LSAT Coaching From A Guy Who Spent A Year Banging His Head Against the Wall
When I decided to go to law school I did what any good aspiring lawyer does -- I bought a METRIC TON of LSAT prep books.
After all, I was smart and a good student. I had studied on my own for the SAT and done quite well, thank you very much. So all I needed was a few evenings and weekends pouring over those bad boys and I’d be scoring in the mid 160’s, easy.
That’s… uhh… not how it worked.
My first practice test score was a 152, but despite the fact that I was putting in the hours, I kept bombing test after test.
The bad scores just kept piling up...literally (this was my bedroom floor):
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was wasting A LOT of time using flawed methodologies.
Deep down I knew I needed a new approach, and lots of people (mostly my mom) suggested I take a class or hire a tutor.
But I wasn’t convinced either of those approaches would work for me (sorry, Mom). I might not have been good at the LSAT but I was REALLY GOOD at coming up with excuses. Here were my biggest concerns:
* I’d already put in so much time, so I didn’t want to start from scratch
* I didn’t want to pay for a whole class just to get access to an instructor
So, instead of getting help from an expert who could've unlocked the secrets of the exam for me...here was my "genius" approach:
>>>> Take one disappointing practice test after another.
>>>> Read random blogs and forums.
>>>> Get jealous of people with scores higher than mine.
>>>> Repeat.
I stupidly burned through (aka "wasted") TONS of practice tests.
Now, here's what I SHOULD have done at that point:
1. Get over my self-defeating pride and doubts.
2. Find an expert who knew the ins and outs of the exam.
3. Ask for help identifying my weak areas and flawed methodologies.
4. Get a customized plan of attack for my future studying.
5. Apply expert suggestions to future practice tests.
SEE HOW MUCH BETTER THAT IS???!!!
I knew I was studying a lot, but I had no one to tell me if I was studying CORRECTLY. And there's nothing worse than wasting time on something that constantly makes you feel like an idiot.
The people who make the LSAT are evil geniuses when it comes to making smart people feel stupid.
It would have been AMAZING to have someone look at my approach and remind me I wasn't a complete moron...
even though I was getting LOTS of questions wrong.
Because it got to the point where I was starting to doubt myself. I even thought about giving up on my law school dreams altogether.
I knew there was SOMETHING I needed to change about the way I was studying but didn't know what it was.
So after a year of getting absolutely nowhere, I finally met with a tutor (let's call him "Leonard").
But here's the thing:
Leonard could only show me how HE did the problems. He couldn't possibly understand how or why ANOTHER human being could possibly have trouble with them. Just because someone knows something, like Leonard, doesn’t mean they can show others how to do it for themselves.
During one session, I asked how to diagram a Logic Game.
He did it for me, but along the way, he said things like:
"See? It's easy. You just do X, Y, and Z."
Then I tried, but wasn't able to draw the diagram on my own, because he didn’t teach me how to do anything myself; he showed me his way. He also deflated my confidence by acting like it was so easy. Yet here I sat, not getting it.
And EVEN after looking back at Leonard's, I couldn't make all the inferences he did.
My brain didn't work that way. That was the reason I tried to get help in the first place! I needed someone who not only knew the content, but could also show me how to do things for myself.
For a few minutes, he watched me struggle without saying a word, then he did the worst thing possible.
He let out the tiniest "sigh."
Two things happened at that moment:
1. My cheeks turned red and I felt like the DUMBEST person to ever consider going to law school.
2. I decided never to work with him again.
I wanted to say:
"Of course it's easy for YOU - you're the kinda guy parents send to nerd camp to read logic textbooks for fun."
If Leonard had ever truly shown someone HOW to do something, he would've known I needed him to patiently walk me through it. Break it down into digestible steps and check for understanding along the way. Even if that step-by-step approach meant taking BABY steps - because that's what I needed.
I needed someone willing to watch me screw up on a question over and over before I finally got it. And, patiently explain that question AS MANY TIMES AS I NEEDED.
Since then, I've worked with TONS of smart people who struggled the way I did, yet still ended up going to top law schools.
If nothing else, it's taught me one thing:
Getting the same question wrong over and over DOESN'T make you an idiot.
It just means you haven't found the right approach yet.
And that's what I can help you figure out.
I won't just show you different "perfect" ways to solve the questions.
The LSAT is great at making smart people feel stupid. For this reason, I'm not a tutor, I'm a coach. (Coaching has transformed my life and still does so today. I have a coach myself, and I believe in it because it works.)
The LSAT is great at making smart people feel stupid. For this reason, I'm not a tutor, I'm a coach. (Coaching has transformed my life and still does so today. I have a coach myself, and I believe in it because it works.)
Wouldn’t You Like To Get Professional Guidance From Someone Who ALREADY Knows What They're Doing?
I never imagined I'd end up a professional LSAT coach.
I can still remember (and feel the pain of) a time when the LSAT was A MAJOR ROADBLOCK standing in the way of my dream: to get into law school and become a successful attorney.
But here’s the one (and only) awesome thing about building my own system from scratch… It turned me into a really great teacher!
I started working as a private LSAT instructor for a few years. And figured out I love this stuff! Thankfully, my students seemed to really love me too. And best of all, the people I taught were doing REALLY WELL on the LSAT!
My journey to a 175 left me with entire notebooks of what I’d learned during my LSAT journey. Before long I had friends, acquaintances, and eventually complete strangers asking me to show them how I did it.
So I went all in as an LSAT coach 15 years ago. Creating the LSAT Blog and “LSAT Unplugged” to demystify the test for future lawyers everywhere.
I haven't looked back since.
And over more than a decade, I've helped thousands of students get into the law schools of their dreams, win large scholarships, and become successful attorneys.
I can help YOU too.
As we work together, I'll be your mentor, your guide, and your accountability partner.
I'll actually look at the techniques YOU'RE using - because my goal is to help you actually KNOW the test, instead of just parroting someone else's strategies.
So, after looking at your approach, I'll give you some ways you might improve it.
So, after looking at your approach, I'll give you some ways you might improve it.
We'll go through the pros and cons of different methods, and in the end, we'll usually end up adapting your method.
Why is this so important?
Because I've learned getting a top score requires what I like to call...
*** The LSAT Mindset ***
Some people are born with it, but most aren't.
Unless you're a genius like my "tutor" Leonard, your main challenge will probably be getting into the MINDS of the test-makers.
You might score 160-165 by blindly following someone else's strategies. But if you want to score into the high 160s, low 170s, and beyond...
You'll need to understand WHY the strategies work.
This can only happen when we use strategies YOU feel comfortable with.
If you have trouble with anything we cover, I don't mind going over it again and again with different examples.
When you later understand that very same idea, I will be cheering for you. (Yes, I have actually cheered during Zoom calls - my neighbors must think I'm crazy.)
For me, there's no feeling better than helping someone make a breakthrough on a topic that was previously difficult.
When you later understand that very same idea, I will be cheering for you. (Yes, I have actually cheered during Zoom calls - my neighbors must think I'm crazy.)
For me, there's no feeling better than helping someone make a breakthrough on a topic that was previously difficult.
Once we figure out what works for you, you'll be able to make those breakthroughs and increase your score.
Coaching is for you:
* if you feel like you need some one-on-one help but don't have time to start over with a whole new course of prep.
* if you already took the LSAT, but your score didn't reflect how you were doing on your practice exams.
* if you're motivated and willing to invest the time necessary to achieve a great result.
* if you're going over the answers and practicing as much as you can but somehow still missing too many problems.
* if you're unsure of how to improve or where to go from here, or if you're even studying correctly.
Improving your LSAT score isn't easy, but it's worth it.
Law schools charge tuition of $40,000-$50,000 / year or MORE.
The good news:
Even just a few more points on the LSAT can lead to:
-TONS of scholarship $$$
-getting into better law schools, leading to higher-paying jobs when you graduate
-graduating without any debt (how awesome would that be??!!)
"We have made offers from the waiting list due to the results of the June LSAT." - Jason Wu Trujillo, Senior Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Virginia School of Law
"I've received full-tuition scholarships from both Penn State Law and Northeastern Law." - Emily N., 148 to 161
"The best thing that came out of retaking the LSAT was that Chapman's scholarship offer increased from 40% to 100%." - Hilda A., 142 to 157 to 161
Coaching's an investment in your future.
If it helps you get even just a couple of points leading to a single scholarship, you'll have made back your investment many, many times over.
“Awesome! I’m in! What’s my investment in LSAT coaching?”
I only "got" the LSAT Mindset after obsessively studying every LSAT book I could find and every LSAT exam ever released.
I've now helped students increase their LSAT scores for over 10 years and written explanations for 1,000+ LSAT questions. I could charge a thousand bucks an hour and still get tons of students. But that's not how I work.
I've now helped students increase their LSAT scores for over 10 years and written explanations for 1,000+ LSAT questions. I could charge a thousand bucks an hour and still get tons of students. But that's not how I work.
When students began to approach me to ask if I could show them what I do, I knew I didn’t want to offer traditional LSAT tutoring. There are already hundreds of LSAT tutors out there.
Instead, I coach under the framework of complete immersion. My coaching is tailor-made and deeply personalized.
I've designed an apprenticeship for the rare student who is willing to go deeper than they've ever gone before in order to completely transform their mindset.
My personal philosophy is that when someone invests in my coaching for anything over $9,500…the average person should be able to increase their score 5-10 points after working with me the FIRST MONTH. And 10-15 points from their investment in 2-3 months.
So if I had a $9,500 LSAT coaching option, someone who takes it seriously and follows my advice during their LSAT studying should be able to go from 155 to the low 160s in their first month and to the high 160s or low 170s in 2-3 months.
AND THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!!
There is a minimum investment of $9,500 to work with me and students pay up to $75,000. But this opportunity will cost you more than just money. You must be ready to invest your time and energy. You must be ready to commit to this process and make it such a powerful force in your life that it will have a lasting impact into law school and beyond.
"I am excited to tell you that I got a 171! Thank you for the past three months. I feel like I can finally breathe now." -Judy Wang, 161 to 171 and admitted to Columbia Law School
Notice how much they improved their scores. Judy added 10 points, and Natalie added 15 points!
How much your score improves depends on a) the work you put in, and b) how much you apply yourself using my methods.
Is an extra 10-15 points on the LSAT worth thousands of dollars? Depending on your progress, it could be worth a lot more...
Disclaimer: I can’t guarantee your score will go up by 10-15 points.
Judy and Natalie are "good students." Some people will improve 15-20 points in a few months. Some will improve at a much slower rate.
How much your score improves depends on a) the work you put in, and b) how much you apply yourself using my methods.
However, I Am Confident That If You Study With Me, Your Score WILL Go Up
I stand by my coaching 100%.
And a lot of the other coaches on the market are a JOKE – no accountability, guidance, or structure…None of that truly personalized approach…
My goal is that the average “LSAT Unplugged” student ends up with a 5–10-point increase in the 1st month…
…And 10-15 points from their investment in 2-3 months…
…Which is a pretty SOLID improvement, if you ask me.
This is the insane commitment I want to live up to with my coaching.
Just email me to apply (help@lsatunplugged.com), and, if we both feel like it's a good fit, we'll explore the possibility of working together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are you different?
* LSAT tutors usually parrot what they learned from a particular company, or they're only able to work with a specific style. However, as a coach, my methodology is YOU. As we work together, I'll be your mentor, your guide, and your accountability partner. I'll look at the techniques YOU'RE using - because my goal is to help you deeply understand the test, instead of just copying someone else's strategies without knowing why they work.
(And, yes, I'm familiar with all the major techniques and can adapt to whichever system you're using. And, with your permission, I can also show you the techniques I've developed for each section.)
* Most tutors are "geniuses" who got top scores without much studying. It took a while before I was willing to admit this, but I actually started in the low 150s. I was only able to improve to 175 after studying every LSAT book I could find and every LSAT question ever released. I know what it's like to find the LSAT confusing because I've been there.
* I've written explanations for over 1,000 LSAT questions. This process allowed me to make connections between question-types and see the deeper patterns I was previously missing.
* I release 98% of my information for free. You can get my strategies for virtually every aspect of LSAT preparation, then decide if you'd like to work with me.
* Most tutors work temporarily before or during law school to make extra money. I've coached the LSAT full-time for over 10 years because I actually love it.
Where and how do we meet?
99% of students work with me via Zoom. We can also meet via phone, Skype, Google Meet, FaceTime, etc. You'll be able to see exactly how I diagram Logic Games on your computer, live.
Some have asked if online coaching is as effective as in-person. I’ve found it to be just as effective (if not more so). Also, with online coaching, there's no chance of showing up late or stressed due to the commute, and you can get help from the best coaches.
Do I have access to you between sessions?
Yes, you can always reach out to me. In fact, I'll ask that you send me a weekly report so I can keep posted on your progress and adjust accordingly.
Do I have to make a commitment in order to work with you?
I only work with highly-motivated students looking to make a powerful impact - a total mindset makeover. The kind of change that will transform their lives - creating a ripple effect into law school and beyond.
If you're not willing to make a significant investment in yourself, how can you truly improve and achieve your goals?
My coaching is not for everyone. It requires dedication and discipline.
My students and I work together intensively, and their lives transform.
I work by invitation and referral only. There is a minimum investment of $9,500 and students pay up to $75,000. But this opportunity will cost you more than just money. You must be ready to invest your time and energy. You must be ready to commit to this process and make it such a powerful force in your life that it will have a lasting impact into law school and beyond.
I know I need help, but I can’t afford it right now.
I understand, but if you don’t invest in yourself, who will? How long do you want to delay the results you want to see in your LSAT prep? Investing in your future takes courage and only you know when you’re ready to take that leap of faith and start improving your score.
(If it just isn't possible for you, keep in mind I also offer more affordable LSAT courses that include live online LSAT classes. I've also taken on an apprentice coach who scored a 174. Contact me if interested.)
I’d like to request a powerful conversation with you.
Great! I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me - I typically respond within 24 hours.
What happens next?
We'll schedule a time to learn more about your needs and how I can help you. Before our conversation, I'll send you a few questions I ask you to answer before we speak. This will help us make the most of our time together.
We’ll talk about where you are, where you’d like to be, and how I can help you get there. We’ll go through the options and determine which one best suits your needs. Then, if we decide to move forward together, we'll craft a personalized action plan for your LSAT prep!
I adhere to the Statements of Principles of Good Practice of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) and Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
***
Email me to request a powerful conversation: help@lsatunplugged.com
“I just wanted to let you know that I received my October test results, and I got a 170!!! I'm very happy and relieved. Again, thank you for all of your help- it was a huge gift to have your support and guidance while studying for the LSAT!” – Allison P., mid-150s to 170
P.S. If you're not sure whether coaching is for you, keep in mind that you can start with one of my LSAT course packages, or use my free resources, and then, assuming you like my style, reach out. When you're ready, we'll talk.
And your life will transform.
Sincerely,
Steve J. Schwartz
***
Check out this video for feedback from REAL STUDENTS:
