Most would-be law school applicants focus on what they'll have to do once they start the law school application process. But what they don't realize is that there is plenty they need to do before they even start the engine on the law-school-mobile.Here are four things that any law school applicant absolutely should do before they embark on their professional school journey: Determine Your "Why" Why do you want to go to law school? What about law are you passionate about? Do you know where you want your career to go after you graduate? It's not enough to apply just because your parents … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Pick Up Your Pace on the LSAT
When preparing for the LSAT, a very common question you might ask yourself is “How do I increase my speed?” Test takers often note that if time was not a factor, they could do better on the test. But of course, that is deliberate. The makers of the LSAT design the test to be both difficult and time-consuming. For most students, speed is a major concern. Here are some tips to help you pick up the pace by taking control of the LSAT. Prioritize the Questions You Attack First Each section has a barrage of questions that you're expected to answer in a short amount of time. Don’t get bogged down … [Read more...]
Timing Your LSAT Course: Now or Later?
When choosing the right LSAT course for you, you may face this dilemma. Should you take the course that starts early and ends well before your LSAT administration? Or should you wait so that it ends closer to the test date? There are pros and cons to each decision, let's look into them. Starts Well Before the Test Date PROs If your target score range is way above where you're currently scoring, taking an earlier course might be your best bet. Early courses are particularly advantageous if you don't think you can complete all your homework while also taking additional practice tests in the … [Read more...]
Upgrade Your Brain: LSAT Test Mentality and You
Stressing about the LSAT? Dreading practice tests? Everyone suffers from some degree of test anxiety. It's completely natural and having a healthy recognition of the gravity of the test can be a helpful motivator. But, did you know you have an LSAT prep superpower? Your Hidden Superpower There's an excellent TEDx Talk by Dr. Rock Hanson titled Hardwiring Happiness. Dr. Hanson is a neuroscientist who focuses on issues relating to neuroplasticity. Unfortunately, there's not pseudo-science elixir for instant intelligence and memory boosts. But, you can hack your brain and use the practice of … [Read more...]
LSAT Podcast Episode 36: The November 2019 LSAT Makeup Tests
Jon and Dave explore the continuing saga that is the November 2019 LSAT. Specifically they outline how the multiple make up exams have played out, from the initial reschedules to this past weekend’s retakes. They also offer some words of encouragement for those whose November didn’t go to plan, whether that means a December make up or a test date pushed to next year (spoiler: don’t fret; you’re going to be okay, and Dave and Jon explain precisely why). … [Read more...]
10 Gifts to Get Your Law-Bound Loved One
Everyone loves a good pick-me-up, especially while in the throes of stressful college life and finals. For Law School bound students, the looming inevitability of taking the LSAT is likely heavy on their minds. An occasional reminder that they’ve "got this" is always appreciated! With the right tools and mindset, they’ll crush the LSAT and get into a great Law School.We’ve put together the Ultimate LSAT Care Package List to help you give the future lawyer in your life a boost to help them succeed. Check it out!1. Tea or Coffee A cup always seems to warm you to the core and give you … [Read more...]
Why is My LSAC GPA Different from My Transcript GPA?
One of the steps to getting your law school applications ready is sending LSAC your college transcript(s) for processing. They take your transcripts, convert your grades to a 4.0 scale, and calculate an overall GPA for you. This is your “LSAC GPA”. To the surprise of some students, their LSAC GPA is different from their transcript GPA. Not necessarily in a good way, either. But, why is that the case? Let's Talk BasicsYou have to submit transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended. No exceptions. It doesn't matter if you didn't graduate from one of them or if one is … [Read more...]
Is My Target LSAT Score Realistic?
When you decide to take the LSAT and start looking at law schools, you inevitably run into the score requirements for admission. From there, you can develop an idea of what you want, and likely need, to get on the LSAT in order to get into the school of your dreams. After taking a few practice tests, you might start asking yourself the question. Is it possible to get a 165? A 170? A 175? This question makes a regular appearance in our classrooms, in private conversations with tutoring students, and on the LSAT Forum. So, is it possible? Statistically, Speaking When looking at statistics, … [Read more...]
Wait! Did My LSAT Score Just Go Down?
Practice tests should be a part of your study routine, you may even have a few of them under your belt. If you haven't incorporated PTs, start including them! But, let's assume you've taken several by now, all under test-day conditions. You probably know how imperative it is to take and review them correctly. If not, you can find more information on how to do that on this blog post. Obviously, not all of your PTs will go well and it is important to understand why.While getting an awesome score on your practice test can give you an important confidence boost, it has little pedagogical … [Read more...]
When to Skip a Question on the LSAT
When you're working your way through the LSAT, it's easy to get caught up in a difficult question and he test-makers know this. That is why they don't present questions in order of difficulty. It is true that the first question on an LR section is generally more straightforward than the last, but there is quite a bit of variety in the middle. Even if the test makers did want to put the questions in order of difficulty, everyone has a different set of strengths and weaknesses.All of this is to say, the questions that are most challenging for you will show up in random places in a section. … [Read more...]
Does Submitting an Early Law School Application Improve Your Chances at Getting In?
Applying Early HypeThere's a lot of buzz about applying early. Everywhere you look online blasts the same ideals: apply as early as you can, apply today! Apply yesterday! If you don't all hope is lost. To be honest, having your applications ready to go on day one is not a bad idea. But, that's for reasons wholly unrelated to whether or not it improves your admissions chances.First of all, getting things done sooner rather than later gives you breathing room. Who knows what might happen a week from now that will prevent you from getting that application finished? If you have the time … [Read more...]
Retaking the LSAT? What to Do Differently to Raise Your Score
Note: we talked in detail about retaking the LSAT on the PowerScore LSAT PodCast, in episodes 2 and 3. You can access those episodes here on iTunes. Previously, I covered who should retake the LSAT. In this post, I'm covering how to properly prepare for your retake. First, I'm going to presume that the last time you did a fairly decent job of preparing. That is, you worked through a course or some self-study guides and you took a fair number of practice tests. If you didn't make a reasonable effort the first time, your top priority should be putting in 100% this time! The information below … [Read more...]
What Does Your Transcript Say About You?
Next to your LSAT score, your GPA is the most important thing on your law school application. Like it or not, those numbers hold the greatest weight in your likelihood of getting into a particular school. Unlike your LSAT score, though, your GPA has another facet to it: your transcript. Whether your transcript has a positive or negative effect on your application depends on what's on it.Let's take a look at what your transcript can say about you. Before we start, though, a disclaimer: not everyone's transcript will be analyzed. I imagine that the people who run the greatest risk or chance … [Read more...]
Creating an Exceptional Personal Statement for Your Law School Application
Apart from your LSAT and undergraduate GPA, the most important aspect of your law school application is the personal statement. It is the one part of your file that is solely you. In your own words, you express your voice, experiences, and story. Every day we help students put together exceptional applications with our law school admissions consulting packages. We dispense tidbits of wisdom that help students craft a top-notch and unforgettable essay. Stick around for a preview of some of the advice we give to our students. The Goal of Your Personal Statement In a space as short as a law … [Read more...]