LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

LSAT Reading Comprehension: Staying Engaged

For staying engaged in LSAT Reading Comprehension, I like to caricature the viewpoints to be more extreme than they actually are - in other words, sensationalizing them. I also like to read from the author's perspective - why did they lay out the passage the way they did?

I read for the flow of the presentation of information - how they go about explaining the topic, why they included a particular piece of information where they did, etc. I'm critiquing their writing from an analytical perspective. Most of this is done untimed while studying/reviewing, but it can help to increase your understanding when you do other passages timed later.

LSAT Logical Reasoning: Speeding Up

On speeding up at LSAT Logical Reasoning - in part, you get faster by deepening your understanding, which comes from continued LSAT prep practice and detailed review of all LSAT questions that give you trouble.

However, pacing is an element as well - having the mindfulness to let go of a question where things aren't clicking, and continuing to move forward. If you want a 165+ LSAT score, I'd aim to complete the first 10 LSAT Logical Reasoning questions in 10-12 minutes at most. You don't want to invest time increasing your confidence level on an easy question from 75% to 99% at the expense of getting to 5 questions later in the section.

Trust that you'll get the easy questions right anyway, and save that time for questions you're not even getting to later in the section. By being less of a perfectionist, you can actually increase your LSAT score by getting to more questions and spending more time on the ones that need it.

Improving LSAT Reading Comp Strategy

I don't know exactly how you approach LSAT Reading Comp right now, but there are lots of ways to improve your LSAT reading Comp strategy.

Some quick thoughts:

Minimal note-taking

2:30-3 minutes on initial passage read

Order of approach:

1st: Main idea/primary purpose/general Qs

2nd: Detail questions

3rd: Inference questions

Process of elimination - here more than any other section, instead of prephrasing, look for the ones that don't work and eliminate them one-by-one. You may not love the correct answer, but it's "the best of the worst."

Recent LSAT Trends

The biggest and most obvious trends would be in LSAT Logic Games - Weird/Curveball Logic Games, as well as LSAT Rule Substitution / Equivalency questions.

There have been curveball games in the past that don't fit the mold of classic game types, but they've become increasingly frequent. And rule substitution questions started with LSAT PrepTest 57 and have appeared consistently since then.

I think the exam as a whole has gotten more difficult in recent years likely due to increased/better prepping. What this means for you is that you should make sure you especially focus on the recent exams (LSAT PrepTests in the 70s and 80s).

If you only do exams from the 30s and 40s, you'll likely get inflated/unrealistic scores. (You can see that the raw score conversions are different on the older exams as well.)

Applicants with 170+ LSAT Scores Increase - Why?

Could be due to an increase in permitted LSAT retakes.

However, I do think a recent increased stealth factor might be more applicants getting LSAT test accommodations - getting 50% extra or double-time, etc. could lead to significantly increased scores.

I also think there are probably more 170+ applicants since the legal market (and news about it) has somewhat improved in the past few years.

I don't think the LSAT has gotten easier. If anything, I think it's gotten harder in the past few years (probably due to increased/better prepping).

170+ LSAT Score: What Separates Top Scorers from the Rest

What does it take to achieve an LSAT score in the 170s?

A couple of things:

Working not only to consistently apply LSAT prep strategies, but to understand why the strategies work. I consider this equivalent to reading the beginning of a chapter in a math textbook where they explain how the formula is derived in the first place.
For LSAT Reading Comp, consistently find the exact lines supporting a given answer choice in the passage. The answer is always in the passage - inference questions don't actually give you a license to go beyond the text.
Seeing the exam more from the LSAT test-makers' perspective. Patterns in tempting wrong answers and discouraging correct answers.

(For more on the test-makers' perspective, check out this book of interviews I did with a former LSAT question-writer.)

One more thing - at this point, you should have a strong foundation, so it's time to work on pacing and endurance. You also want to be ruthless in skipping tough questions to come back to at the end of a section. Avoid getting bogged-down in any one question. At this point, it's probably more mental than anything else.

LSAC removing LSAT Logic Games? Binno Lawsuit Plaintiff's Attorney Jason Turkish

It looks like things are a bit more ambiguous than the plaintiff's attorney indicated.

Since I spoke with the attorney, LSAC released a statement indicating they are simply planning further research and development, but are not committing themselves to actually removing the section.

The plaintiff's attorney publicly asked them to clarify, and that's the last we've heard.

The language in the joint press release is extremely open-ended. The settlement language is likely more specific, but since it's confidential, this press release is all we have to go on.

I taught a class where I analyze the various statements in more depth here ----->

***

When speaking with the plaintiff's attorney, re: "enabled," he referred back to the settlement agreement and said it’s unambiguous that LSAC must make available a test for all without Logic Games.

The idea of enabling it, i.e. making it available for all (not requiring it for all) is derived from the fact that the lawsuit is about giving Binno equal opportunity to take an exam that does not discriminate due to disability, i.e. he must be allowed to take an exam without Logic Games.

Plaintiff's attorney was never directly concerned with fundamentally changing the exam for everyone - that was a side effect of the settlement. Rather, he's concerned with LSAC providing an equal playing field for Binno and others - that seems to be why he used the word "enabled" specifically.

I guess the question now is how LSAC acts moving forward - whether they act in accordance with the plaintiff's attorney's interpretation of the settlement agreement.

He did say outright that according to the settlement, LSAC must make available a test for all law school applicants within 4 years (by October 2023) that does not have the current Logic Games section.

I directly asked him about that also - could LSAC spend the next 4 years researching, then change the exam at some undefined point after that?

He said they must actually offer a new test without the current Logic Games section within 4 years, not just research potential changes during that time.

Again, we'd have to refer back to the settlement for clarification, but we don't have access to it.

The press release is frustratingly ambiguous! And there's no question that the attorney's comments differ substantially from the press release with regard to exactly must happen within the next 4 years (research vs. actual changes within that timeframe).

What confuses things further is that LSAC's emailed statement also differs from the joint statement; it only discusses research and does not reference any commitment or obligation to change the exam content at all:

"Should there be any significant changes to format...."

It seems to me that LSAC's statement is more open-ended and less committed than the joint statement (could just be spin/fluff), while the attorney's seems to indicate that LSAC is more committed with regard to tangible outcomes.

Only time will tell...

The plaintiff's attorney was quite adamant that LSAC's email announcement contradicted the press release - in LSAC's email, they indicate that they've only committed themselves to researching potential changes to the exam, rather than actually committing themselves to making changes, i.e. removing Logic Games.

And I'm inclined to agree that the tone of the LSAC's email and that of the PR statement differ substantially.

LSAC's emailed statement says only:

"Should there be any significant changes to format...."

Rather than that there WILL be significant changes, i.e. "will enable all prospective law students to take an exam administered by LSAC that does not have the current AR section..."

Enabling all students to take an exam without AR vs. requiring all students to take an exam without AR...that's another question altogether... :)

Former LSAT Question-Writer Interview

My interview with a former LSAT question-writer is on the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel and podcast here ---->

Topics we covered:

* How he become an LSAT question writer

* LSAC's level of strictness on accepting draft LSAT questions

* How LSAC trains LSAT question-writers

* LSAC reusing LSAT questions

* Recent LSAT changes

* The LSAT's consistency and frequency

* Digital LSAT

* Tricks - how to make "good" LSAT questions more difficult

* Doing every LSAT PrepTest

* GRE vs LSAT in law school admissions

***

In order to preserve our relationship (and be able to get future interviews), I did NOT ask him how he sleeps at night. I want to get at least a few more interviews before I burn that bridge. (Or use it as an icebreaker next time.)

I didn't get to all the questions folks suggested, but I'll try to work them in next time.

Thanks for understanding, and hope you all enjoy.

Former NYU Law School Admission Officer Interview

Former NYU Law School Admission Officer Interview -

Didn't realize people were going to be so interested in our discussion! Posted it on the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel and podcast ---->

Some takeaways:

keep addenda short and sweet, not 7 pages, ~200 words for a low LSAT score
feel free to write an addendum whenever you like, even if it's something like the digital LSAT not going well
don't repeat yourself in your application
lots of ambiguity about the future role of GRE, but doesn't seem as compelling as applying with LSAT
a school as popular as NYU doesn't necessarily obsess over rankings the way others might

Anyway, Christina had plenty of good advice to share, so check it out for more.

Note: Her advice on addenda is in direct opposition to Law School Expert Ann Levine's advice on LSAT addenda, which is just to retake, rather than explaining it. (Ann Levine podcast, YouTube).

(Anyway, if you prefer to listen and would enjoy other discussions like this, subscribe to the LSAT Unplugged podcast - I'll release the recordings there as well.)

"Why Our Law School?" Essay

The "Why Our Law School?" Essay

Many law schools ask a supplemental essay question along the lines of "why do you want to go to our school in particular?"

Sure, it'd be great if we could wave a magic wand and take out all individual law school application essays. Unfortunately, if a law school asks the "Why OUR Law School?" essay question, you'll have to answer it, too.

There are two big reasons they ask this question:

1. They want to keep their yield high.

Yield = % of students who choose to enroll after they've been offered admission.

The higher the % of students accepted that choose to go there, the fewer they have to accept from the waitlist, the lower their acceptance rate, and the better they'll look in the rankings, statistics, etc.

2. They want students who will be happy and do well.

Law schools aren't just looking to accept the best, the brightest, and most interesting. They also want to find the students who are the best matches for their school. They want students who will thrive, not transfer out, and who will contribute to campus life.

So, these application essays are important. Make sure you spend some time on them. If the school you’re writing about is a safety, and you're not super-excited about it, don’t let that show in your essay!

Here are my top 5 tips on answering the "Why OUR Law School?" essay:

1. Do research the school.

Look at the website, read the catalog, look at what books and articles say about it, talk to someone from your alma mater who went there, and visit if you can. The more little details you mention, the more you'll convince them that you really want to go there.

2. Don't recycle the same essay for all the schools.

I know it’s tempting - you’re busy and writing these essays isn't fun. But this essay is all about showing how much you want to go to the specific law school, and why you're a good match for it. If you try to recycle these essays, they'll end up being too general, which will end up hurting you.

3. Do talk about yourself.

I can’t stress it enough: it’s an essay about why you will do great at their law school. They already know their school is great, what they want to know is why the school is great for you, and you for them.

So, write about how you'll contribute to campus life, how you'll make the most of what they have to offer, and how they'll help you to achieve your goals. If you visited the school, share your thoughts and reflections on the campus, students, and classes. Anecdotes and details are always the best approach. Show the admissions committee why you're the perfect match!

4. Don't bash other schools.

Negativity is never good, and won’t impress anyone. In fact, it’s best to mention other schools at all. Be positive, and focus exclusively on why this law school is so perfect for you. Leave out the comparisons.

5. Do talk about specifics.

Mention journals, clinics, curriculum, departments, professors, student body diversity, size, campus community, internships, study abroad, research opportunities, campus culture, class size, and location. There are more than enough specifics you can mention to fill this short essay!

YOUR ACTION STEP

Start reading the school's website, catalog, and whatever you can find online. Like I said, the more details you mention, the more you'll show that you really do want to go there.

Although the focus of my law school admission coaching is on the main law school personal statement, I also give you a template for how to write the "Why OUR Law School?" essay.

Of course, every one of these law school application essays must be different and unique to the law school, but, from what I've seen, students find it helpful to have a guide on how to structure these essays, too.

So, if you're looking for more help with your law school application essays, you might want to find out more about working with me for law school admissions coaching.

Before I sign off for now, I want to ask you to do me a quick favor. Reach out and let me know:

What's the biggest question you have about law school admissions?

Tell me what you're struggling with right now about law school admissions. I read all my messages and respond to as many as I can.

And I'll do my best to answer your questions in future articles.

Stay tuned,

-Steve

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

2. Law School Admissions Guide
I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing.

3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet
Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

Law School Personal Statement Editing

Law School Personal Statement Editing

I previously talked about developing your law school personal statement story.

You want to communicate something specific about yourself in your law school personal statement. Ask yourself whether you've actually achieved the goal you set out to accomplish with your law school personal statement.

If you want to write an effective law school personal statement, you have to make sure it supports your application's overall story, its theme.

When I was applying to law school, I had a mentor who helped me a ton with my law school personal statements. He gave me some great advice and helped me make sure I was answering key questions with my law school personal statement.

With his help, I significantly improved my rough drafts and was able to submit an effective law school personal statement.

And in my conversations with law school admission officers, they've told me several of the questions they ask as they read law school personal statements.

Here are just a few:

1. Do you have the stamina, focus, commitment, and discipline to get through law school?

2. Are you involved in extracurriculars because you actually enjoy them, or just because you want to get into law school?

3. Do you take initiative, and are you self-motivated?

4. Have you gone outside of your college classes to learn on your own?

5. Are you able to overcome difficult circumstances and distractions in order to succeed?

In personalized law school admissions coaching, I help you make sure you're answering these questions, and all the other questions law school admission officers ask themselves.

YOUR ACTION STEP

Look at your law school personal statement draft again. Ask yourself (and the people helping you review your essays) whether you're answering these questions. Edit as necessary!

Then send me your final draft. I'd love to see what you've written.

In my next article in this series, I'll share advice on answering the “Why Do You Want To Go To OUR Law School?” essay.

Talk soon,

Steve

P.S. If you're still looking for a bit of extra help with your main law school personal statement, or any of your other law school application essays, consider my 1-1 law school admissions coaching. It's the best way to get help from me personally, especially if your situation is a bit unique.