Ben and Nathan dig into a law professor’s claim that law school tuition is collapsing and explain what that really means for future students. More than 80% of students receive institutional scholarships. A strong LSAT score and GPA set you up to take advantage of the broken system rather than fall victim to it. 

⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 525 on YouTube

0:31 - The Law School Tuition “Collapse”

Ben and Nathan discuss a blog post by Professor Paul Campos on declining law school tuition. From 2010 to 2023, average tuition dropped by $9,000 (adjusted for inflation). The guys remind listeners that only one in five students actually pays full price, and those who do are often the least financially equipped. Improving your LSAT score and GPA is the surest way to secure a scholarship and avoid paying for law school.

19:27 - Tips from Departing Demons

Ben and Nathan share advice from departing Demon students who crushed the August LSAT.

Olivia: Never give up.

Keisha: Treat your official test like your practice tests.

Sophie: Don’t rush! Slow down, and the improvement will come.

Andrea: Avoid law school debt by following the Demon way.

33:22 - Are Optional Essays Really Optional?

Susan wonders if she should submit optional essays with her applications. Ben and Nathan say: only if you have something good to add. LSAT and GPA remain the biggest factors in law school applications. For the top T14 schools, optional essays may be more useful to include. Ben also reminds Susan that her personal statement should show, not tell.

41:04 - How to Structure Studying

Katherine asks how to structure her study time for maximum improvement. Ben and Nathan advise her to focus on one question at a time, prioritizing accuracy, and to mix drilling with timed sections.

50:55 - Career Aspirations

A listener wonders if stating a desire to become a prosecutor could hurt their application. Ben and Nathan explain that vague career goals aren’t persuasive, but if you have concrete experience, a short mention is fine.

56:25 - Time for the Early Decision Talk

Ovadia is considering an early-decision application to a T14 school. Nathan is skeptical of her chances and warns that scholarships through early decisions are rarely full rides. They recommend applying broadly to maximize her scholarship potential and improving her LSAT if she’s serious about T14.

1:10:08 - Personal Statement Gong Show

Amanda, a past contestant, writes in to thank Ben and Nathan for their feedback. Then Britt steps 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 record to beat is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.

1:23:07 - Word of the Week

The article presented the salient facts of the dispute clearly and concisely.

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library.