LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

Why law school admission officers will ignore what you write (and how to solve it)

Steve here again.

I'm explaining why admission officers will ignore what you write.

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When admission officers read essays about things:

-They've seen hundreds of times that day

--or--

-They can't relate to (because they have no idea what you're saying)

They simply tune it out and drop it in the REJECT pile.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE:

Pretend you're sitting in chemistry class.

Think about the professor lecturing you about molecules.

Look around....almost everyone doesn't care. They're either doodling, or sleeping, or passing notes....Completely ignoring the poor professor trying to explain that day's lesson. She's even telling you how to get a high score on the upcoming exam....but no one cares!

Why?

MAYBE people have already heard this information before, earlier that week.

--or--

MAYBE people just don't care.

.....or maybe it's just PLAIN FU***G BORING!!

Ever thought about that? I have....because I often paid CLOSE attention to the chemistry lessons I heard on TV.

Wait...chemistry lessons on TV?

I'm talking about my all-time favorite TV show, Breaking Bad (still so sad it's over).

Look at how Breaking Bad engages us by working the science into the STORY:
(Context: they're stranded in the desert with no water after their RV's battery goes dead.)

Walter White: Jesse. Jesse. Your body is running dangerously low on electrolytes. Sodium, potassium, calcium. And when they're gone, your brain ceases to communicate with your muscles. Your lungs stop breathing. Your heart stops pumping. You go marching out there and within an hour you will be dead.

Jesse Pinkman: Okay. You need to cut out all your loser cry-baby crap RIGHT NOW and think of something SCIENTIFIC.

Walter White: Something scientific? Right.

Jesse Pinkman: What? Come on! Man, you're smart. You made poison out of beans, yo. Look, we got, we got an entire lab right here. Alright? How about you pick some of these chemicals and mix up some rocket fuel? That way you could just send up a signal flare. Or you make some kind of robot to get us help, or a homing device, or build a new battery, or... Wait. No. What if we just take some stuff off of the RV and build it into something completely different? You know, like a... Like a dune buggy.

***

THE POINT IS:

If you make your essay PERSONAL AND EVEN MAYBE INTERESTING...people will be open to it. The main purpose is to SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE....but who says being informative can't be entertaining also?

Think about this the next time you're sitting down to write something.

Use this quick cheat-sheet to see if you did it right (in this order):

#1.) Is this essay personal? Will it help the people reading it feel like they know me a bit?

#2.) Is this something the admission officer actually cares about?

#3.) If this is a boring subject, is this at least SLIGHTLY entertaining?

By the way....watch Walter White use chemistry in the most badass way ever in this YouTube video (totally inappropriate to be sharing with you, yet awesome)!

Peace & awesomeness,
-Steve
-LSAT Courses

Recommended Resources:

1. A Comprehensive Guide to the Law School Personal Statement
This guide provides tips on conceptualizing, planning, writing, and editing 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.)

Here's how ya choose law school personal statement topics

Steve here again.

Today, I'm showing you how to choose your law school personal statement topics (without getting stuck) with some more tips borrowed from the LSAT courses:

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METHOD 1.) The "write-it-out-and-get-feedback" way.
METHOD 2.) The so-easy-a-5-year-old-can-do-it way.

Imagine if you came across one of these essay topics on your law school application and didn't know what to do with it:

"Because applicants and their experiences differ, you are the best person to determine the content of your statement."

(Harvard actually says this, btw!)

There'd be a 99% chance you'd get tossed in the big "reject" pile.

WHY?

Because you didn't know the best way to answer it!

So, here's how to make sure you get off to the right start:

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METHOD 1.) The "write-it-out-and-get-feedback" way.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

List five potential essay topics and write a paragraph on each.

See which flows most naturally.

The one that does just might be your best.

But don't trust yourself. Because, obviously, you think whatever you write is wonderful. Or awful.

(Typically, one of the two, right?)

Seriously, you're too close to the subject (I mean, you're writing about yourself, so you're obviously a little biased).

A much BETTER way to set yourself up for success is to have LOTS of people review your drafts to offer feedback and constructive criticism.

Thats's one of main reasons I started my personal statement early – so I had time to show early drafts to friends, family, and professors. I wanted to give them time to give me feedback.

Thing is, you need to get feedback from people who DON'T know you that well.

Feedback from people you know (friends, family, professors) can be useful, it comes with its own set of drawbacks.

It's hard to say no to feedback from people you know and respect if you disagree with the changes they want you to make.

Also, it's sometimes hard for people you know to be 100% honest about what they think.

So, I really recommend getting feedback from people you don't know, or at least people you don't know well.

This way, you'll feel more comfortable disagreeing with their suggestions if you don't like them.

So, where do you find these people?

One thing you could do is ask friends of friends to "exchange" personal statements - you know, you review mine, I'll review yours.

But another place you can find these people is, of course, the Internet. I really think this is one of the best ways - something about the Internet just makes it easier for people to be honest with their feedback and share what they really think about your essay draft.

More on that another time.

For now, let's move on to the next (even easier) method:

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METHOD 2.) The so-easy-a-5-year-old-can-do-it way (AKA "writing prompts")
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It's simple - just fill in the blanks to overcome writer's block.

Here are just a few:

"I like ____ because it makes me feel ____."

"A global issue that excites me is _____ because ______."

"I enjoy learning about ____ because ______."

Yeah, they might seem lame, but they're really a great tool to help you get started and make the whole process easier. They're almost like Mad Libs. (Does anyone else remember those?)

So now whenever you have some trouble picking a topic...try one of these methods from my LSAT and law school admissions courses.

Until next time,
-Steve

LSAT Unplugged in 2020: Zero to One

The biggest return on investment you can get is going from ZERO to ONE.

Sure, you can focus on tweaking here and there, tracking obsessively with spreadsheets, and getting marginal improvements in what you're already working on.

I call this the Obsessive Practice Exam Narrative (OPEN) - the idea that there's some hidden pattern in your mistakes, and if you can spot it, you'll gain...

a few points?

OR...

you can focus on what you've been neglecting altogether. Or what you haven't even started yet.

I'm gonna be real for a minute.

A couple years back, I felt like I'd reached a stagnation point with my LSAT material.

I'd already written over 1,000 articles on LSAT prep and over 1,000 LSAT explanations. I'd even recorded video explanations for every Logic Game this millennium.

Sure, I could continue creating explanations for the 3 new LSAT exams released every year and the old ones that few students do, but that just felt like more of the same.

Diminishing. Marginal. Returns.

Diminishing. Marginal. Benefits.

Diminishing. Marginal. Fun.

Boooooooring.

I wanted to do something *different* --

To create an entirely new category of LSAT prep.

So I started playing with video in late 2018.

By early 2019, the LSAT Unplugged YouTube Channel and Podcast was born.

Let's to take a moment to look back on what we've created with it over the past year.

Then I'll give you a taste of where we'll take this in 2020.

We've grown the LSAT Unplugged podcast from zero to over 100,000 downloads!

We've grown the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel from just a few hundred subscribers to nearly 3,000 subscribers.

We've grown the LSAT Unplugged Facebook Community from zero to over 2,600 members.

We've grown the LSAT Unplugged Instagram from zero to over 1,500 followers.

Most importantly, we've grown a movement of students who are successfully self-studying for the LSAT and getting into their dream schools.

All of this....

-Despite the Digital LSAT tech issues

-Despite the fact that the LSAT is getting harder

-And despite the naysayers who (still!) say you need a $1,500 in-person prep class. (Have they even heard of the Internet?)

The LSAT Unplugged Podcast, YouTube channel, Facebook community, and Instagram, along with the LSAT Blog, I'm doing all of this for free.

But I couldn't do it alone. LSAT Unplugged is something I'm co-creating with each and every one of you.

Much of the material I've been sharing over the past year has focused on the Digital LSAT transition and other recent changes, along with a lot of general FAQ to help you get started with the process.

I'll still be tracking the most important Digital LSAT changes you need to be aware of, along with making it *easier* to jump-start your LSAT prep.

But I'm most interested in helping you take your LSAT and law school admissions journey to the next level.

One of my favorite projects has been recording live LSAT coaching and law school admissions coaching sessions (over 150 and counting).

No one else in LSAT prep is doing ANYTHING like this. I'm peeling back the curtain to show you what it's like to work with an LSAT and admissions expert 1-on-1.

Going forward, I'm going to add a couple of new things into the mix:

-Tools and tactics for students aiming for 170+ LSAT scores

-Law school admissions help, especially for students aiming for top-14 law schools and full scholarships

-Discussions with law school professors to help you succeed once you get there

But the biggest request I've heard from you all is simply for MORE.

Very soon, you'll be seeing a lot MORE from me on the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel and podcast.

And the LSAT Unplugged podcast will no longer feature clips or "mini-episodes." (But you can still get those from me on Facebook and Instagram.)

Going forward, we're stepping it up even more -- we're taking LSAT Unplugged to the next level.

The podcast will now only feature full-length episodes. I've even added intro / outro music to celebrate the change.

So if you haven't told your friends about the:

-LSAT Unplugged podcast

-LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel

-LSAT Unplugged Facebook community

-LSAT Unplugged Instagram

-LSAT Blog

This is the time.

Again, I couldn't have done this alone. I want to acknowledge all the people who sent a message and let me know about their LSAT success.

Even though I've been teaching the LSAT since 2005, it's still always wonderful to get one of these - and I read every message myself.

So keep an eye out. I've got much more coming your way soon.

-LSAT Steve

this article will help you get into law school

If your law school personal statement sucks or you haven't even written it yet (and I'll assume you haven't), this is probably one of your issues:

Let's pretend you're starting your personal statement...and you're trying to write it in 500 words (about 2 pages).

Or you sit down to answer a question like this one:

"Why do you want to go to Harvard?" (or some other law school)

(For any school you can include an addendum about why you want to go, even if they don't ask.)

After thinking about it for a while, you probably start listing the most impressive things you've done, or all the reasons their school is so great.

Maybe...

.....something....

.....like....

.....this:

The reasons that I have for wishing to go to Harvard are several. I feel that Harvard can give me a better background and a better liberal education than any other university. I have always wanted to go there, as I have felt that it is not just another college, but is a university with something definite to offer. Then too, I would like to go to the same college as my father. To be a "Harvard man" is an enviable distinction, and one that I sincerely hope I shall attain.

April 23, 1935

John F. Kennedy

By now, Mr. President, you've already bored the admission officer to death with all your talk about ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME.

(Yes, that's JFK's real college essay. Not making this up.)

***
Actually, what you need to do is focus on one specific accomplishment or "story" in order to WOW them. They're reading something like a gazillion essays a day. Do you think they really care about why YOU want to go to THEIR school?

Seriously, what you need to show them is why you're a good fit for THEM. What will you bring them that someone else won't? Have you actually bothered to research the law school at all?

At the very least, if you can show you've read up on some specifics about them, you'll be more likely to convince them you're a good fit.

EXAMPLE (borrowed from the Supreme LSAT Course):
One of the many reasons I wish to attend Harvard is the opportunity to study under Professor Billingsworth, an experience that would surely inspire me. Not only does his/her research in the field of political favor-granting and connections intrigue me on an intellectual level but also on a personal level. I have been fascinated by the connections between one's family name and being handed opportunities on a silver platter ever since my parents saved me from expulsion in high school. Attending Harvard would allow me to pursue a research opportunity with him/her in nepotism or another area of study. He/she is just one of the many professors at Harvard who would help me begin to answer the many questions I have about my future political career.

Naturally, I am also excited to analyze and debate politics. This will allow me the opportunity to further define myself as an individual and would also cultivate my intellect as well. And I can only begin to imagine the connections I could make when simultaneously studying the Cold War, the opportunities for the Soviet Union to place missiles in Cuba, and whether I will end up serving a second term in the White House.

While ______ will comprise a significant percentage of my course load, I would still pursue interests outside my requirements. I would take electives in ______, _____, and _______. Outside the classroom, I would take advantage of ________to learn more about issues in ________ and ______. Whether it is volunteering with _______, cultivating my passion for _____with _____or ______, I know ________has a niche for me. A lively student body, high-quality education, and a passionate student body are only a few of the reasons I hope to call ______my home.

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At this point, JFK didn't bother filling in the rest because he couldn't easily look up the details on Harvard's website (they didn't have Internet back then) but YOU do! :) :) :)

Feel free to steal some inspiration from the above for your own "Why OUR School?" essay.

Just MAKE SURE you don't copy it word for word, or they'll know you got it from me :)

The bottom line:

After we look at things from the admissions' officer's perspective, THEN we'll know the best approach to take.

****

Very soon, I'll be sharing with you...

* How to write an effective essay that will wow admissions
* The secrets of picking the right topic
* What law schools are looking for
* How to set yourself apart from thousands of other applicants
* AND how to get into your reach schools

Until next time,

Steve Schwartz

the LSAT strategies that worked (and ones that failed)

This is a story about how this guy Jared used LSAT books to increase his LSAT score.

Before he knew about proper strategies, he bought a random book from the store because the salesman said it guaranteed higher scores.

Salesman:

The result of using that random book?

Jared failed miserably.

The next strategy he used wasn't as flashy.....but it worked (and continues to work till this day).

In fact this strategy worked so well, that Jared scored a 164, somewhere between 20-24 points higher than his first practice LSAT.

That's a pretty awesome improvement!
So, what'd Jared do?

***He learned how to target his weak areas.***

This guest post shows the process Jared took from the 140s to scoring 164. Some great tips there!

See the full story in Jared's LSAT Diary ~~~~>

Sincerely,

Steve Schwartz

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. LSAT Day-By-Day Study Plans
Preparing for the LSAT is confusing. There are dozens of prep books and practice tests out there, and 1,000+ articles on my website alone. When, and how, should you use them all? These super-specific study plans give you a clear plan of attack.

3. LSAT Checklists
All the little items and details students don't usually think of. They hold you accountable and help you make sure you're not missing anything.

LSAT Logic Games Strategy for When You're Out of Time

LSAT Logic Games Strategy for When You're Out of Time

Let's say that you're doing a timed logic game section on Test Day. You've done the first 3 games, and you're down to the 4th game, when you only have 5 minutes remaining. What should you do in this scenario?

I would recommend, first of all, read the paragraph, read the rules, and try to get a general sense of what's going on with the game. See if you can make any major inferences, then do the orientation question, because that's gonna be a gimme (I hope).

Then you could do the local questions, and then finally, if you have time, which you probably won't, you would go on to the global questions. And you'll notice here, that this isn't any different at all from my actual LSAT logic game strategy as a whole. Do the questions in the order that makes sense for you within a game.

So, if you never get to those inference questions, or the global questions, or the rule substitution questions, that's fine. Those are the hardest questions anyway.

If you made some major inference upfront, then you might have wanted to tackle a global question sooner, but if you don't, that's okay, too. You're knocking out the easiest questions first.

Why are they easy?

Well, the orientation question, that's just kinda like a main idea question in reading comp. It's a general warmup question, that is meant to acclimate you slowly. All you're doing for orientation questions is process of elimination, going rule by rule, through all five answer choices.

And then, the local questions, those give you a jumping off point, because they say, "If L's in three." or whatever it might be, you can automatically, in most cases, draw a diagram, and go from there.

So, overall my recommendation, if you have five minutes left for the fourth logic game - is just, proceed as you normally would. Don't panic, and trust that you'll be able to knock out, at least a few of the questions just using your basic structure / approach.

However, my goal for you is that this *doesn't* happen to you and you're better prepared.

Check out my Logic Games articles and YouTube playlist for more.

And reach out with any questions at all.

- LSAT Steve

Free LSAT Logic Games book

I was obsessed with truly mastering Logic Games.

And I realized that in order to fully understand LG, you have to know them inside-out.

The best way to do that is to create your own from scratch. So I did.

And the result is a free book of 10 unofficial Logic Games for you.

Here it is:

Some are easy, but most are harder than average, just to give you a challenge.

Get your copy of the book here:

10 (VERY) Unofficial LSAT Logic Games ----->

Have fun!

Steve

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. Logic Games Explanations
The explanations that should have come with the LSAT. These tell you why the wrong answers are wrong, why the right answers are right, and the easiest way to get the correct answer.

3. Mastering LSAT Logic Games
This guide to Logic Games is by a former writer of actual LSAT questions! Enough said.

How to reach LSAT enlightenment

tl;dr: Mindfulness meditation can increase your score.

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When everything finally CLICKED for me on the LSAT, I felt like Neo in the Matrix:

It was awesome!

I could spot LSAT tricks before they were coming and even "freeze time" to tackle tough questions, just like Neo stopped bullets.

35 minutes per section was suddenly MORE than enough time!

I had achieved "LSAT Zen."

Once you can do this, the LSAT becomes...

So. Much. Easier.

But how can YOU achieve LSAT Zen?

More specifically, how can you avoid test anxiety AND improve focus/concentration?

It can be as simple as 5 min/day of sitting and doing NOTHING.

I'll be honest.

I used to think meditation was just a spiritual thing. I didn't think it had measurable, practical benefits for standardized tests.

Then, I read about a scientific study in the New York Times. It specifically focused on the connection between mindfulness meditation and test scores.

tl;dr Those who meditated improved far more than those who didn't.

Obviously, as LSAT experts, we should always be skeptical of studies.....

but there's not much harm in trying it for yourself.

So I did.

Nothing terribly weird happened, and I didn't turn into a yogi and move to India.

But I did notice (subjectively, at least) increased concentration and focus, reduced stress, yadda yadda.

Find out all the details (including how-tos) in this article:

The LSAT, Meditation, Concentration, and Focus ------>

Zen-fully yours,

Steve (LSAT Guru)

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. LSAT Day-By-Day Study Plans
Preparing for the LSAT is confusing. There are dozens of prep books and practice tests out there, and 1,000+ articles on my website alone. When, and how, should you use them all? These super-specific study plans give you a clear plan of attack.

3. LSAT Cheat Sheets
Based on what I'd typically do in college: read what the professor emphasized and condense it all onto a single piece of paper. It gave me a quick reference, making things a lot less threatening and a lot more manageable.

Want to increase your LSAT score? Get my free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet today.