LSAT Prep Course - How to make the most of it

Many prep companies are beginning their live summer prep courses soon. Here's how to make most of your LSAT prep course.

Do NOT expect your instructor to be like your grade school teacher. No hand holding or spoon feeding. Studying for the LSAT is exclusively your task and duty. Most LSAT companies do nothing more than provide you with the tools to familiarize and understand the exam better. Actual practice, mastery and naturalization of the exam is your lot (and your lot alone).

Here is some good advice on how to make the most of your LSAT class from several veteran LSAT students, who have all done well on the exam (they all scored 168 or higher).

1. "Take as many practice tests" (aside from the ones administered by your typical mass-marketing prep company).
2. "Do ALL the homework" (try not to fall behind)
3. "Balance your study with another healthy hobby"
4. "Take advantage of having a live instructor - arrive before class or stay after class to establish a relationship, ask questions, and learn from his/her experience" (you don't necessarily have to be a general (= the oldest and most experienced LSAT instructor) to understand war (= LSAT); in fact it's usually the fresh soldiers (new instructors), who just returned from the front-line battle that understand the war (=LSAT) better than the generals...they will have more useful advice for you) 
5. "Start thinking and brainstorming about the application process" (it can get mind numbing and dangerous for your LSAT score when simply obsessing over the LSAT and losing perspective of the bigger picture)

LSAT: To Cancel or Not to Cancel?

It is an important decision - nothing to be slighted. Many more students feel like they have done worse on the exam than usual. Logistically, you have 6 days to make a decision - but since you need to mail-in your request, you actually have less time (more like 3 days). 

Unless you completely messed up (e.g., mis-bubbled an entire section), hold your horses and don't cancel right away. Spend a day or two - let the dust settle and allow the air to clear. Most people are in no state to make a rational decision (that's in their best interest), immediately after sitting through a 4+ hour (mind-numbing) exam. Don't think about the LSAT during the next two days. Permit your subconscious to do all the sorting and reorganizing. 

After your brief two-day mental escape from the LSAT, regroup and think about the worst case scenario, that is, think about how much you got wrong in each section? Re-live and review each section in your head (e.g., Section 1 - was experimental; Section 2 - was logical reasoning and I ran out of time during the last 3 questions, so considering that I usually get about 2 wrong when I have no time-constraints, approximately 5 wrong; Section 3 - was logic games....etc.). 

Approximate your score based on how much you got wrong. Use a 'Conversion Chart' from a past PrepTest to guesstimate your LSAT score. You can find a conversion chart here (scroll down to page 40).

Definitely cancel your score, if:

• you are more than 3 points below your desired LSAT score, AND
• you have a score on your record from a previously administered LSAT.

DO NOT cancel your score, if:

• you are hovering within 3 points of your desired LSAT score, AND
• this is your first time taking the LSAT.

Retaking the LSAT is not a bad thing. While it is best to get a top-notch score on the first try, you can still get into the best of the best law schools with more than one LSAT score on your record. 

For those that don't fit neatly into one of the above two "if" categories, the decision is tougher because your score can swing either way. If you aren't sure of what to do or going crazy from this decision making process, email me - I'll help you. 

What to do: "Day Before the LSAT" and "Day of LSAT"

Here's my advice regarding the day before the test and during the day of the test:

Day Before 

• Relax and spend time with happy people. Avoid watching movies or t.v. for extended time periods - they will harm you more than benefit you because (1) visual poison (your mind really isn't active when watching tv) seriously numbs your brain; (2) you don't want your brain to be thinking of scenes and images from the movie/tv while you're taking the LSAT. 
• Find out who will take you to the test center (if you have no one to take you, figure out the best driving route). 
• Have a game plan for exactly how you'll spend the morning leading up to the test (view below for more info).
• Be sure to sleep early enough to get at least 8 hours of sleep (THIS IS IMPORTANT!)
• Make sure you have your test ticket, a bottle of water, I.D., pencils, erasers, and maybe a light granola bar.
• Before you go to bed, mentally go over (in your head) all the possible variations of test sections - i.e. RC, LR, LG, LR, RC? Just prepare for the worst and best line-ups.

Day of the Test

• Eat a not so heavy but energy-full breakfast. I highly recommend either a power bar or eggs + toast.
• Use the restroom (at home) before going to the test center!
• While eating breakfast, try a LG/LR question that you've done before (DON'T DO ANY NEW QUESTIONS). The purpose here is to infuse confidence and warm up your brain.
• Take your iPod with you (you won't be using it during the test) - it'll come in handy while you wait in line to be seated. You don't want to get psyched out by all the chitter-chatter of nervous test-takers standing around you. 
• Don't speak with anyone - fight the temptation.
• Make sure you know where the restrooms are at the testing location.