LSAT Course (princeton review)

[sooner333]

Hey, I'm going to be taking the June LSAT and was thinking in enrolling in an "accelerated" Princeton Review course, basically to motivate myself and take tests in test-like conditions. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular course because it is quite a bit of money. I did well (33) on the ACT without any preparation at all except for reviewing questions I missed on previous exams...I'm a little more worried about the LSAT though.

Can I get more out of the course or should I just take old tests at home? (The one thing I'm worried about is scheduling myself to do this during the summer)

[terpkristin]

Hey, I'm going to be taking the June LSAT and was thinking in enrolling in an "accelerated" Princeton Review course, basically to motivate myself and take tests in test-like conditions. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular course because it is quite a bit of money. I did well (33) on the ACT without any preparation at all except for reviewing questions I missed on previous exams...I'm a little more worried about the LSAT though.

Can I get more out of the course or should I just take old tests at home? (The one thing I'm worried about is scheduling myself to do this during the summer)

I'd encourage you to get a book of practice LSAT's and try one or two of them. See how you do on those, and then gauge your need for the course then...

/tk

[molson]

Hey, I'm going to be taking the June LSAT and was thinking in enrolling in an "accelerated" Princeton Review course, basically to motivate myself and take tests in test-like conditions. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular course because it is quite a bit of money. I did well (33) on the ACT without any preparation at all except for reviewing questions I missed on previous exams...I'm a little more worried about the LSAT though.

Can I get more out of the course or should I just take old tests at home? (The one thing I'm worried about is scheduling myself to do this during the summer)

I really don't think the courses help so much with the LSAT, because there's no specificic material to learn. The best way to take that thing is just to get your hands on as many practice tests as possible, and take them, under simlulated test conditions, again, and again, and again, and again. Then spend some extra time working on the "games" section, because many people just completely bomb that part.

[Joe]

take a course. I fucking bombed the LSAT's without taking one.

[Grammaticus]

Yes, the course will help you. It teaches you the format and prepares you for the critical thinking exercises you will take on the LSAT. Taking practice tests and preparing on your own is nothing like the course. If you are serious about doing well and getting into a good law school do it. If your GPA is over 3.0, and you score very high on the LSAT, you will likely get into most good schools on a rolling admission standard, if you apply early.

[Klinglerware]

It's better to be more prepared than less. I can see the cost/benefit argument of taking a course vs. self-study, and it's valid. But, if you can swing it, take the course...

[Eaglesfan27]

I know it's different, but I found a course to be very helpful for the MCAT's (where I didn't need one for the SAT's.)

[RedKingGold]

I took the Princeton Review LSAT prep course last year (the accelerated 9-week session). On the pre-diagnostic exam, (without knowing anything about the LSAT), I scored a 150. By the end of the nine-week course, my practice exams were in the low 160's. I ended up getting a 157 on the actual test day.

Anyway, I greatly recommend taking an intensive prep course. It is well worth the $1,000 for the increase in points. One of the most important things you must realize about the course and exam is it is just like any other skill you learn. YOU MUST PRACTICE IT! I've seen other people do nothing between the classes and not see their scores go up at all.

The point of the class is to teach you what techniques you can learn to better manage your time and see patterns on the test. In fact, I argue that the LSAT itself is just a wide range of patterns which you have to train yourself to see. A prep class is a guide, but you yourself develop the skill. The person who leads the class usually assigns "homework" which is suggested problems and things to do. I just found the course to break everything down in plain English.

I tried wading through practice books by myself and I found myself just getting frustrated. I've also heard many other horror stories about people who bomb the exams. Also, most law schools average multiple LSAT scores (meaning if you bomb the first one, you have to score off the charts to average to a decent score). YOU DO NOT WANT TO BLOW THIS TEST OFF. No matter what any law school says....the numbers are what is important, not other soft factors. This is why I turned to the prep course. The Princeton Review came very highly recommended by other people who did well on the exam, and as you can tell, I myself am converted.

I've heard Kaplan is good, but geared more to those who really know what they are doing and trying to maximize their score. The Princeton Review approaches the students as if they know absolutely nothing about the exam, and builds their basic techniques.

Anyway, I will start my first year of law school in the fall (at Villanova University). I wish you great luck as the LSAT is not the most fun exam in the world.

Should you need anything else, do not hesitate to PM.

P.S. Also, check out this website http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com Its a great source to see what you "really" need score wise to get into the school of your choice.

My profile is MMILLER3, BTW.

[-Mojo Jojo-]

take a course. I fucking bombed the LSAT's without taking one.

Take tk and molson's advice (try some practice exams). I crushed the LSAT without a course. I did take 7-8 practice exams and definitely benefited from the experience. That was my only preparation, and I have no regrets. I actually did slightly better on the real thing than most of my practice runs. If you're struggling on the practice exams you may want to reconsider..

[sooner333]

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I think I'm going to go ahead and enroll in the course, just because I need to make sure I'm doing everything right and also take the practice exam in more real conditions. I want to try to just take this exam once in June because the ones in the fall will be hectic with elections (i'm involved with a local campaign and the college republicans) and school. This way I can get pretty focused and scheduled in the summer (and the class doesn't conflict with my job) and hopefully nail it in June. I'm pretty confident on my standardized test abilities and have never taken a class before, but when I didn't really study for the ACT it took until the second time before I really got it down pat and I don't want to take this test that many times.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well, I guess it's better late than never, so...

I took an LSAT course. It was Kaplan. It helped a lot, especially on the Games section. I took the LSAT before the course and then decided I should take the course. I think my score increased by over 10 points. I ended up getting 100% on the Games, simply thanks to Kaplan.

[MalcPow]

Honestly, take the course. I did not take one, and did well on the LSAT after taking three or so practice exams in the weeks leading up to the test, but I did not feel as though I had a mastery of the format and am sure I would have scored better with a course if for no other reason than the forced repetition. The score is incredibly important, which was a positive for me since I did well, but it's almost sickening the sorts of opportunities that can disappear over a few points on the LSAT. No matter what your grade situation is you will see an incredible benefit in having an LSAT score that is even two or three points higher, let alone the eight or nine that some people see. Are you currently at OU? If so I can offer a lot of perspective on what your opportunities might be depending on grades, etc. I think it would also help if you threw out there what your ambitions might be, top 25 or top 100?

[Swaggs]

I'm not positive, but I imagine that Kaplan has an LSAT book with a CD-ROM with it that could help you, as well.

When I was preparing for the GRE, I worked with the CD-ROM several times a week and did not use the book as much as I probably should have. I took a practice test before and one after, and the after score was about 100 points higher (out of 1600) and then, when I took the actual test itself, I scored over 100 better on it than I did on my best practice test.

I think it cost somewhere between $35-$50, but it was well worth it, considering the price of the test.

[watravaler]

I really don't think the courses help so much with the LSAT, because there's no specificic material to learn. The best way to take that thing is just to get your hands on as many practice tests as possible, and take them, under simlulated test conditions, again, and again, and again, and again. Then spend some extra time working on the "games" section, because many people just completely bomb that part.

You will not receive better advice. Save the $1000, and learn how to finish each section with time left on the clock, so to speak. Check out some of the many LSAT/Law School message boards, many claim these programs are a waste of money.

[sooner333]

Well, only four more days until I take the test...I ended up going for the Princeton Review course and I will have to say it helped me out. For one, it got me studying during the class and during the tests they gave us. I was exposed to different ideas because of the class that I might not have gotten simply out of a book (I'm a better learner by being told how to do something than reading how to do something). And, I learned how to set up the games well, which is huge because I find that I can get through the section now.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes on Monday!

[RedKingGold]

Well, only four more days until I take the test...I ended up going for the Princeton Review course and I will have to say it helped me out. For one, it got me studying during the class and during the tests they gave us. I was exposed to different ideas because of the class that I might not have gotten simply out of a book (I'm a better learner by being told how to do something than reading how to do something). And, I learned how to set up the games well, which is huge because I find that I can get through the section now.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes on Monday!

Good Luck!

Let us know how it goes...

[watravaler]

So, how did you do? Was the class worth it?

[sooner333]

So, how did you do? Was the class worth it?

I ended up doing pretty well and improved 9 points from the first of the diagnostic tests...but 6 points off of my diagnostic peak (which was like the 5th practice I took).

Ultimately, I waited to apply to law school because I was unsure of whether or not I wanted to do it...I had become pretty involved in a campaign in the fall and thought about trying to work in the political arena for awhile. I know I should have just applied and deferred, but what can you do now.

I applied to Oklahoma, UNLV, Arkansas, Kansas, and will apply to Indiana. Right now I've only heard back from Arkansas (where I got a scholarship which brings tuition down to about resident levels). The other applications were more work, so I'm not surprised its taking a bit longer. Mainly I picked those schools (other than OU) because of the later application deadline and the fact that they fit a profile of where I want to live (every one is in a college town except for UNLV, which I like for other reasons).

[Izulde]

Congratulations on the one acceptance :) Hope you get the others as well.

[Ksyrup]

Just in case you decide to go to law school, you should know that clients expect responses to their questions quicker than 7 months later. I don't want you going into a situation caught off-guard or anything. ;)

[molson]

Just in case you decide to go to law school, you should know that clients expect responses to their questions quicker than 7 months later. I don't want you going into a situation caught off-guard or anything. ;)

He could just work for the government if that's a concern.

[RedKingGold]

I ended up doing pretty well and improved 9 points from the first of the diagnostic tests...but 6 points off of my diagnostic peak (which was like the 5th practice I took).

Ultimately, I waited to apply to law school because I was unsure of whether or not I wanted to do it...I had become pretty involved in a campaign in the fall and thought about trying to work in the political arena for awhile. I know I should have just applied and deferred, but what can you do now.

I applied to Oklahoma, UNLV, Arkansas, Kansas, and will apply to Indiana. Right now I've only heard back from Arkansas (where I got a scholarship which brings tuition down to about resident levels). The other applications were more work, so I'm not surprised its taking a bit longer. Mainly I picked those schools (other than OU) because of the later application deadline and the fact that they fit a profile of where I want to live (every one is in a college town except for UNLV, which I like for other reasons).

I had a similar experience with the Princeton Review and I'm very happy that you had similar success. That is a great list of schools to choose from and you should be very happy about just getting into a good one. The applicant pool for law school is getting tougher and more competitive, so give yourself a great pat on the back for a job well done.

[MalcPow]

Congrats on the acceptance. The applications and waiting are a pretty annoying process, nice to get a good option in your pocket early.

[albionmoonlight]

Just in case you decide to go to law school, you should know that clients expect responses to their questions quicker than 7 months later. I don't want you going into a situation caught off-guard or anything. ;)

"OK, Mr. watravaler, here is your answer.

And, at 7 months of research, times 4 weeks per month, times 40 hours per week, times $100 per hour--your bill comes to $112,000."

Sounds like he's going to do just fine as an attorney. ;)

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[Ksyrup]

He could just work for the government if that's a concern.

Even I was expected to come back with an answer a bit quicker than that when I worked for the state.

Although I clearly remember my first project as a law clerk for a state agency. One of the attorneys gave me an issue to research and write a memo on, and when I came back with it completed the next day, he looked puzzled and said, "Oh I wasn't expecting that for a couple of weeks. You really didn't need to rush it."

It was at that point I realized I was going to do just fine working for the state...:D

[st.cronin]

take a course. I fucking bombed the LSAT's without taking one.

fixed for humor

[sooner333]

Found out that I got into UNLV Boyd School of Law today!!! I just might have to set up a trip over a weekend to view the facilities ;). But, I'm really excited about this one because of what the school has to offer as a relatively new school with nice facilities and a growing area in Las Vegas. Also, I'm excited about what they had to offer me as far as scholarship on tuition.

It's pretty much the wildcard of the schools that I applied to, as it's the only one not in a college town (which I really do like living in...Northwestern was NOT like that, but it was more suburban even with its proximity to Chicago). Really though, I think UNLV will give OU a run for its money (I hear late this month about OU). I went into the process thinking that if I got into OU, I was going there for sure, now I'm back up in the air for sure.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Found out that I got into UNLV Boyd School of Law today!!! I just might have to set up a trip over a weekend to view the facilities ;). But, I'm really excited about this one because of what the school has to offer as a relatively new school with nice facilities and a growing area in Las Vegas. Also, I'm excited about what they had to offer me as far as scholarship on tuition.

It's pretty much the wildcard of the schools that I applied to, as it's the only one not in a college town (which I really do like living in...Northwestern was NOT like that, but it was more suburban even with its proximity to Chicago). Really though, I think UNLV will give OU a run for its money (I hear late this month about OU). I went into the process thinking that if I got into OU, I was going there for sure, now I'm back up in the air for sure.

Congrats!