Winning, Not Whining (Ep. 230)
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With all the LSAT question-type buzz words floating around, it can be tough to keep them straight. The guys offer up a definitive list of LR question types, what they mean, and how you should think about answering them. They also take a look at a recent LSAC-hosted event, offer some advice about when and how to use the LSAT Demon, help someone decide if part-time law school is worthwhile, and try to offer some encouraging words to a listener with an “abysmal” cold diagnostic. Plus, Ben and Nathan consider how the old pipes in Nathan’s house may be affecting his health.
As always, if you like the show and you want to get more from the Thinking LSAT community, check out the links below. You can connect with other folks studying for the LSAT, and get more useful resources from Nathan and Ben.
Personal Statement Review Package
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Important Dates
February 11, 2020 – It’s the March LSAT registration deadline
February 22, 2020 – It’s ye olde February LSAT
March 30, 2020 – It’s the March LSAT
6:28 – Question-Type Elevator Pitches
Have you ever sat about, quietly contemplating the LSAT and its question types? “Strengthen…main point…parallel flaw…wtf does it all mean??” you might ask yourself. Well, dear listeners, Kip, and her study partners often wonder the very same things. In fact they quiz each other about different question types and how you might tackle them. They challenge Ben and Nathan to dish out elevator pitches for Logical Reasoning question types. The guys oblige. They go through 99% of LR question types, describe them, and describe how you can root out the answers for each.
55:10 – LSAC Live! With Kellye and Ken
Recently, LSAC offered a live Q&A panel—complete with all the trimmings of a proper talk show—that included several deans from mid-level law schools. The big takeaways? Well…nothing much of note. Unsurprisingly, LSAC representatives alongside these law school deans were quite bullish on law (and law-adjacent) careers; they indicated that now is a grand time to attend a law school. Of course, y’all Thinking LSAT listeners are informed consumers and know better. Nathan and Ben cover the big takeaways from the talk and debunk a number of the claims made on the panel.
1:07:14 – Is The LSAT Demon Right For Me?
N writes in to ask whether they seem like a good candidate to use the LSAT Demon for studying. N has used Powerscore and Testmasters to push their score from a diagnostic of 150 into the high 160s. But they’re not satisfied. N is determined to hit 170 and asks the guys if they think the Demon will help. The guys may be biased, but they agree that the LSAT Demon is a major boon for any law-school hopeful. With A.I.-based drilling, extra help sessions, live proctored exams, and tons of written and video explanations, the LSAT Demon is a comprehensive LSAT study tool that has everything you need to help you achieve your best score. Take advantage of the 7-day free trial to see if you like it as much as we think you will. But a good rule of thumb is: if you dig Thinking LSAT and you dig how the guys talk and think about the test? You’ll probably love studying with the Demon.
1:14:53 – Going to Law School Part-Time
R is just about to graduate with a bioengineering degree this year (way to go, R!). And they have their sights set on working for the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trade Office) as a patent examiner. R wants to know if getting a law degree will benefit them, and whether attending law school part-time is “worth it” – especially considering the government may pay for a considerable portion of the education costs. The guys agree on the following:
- Working while going to law school part-time is a grind, but not a bad idea at all. You can be networking and setting yourself up for your next professional move once you nab your JD.
- Whatever the government pays for your schooling, the guys maintain that you should not dish out any money for a law degree. Do. Not. Pay. For. Law school. Capeesh?
- Patent law is probably not a bad field to go into. Santa Clara has a patent law program and may be a good fit for you. Regardless, you should apply broadly and go wherever you can go for free.
1:21:18 – The Splitter’s Uphill Battle
Spencer has a low GPA. But since graduating in 2019, he’s been working as a paralegal and is certain he wants to go into law. Now he’s got law school in 2021 in his crosshairs. But after taking a Testmasters course and scoring a 150 on his first diagnostic, he’s feeling pretty discouraged. What can he expect to achieve with such an “abysmal” score and undergrad GPA? Here’s the deal, Spencer. Stop sniffling. You’ve got this. 150 is a great starting point. People go from 150 to the 170s every year. Ben and Nathan urge Spencer not to give a shit about his score and instead focus on studying, thorough review, learning from mistakes and deepening his understanding of the test.
1:25:02 – Personal Statement Review
Sean writes in and asks the guys to critique his personal statement. As a member of the army, Sean was required to learn Farsi in less than a year. His essay chronicles his journey to fluency alongside his classmates. And while Sean’s writing is pretty fab, his storytelling needs some work. The guys flay the personal statement in their usual style and give Sean some food for thought for his subsequent drafts. Their persistent advice? Show—don’t tell. Win—don’t whine.