Uncomfortable LSAT Coaching: Slowing Down to Speed Up
LSAT Coaching: Slowing down to speed up
LSAT Coaching: Slowing down to speed up
Sometimes LSAT coaching can be uncomfortable for both me and the student.
But on the other side of that discomfort, success awaits.
And I consider it my job to serve my students rather than please them --
even if it means telling them what they don't expect and don't want to hear.
In this episode, I have one of those conversations with a student, where I suggest she just isn't ready to take the LSAT.
But we get past it, and I help her craft a plan of attack for a future LSAT test date.
LSAT Prep Materials
LSAT Prep Materials:
* Actual Official LSAT PrepTests
* Tablet (for Digital LSAT prep)
* Notebook (for mistake journal)
* Smartphone (for LSAT videos & podcasts)
Kaplan LSAT Prep Course
Kaplan is one of the worst LSAT prep courses, period. You should never use their materials.
I always review LSAT prep companies with more nuance, but since Kaplan has consistently gotten bad results for my students for so long, I make an exception.
NEVER USE THEM.
Some General Don'ts for LSAT Prep
Don't try to do Logic Games in your head.
Don't highlight or underline on Reading Comp.
Don't take practice tests on consecutive days.
Don't lose hope - mastering the LSAT takes time.
LSAT Prep Red Flags
"I got an old copy of LSAT for Dummies from a friend."
"I know I shouldn't take the LSAT before I'm ready, but I just want to see how I'll do..."
"I can't afford prep books, so I'm just using the free tests on LSAC's site."
"Well, obviously I'm taking a test every day until the exam."
"What do you think of Kaplan?"
#1: What you should really do is GIVE a copy of LSAT for Dummies to an enemy ;)
#2: There is a limit on retakes, and there's no reason to have an unnecessarily low score (or a cancellation) on your record if you can avoid it. Looks better to just have a high score.
#3: Because that would mean studying for the most important test of your academic career with only a few previous exams when your competition is using much more.
It puts you at a severe disadvantage.
#4: Leads to burnout.
#5: Re: Kaplan, here's one of my biggest gripes - read the comments in addition to the article: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/difference-necessary-sufficient.html
#1: What you should really do is GIVE a copy of LSAT for Dummies to an enemy ;)
#2: There is a limit on retakes, and there's no reason to have an unnecessarily low score (or a cancellation) on your record if you can avoid it. Looks better to just have a high score.
#3: Because that would mean studying for the most important test of your academic career with only a few previous exams when your competition is using much more.
It puts you at a severe disadvantage.
#4: Leads to burnout.
#5: Re: Kaplan, here's one of my biggest gripes - read the comments in addition to the article: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/difference-necessary-sufficient.html
Unpopular LSAT Truths
1. Don't take an LSAT diagnostic test without studying - it's discouraging and a waste of time.
2. Don't try to do it all in 3 months - it takes 5-6 to reach your fullest potential (schedules).
3. Don't bother writing a low LSAT score addendum - retake.
***
Hardly anybody ever wants to hear the above, but it's the truth.
Build the foundation first.
***
Are there exceptions? Of course - all rules have exceptions. But you've got to have a good reason for breaking them.
LSAT Diary: Studying in Korea
“This will too pass”
Each morning, I slowly wake up to my dazzling analog alarm clock I bought a month ago to reorganize my life around LSAT. It was one of my initial investments to win this battle.
As I look out to the window from my cozy room at the dormitory of the school I work at, I could feel and shiver at the bitter cold without a step outside. The winter has once again have arrived here in Korea and my life without a warning. This will be surprisingly my 27th winter. Each winter, though it seems so long and sometimes brutally cold, thankfully I have survived each one.
For first two hours my morning, my room is filled with aroma from freshly brewed coffee and voices hovering in the Korean radio. Since students are on break, I am a sole guardian of this dormitory located in the out in the woods. I usually spend another ten minutes starting my car and scraping the freshly built snow pile on my car. After being greeted by two dogs and cats which I find it grateful since there are no signs of people in the area, I drive out into a small city’s library located 12 miles away from my school to start another battle within me.
There, I found my sweet spot to engage this brutal winter of mine, LSAT. The toughest about this exam is that though I am planting the seeds constantly, I see no signs of fruits or life. Yet, I am here at the library once again writing up this diary and hopefully I could endure another 10 hour study day at the library.
What keeps me going though is my mom. Her endless support and encouragement has been overflowing with love. Though sometimes I feel anxious not to let her down, I know that she loves me no matter the result of this test. Most importantly, my calling to defend the weak and be a voice for the voiceless and orphans and widows have been my fuel in this journey.
I am learning to self-government and understand how to manage a day. What it means to take care of my mind and physical body to endure a long lasting battle. I am also thankful for this opportunity to write a diary for Steve’s blog and at same time it gives me a sense of accountability and a time to reflect my journey. Most importantly, knowing and accepting my true identity as a person and not by a score or an admission to a school or a bar exam is foremost.
Each morning, I slowly wake up to my dazzling analog alarm clock I bought a month ago to reorganize my life around LSAT. It was one of my initial investments to win this battle.
As I look out to the window from my cozy room at the dormitory of the school I work at, I could feel and shiver at the bitter cold without a step outside. The winter has once again have arrived here in Korea and my life without a warning. This will be surprisingly my 27th winter. Each winter, though it seems so long and sometimes brutally cold, thankfully I have survived each one.
For first two hours my morning, my room is filled with aroma from freshly brewed coffee and voices hovering in the Korean radio. Since students are on break, I am a sole guardian of this dormitory located in the out in the woods. I usually spend another ten minutes starting my car and scraping the freshly built snow pile on my car. After being greeted by two dogs and cats which I find it grateful since there are no signs of people in the area, I drive out into a small city’s library located 12 miles away from my school to start another battle within me.
There, I found my sweet spot to engage this brutal winter of mine, LSAT. The toughest about this exam is that though I am planting the seeds constantly, I see no signs of fruits or life. Yet, I am here at the library once again writing up this diary and hopefully I could endure another 10 hour study day at the library.
What keeps me going though is my mom. Her endless support and encouragement has been overflowing with love. Though sometimes I feel anxious not to let her down, I know that she loves me no matter the result of this test. Most importantly, my calling to defend the weak and be a voice for the voiceless and orphans and widows have been my fuel in this journey.
I am learning to self-government and understand how to manage a day. What it means to take care of my mind and physical body to endure a long lasting battle. I am also thankful for this opportunity to write a diary for Steve’s blog and at same time it gives me a sense of accountability and a time to reflect my journey. Most importantly, knowing and accepting my true identity as a person and not by a score or an admission to a school or a bar exam is foremost.
LSAT Diary: Kate, Former Kaplan LSAT Course Student
Kate: I'm so glad to hear that you found the blog and everything
useful. Congrats on your 20-point increase and all your law school acceptances!
***
Kate's LSAT Diary (posted on the LSAT Blog Facebook Page):
Hello all, I am Kate from Texas. My law school quest has
actually been quite a struggle. I have tried twice now to take the LSAT. The
first time was a complete disaster. The second attempt was a success, thanks to
several factors, one of which was Steve and his clear outlines and techniques.
I have tried several LSAT classes including Kaplan’s Premier
online course as well as Kaplan’s instructor led course. If you have already
taken a course or have even looked into taking a course you know how expensive
it can be. Mine, when all was said and done was over $6000.00 in tuition and
fees.
While Kaplan’s materials and basic methods were helpful,
they did not do well when asked to explain anything. I remember very clearly
asking my instructor to define “outside the scope” and how to recognize the
“scope shift” to which she replied that I was supposed to know it because the
answer key “said so.” Later she came up to me and told me that she thought I
might need special tutoring because I did not understand the concepts fast
enough. Needless to say I did not do well on that first LSAT.
However, I found that Steve differs greatly when it comes to
explaining basic concepts. He very clearly lays a foundation on which you can
build your training. Ok really, everyone learns differently, and at their own
pace. Steve provided several different options ranging from multi-month study outlines,
recommending certain texts over others and giving specific explanation as to
why, weekly blogs that review requested material, outlines of every problem on
every test and how it is solved, and of course tutoring.
I raised my LSAT score over 20 points by using the resources
available to me via Steve, study and hard work. I have been accepted to several
schools across the country. Now my decision is accepting one of them.
Law school scholarship negotiation
Your negotiating power will largely depend on your LSAT / GPA, but you can, and should, always leverage other offers of admission (and other scholarship offers), if any. Show that you're an informed consumer and aware of the legal job market.
Don't be afraid to bargain - hard. They're asking for a lot of money. You'd bargain for a car that costs far less, so why not bargain for this? A discount on tuition is the easiest money you'll ever make. Make sure the scholarship is for all 3 years. If it's only for one year, there's no guarantee you'll get it for the others, and then you're basically stuck there. (In particular, don't count on those scholarships that require you to be in the top X% of a class - aka conditional scholarships.)
I suspect that once you've already started at the school, you're in a tough negotiating position. Of course, you can try, but I'd imagine that the school isn't going to give you more money than whatever you initially negotiated. They know you're unlikely to go elsewhere at that point.
Why the LSAT's considered valid
The LSAT is considered valid because it serves as a good predictor of 1L grades. But having good 1L grades doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a good lawyer. It would be difficult to create a valid test that predicts performance as a lawyer. These folks tried (PDF), but I don't think it's gone anywhere.
Honestly, I'm not a big fan of placing tremendous importance on standardized tests. I wish law schools in the U.S. would take a more holistic approach (as I've heard the Canadian ones do), but it would be difficult to scale that. I'm not sure law schools here are willing to put in the effort, and they're afraid of falling in the ever-important USNWR (aka US News) rankings.
