LSAT Blog reader Jessica has written a series of LSAT Diaries chronicling her experience in the countdown to the June 2011 LSAT.
This is the 2nd of a 3-part series containing her story.
Enjoy, and if you want to be in LSAT Diaries, please email me at LSATUnplugged@gmail.com. (You can be in LSAT Diaries whether you've taken the exam already or not.)
Jessica's LSAT Diaries, Part 2:
T-Minus 6 Days & Counting
LSAT Blog saved me from Craigslist tutor-murder.
I am so close to the score I want. So...very...close. My first prep test in August was a 139. I promptly deemed myself metal handicapped and bought $100 worth of LSAT prep books. The first prep book I read dedicated the entirety of its opening chapter as a pep talk to the reader for having to buy the book. Thanks.
My prep test scores quickly improved 20 points as I became more familiar with the questions. I got this! But then came the plateau. I decided to get a tutor, except I'm poor. Full-time job at a non-profit, full-time student, 6 year old who participates in every activity under the sun, etc. - basically, I'm lacking for luxury tutor funds. So I start to look around online.
The first guy I contacted about tutoring might as well have included in his ad "bring your own duct tape and plastic sheeting." No thanks dude, I will not be paying $25/hr to be hacked into bits. Then a "I can only tutor you if you accept collect calls." Swell, I'm going to fail the LSAT because I'm cheap and have a strong survival instinct.
Right about the time I was contemplating selling out my will to live, I found the LSAT Blog. I bought the 4-month LSAT study schedule and the rest is history. I've gone from 159 to 168. I want a 170. So...very...close.
Now my problems are all mental. I'm not too worried about it; I'm a great test-taker, though the stress in the meantime may drive me up a clock tower. I'm frantically searching for zen about the test. Maybe I'll try screaming the Serenity Prayer...
T-Minus: 5 Days and Counting
It takes a village to pass the LSAT. My coworkers are an excellent example of this and I would like to thank them. And freak them out because me being selflessly appreciative isn't exactly my style but they love me anyway; hence the thanks.
When I wanted to make a "word wall" for all of the indicator words in the logic section, my coworkers generously donated all their different color Post-Its. When I couldn't solve an analytical reasoning question, I'd copy it from the book and tape it to my office door. They would try to solve it and then explain how they worked it out or deem it "f*cking impossible" like I had and we would all feel nice about it.
Whenever I was taking prep tests at work (during breaks and lunch of course), I'd total my section scores about 3:00. Depending on the result, I'd either be walking on sunshine or stomping around, grumbling nonsense about letters, principles and diagramming. My coworkers quickly learned to keep candy around in case my score was low. Here, Jessica, eat some M&M's, it'll help.
It does kind of help. Thanks guys.
They've had to endure my bizarre new vocabulary, sometimes erroneous accusations of flaws in their reasoning and my near-manic fits. They too have become invested in my score. It's like we're all taking it together. I feel an enormous amount of pressure about that but I'm glad to have the support. Today is my last day in the office before I take the test and it's a little bittersweet. They've done all they can. Fly baby bird, fly.
Enjoy the peace and quite office mates!
T-Minus 4 Days and Counting
So I have ADHD. Like the real kind. Not the one people make up when they don’t want to mind their manners or that lazy parents have their kids diagnosed to circumvent spending quality time. The real, medication everyday or it’s a mental cluster f*ck.
Typically, I don’t even mention it because people don’t seem to believe me. No one really thinks of an adult as having ADHD and since I’m not bouncing off the walls like a nut the label doesn’t always seem fitting. But it’s all carefully controlled chaos. I’m not ashamed of having ADHD but I am ashamed when it bests me.
Having ADHD may be a reason to do poorly on the LSAT but it will not be an excuse. It is tough to reign in to study. And sadly, the internet is sorely lacking on ADHD tips for LSAT. I did pick up an ADHD “lifestyle” magazine at the bookstore the other day but it was an insulting 15 pages. Useless! I wasted my stereotypically meager attention span on an overgrown brochure about the importance of To Do lists.
That being said, the one and only item on my list for today is: STUDY
T-Minus 3 Days and Counting
AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
T-Minus 2 Days and Counting
My practice test scores are all over the map. And off the side of the map. And eaten by sea monsters.
How many times have you said "I hate this test" today? I've said it about 6; once this morning to a stranger at the makeup counter at the mall. I can't wait for this madness to be over. Or at least have a break before repeating it in October.
I know - don't think like I'm going to take it more than once. Whatever. I've practiced. I've familiarized. I hate this test (7th). I made a deal with myself that I would take a break for 2 days, do nothing LSAT and be rested and rejuvenated for Monday. Then I scored a 153 on a prep test. A whole 10 points lower than my last one. It takes me too long to make the charts in Analytical Reasoning...
So I decided to practice that. Then I made the most surprising discovery...I don't know how to read. I know! Apparently I've made it all this way in life without really knowing how to read. The constraint will say "S is 4th" and I'll write down "S = 7th."
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???
I really wish I hadn't gone illiterate 3 days before the test! In looking back over my wrong answers it's all because I read something wrong. I blame Reading Rainbow. Yeah, it's come to that. How in the world am I going to teach myself how to read back up to a college-level in 3 days?!
I hate this test (8th).
T-Minus OMG Tomorrow!
How is it possible that I don't have a grown-up pencil sharpener? Or that the 3 stores I went to yesterday are completely sold out of them? Seriously, all I have are 5 Hannah Montana pencils (admittedly, No. 2) and a pink dinosaur pencil sharpener. And my daughter says I can't borrow them because she doesn't think I'm responsible enough. Go to your room. Mommy is stressed!
What kind of snack should I bring? Which food is a brain food? I don't want to screw up and bring something rich in antioxidants. I'll worry about lowering my cancer risks on June 7th.
I spent entirely too long picking out my admission ticket picture and wondering what brought about that lengthy "no firearms or weapons" section of the test packet. Man all of my Facebook photos are really inappropriate. Should I wear my glasses or contacts? Jeans or sweatpants? Handgun or sword?
Kidding, according to pg. 2, weaponry must remain in the car with your cellphone. Thank goodness for that checklist.
I can't wait to see how you scored. And about the scores being all over the map, it seems like this is the usual thing for a lot of people. It was actually the reason I decided to postpone till October. I was averaging 160 and then I got a bit freaked out when I hit a 156 four days before the test because of a typical error of rushing. I thought nope I am going to wait and kick the score even higher. So far so good.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you did your average and if not well do it again in October!
Best of Luck!
I find that the people who have high scores (160 to 170) complain the most. MUST BE NICE! be grateful for your score as some of us can't break into the 150s.
ReplyDeletestill good luck