Diagnostic to Disappointed

Gregmjr91Gregmjr91 Live Member
in General 11 karma

When I started this journey 8 months ago, I diagnostic tested at 139 overall. I spent 3 months fumbling with a shitty program of study using a completely different program and was getting nowhere. Fast forward to today (5 months post-7sage) and I PT'd a 149. 10 point increase is great, but man do I have so much more work to do. This is not a boast. I am genuinely concerned that while I am gaining fundamental skill in taking this test...I am not going to be able to achieve my desired score of 165 by the November test. Advice please.

Comments

  • marinaecroymarinaecroy Core Member
    edited August 25 30 karma

    This is what I would do if you want to apply this cycle (just my opinion, take it or leave it).

    Take the LSAT in November, and get your apps ready as if you will be submitting in November. Register for the January LSAT just in case. If you get a 165 in November, great! Submit all your apps by late November and celebrate being done nice and early.

    If you DONT get the 165, then in November, only submit to schools where you are within range of the LSAT median. You can look up the LSAT medians of your desired schools on websites like LSD.law. Hold off on your reach schools and re-take the LSAT in January, hopefully you get a much better score in Jan, and you can apply to the reach schools.

    I know people say "oh dont apply mid cycle" but if your LSAT is too low, schools will outright reject you, no matter how early you apply. Its better to apply with a decent LSAT mid cycle than apply in November with a low LSAT score.

  • StudentDNLStudentDNL Live Member
    8 karma

    I agree with the earlier comment of applying for the November and January LSAT. I would also maybe sit with yourself and think honestly about how you've been studying. How many hours a week are you logging in to study? How focused are you during your study time? Are you consistent with the days and times you are studying? These are factors that make a huge difference in your success.

    For me, I'm studying around 3-4 hours a day, around the same time, 5-6 days a week. I personally find that the more days a week I consistently study for the LSAT, the better I do at drills and preptests because my brain is in "LSAT mode". I've even started going to a local library because I find that the ritual of getting out of my house helps me be productive and take the studying more seriously. Take some notes about how you're personally conducting yourself in this study process, and then try doing something new one week. See what happens! What do you have to lose?

    Success also requires serious discipline. Not just study discipline, getting enough sleep at night and going to bed early. Waking up early to give yourself more time during the day. Eating properly (focus on a good protein intake), and drinking enough water. Caffeine is great but too much can also be harmful.

    Last note: believe in yourself. It's hard not to let certain scores scare you, but you have time to improve, and you will improve. You have so much more control over your scores then you realize. Look at yourself in the mirror and say "I've got this," because you do! A positive, relentless attitude will serve you!

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