I was an Economics major in college, and one of the concepts we discussed was “sunk costs.” In Econ terms, a sunk cost is one that has already been expended and which cannot be recovered. The thinking goes that since you’ve spent it and you aren’t getting it back, you shouldn’t figure those costs into any decisions you make going forward. Examples of sunk costs include things like advertising, the use of consultants, product research, and staff … [Read more...]

If your LSAT is swiftly approaching, ideally you're wrapping up your preparations for the test. Regardless of whether you prepared by taking a class or opted for self-study, you already know that this is not the sort of test that you can cram for. This is good news because it means that you shouldn't be planning to spend the day before the test studying! Take the Day Off Although it's understandable that you might want to make use of every hour … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving is upon us! And of course, the most common theme associated with this pie-filled holiday is thankfulness. In a piece he published in the NYTimes, Artur Brooks argues that acting grateful can actually make you grateful. We have long been conditioned to believe that gratitude is not real unless it is sincere, but new research shows that emotional authenticity is somewhat overrated. Apparently, an article in the journal Social Cognitive … [Read more...]

During a tennis match in 2015 at the Rotterdam Open, a journalist snapped a picture of tennis star Andy Murray consulting a handwritten sheet between sets. As it turns out, the sheet contained a list of tactical and mental reminders for Murray during the match. Let's take a look at the list, and then talk a bit about how you can use something similar in your LSAT preparation to your advantage. For starters, here's the tweet from the … [Read more...]

On occasion, I speak with students who experience a score decrease when they first start preparing for the LSAT. Despite putting in a fair number of study hours, they find that initially their score stays the same, or drops a few points. This can be an extremely distressing occurrence (to put it mildly), but it's actually quite normal, and even expected. So let's talk about why it happens, and what to do about it. But... Why? The first question … [Read more...]

If you're here, it's fair to assume that you're taking your LSAT prep seriously. That's smart! But are you being smart about how you study? Both commitments are important if you want to do well on the LSAT without going mad and burning out before test day. The LSAT Emotional Roller-coaster Most people studying for this test experience a full range of emotions: fear, excitement, loathing, you name it. The excitement you feel when a concept … [Read more...]

There's a good and not-so-good way to prepare for the LSAT. We see test-takers make mistakes all the time! Let's review three very common errors and how to avoid them. Looking for Shortcuts Performing well on the test requires solid conceptual understanding of the material being tested. Relying on a “quick fix” or a shortcut might help in some instances; however, these are not bullet-proof methods that can be applied universally and work every … [Read more...]

Most people are familiar with Bruce Lee. He was a martial arts master who became an actor, and when he died young at 32, he was already a superstar and cultural icon. But while most people know him for his martial arts movies, few know that he was also a philosopher and avid student of the mind. After his death, thousands of books were found in his house, with over 1500 marked up with detailed notes and comments. Lee wasn't just a heavy reader, … [Read more...]