Thinking LSAT

Nathan gives five (death)stars to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” while Ben shares a far more lukewarm review of his family’s new dog, a “Mountain Swissy” kind. (0:30)

In Episode 78, the guys read part of an email from Alec, a student who took the December LSAT but canceled his score after encountering an “unusual” Logic Game. They continue with Alec’s questions here in Episode 79. Topics covered include: dealing with the experimental section, choosing the best study materials, combining rules to make inferences, and deciding when to diagram on the test. (6:34)

An anonymous listener asks whether or not she should submit an addendum that uses a “white lie” to explain an LSAT absence from two years ago. Ben says the fib is not worth the risk and if the truth ever does get out it could have devastating consequences on her career. Nathan agrees that the truth is best in this and every case, as small lies lead to bigger, more complicated lies that are too difficult to keep track of. No matter the reason, the guys concur and urge people to be completely honest on their applications. (42:30)

We continue the June 2007 LSAT with a lengthy Logical Reasoning problem. To play at home just download the free test, work through Question #14 in Section 3, and listen in as we discuss the solution in detail. (48:30)

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The guys open Episode 78 by discussing the need to submit a diversity statement with a law school application. Both agree it can be a valuable addition but caution applicants to beware of wasting the admissions officer’s time. (1:28)

Nathan admits he has a drinking problem; the problem being his need to discuss the LSAT while drinking. The good news is he left a note for his sober self to discuss an important issue on the show today! After noticing students’ tendency to misunderstand the question type “the argument proceeds by…” he and Ben clarify what the question is actually asking you to identify. (4:51)

Drew’s email shares his lofty goal of a score in the 170s on the February LSAT. He feels his accuracy is on target, only missing about two per section, but is worried about his pace being too slow to finish all the sections. Ben encourages Drew to deeply review the questions he’s getting wrong to identify what idea he is missing. Nathan agrees and counsels Drew to ignore the clock and focus only on accuracy, as that is what will increase speed and lead to higher scores. (8:50)

Subscribe to the Thinking LSAT Podcast to join our mailing list and be instantly notified when a new episode is released. Hurry and do so before we fill the site with all those lucrative pillow advertisements Ben has lined up! (30:00)

Ferris Bueller admits he didn’t like going to classes so he focused on working and  extracurricular activities (presumably parades) instead. Now he wants to know if he should include an addendum with his application to explain his 3.0 GPA to admissions. Ben suggests Ferris use his resume to show his busy schedule and Nathan thinks he should write the addendum but to not be so honest about his disinterest in school. Ben and Nathan both recommend that Ferris focus the issue entirely on his need to work to support himself and not the extracurriculars he enjoyed. (31:37)

Omar worked hard to receive good grades in undergrad but one devastating semester is dragging his overall GPA down. An addendum to explain that outlier is perfect for this situation and we discuss striking the right tone in the addendum. (37:00)

The final email is from Alec and asks how to avoid “overthinking” in the Reading Comp section. Nathan is appalled at the idea of overthinking on the LSAT and encourages all test takers to leave their brains on for the entire test. (42:00)

Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!

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Nathan shares an email he received from David Faigman, Acting Chancellor and Dean of the University of California Hastings College of the Law. The email, sent to students and alumni of the program, discussed Hasting graduates’ “horrific result” on the July 2016 Bar exam. We talk about who and what is to blame for the low passage rate and what might be done to improve it. (2:36)

Arye asks the guys to explain why it’s better to read the question stimulus before reading the question stem. We discuss this and more from Arye, including score plateaus and preparing for the February LSAT. (12:35)

One of Nathan’s students recently took the LSAT in Mexico City and shares his impressions of the experience. He was very pleased with the helpful test proctors, less so with the restrooms, and completely mystified by the stickiness of his desk. (30:30)

Calvin emails to thank the show for test day tips he utilized while taking the December LSAT. Nathan’s insistence that there is no such thing as a “weird” Logic Game kept Calvin calm and confident when he encountered a new-looking game on the test. (31:48)

We continue working our way through the June 2007 LSAT with two more Logical Reasoning problems. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions 12 and 13, and listen in as we discuss the solutions in detail. (#12 at 37:20 and #13 at 49:06)

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Episode 76 is a nod to our Northern neighbors as Nathan records from Toronto, Ontario and we’re joined by Graeme Blake from Montreal, founder of LSAT Hacks. So kick off your ice hockey skates, grab a big mug of maple syrup, and listen in to the last episode before tomorrow’s LSAT exam!

An article from the Wall Street Journal claims the American Bar Association is working on a rule that will revoke accreditation from law schools with bar passage rates of less than 75%. We discuss the article, the possible unintended consequences of such a rule, and our ideas for more useful changes the ABA could make. (4:28)

Listener Matt asks for tips on staying focused during the Reading Comprehension section of the test. Ben suggests breaking sentences up into even smaller chunks and Nathan advises rereading any part that isn’t sinking in fully. We both tell Matt to learn to recognize when his mind is drifting early on so he can stop and re-focus without wasting time. (19:00)

Kurt emails about finding the best law school to attend for certain specialties he might want to practice. Our advice is to disregard any rankings he finds regarding a schools’ specialties and instead choose the best school for the lowest cost in the location you would like to practice in. (30:16)

We spend the second half of this episode working on two Logical Reasoning problems from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions 10 and 11, and listen in as we discuss the solutions in detail. (#10 at 45:00 and #11 with Graeme at 1:05:30)

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Phillipe (not his real name and probably not the horse from Beauty and the Beast…probably) is wondering whether he should quit his full time job so he can focus on studying for the LSAT. We both advise against this drastic plan and encourage Phillipe to focus on the quality of his study time rather than the quantity. He also asks for suggestions on managing stress and fatigue and we share some of our favorite techniques. (7:30)

Brett is a 30 year old professional who has a 3.65 GPA, a 164 average practice LSAT score, and a clean bill of health after recovering from surgery for kidney cancer in August. We’re so glad to hear you’re cancer-free! As he prepares for the December LSAT, Brett worries his application will be submitted too late to be considered for the big scholarships that he needs to attend law school. We talk about when applications are considered “late” and what that means for scholarship opportunities. Nathan counsels Brett on baller negotiating tactics, while Ben suggests he include his cancer story as an addendum to his application. (28:16)

We work on two Logical Reasoning problems from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions 8 and 9, and listen in as we discuss the solutions in detail. (#8 at 52:20 and #9 at 1:05:02)

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Feeling down about the election/the country/the very fabric of your existence?? Fear not, dear listeners, Nathan knows what will turn that frown upside-down…more LSAT prep! In the wake of Trumpocalypse, he is offering a $200 discount on his online, on demand prep course. This offer ends November 15 so use code ‘Trumpocalypse’ to sign up, rock the LSAT, become a lawyer, and save us all! (7:40)

We receive a grateful email from “Leaf” who used the Thinking LSAT Podcast to keep herself entertained at the gym. She especially found Mike from Episodes 66 and 72.5 compelling, as she too struggles with over-preparation and score anxiety. We applaud her ‘beast-like’ work ethic and talk about the three R’s of LSAT prep-Review, Review, Review. Hopefully, a more thorough understanding of the toughest questions can provide Leaf with some peace of mind and her dream score. (8:38)

Namrada does well in the early sections of her practice tests but starts to fatigue as she goes on; she is worried about her stamina when it comes to taking an entire LSAT on test day. We recommend good sleep, deep breaths, and some chair yoga and to stay fresh and alert on the big day. (39:15)

Scott is great at finding flaws in Logical Reasoning problems, however he doesn’t always find the right flaw. Ben offers two stages of analysis for Flaw questions and Nathan advises Scott to slow down and consider all the answer choices before rushing into choosing one. (48:29)

We interview Law School Expert Ann Levine about trends she has noticed in this year’s admission cycle so far. She offers advice on Early Decision, application timelines, and school interviews. Ann also has a pep talk for those future lawyers who may be disappointed in Tuesday’s election results. (58:10)

Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!

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Nathan introduces a new Thinking LSAT feature: Really Dumb Move of the (September 2016) LSAT. A tutoring student of his receives the honors this time for discussing the test’s difficulty with a friend during break and then letting that discussion throw off her performance later. Honorable mention is awarded to a really loud wrist watch. (6:28)

Nathan recommends a Rolling Stone article, Why We’re Living in the Age of Fear. The piece discusses the discrepancy between how safe we feel and how safe we actually are in the world today. Check it out, especially if you’re feeling nervous about the outcome of today’s election. (18:40)

Ben, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of this election or guns or even of taking LSAT practice tests! We both urge listeners to take them early, take them often, and take your test prep to the next level. (24:15)

Listener questions include asking for advice on how to best use the time-and-a half accommodation, why we suggest planning for two test dates, and how to best write an addendum- what to include and what to leave out. We hear a happy update from Episode 62’s Overwhelmed Dad (39:00) and a sad update from listener Tom (46:50), hang in there, Tom!

Ben recommends two books that discuss some underrated traits, being messy and being a quitter. Messy presents the idea that some of the most successful and rewarding times in a person’s life happen when they aren’t planning and organizing perfectly. In Choose Yourself! Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream, author James Altucher suggests quitting strategically and how it can improve your life. (1:02:00)

Cam asks about LSAT India’s prep tests and almost makes Ben swear. (1:23:00) Grace needs motivation to keep studying for her second LSAT attempt. (1:27:16)

We wrap up the episode with some stats on the podcast, a big thank you to all the listeners, and Ben speaking Japanese. Domo arigato Ben’s high school Japanese teacher! (1:35:00)

Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!

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In Episode 66, Nathan and Ben discussed an email from Mike, a dedicated student who suffered from panic-induced insomnia the night before his June LSAT.

A quick update on the last episode’s story of the student who went one second overtime on his test day Writing Sample. The LSAC’s characteristically cagey response to him leaves us plenty of room for speculation. (1:00)

Two listener emails describe separate but nearly identical issues with their proctors from the September LSAT. Each student took the test with accommodations and neither was allowed by their proctor to take the fifth section of the test. This administrator error led to their scores being canceled by the LSAC. Hear our response to what the LSAC is offering these students for their trouble. (3:40)

Rebecca, a wife, mother, and law school hopeful, is quite embedded in her community. She is applying to the law school closest to her home, however she is worried that the program won’t offer her a scholarship because it is clear she means to stay in the area. We discuss the pros and cons of her community involvement to her application and encourage her to also consider programs further away. (15:30)

Spicoli asks the dudes for advice on writing his personal statement and whether or not he should write about the specific type of law he wants to practice. Surfboard law, perhaps? Ben recommends making an audio recording before putting pen to paper, while Nathan suggests the Ernest Hemingway method- have two drinks then get to writing! (24:40)

High school senior Jimbo is a high-achieving student who is looking at a dual program that would allow him to complete his undergrad and law school in only six years total. We question the huge commitment this would be for someone in his position and suggest other options for Jimbo, ranging from Alaskan metalsmith apprenticeship to just going to college and trying out a variety of classes. (44:20)

We work on two Logical Reasoning questions from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions #6 and #7, and listen in as we discuss each problem in detail. (55:00)

Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!

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Thinking LSAT gets political as we discuss the Trump-Clinton debate, and Nathan shares his surprising opinion on the outcome. Don’t worry if you’re not offended yet, we’ll discuss religion at the end of the show. (0:30)

A commercial break here for Nathan to plug his upcoming LSAT Boot Camps in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Get more information and sign up for a magical weekend with Nathan Fox. (8:28)

Tragically funny experiences from the September LSAT include distracting proctors and proctors who forget how to tell time, and a violation for going one second over in the Writing Sample section. We share some tips on avoiding these violations by wrapping up the sample quickly and clearly. (9:30)

Ben shares big news from the 2004 LSAC Report— a tablet-based LSAT will be released for testing in 2015!!! Oh wait, it wasn’t. We discuss the pros and cons (there aren’t any cons, actually) of such a test, and speculate on why it never happened. (23:40)

An email from Greg asks whether his advisor calling the September test “unusual” is accurate and what that might mean for the December LSAT he plans to take. (49:55)

Anonymous is concerned about inconsistency in his practice test scores. Ben says this is a super common experience and Nathan says this student is just not good enough at the LSAT yet. Either way, we agree speeding up is not the answer. (49:55)

We work on a Sufficient Assumption question from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Question #5, and listen in as we discuss the problem in detail. (1:07:00)

Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!

Take a listen and let us know what you think.