 3.9. Heck, our Grand Marshall only had a 3.98. If only I had known.....

you're still over me, but if you've been out of UG that long I think they're slightly kinder.

Yeah - I feel you. I probably wouldn't have taken so many classes either... other problem of really big schools where a lot of the humanities classes grade much more favorably than many other majors.

Your case sounds pretty extreme and probably warrants an addendum explaining the grading system there I think. A 3.5 being the top 10% is definitely not remotely close to the norm.

A little over 3.7 and top 10% over here. Considering how harsh grading in physics and eng are, wouldn't be surprised if 3.5 was top 10% in those departments.
I understand why they care about numerical GPA so much and all that, but I do feel like it definitely favors applicants who went to schools with A+s, did easier majors, went to schools with grade inflation, etc. My sister went to a different UG and has a GPA that's over 4.0, but it's lower than mine converted to our scale.

[dj9i27]

RC went good today, better than the rest of the sections. 4 untimed passages went -3 and then I went dead on a section of games (Broke my drilling habit for today only) and went -5.

[Platopus]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

[dj9i27]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

yes.
i feel like this is why I dropped the ball on my LG today. Wednesdays I get here super early after staying superlate on Tuesday so I don't have much energy at the end of Wednesdays. luckily i have Friday off to make up for brain dead time.
What QTs are irking you with LR?

[Platopus]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

yes.
i feel like this is why I dropped the ball on my LG today. Wednesdays I get here super early after staying superlate on Tuesday so I don't have much energy at the end of Wednesdays. luckily i have Friday off to make up for brain dead time.
What QTs are irking you with LR?

Fridays off sound nice, but that Tuesday/Wednesday combo sounds like hell, so dropping some point on LG is reasonable. I wouldn't let it derail you though, just treat it as a lesson in how to approach LG in section 5 of the test. Is it a set up thing or are there question types on LG (such as CAL) that are just draining time?

And I've been doing pretty poor on Point at Issue and Parallel reasoning questions. Having to go through each answer choice thoroughly is mentally fatiguing and kills my timing. My biggest concern though, is that I tend to try to argue for my answer, even though I know its wrong, and I'm afraid if I can't nip it in the bud I'm just going to keep reinforcing poor thinking. I need to do a mindset shift when reviewing.

[dj9i27]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

yes.
i feel like this is why I dropped the ball on my LG today. Wednesdays I get here super early after staying superlate on Tuesday so I don't have much energy at the end of Wednesdays. luckily i have Friday off to make up for brain dead time.
What QTs are irking you with LR?

Fridays off sound nice, but that Tuesday/Wednesday combo sounds like hell, so dropping some point on LG is reasonable. I wouldn't let it derail you though, just treat it as a lesson in how to approach LG in section 5 of the test. Is it a set up thing or are there question types on LG (such as CAL) that are just draining time?

And I've been doing pretty poor on Point at Issue and Parallel reasoning questions. Having to go through each answer choice thoroughly is mentally fatiguing and kills my timing. My biggest concern though, is that I tend to try to argue for my answer, even though I know its wrong, and I'm afraid if I can't nip it in the bud I'm just going to keep reinforcing poor thinking. I need to do a mindset shift when reviewing.

Timing for LG has never been a issue for me until the introduction of the weird games. during my first round of PTs once I got it down, I finished LG with 8 minutes to spare usually missing -0/1. I just wasn't there today, had a shitty workout and went to the library reluctantly for 1.5 hours.

parallel are a bitch to deal with in the beginning but just look for the commonalities within the argument and it gets a tad easier. iirc, powerscore LR Bible helped me the most with Point at Issue questions paired with QT drilling.

[dm1683]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

yes.
i feel like this is why I dropped the ball on my LG today. Wednesdays I get here super early after staying superlate on Tuesday so I don't have much energy at the end of Wednesdays. luckily i have Friday off to make up for brain dead time.
What QTs are irking you with LR?

Fridays off sound nice, but that Tuesday/Wednesday combo sounds like hell, so dropping some point on LG is reasonable. I wouldn't let it derail you though, just treat it as a lesson in how to approach LG in section 5 of the test. Is it a set up thing or are there question types on LG (such as CAL) that are just draining time?

And I've been doing pretty poor on Point at Issue and Parallel reasoning questions. Having to go through each answer choice thoroughly is mentally fatiguing and kills my timing. My biggest concern though, is that I tend to try to argue for my answer, even though I know its wrong, and I'm afraid if I can't nip it in the bud I'm just going to keep reinforcing poor thinking. I need to do a mindset shift when reviewing.

Timing for LG has never been a issue for me until the introduction of the weird games. during my first round of PTs once I got it down, I finished LG with 8 minutes to spare usually missing -0/1. I just wasn't there today, had a shitty workout and went to the library reluctantly for 1.5 hours.

parallel are a bitch to deal with in the beginning but just look for the commonalities within the argument and it gets a tad easier. iirc, powerscore LR Bible helped me the most with Point at Issue questions paired with QT drilling.

dj has to mention working out at least once per post ITT LOL.


Anyway, I've finalized my long-term study schedule now that I'm nearing the end of the LG Bible.

I'll finish the Bible in the next week (by the 21st). I only have Pure Sequencing, "weird" games and time management stuff to go.

Feb. 21 - the end of March I will drill and BR untimed LG sections and work in LR and RC sections.

April-test day I will PT on a three day cycle: do a full timed,proctored PT on the first day, BR and score it on the second day, and rest on the third day.

Does this sound good? Unlike many of you I'm a first time taker so if you have any advice I'd love to hear it.

[dj9i27]

Went -0 on LG timed for the first time today, but felt like i really dropped the ball on LR (-5 on the section, timing half-assed). I feel good, as something in LG has finally clicked, because two weeks ago I was consistently 3-4 for the section, and now I'm consistently scoring -1 (and now a -0). However LR is starting to look like a wall that will take some serious effort to smash.

Work is also ramping up to be a shit-show for the next couple weeks, so hopefully I am able to stay on track with studying and continue to make progress

yes.
i feel like this is why I dropped the ball on my LG today. Wednesdays I get here super early after staying superlate on Tuesday so I don't have much energy at the end of Wednesdays. luckily i have Friday off to make up for brain dead time.
What QTs are irking you with LR?

Fridays off sound nice, but that Tuesday/Wednesday combo sounds like hell, so dropping some point on LG is reasonable. I wouldn't let it derail you though, just treat it as a lesson in how to approach LG in section 5 of the test. Is it a set up thing or are there question types on LG (such as CAL) that are just draining time?

And I've been doing pretty poor on Point at Issue and Parallel reasoning questions. Having to go through each answer choice thoroughly is mentally fatiguing and kills my timing. My biggest concern though, is that I tend to try to argue for my answer, even though I know its wrong, and I'm afraid if I can't nip it in the bud I'm just going to keep reinforcing poor thinking. I need to do a mindset shift when reviewing.

Timing for LG has never been a issue for me until the introduction of the weird games. during my first round of PTs once I got it down, I finished LG with 8 minutes to spare usually missing -0/1. I just wasn't there today, had a shitty workout and went to the library reluctantly for 1.5 hours.

parallel are a bitch to deal with in the beginning but just look for the commonalities within the argument and it gets a tad easier. iirc, powerscore LR Bible helped me the most with Point at Issue questions paired with QT drilling.

dj has to mention working out at least once per post ITT LOL.


Anyway, I've finalized my long-term study schedule now that I'm nearing the end of the LG Bible.

I'll finish the Bible in the next week (by the 21st). I only have Pure Sequencing, "weird" games and time management stuff to go.

Feb. 21 - the end of March I will drill and BR untimed LG sections and work in LR and RC sections.

April-test day I will PT on a three day cycle: do a full timed,proctored PT on the first day, BR and score it on the second day, and rest on the third day.

Does this sound good? Unlike many of you I'm a first time taker so if you have any advice I'd love to hear it.

bodybuilding brings me happiness in a world infested with work and lsat, good to get away from everything for 2 hours imo.

I would do some QT drilling for LR and LG, that really hammers down the basics and gives you a clear strategy for the questions. pretty much from now until March 12 it is untimed drilling for everything whilst finishing Manhattan, then March 12 continue QT drilling but add timed sections and finally April 12 to test day, same as you endless PTs with review and timed secations

[saf18hornet]

Hi guys. Started my prep a few weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good. GPA is 3.9, LSAT diagnostic was 160. I was really shaky with LGs a few weeks ago but I'm starting to be more confident. Having some trouble with flaws in LR. Anyone else dreaming about receiving a high score on this test constantly? I just keep thinking what a high score on this test could mean for the rest of my life and I just get so excited/nervous.

What's good with all of these 3.9+'s 160 diagnostic people in the past few days?!?!?

Anyways, welcome! With that GPA, you definitely should aim for a top score and nothing less!

I'm not even going to bother applying now.

Seriously, 12 years ago when I started college, I had no idea my GPA could ever be so important. I was top 10% of my class with my 3.5. Only 2 people in my class even had above a 3.9. Heck, our Grand Marshall only had a 3.98. If only I had known.....

you're still over me, but if you've been out of UG that long I think they're slightly kinder.

Yeah - I feel you. I probably wouldn't have taken so many classes either... other problem of really big schools where a lot of the humanities classes grade much more favorably than many other majors.

Your case sounds pretty extreme and probably warrants an addendum explaining the grading system there I think. A 3.5 being the top 10% is definitely not remotely close to the norm.

Yeah 3.5 is super low for a 10%er. Did you go to Princeton or something? My school parties hard and our median is still like 3.2. I love grade inflation.

Went to a top school for engineering. My experience was that a class average for an exam would fall between a 30-50%, and that would get curved to a 70 and your grades just fall out from there. I'll never forget my first physics exam getting passed back as frosh with a 55 on top, having a mini heart attack, then learning the average was a 40 and I was basically at an A-.

Worse was realizing that some kid actually got like an 85 straight up. Amazing!

[PrezRand]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

[Mikey]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

[dm1683]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

Ancient history/classics ftw.

[greatspirit]

Anyone have a better explaination for question #9 the second LG from the June 1999 LSAT?

Here's the 7sage vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etBiYogHegM

FWIW, I didn't diagram like he did - I just went with a linear diagram.

[PrezRand]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

[Rupert Pupkin]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

Econ can be extremely useful though.. In the long run youll have more opportunities with Econ & Law than if you just did Political Science (for example). If being successful was easy then everyone would be. And I think adcomms do notice harder majors and if anyone is accepted at or below 25%tile GPA it is people who are professional majors because they respect the value in those degrees. Econ is not a professional major, but at the same time I think it is a valuable one.

[dm1683]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

Econ can be extremely useful though.. In the long run youll have more opportunities with Econ & Law than if you just did Political Science (for example). If being successful was easy then everyone would be. And I think adcomms do notice harder majors and if anyone is accepted at or below 25%tile GPA it is people who are professional majors because they respect the value in those degrees. Econ is not a professional major, but at the same time I think it is a valuable one.

Interesting. I was under the impression that legal employers don't really care about you undergrad degree unless it is STEM and the job is in IP.

[Rupert Pupkin]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

Econ can be extremely useful though.. In the long run youll have more opportunities with Econ & Law than if you just did Political Science (for example). If being successful was easy then everyone would be. And I think adcomms do notice harder majors and if anyone is accepted at or below 25%tile GPA it is people who are professional majors because they respect the value in those degrees. Econ is not a professional major, but at the same time I think it is a valuable one.

Interesting. I was under the impression that legal employers don't really care about you undergrad degree unless it is STEM and the job is in IP.

If you are doing PI or gov't probably not, but Im talking about Corp law, for example-- M&A, Bankruptcy or Derivatives -- having an Econ, Accounting, or Finance background is very prevalent in those fields. Not necessary, but if you have that it definitely puts you in a much better position

Edit: maybe if you were Econ and went the gov't route and wanted to get involved with Treasury department somehow (or something of that nature) having an econ degree would be valuable? not sure, but just makes sense

[PrezRand]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

Econ can be extremely useful though.. In the long run youll have more opportunities with Econ & Law than if you just did Political Science (for example). If being successful was easy then everyone would be. And I think adcomms do notice harder majors and if anyone is accepted at or below 25%tile GPA it is people who are professional majors because they respect the value in those degrees. Econ is not a professional major, but at the same time I think it is a valuable one.

Don't get me wrong. I love economics. As I said before, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ. I have always been interested in economic policy and wanted to be an economist or an adviser for a politician. But I could have learned most of what I learned about economics in school on my own, without lowering my GPA.

I don't have much regret for my choice since I could still go to a good law school and maybe even still pursue something like economic consulting in the future. I just hate how it is relatively easy to boost your GPA if you play the game for law school

[Rupert Pupkin]

My biggest regret is not picking an easier major.

what did you choose?

I chose an easy one, and tbh some of the easy majors don't really qualify you for much after graduation lol. I chose one of those and I don't fully regret it bc psych is interesting and got me a good GPA but lesbihonest

I double majored in econ/political science with a minor in philosophy. I shoulda just done something like education which gives out more As and does not have grade deflation. Over those 4 years, I could have just studied for my LSAT.


Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ.

Econ can be extremely useful though.. In the long run youll have more opportunities with Econ & Law than if you just did Political Science (for example). If being successful was easy then everyone would be. And I think adcomms do notice harder majors and if anyone is accepted at or below 25%tile GPA it is people who are professional majors because they respect the value in those degrees. Econ is not a professional major, but at the same time I think it is a valuable one.

Don't get me wrong. I love economics. As I said before, I was planning on getting my PhD in econ. I have always been interested in economic policy and wanted to be an economist or an adviser for a politician. But I could have learned most of what I learned about economics in school on my own, without lowering my GPA.

I don't have much regret for my choice since I could still go to a good law school and maybe even still pursue something like economic consulting in the future. I just hate how it is relatively easy to boost your GPA if you play the game for law school

Yea- i definitely understand where you are coming from. I didn't play the game either and you are so right so it kinda sucks for us but thats okay/

[Amerision]

Feel pretty bad, took PT 41 today. Did well overall but I couldn't finish the LGs which hasn't happened in a long time. Oh well, back to drilling.