LSAT Diary: LSAT Studying and Depression

LSAT Blog Diary LSAT Studying Depression
This LSAT Diary is from Jennifer, who's studying for the June 2015 LSAT. Below, she shares her LSAT self-studying experience.

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.)

Please thank Jennifer for sharing her story below in the comments!

Number of LSAT Test-Takers Increased in February 2015

The Law School Admission Council just released the number of February 2015 LSAT-takers, and it's quite a surprise.

After over four years of (virtually) steady decline* in the number of LSAT test-takers, the number has increased significantly. Specifically, it increased by 4.4% year-over-year - from 19,499 to 20,358.

Many prospective law school applicants have been dissuaded over the past few years by news about changing prospects in the legal market. Three years ago, the number of LSAT test-takers actually hit a 10-year-low.

Now, suddenly, things appear to be moving in the opposite direction - at least to some extent.

Why?


Should Law Schools Drop The LSAT Requirement?

LSAT Blog Should Law Schools Drop LSAT Requirement
I was just interviewed on Huffington Post Live (alternate link) about some recent changes in law school admissions, along with Elie Mystal of Above the Law and Kyle McEntee of Law School Transparency.

Law School Addenda Quick Tips



LSAT Blog Law School Addenda Quick Tips
The below excerpt with quick tips on law school optional essays and addenda is from A Guide to Optional Essays and Addenda.

Last chance: My LSAT courses increase in price forever *tonight*


For those of you who took the February LSAT - congratulations! I hope you did great.

If it didn't go so well, sorry to hear it! Either way, I wrote these articles to help you figure out next steps:

1. Should you retake the LSAT?

2. Law school personal statement advice

***

Announcing *new* LSAT course packages:

As many of you already know, I launched LSAT course packages a few years ago as part of my mission to make quality LSAT prep more affordable.

Although I released the first versions of my courses nearly 5 years ago, the packages are something new I've tested over the past few years - I wanted to know whether it would help you to get the best resources I've created in convenient bundles.

I've heard from many of you immediately after getting your scores back from each LSAT since then, and your answer was an emphatic "yes." You've told me that, without a doubt, the packages helped you improve your LSAT scores.

I want to do everything I can to help you get a top LSAT score and get into the law school of your dreams.

So I've added EVEN MORE to the course packages.

I've refined, improved, and added more materials to my courses based on student feedback.

For example, for the first time ever, I'm now including the LSAT Vocabulary Builder - my course students got automatic access to this update, like all others, before it was even available to the general public.

I'm also offering all course packages with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Try the course package of your choice without risking a thing. Show me you did all the work. If you don't love it, email me within 30 days, and I'll give you a full and complete refund of your course enrollment. I'll even eat the credit-card fees.

I've made these literally risk-free to try.

Why would I offer a guarantee when I don't have to? I can offer this because I've rigorously tested my materials with thousands of students. I know they work, and I want this to be a no-brainer for you.

Sign up now to join the LSAT courses before the price increase.

This is your last chance - the price goes up forever tonight, March 3rd, at 11:59PM Pacific -- no exceptions.

Join and improve your LSAT score today.

-Steve


P.S. The course packages will never be priced this low again, so this is your last opportunity to get them at these prices. And, they're 100% risk-free. That means you can try one, then decide if it's right for you. If you don't love it, just show me you did the work, and I'll refund 100% of your money. But I'm confident these will help you improve your LSAT score and get into the law school of your dreams.

Get started now.

Last chance to get LSAT course packages before price increase

For those of you who took the February LSAT - congrats!!! I hope it turns out great for you when scores come out.

(See this article if you're unsure about whether you might need to retake, and reach out if you have any questions.)

Whether you took the LSAT in February or not, I want you to have the chance to sign up for my LSAT course packages before the price increase.

***

As many of you already know, I launched LSAT course packages a few years ago as part of my mission to make quality LSAT prep more affordable.

Although I released the first versions of my courses nearly 5 years ago, the packages are something new I've tested over the past few years - I wanted to know whether it would help you to get the best resources I've created in convenient bundles.

Since then, I've heard from many of you who took the LSAT after using my course materials, and your answer has been an emphatic "yes."

You told me that, without a doubt, the packages helped you improve your LSAT scores.

So I now offer all the course packages with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Try the LSAT course package of your choice without risking a thing. Show me you did all the work. If you don't love it, email me within 30 days, and I'll give you a full and complete refund of your course enrollment. I'll even eat the credit-card fees.

I've made these literally risk-free to try.

Why would I offer a guarantee when I don't have to? I can offer this because I've rigorously tested my materials with thousands of students. I know they work, and I want this to be a no-brainer for you.

Sign up now to get your LSAT course package before the price increase.

This is your last chance - the price goes up in one week: Friday, March 3rd, at 11:59PM Pacific -- no exceptions.

Join and improve your LSAT score today.

-Steve


P.S. The LSAT course packages are 100% risk-free. That means you can try one, then decide if it's right for you. If you don't love it, just show me you did the work, and I'll refund 100% of your money. But I'm confident these will help you improve your LSAT score. Remember, this is your last chance to get these before the price increase.

Get started now.

How to Get a Perfect Score on LSAT Logic Games

This LSAT Blog post lists all the Logic Games-related blog posts you should read toward the beginning of your prep.

I've listed them in the specific order in which you should read them, along with the relevant Logic Games you should complete from LSAT PrepTests 52-61.

Use my LSAT Logic Games Cheat Sheet as a quick-reference, and you can use my Logic Games Guide and Mastering Logic Games for extra LG guidance and a focus on question-solving strategies.

Also consider doing some sudoku puzzles. They're a nice break from actual LSAT Logic Games, but they still allow you to practice LSAT-style deductions. This game is good, too.

This is all meant to accompany the initial Logic Games portion of my LSAT study schedules, while giving you more specific guidance on when to read which blog post and when to do each Logic Game.

Enjoy!

Becoming an LSAC Test Specialist: Job Posting

Ever wondered how someone becomes an LSAC Test Specialist? I've conducted several interviews with a former writer of LSAT test questions, and, in them, he does talk about his background a bit.

However, I recently came across a job posting from LSAC. They're looking for a new test specialist to join their team. While it might be considered a conflict of interest to write test questions and then take the exam itself, if you're not sure about law school, this could be an alternate career path.

I'm including the job posting below.


LSAC Bans LSAT PrepTest PDF Sales

LSAC Bans LSAT PrepTest PDF Sales
Unfortunately, some bad news for LSAT test-takers:

I recently learned from LSAC that they are putting an end to LSAT PrepTest PDF sales.

This isn't a joke, and it's not an early April Fools' prank.

LSAC recently made some changes to its licensing policy for 2015. Because I sell LSAT PrepTest PDFs to the general public, I received word of these changes.

Via email, LSAC wrote to licensees:

Attached is our revised Rights Management Document regarding electronic distribution of LSAT content to your program students and the general public. All renewing and future licenses must comply with this policy.  
One important and necessary change is our preference that you do not use/distribute PDFs. [emphasis added. However, if you are able to demonstrate that PDFs can be made secure when sold to your course registrants only, it is possible we would approve this use.

In other words, LSAC will not allow licensees to sell LSAT PrepTest PDFs to the general public any longer. This change will go into effect as licenses come up for renewal. LSAT Blog's license expires this coming Monday, March 23rd, so if you want to buy LSAT PrepTest PDFs, get them now.

LSAT PrepTest 74 Explanations Available for Instant PDF Download

Complete explanations for all 4 sections of LSAT PrepTest 74 (December 2014 LSAT) are now available for instant PDF download. Both Logical Reasoning sections, the Logic Games section, and the Reading Comprehension section have been fully explained.

One of the most common requests I get from my students and blog readers is for explanations of particular LSAT questions.

Although I'll explain any question in my LSAT tutoring, there's a limit to the amount I have time to write down.

Fortunately, I just learned that fellow LSAT tutor Graeme has written complete explanations for every question in all sections of LSAT PrepTest 74 (December 2014 LSAT). Not only do these explain why the right answer is right, but they also discuss why each wrong answer is wrong.

Get explanations for all 4 sections, or just get explanations for specific sections by clicking the relevant links below:

(explains both Logical Reasoning sections)



Want to know more? Get further details on these Logic GamesLogical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension explanations.

***

PrepTest 74 is the most recently released LSAT, so it's the best reflection of the LSAT's current state. It's especially crucial for anyone preparing for the June 2015 LSAT and beyond to thoroughly study this exam. The LSAT evolves over time.


LSAC Not Reporting Old LSAT Scores

I just received the following announcement from LSAC:

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING LSAT SCORES EARNED BEFORE JUNE 2010 
As of July 1, 2015, LSAC will no longer provide scores older than five years plus the current testing year either to law schools or to candidates. Scores earned prior to June 1, 2010 will neither be reported to law schools nor available to candidates. Prior to July 1, test takers with scores earned prior to June 1, 2010 may use this link to determine the best way to obtain a copy of their older score(s) for their records.