Rushing to Failure (Ep. 519)

Ben and Nathan field a handful of questions with a common theme: they come from students who are moving too fast on the LSAT, attempting too many questions, and failing to understand what they’re reading. In other words, they’re rushing to failure. 

The solution is simple: Attempt one question at a time. If you miss it, review until you understand why. Then, move on to the next one. Slow down, skip all the gimmicks, and the LSAT becomes easy. 

0:33 – Reading All Answer Choices

Sydney asks if she can skip answer choices once she finds her prediction. Skimming bad answer choices is fine, but you still need to glance at all of them. You also don’t have to read every word. As soon as an answer starts moving in the wrong direction, eliminate it confidently and move on.

8:35 – Master’s Degree to Make Up for a Low GPA?

Joe recognizes that his undergraduate GPA will hurt his admissions chances and is considering a master’s degree to improve his odds. Ben and Nathan note that his 4.0 GPA in his senior year already shows he can succeed in law school. Graduate grades won’t factor into his LSAC GPA. Joe should focus instead on removing bad grades from his transcript and getting the best LSAT possible.

13:37 – Mean LSAT Tweets

After a 144 diagnostic, Chris sends Nate an angry email. Ben and Nathan outline the Demon’s resources for improvement—if Chris wants to use them. They also note that academically strong students often approach the LSAT like school: skimming, rushing, and relying on outside knowledge—habits that hurt scores.

19:12 – Worst GPA You’ve Ever Seen

Rachel has a 1.73 GPA and just wants to get into law school. The guys commend her paralegal experience but explain that her only shot is with a strong LSAT. Given her situation, she should consider part-time or state-accredited programs to reduce cost and risk.

26:41 – Two-Word Accommodation Request

A Reddit student gets 50% extra time for “severe anxiety” with a simple two-word doctor’s note. Ben and Nathan highlight the ease of securing accommodations but remind listeners that they aren’t necessary to succeed.

34:30 – When to Take a Break

Blake feels burnt out after hours of daily studying with little progress. The guys point out that he’s prioritizing quantity over quality. They advise him to skip September, focus on learning, and wait to take the official test when he’s ready.

43:17 – ABA Journal

Ben and Nathan scoff at the latest ABA Journal, which addresses loneliness, gambling addiction, and the California bar exam mishap just on the cover. Inside? A first-page ad asking lawyers to donate more money to the ABA with a testimonial from a dental hygienist. 

50:10 – What’s the Deal with Purdue Global Law School?

Peter wants to know if Purdue Global Law School, a California-accredited law school, is worth applying to. 

1:09:40 - Personal Statement Gong Show

Sophia signs up as the next Gong Show contestant. In this segment, Ben and Nathan read your personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake, then they ring the gong. The number of lines to beat is 21—the record currently held by listener Danielle. 

1:20:27 - Word of the Week - Ameliorate

The new tutoring program was designed to ameliorate students’ struggles with reading comprehension.

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library. 

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