Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with lsat

How can I stop freaking out over timed LSAT games?

AAAAAThatsFiveAs — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:49:41 -0800

The LSAT is next week and my games section is abysmal. I know it's a psychological thing. What do you recommend? Hello Hive,

I've been doing self-study since the beginning of October with the PowerScore books and scads of real LSATs. My diagnostic was pretty middling (low 150's), though I've inched my way up to the mid 160's.

Games... There's just something about the timer running in the background that causes me to panic. But when I review the games afterward, I have *substantially* less difficulty and everything seems to click. To give you a typical example, I only managed to complete 1.5 games on the last timed practice exam. Reviewing them a few hours later, they seemed jaw-droppingly simple, and I solved them all within thirty minutes. Untimed games are usually a breezy affair, though the occasional bastardly one crops up.

Has anyone had this problem? If so, how did you conquer it? Should I focus exclusively on untimed games? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Help me become a good LSAT tutor.

paradoxflow — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:58:41 -0800

I recently applied for a position as a pro-bono LSAT tutor, unfortunately I wrote my LSAT three years ago and I have no tutoring experience. Help? About the only thing I have going for me is that I scored in the 97th percentile. Honestly, I remember very little of the test, most of it just came naturally to me, and the strategies that I applied to the analytical reasoning section are long forgotten.

How can I prepare so that I can help this person as much as possible, besides once again familiarizing myself with the test? What advice do you have for helping someone do better on the LSAT, with a focus on increasing overall speed, and strategies for the analytical reasoning section? What about being effective as a tutor in general?

I have access to limited resources, so I'd appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction in that regard as well.

Thanks.

Applying to Law School - timeline?

hepta — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:15:17 -0800

What can I do now to help prepare myself for writing the LSATs and applying to law school in 1-2 years? I am planning on taking the LSATs in the somewhat-near future and I was looking for things that I can do NOW to help give me my best shot at the test, and then at getting into law school itself.

I am in my third year of a four year degree at a small Canadian university. I will potentially take an extra year to take some more interesting courses, or I might get a one-year Masters degree immediately after I graduate. Either way, I will graduate with a Joint Honours degree in Canadian Studies and Politics. I am strongly considering applying to law school, and thus will need to write the LSATs. My plan is to write the test the summer after I finish with school (at this point that is looking like 2012), apply that fall, and attend school starting fall 2013. This gives me a while to prepare for the LSAT and the law school admissions process.

Here are some more potentially relevant facts:

I want to attend a Canadian law school (UVic, UofT, Dalhousie, Osgoode Hall, Queen's, etc)
I have maintained an 80+ average throughout school thus far and foresee that continuing into the future.
I play a varsity sport, volunteer a bit in my school community, have had the same full-time summer job for the past three years.
I am interested in pursuing public interest law. Working for a legal aid clinic or public interest advocacy group interests me a lot.

At this point I am less concerned about preparing *specifically* for the LSAT so much as developing the skills that will serve me well on the test in general: logic, reading comprehension, etc. What activities can I do that will help me do better at logic puzzles (never really been my strong suit)? What resources are available for Canadian students considering the LSAT/law school? What can I do while still in my undergrad to make myself the most attractive law school candidate I can be? Extracurriculars? What kind? Thanks, and let me know if you need any more details.

PS - I have checked the archives but nothing seems to be looking at this particular timeframe. Please tell me if I missed something relevant. It's my first question, I'm nervous!

What do I do now (with regard to law school applications)?

Sakura3210 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:50:21 -0800

What do I do now (with regard to law school applications)? So, I retook the LSAT in hopes of improving on my original score (166). I scored exactly the same. Now I'm not sure what to do-should retake it a third time? Just submit my applications early (end of this month) and hope for the best? I have to say, I don't really feel up to retaking right now, though that could be due to how cruddy I feel about my score. I'm trying to get into HYS, so below a 170 isn't really acceptable.

Other stats: 3.8-ish GPA, URM (under represented minority), and good softs (nonprofit work, good letters of recommendation, etc.).

They think I cheated on the LSAT!

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:28:09 -0800

I got a Misconduct/Irregularities Verbal Warning Notice during my LSATs. Please help! I took the LSATs for the second time on Saturday (the first time I took them I got a 168; I'm pretty sure I did significantly better this time. 172-174 range, probably). After I completed the fifth section of the test (and sat still for five hours!), they told us to turn our answer sheets over and sign the Certifying Statement if we had not already done so. I was daydreaming, and doodling on the table and failed to turn over my answer sheet. Apparently a proctor saw my pencil going and my answer sheet facing front up and assumed I was trying to work past time. They gave me a Misconduct/Irregularities Verbal Warning (violation III - working beyond time limits), despite my efforts to show them the doodles I had made on the desk.

I have read all of the literature about it, saying that my case will likely be recommended to the Subcommittee to evaluate. I am preparing a written statement explaining the situation (and the fact that I wasn't cheating and am just ADD and a daydreamer), but there seems to be a strong chance that the incident will show up on my permanent record, go out to all the law schools I'm applying to, and even affect the way my first score is received. Is that a realistic assumption?

What should I do? Has this happened to anyone else? What are the chances that this is going to completely ruin my chances of getting into a good school? I've been aiming for the top 10 law schools in the country, if that's important. What would you do?

the games section is the bane of my existence

SkylitDrawl — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:28:56 -0800

I am self-studying for the September LSAT (I cannot afford a prep course). I am currently scoring in the low 170s on practice tests. I would like to score just a few points higher (175, maybe? please?). Perhaps predictably, my real problem is the Analytical Reasoning section. I am using a couple of Kaplan LSAT guides (2007 and 2008) to prepare. I have been preparing on-and-off for the last sixth months, and have really ramped up the preparation in the last two months or so (I spend at least 2-3 hours a day with my Kaplan books). Been scoring in the low 170s consistently on practice tests the whole time. A 170-173 is fine with me, but of course, I would always like my score to be as high as I can possibly make it. The Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections are actually really enjoyable for me at this point, but the logic games? Right now, I'm lousy at them and am getting really frustrated.

So, for those of you who are familiar with the LSAT, what resources did you use to prepare specifically for the Analytical Reasoning section? Big points if you can provide links, but any help or general advice concerning your study strategies for this section and the LSAT in general at all would be great.

Where to find MCAT and LSAT teachers?

Kattiara17 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:58:30 -0800

I'm trying to find communities/forums/social networks that would focus on MCAT and LSAT. The end goal is to find qualified teachers for these subjects (not help on taking the actual exams).. any ideas? My company provides prep classes and tutoring for students. One of the hardest parts is finding qualified instructors to teach these sessions. A teacher has to have a certain score in their subject test/area to qualify for our training (and subsequent certification) before they're able to actually get in front of students (for example, LSAT teachers must have scored at least a 172 before we accept them for training, etc.).

While it's not too hard to find good teacher applicants for the more general exams (SAT, GRE, etc.), what's consistantly a challenge is finding good LSAT and MCAT candidates -- even more specifically, MCAT Physics and Chem/Org Chem.

Are there any online communities or forums that might be good places to try reaching out to? I feel like with social networks for everything from knitting to wine, maybe I'm just not looking in the right places. Thanks for any suggestions!

Will I get into a top-tier law school?

jbh26 — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:09:29 -0800

I am a Biomedical Engineering major at Duke University with a low GPA (3.1) but have yet to take the LSAT. I am interested in IP law and was wondering what law schools I could get into based on different LSAT scores that I might get. Also, I was charged with a minor in possession of alcohol that was taken off my record without conviction. How much will this affect my admission potential?

Do I need an honours degree?

smitt — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:15:44 -0800

(Canadian) Law School Question: Will a bachelors degree with a high GPA qualify me for most law schools, or do I need to pursue an honours bachelors degree? I'm considering applying for law school when I complete my degree (still a few years off). I'm working full time in finance and finishing my bachelors degree in English part time.

Will strong grades and a bachelors degree qualify me for most law schools if I also achieve a strong LSAT score?

Or do I really need to go after an Honours degree along with a strong LSAT score to get into law schools in Canada?

I don't doubt that an honours degree would help matters, but it's a significant investment of time and money.

Suggestions for Improving Abstract Thought

leybman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:15:49 -0800

I have just realized that I am appallingly bad at abstract thought. Anytime I need to solve a problem that requires higher-level abstract thinking, I am unable to do so. So, for example, if I see an argument spelled out in symbols, I have to translate those symbols into real-world terms for me to understand them. What can I do to gradually improve my ability to handle abstract thoughts and ideas in my brain. I have been studying for LSATS and I find myself doing especially badly on a lot of the abstract sections on it. I am a very good student and very bright. However, looking back on my life, my difficulties in mathematics foreshadowed a lot other academic problems in the future. The only way I could do biology (and I was very good at it) was through visualizing everything that occured as though the body was a rube goldberg machine where x causes y and y causes z so on...well now I feel I have an underdeveloped higher abstract learning ability.

What exercises could I set aside for myself that would help me with understanding highly abstract ideas. Has anyone written about this issue before? Is there a self-help book out there helping to improve higher abstract abilities in people.

Am I in an untenable situation?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:56:22 -0800

Please assist me with my LSAT prep anxiety... The test is on October 4th. I'm consistently scoring 158 on practice lsats. I haven't done much prep work aside from taking the tests, though I have the powerscore logic games bible, a book of ten past tests, and the LSAC's ultimate prep dealio which has three tests with explanations; right now, I'm (very, very) worried that I'll never break 170, and that my score indicates I maybe shouldn't even apply to law school due to mental deficiency. Most of the questions I miss are in the analytical reasoning section (logic games) which I haven't developed a method for handling yet. Can I improve by 15 or more points on the calculated score (not the raw score) within a month if I study well and constantly?

Should I retake the LSAT?

doppleradar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:42:41 -0800

Should I retake the LSAT? What's the worst that could happen? Took the LSAT yesterday and don't think I did well. I was practice testing at 170+ and really think I have the "answering-the-questions" part of the test down, but didn't perform 100% on the "test-taking" aspects like time mgmt/test flow/etc. for a variety of reasons (2 hrs sleep, noisy/distracting test site being the two main ones). I can't say for sure I completely bombed it, but it definitely didn't "feel" like a 169+ test. More like below 165.

It seems that recently a lot of schools have switched from averaging multiple LSAT scores to "considering all scores but using the highest." Is this a gimme to take it over no harm no foul or am I missing something? Do I need to cancel my current score if I want to retake or can I let it ride out of morbid curiosity? I guess this is a somewhat recent change on the schools parts so I'm getting a lot of contradictory information.

Oh, and bonus points for where to report test center complaints. I can't seem to find it on the LSAC website.

Thanks.

necessary and sufficient

streetdreams — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:22:04 -0800

Taking the LSAT tomorrow. Any last-minute advice? I've studied like crazy, but I'm beginning to freak out.

What to do in Newark before the LSAT?

billtron — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:54:06 -0800

NewarkFilter: My friend is taking the LSAT at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ, on June 16. She's coming from Brooklyn and the test starts at 12:30pm. What's the best and least stressful way to get there, and where can she hang out for a few hours before the test, since she's going extra early in case there's a transportation delay?

Are the numbers enough?

paradoxflow — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:10:17 -0800

Help me realistically assess/improve my (Canadian) law school prospects. First, the basics: I graduated from a Canadian university with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2007, finishing with a 3.5 GPA. I wrote the LSAT in the summer of 2006 and scored a 169, which placed me in the 97th percentile. I don't really have any extra-curricular or volunteer work to speak of, most of my education related off-time was dedicated to fiction/poetry writing. I remain (mostly) unpublished, more due to my own laziness in researching and sending out finished material rather than a lack of ability, but I did get a creative writing concentration for whatever that might be worth (not much, I'm guessing). I could also obtain a few glowing letters of recommendation from professors if that would be a factor, though I would feel weird asking for them so long after having been in their classes.

I had planned to apply to law school in 2007, but didn't for what I'm now realizing is quite a stupid reason. Having found some sample personal statements online, I was pretty intimidated by the range of clubs, volunteer work, and general resume padding experience people were writing about. I felt like I had nothing of that caliber to write of in my personal statement, nothing really to distinguish me from the crowd of other people applying to law schools other than my writing, which as I mentioned, remains mostly unproven. That and I wasn't sure whether I really wanted to do law, or whether I had just been telling people that is what I wanted to do so long that I had convinced myself. I'm resolved now though.

So now I am 24, and will be turning 25 in less than a month. I have spent the last year working at a bakery/coffee shop, saving money, and if I'm being honest, generally slacking off having graduated. My intention is send out law school applications in September/October so that I can start attending law school fall 2009, when I will be 26. I only mention my age incase it might be a factor in assessing my application.

My first question is this: what are the best Canadian law schools that I would be likely to be granted admission to based on my gpa/lsat/lack-of-much-else? I'm becoming more and more aware how important the rank/prestige of the law school I'll be attending will be for finding a job afterward, and I want to get into the best school possible. American law school suggestions would be appreciated too, provided there is a reason I should consider them over a Canadian equivalent. I plan on practicing in Canada once I'm done, though mostly out of convenience, and I have a vague inclination towards intellectual property law in particular.

Second: How concerned should I be about my lack of extra-curriculars, and how should I be thinking about my personal statement? Is there anything I can do between now and when I send out my applications to improve my prospects?

...because no one is going to pay me to study. Temp or part-time?

doppleradar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:07:18 -0800

Temp work 101: Is temp work just a part-time job on my own terms? Graduated. Moved to Boston. Taking the LSAT in June.

I decided that a full-time job could too easily turn my life into work/commute and not leave me with the time I need to study (or the time I want to enjoy the city before law school). I have the savings to only work part-time until July and don't know what advantages (if any) doing temp work has over a part-time job with the same duties.

My questions for current/previous temps are:
1. How much control do you have over your schedule?
2. Is the pay predictable (frequency and amount)?
3. How accomodating are temp agencies placement-wise to those reliant on public transit?
4. If I have good employment history in a specific field will a period of temp work adversely affect future job prospects?
5. Any health insurance/benefits typically provided?

Is it random?

bluejayk — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:05:15 -0800

Do standardized tests (SAT, GRE, LSAT, etc.) use randomly sorted answer choices? I don't know how to go about getting a straight answer from the makers of these tests.

When writing a question, the writers must write 4 incorrect and 1 correct answer. How is the order they are placed determined?

I had kinda assumed that on harder tests (GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT) that the answers were at least sometimes arranged in a non-random (test-writer chosen) method. But in a discussion I've been having, everyone else thinks that's crazy.

If the answer order is chosen by people, in order to sometimes make the answers more difficult to choose (example: putting a superficially attractive incorrect answer before the correct choice), that makes it non-random, even if each answer letter comprises 20% of the answer choices. Right?

However, I don't really know if they do that, or if I just notice when they do, and discount it when they don't.

Anyplace I can find hard evidence?

Can I get into law school?

tylerfulltilt — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:28:54 -0800

What are my chances of getting in to law school? I've decided that I want to get into law school. The only real option for me in this regard, since I'm married with a child on the way, is the only law school within a 40 minute drive. http://www.law.louisville.edu/ The Louis D. Brandeis school of law at UofL. Their Admissions page is a little vague concerning the averages of incoming freshman.

My current cumulative G.P.A. is 2.2. However, I had a few bad years when I first started. Since I decided to come back to school and get serious about grades, I've managed all As and Bs and my semester gpa for the past three semesters has been 3.4-3.6. I've heard that being able to demonstrate a turn around in Academic success can overrule a bad GPA

I've taken a few practice Lsats and scored in the 155-160 range. With more study and practice I think I could get to 165 by the time I take the actual LSAT in december.

I have lots of charity/volunteer/community work.

I could get recommendations from my county prosecutor and circuit court judge, as well as several professors.

I'll graduate this coming may with a bachelor's in English with a concentration in writing.

So what are my odds? I understand that this would vary by school, so just give me your general impressions. Although, if you have experience with the UofL law school, that insight would be most welcome as well.

Should I take an LSAT class if I got a 161 my first try?

names are hard — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:38:36 -0800

Should I take an LSAT weekend review course if I got a 161 when I took a practice test? I've read the other posts on this site with interest as to which course I should take and which books I should buy. I'd definitely do Test Masters and pick up a bunch of practice tests, but is it good to start or finish with a weekend review course. I'm wondering this a lot because I'm not sure whether to buy a bunch of practice tests if I'd get these in a course packet.

On the other hand, I could just buy all the materials, start studying and see how it goes. But does a higher initial scorer such as myself really benefit from a review class?

TestWell in Manhattan for LSAT prep?

buriedpaul — Mon, 14 May 2007 13:19:56 -0800

LSAT Prep Test Question: Does anyone have an opinion about TestWell's Manhattan classes? I've been preparing for the June 11th LSAT through Kaplan, but I'm thinking about taking the October test instead. (My scores have gone up 10+ points, but I'm still lousy at the logic games and test day's only a few weeks away.) I'm thinking about signing up for a TestWell class, but it starts tomorrow night so I have to make the decision right away.

LSAT questions

milinar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:08:41 -0800

I'm taking the LSAT in feb but was planning on canceling my score no matter what. I feel I will be more ready for the June exam, but have already registered for Feb. Is there any negative repercussions for canceling? Do schools view it poorly? Can I take the test back to back (Feb and June)?

Should I retake the LSAT?

Doug — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:22:38 -0800

Should I retake the LSAT on Saturday? I took the LSAT in September, and got a respectable score: 166. However, I scored much higher on practice tests (averaged 173). I know it's common to score lower on the actual test, given the real testing environment and conditions, but... My GPA is approximately 3.7*, which is ok. However, my BA is from a fairly undistinguished (crappy) school, John Jay College, and in, perhaps, the least desirable major for law schools: Criminal Justice.

My ultimate goal is to go to a good school, such as Fordham. I'd settle for a school like Brooklyn Law. Going by the numbers alone I have a good shot at this, but I feel as if my undergrad college and major are seriously working against me. I don't have a particularly stellar work experience either.

So the question: Is it worth it for me to retake the LSAT, with the chance of getting a LOWER score (I'm not as practiced as I was in September, after all), or is it worth it to take my chances and wait to hear from my desired schools? Is doing well and transferring to a better school a viable option?

*My GPA from John Jay College is roughly 4.0, but I really messed up at a community college in 1999 and 2000.

Peace Corps?

wandering steve — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:55:28 -0800

Peace Corps - leave in Jan or leave in spring/summer? So, I've been accepted into the Peace Corps. That's pretty awesome, as it's something I've wanted to do for a long time (I've been overseas quite a bit). But.

Through my entire application process, I've been told "you'll be leaving this spring" - so I made plans around that. Specifically, a rent and plans to take the LSAT in Feb. The Peace Corps called me up today, saying that after looking at my app, they want me to leave in Jan. This would be to someplace - they won't say where - in Asia (yeah, big place), to start a new program teaching English.

It's a 27-month assignment, so I'd get back in April. This obviously isn't enough time to take the June LSAT and still get into a law school the next August.

So - should I go now, or should I politely decline? I'm pretty dang jazzed about setting up a new program, and am leaning strongly toward that, but I'm also remember that I got my arse kicked trying to learn Chinese (although I picked up rather fluent Hungarian in under 6 months). Should I go now and plan on working/applying to law schools for a year after I get back, or go in spring after I've taken the LSAT and gotten going on applying to law schools?

Quick tips for Reading Comprehension sections in LSATs?

stratastar — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:54:28 -0800

LSAT Filter: I'm taking the test next Sat and I could use any pointers or tips about reading comprehension... So I've been prepping for this Dec. 2nd LSAT and I'm quite pleased with how I am doing on the Logic games and Logical reasoning parts (3/4ths of the test). I average out around the same percentage right on both of these sections (so I'm doing consistently where I want to) and it projects out to the score that I would be elated to have.

However, I have been struggling with the reading comprehension section. Going through the 4 passages (26-8 questions) in the time allowed has been tricky for me. I feel especially rushed in the last reading if I take my time and analyze more prudently in the earlier passages.

On the average I take 3.5-4 minutes to read the passage out of the average 8.5 minutes per split (not just speed reading, but trying to absorb the content so I don't have to rehash so much as I am going through the passage) and thus I feel rushed going through the 5-7 questions involved.

I am trying to reduce my mistakes on the whole section by 3-4 problems (I have been struggling on it). Any tips for the RC? Any suggestions for absorbing/tackling the section?

I know its short notice (taking the test in 6 days) but anything small that might be able to help me shave off a mistake or two would do wonders for me

Many thanks

Books going into law school

four panels — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:53:49 -0800

I'd like to take the LSAT and apply to law school. What books should I read? I've ordered One L and Pure Theory of Law from Powells. What else should I order? I have the Logic Games Bible and a couple of the Actual LSAT tests. I'm going underground for the next few months, and hopefully will emerge from the subterra in law school.