<p>I haven't seen this particular question discussed so much, so I thought I'd put up a post. </p>
<p>I'm looking at taking the LSAT, either in June or September, and I'm wrestling with the decision to take a prep course. While I'm convinced that it can help make the preparation process much easier...at the end of the day some of these places are down right expensive. I'm just not sure I can justify dropping $1,200 or more on one of these courses. </p>
<p>Are they worth it...is a smaller, weekend course a better option...or are there people who still just do the prep on thier own and get great scores?...Beyond that...are they ethical? That is, if I take a prep course, wouldn't I be cheating the purpose of requiring the LSAT, which is to test one's abilities?</p>
<p>BTW...I have a strong history with standardized tests (33 ACT, 211 PSAT), and I'm a sophmore at Umich with a 3.8GPA.</p>
<p>I won't address your question about "ethical" as I don't have any interest in that. </p>
<p>Nobody can answer this question for you until you have taken a diagnostic so that you have some benchmark.....add to that you haven't mentioned what tier of law school you are shooting for. Most folks prep to gain the extra points they need to become competitive for a top tier school.</p>
<p>I can say that class versus private tutoring package....many folks find that the private time is a good value for you will then work/pay ONLY to work on the area you need to bump up. There is wide disparity between test prep companies and the quality of instructor/program. Do your research, it isn't too hard to figure out the top companies.</p>
<p>"That is, if I take a prep course, wouldn't I be cheating the purpose of requiring the LSAT, which is to test one's abilities?"</p>
<p>In my opinion, yes. I hate test prep more than I have words to say (no, it's not the work I hate. It's the "need" to prep in order to keep yourself on par with people who are your intellectual equals). That said, no, I don't think it's an ethical issue that's yours to worry about. In some ense, you'll also be cheating yourself (to some degree) by not preparing (either through tutoring, a class, or self-study...pick your poison). Unfortunately, there's a pretty intense prep-culture surrounding the LSAT, and you can't really send an addendum saying "Just FYI, I scored ahead of all these guys on my baseline." Sad, I agree.</p>
<p>In fairness, I don't think that it's a total loss to test "test prep" abilities. How hard someone studies is certainly some measure of motivation, dedication, ability to pick up a new way of thinking, and so forth. Unfortunately, it's also a measure of free time and, in many cases, privilege. </p>
<p>Anyway, whether or not a prep class is worth it depends on your original score (your school likely offers mock tests, or you can try taking one from online or a book), the score you'd like to shoot for, and your own study habits. I knew that I needed a class to carve out the time to study, although I wish I'd had the choice of more companies. Others have the time and discipline to sit themselves down with a stack of books and prepare just as well. It's really a personal call, but I do believe that there are cheaper and equally effective alternatives (whether not they'll work as well for you is a different question).</p>
<p>I'm going to go about it the same way I did for the SAT's - no test prep classes. I found in the SAT's they catered to students with average scores, when I was an above average student seeking a super above average score.</p>
<p>And I suppose I'm going to be that way for the LSATs. So I don't want to take a prep course aimed at helping you get a 160 when I want a 170.</p>