Too early to study for the LSAT?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>Alright, right now I'm a senior in HS (graduating in a week or so) and I'm very serious about doing well on the LSAT when I take it senior year of COLLEGE. I know it's extremely early, but is it worth my time to start studying in the fall for it...or is the LSAT just one of those tests that you NEED to be good at, and studying an insane amount can only do you so much? I'm guessing that if I put 3-4 years of hard work into it I can do well, but I'm just not sure. For example, the SAT is a test that you CAN ace without being a genious...just have to study a ton.</p>

<p>To be honest, I'm not confident in my abilities to do well on the LSAT only because I always hear about how difficult it is. I saw some practice questions and it really didn't seem that hardcore, but I guess timing is what people complain about most.</p>

<p>I would give my left leg to go to USC or UCLA law, and as you guys know, those are really tough to get into.</p>

<p>Any advice you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I'm in the same situation as you James...I took a diagnostic, albeit poorly self-administered, and got a 153 which is laughable. So I ordered both the LR and LG Bibles...they are quite helpful. Might as well start now. :) 3 and a half years of studying for that 170 is def. worth it, IMO.</p>

3

<p>I also advise you to thoroughly scour the Law School Discussion forums...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>What's a better resource than college kids going through the law school admissions process?</p>

4

<p>You certainly don't need to put 3-4 years of hard work into studying for the LSAT. I think that your time is much better spent doing other things, learning and gaining meaningful experience. If you have so much time on your hands during high school, maybe do an internship with a local law firm or with a public interest law group. Hang out with friends, go to the beach, read some great books ... if you are really intent on getting into a top law school, perhaps building some skills that may help you do well in school is a better way to spend your time. There will be plenty of time to study for the LSAT in your junior or senior year of college. For now, focus on where you in your life right now. Who knows? College may completely change your perspective on what you want to do in the future -- and you may not want to be a lawyer after all. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that someone changed their career goals during college.</p>

5

<p>Na, I'm not looking to study an insane amount during freshman or sophomore year. Hopefully my first two years I'll study 30-45 minutes a day (practice test once or twice a month) and then I'll get really into it junior year.</p>

<p>I just basically want to know if that's a waste of time, or studying for the LSAT can REALLY pay off. I'm not looking to get a crazy 175 on this or anything, but I'd like to get in the mid/upper 160's.</p>

6

<p>You don't need to study 30-45 minutes a day for three years to do well on the LSAT. Honestly. Use the time to study, find an intership, take a part time job or do something else (anything else) that will help your application to law school. I truly believe that studying and doing practice tests for the LSAT is helpful, but there is only so much help you're going to get from studying longer than a reasonable time (i.e. 6 months max).</p>

7

<p>I'm not sure but i think he meant 30-45 mins a day for his major.And an LSAT practice test once a month.I mean i dont see WHAT he'll be studying- for 45 mins a day.You can practice the tests but you cant really read any material that will help you on the test right?. I think one practice test a month is reasonable. I can def. see myself doing that.</p>

8

<p>I would probably practice questions for 30-45 minutes a day on Monday-Thursday, and do a practice test about once a month. I can easily study for my classes and maintain an active social life...are you kidding me? This is 30-45 minutes, not 3-4 hours. I just think that if I train myself for these questions for such a long time, it'll be MUCH easier for me. Doing tons and tons of questions before my senior year would also help me get through the LSAT without alot of problems with the timing, seeing how i'll be so familiar with the questions and how to solve them.</p>

<p>again, i don't know if this is actually true, but it just seems like common sense.</p>

9

<p>James--I'm doing the same thing. Took a diagnostic a week or two ago, and I got a 164, so I'm pleading with the LSAT gods that I can raise my score to a 170 + by Junior year [preferably in the high 70's]. However, because the LSAT is a 'how do you think?' test and not a 'what do you know?' test, raising your score is really high.</p>

<p>As for what sallyawp said, it is possible to study and intern/have fun/etc at the same time. I'm studying the LSATs this summer, and I'm also having fun with friends, and interning at a law firm at the same time. Actually it's much better than if I were just...not doing anything. Then I'd be really bored just sitting at home all the time, hahaa...</p>

<p>And I'm planning to do the same setup as you are during college. For me, I don't really care if it's 'too early'...I'm doing it because I find it fun. Call me a freak, but I really do think the questions and stuff are fun. So...I do them because I like to, and if they improve my score, SWEET. If not...well, its not like I hated the process of trying. (:</p>

<p>I think I'm also going to get the LG and LR Bibles...expensive as ****, but well worth it from what I've heard.</p>

10

<p>Doing 30-45 minutes of daily practice will not necessarily raise your score. Engaging in the critical thinking required of most rigorous majors in college will.</p>

<p>Edit: Oh yeah, and if you find that you are not naturally improving because of work in your major, your major is probably not rigorous enough.</p>

11

<p>nspeds, so what you're saying is that spending hundreds of hours of preperation before i get to junior year (where I'll hopefully be taking a course and such) is a waste of time? Maybe I shouldn't be talking because I've never taken the LSAT, but I just don't see how that's possible.</p>

<h2>For example, look at this question:</h2>

<p>When the goalie has been chosen, the Smalltown Bluebirds hockey team has a starting lineup that is selected from two groups:</p>

<p>First Group: John, Dexter, Bart, Erwin
Second Group: Leanne, Roger, George, Marlene, Patricia</p>

<p>When deciding on the players in the lineup, the coach considers the following requirements:</p>

<p>Two players are always chosen from the first group, while three are chosen from the second group.
George will only start if Bart also starts.
Dexter and Bart will not start together.
If George starts, Marlene won’t start.
The 4 fastest players are: John, Bart, George and Patricia
3 of the 4 fastest players will always be chosen.</p>

<p>If George is in the starting lineup, who must also start?</p>

<pre><code>Marlene or John
Dexter or Leanne
Dexter or John
John or Patricia
Marlene or Roger
</code></pre>

<hr>

<p>So training myself way in advance to learn the different strategies and techniques to solve these problems is pointless? Come the day of the LSAT, I don't see how solving so many problems for 3+ years won't work in my favor.</p>

<p>And I'm doing a double major in Econ and Sociology btw. Econ should involve quite a bit of logic, and Sociology is just BS I'm using to raise my GPA.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
nspeds, so what you're saying is that spending hundreds of hours of preperation before i get to junior year (where I'll hopefully be taking a course and such) is a waste of time?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No. What I am saying is that your time is better spent so that... </p>

<p>
[quote]
And I'm doing a double major in Econ and Sociology btw. Econ should involve quite a bit of logic, and Sociology is just BS I'm using to raise my GPA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>...you can raise your GPA in economics.</p>

<p>The approach you are taking to college education is already incorrect.</p>

<p>
[quote]
So training myself way in advance to learn the different strategies and techniques to solve these problems is pointless?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>"Strategies and techniques" will only take you so far. 170+ scorers usually score high because, in addition to the aforementioned tool, they are mentally quick. The LSAT trains one's ability to think analytically within a set time, not one's ability to draw efficient diagrams – this is especially the case since the latter ability is useless for actual law school exams.</p>

<p>What you should be doing is working hard in a rigorous major. Excelling in that major will give you the requisite mental quickness to solve these problems.</p>

<p>Is the answer to that question "John or Patricia."</p>

<p>If so, it was rather easy, and I did not use a pencil or paper: If George starts, Bart must also start. Since Bart starts as well, Dexter cannot start, so you can eliminate (b) and (c). Since George starts, Marlene cannot also start, so you can eliminate (a) and (e).</p>

<p>When I took some LSAT questions right after graduating, I wondered why the questions took so long to answer. After completing two years of philosophy, I wonder now why the LSAC gives us so much time.</p>

13

<p>There is always time to learn strategies and such. But those tools are only really for persons who can already solve these problems, but just need to excise a couple more seconds from their calculating. Establish your skills in thinking analytically, and then cut corners with strategies. </p>

<p>I know many students who scored a 175+ on the LSAT, and believe me, they did not do nearly as much preparation as you think is helpful.</p>

14

<p>yeah- definitely think years of practice will help. Save you some time. That question was easy but it took me a while to dissect it. And you wont have much time.</p>

15

<p>nspeds--in that case, are there any ways to increase my speed? Because when I took the diagnostic, I found myself rushed for time at the last 5 or so questions. I'm a HS senior too, so if there's anything I can do to increase my speed for analytical problems...it can only help me, in all areas of my life, right? (:</p>

16

<p>Exactly, makemehappy, and the best way to exercise your analytical abilities is to take a major that is conducive to such an effort.</p>

17

<p>Well, I'm planning to major in PoliSci: that should give me a sufficent amount of classes that'll increase my speed, no?</p>

18

<p>Probably not. </p>

<p>I am not going to suggest majors, because then I would be conveying the wrong message viz., that one should choose a major just so he/she can perform well on some absurd test or look attractive for law school.</p>

<p>Just perform well and try to find some way to increase your analytical abilities. Buy a book on logic, or something. I do not know.</p>

19

<p>nspeds, the thing though is that I'm not looking to get a 175+, or even a 170. I just want to guarantee myself to get somewhere in the 160 range (hell, I'd be happy with a flat 160).</p>

<p>I'm not sure what the answer to the question is, but based on your reasoning it seems correct. I just googled a sample question, and that's what I got...so I copied/pasted it.</p>

<p>Are there any specific Philo classes that you feel would help out with this type of stuff? Philosophy seems like a broad major, so I'm not really sure. It's something that I'm considering minoring in.</p>

20

<p>
[quote]
nspeds, the thing though is that I'm not looking to get a 175+, or even a 170. I just want to guarantee myself to get somewhere in the 160 range (hell, I'd be happy with a flat 160).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Oh please, then 35-40 minutes a day of studying is superfluous. One can get that by studying for 3-4 months, probably less.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Are there any specific Philo classes that you feel would help out with this type of stuff? Philosophy seems like a broad major, so I'm not really sure. It's something that I'm considering minoring in.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Logic.</p>