A number of years ago I listened to the National Public Radio (NPR) podcast Fresh Air. They had a fascinating interview with a Canadian astronaut, Col. Chris Hadfield, who was promoting the release of his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Col. Hadfield is an interesting guy. From his Facebook description, he was "the first Canadian to walk in space and the first Canadian to command the international space station." Col. Hadfield's … [Read more...]
Should I Take the LSAT “Cold?”
All too often we hear about students that took the LSAT “cold,” meaning without studying. It’s not uncommon for some students to believe they don’t have to study, especially if they’ve proven they can test well. Another common reason students do this is to get a feel for a “real” LSAT without preparing. In both cases, the LSAT often delivers a harsh reality. You need to study for this exam to really do well. Of course, there are exceptions, … [Read more...]
Sunk Costs and the LSAT
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...]
What to Avoid the Day Before the LSAT
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...]
Admissions Mental Health: One Student’s Story
In the first part of this blog, PowerScore CEO and LSAT Bibles author Dave Killoran discussed the stresses of applying to law school. The following story is from a student applying to Top 14 law schools this cycle.I write to you on a Wednesday afternoon. In the law school admissions world, Wednesday is typically the day when a few selected applicants are lifted from their depths of despair into the utopia that is being an admitted student. … [Read more...]
Waiting on Law School Decisions? Don’t Forget Your Mental Health
In many sports, the “silly season” is the name given to the offseason, when there are no games but there is a lot of deal-making going on. In law school admissions, I think of the silly season as the period we are in now: from January until roughly May. This is when many law school decisions will be handed down, and negotiations over financial aid take place. But while this is a benign nickname for this period, it is also one of the most … [Read more...]
This Thanksgiving, Be Grateful for the LSAT
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...]
What to Do the Day Before and Morning of the LSAT-Flex
Your LSAT-Flex test is almost here! As you finalize your last-minute preparation for the test, remember that there are things you can do outside of LSAT prep to help ensure your best performance on test day. The Day BeforeRead back through your LSAC email containing information about the ProctorU virtual proctor system and requirements for your device to successfully run the Flex platform. If anything has changed with your internet … [Read more...]
The LSAT Never Leaves You (That’s a Good Thing)
There have been plenty of articles written about LSAT thinking in the real world, and about how LSAT logic is used (and often abused) in everyday life. Those articles are all valid, and interesting, I think! But one thought I want to mention is that the thinking skills you learn while studying for the LSAT will stay with you, and benefit you well into the future. Logical Reasoning in Daily Life While I often think of the value of learning LSAT … [Read more...]
Andy Murray’s Motivational Notes and the LSAT
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...]
Why Did My LSAT Score Go Down When I First Started Studying?
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...]
3 Ways to Lower Your Pre-LSAT Stress
If your LSAT test administration is on the horizon, you're likely focusing on the final countdown to the big day. At this point, you (should) have already invested a significant amount of time and effort into preparation. Maybe you took a course, worked with a tutor, or used our free self-study site. Ideally, you also have a number of practice tests under your belt and an effective and efficient approach to the test. Your opportunity to crush the … [Read more...]
How to Make Your LSAT Prep Efficient and Fun
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...]
3 of the Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Preparing for the LSAT
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...]