Stay ConnectedBen Olson and Nathan Fox started the Thinking LSAT Podcast to become better LSAT teachers and have some fun. Please 1) subscribe, 2) rate and review, and 3) send us questions: help@thinkinglsat.com. Don’t pay for law school!
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Ben and Nathan aren’t impressed when you narrow an LSAT question down to two answer choices. This week, the guys discuss why those who conquer the LSAT don’t settle for fifty-fifty guesses. They also share common mistakes made by LSAT beginners, examine a troubling admissions practice, and weigh in on “Why X?” statements in law school applications.
1:43 - Beginner LSAT Mistakes to Avoid - Nathan and Ben list some common mistakes made by beginner LSAT students. They encourage newcomers to focus on quality over quantity and to thoroughly review their mistakes.
9:53 - Confusing Answer Choices - The LSAT sometimes uses confusing language in the answer choices. Ben and Nathan suggest a backdoor approach to picking the correct answer: Refuse to pick a wrong one.
13:51 - Logical Reasoning: Flaw - The guys tackle a Flaw question from PrepTest 123. Try the question for yourself. Then listen to Ben and Nathan’s explanation.
35:06 - Getting Unstuck - An anonymous listener asks how to move forward when they’re stuck debating multiple answer choices. Nathan and Ben instruct Anonymous to reread the passage to discover the source of their misunderstanding.
45:06 - What’s the Deal with…? - The guys debut a new recurring segment by asking: “What’s the deal with the University of Washington Law School?” Listener Hannah unearths an admissions practice that some might call predatory.
1:03:01 - Canadian Law Schools - Listener Josh questions the importance of a high LSAT score for applicants to Canadian law schools.
1:06:09 - Target Schools - Ben and Nathan urge listener N not to limit their focus to a small list of regional target schools.
1:10:52 - Application Essays - Listener Josh relays some dubious advice regarding law school application essays.
1:16:19 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student Leah says: “Keep drilling LR every spare minute. I drilled LR while walking the dog, on my lunch break, in line at Starbucks. If you have five minutes, try and do 2 LR questions.”
1:18:14 - Word of the Week - Extirpate gimmicks from your approach to the LSAT.
The best LSAT students make strong predictions before reading the answer choices, but they remain open to correct answers that don’t match their predictions. This week, Ben and Nathan outline their flexible approach to prediction. Later, the guys advise students to set aside plenty of time for reviewing mistakes. They also discuss the possibility of a more competitive law school application cycle. And they explain why it shouldn’t matter whether you take the LSAT at home or at a testing center.
0:52 - A More Competitive Cycle?
LSAT registrations are up 18% compared to last year. Does that signal a more competitive admissions cycle?
5:37 - Make a Prediction
Nathan and Ben describe the process of predicting answers on the LSAT. Predict an answer, revise your prediction to fit the question, and remain open to other options when you read the answer choices.
15:35 - Study Schedule
Listener Cali worries that she spends too much time reviewing mistakes and not enough time drilling new questions. Ben and Nathan assure Cali that review is the most important part of LSAT prep.
27:48 - Remote vs. Testing Center
Should you take the LSAT at home or at a testing center? Nathan and Ben insist that the best LSAT students shouldn’t care where they take the test.
32:26 - Bar Passage Rates
Top law schools tend to have high bar passage rates. But as LSAT students know, correlation does not equal causation.
36:05 - LSAT Timeline
Ben and Nathan urge listener Connor to put off LSAT prep and focus on his undergraduate grades.
43:22 - FAFO
Don’t FAFO in your law school applications.The guys implore listener Brad to apply only with his best LSAT score.
52:08 - Tips from a Departing Demon
LSAT Demon student Camille says: “Please keep your faith in the process, and most importantly, yourself. Work hard, work smart, and keep pushing. You CAN do this.”
The LSAT tests three main things: reading comprehension, critical thinking, and work ethic. All of those are also crucial to success in law school. This week, Nathan and Ben discuss how LSAT prep goes hand in hand with law school prep. The guys also react to new restrictions on legacy admissions. They compare scholarship outcomes for full-time and part-time students. And they write the only LSAT addendum you’ll ever need.
4:08 - Career Change - Ben and Nathan advise listener Shirley to do some research before she commits to a career change. The guys also recommend a consistent LSAT study schedule, and they press Shirley to aim for a score in the 160s or higher.
14:00 - Legacy Admissions - California recently became the fifth state to ban legacy and donor preferences in college admissions. Nathan and Ben are skeptical that the new law will have much of an effect.
20:55 - Score Variance - The guys assure listener Daniel that it’s perfectly normal to score in a ten-point range on practice tests.
23:44 - LSAT Addendum - Some law schools invite applicants to submit an addendum explaining any significant LSAT score increase. Ben and Nathan question schools’ motivation for soliciting this addendum.
33:56 - Law School Prep - Listener Jack is worried that a great LSAT score might oversell his ability to compete at a top law school. Nathan and Ben ease Jack’s concerns: LSAT prep is good law school prep.
43:02 - Apply in February? - Listener Jackson asks if applying as late as February would diminish his admissions chances. Ben and Nathan urge Jackson to apply next cycle.
47:52 - Scholarships for Part-Time Students - Law schools differ in how they award scholarships to part-time students. Applicants to part-time programs should check law schools’ ABA 509 reports before applying.
53:11 - Logical Reasoning: Conclusion - The guys tackle a Conclusion question from PrepTest 123. Try the question for yourself. Then, listen to Ben and Nathan’s explanation.
1:04:55 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student Jimmy says: “You are going to hate the idea of slowing down to speed up. You are going to hate not finishing sections at times. However, it is Ben and Nathan's most important advice.”
1:09:59 - Word of the Week - Applying late in the cycle can be tantamount to applying with a lower LSAT score.
The most successful LSAT students are the ones who love the test—but finding that love can be challenging. This week, Ben and Erik discuss why positive self-talk is vital to your relationship with the LSAT. Later, the guys criticize law schools’ moratorium on AI use for applications. They explore possible causes of score variance. And they help a listener navigate family pressure to apply before they’re ready.
5:35 - Learn to Love the LSAT - Listener Lani wants to love the LSAT, but she’s frustrated by her slow progress. Erik and Ben encourage Lani to adjust her mindset. They recommend a scaled-back study schedule that focuses on drilling instead of timed practice.
15:48 - AI and Applications - Law schools have taken different stances on whether applicants can use AI while preparing their applications.
25:06 - Losing Momentum - An anonymous listener worries that they’re losing momentum after a hot start to their LSAT journey. Ben and Erik assure Anon that progress is rarely linear.
31:15 - Score Variance - Erik and Ben explain what causes score variance and why it’s perfectly normal to score in a broad range.
36:36 - 20-Point Underperformance
An anonymous listener underperformed their practice tests by 20 points on the September LSAT. Ben and Erik try to figure out what went wrong.
41:00 - Family Pressure to Apply - An anonymous listener faces parental pressure to apply to law school this year, but they’d rather retake and apply next cycle. Erik and Ben invite Anonymous’s parents to visit lsat.link/parents to learn how they can support their child’s LSAT journey.
48:53 - URM Bump - It’s too early to know whether minority applicants will continue to receive a “URM bump” in law school admissions.
55:11 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon Josh says: “When reading the passage, I often look away from the text and think about what I just read.”
58:50 - Word of the Week - Thinking LSAT listeners are adroit at the LSAT.
Many LSAT students believe that taking notes is critical to active reading. Nathan and Ben disagree. This week, the guys encourage listeners to drop their note-taking crutches and to engage with the LSAT on a more immediate level. Later, they discuss one-on-one LSAT tutoring, score cancellation, and falling URM enrollment at Harvard Law School.
1:31 - Downward Trend - Ben and Nathan provide a simple fix for falling scores: do fewer questions. The guys also instruct listener Nicole to avoid overanalyzing her performance on specific question types.
10:36 - Taking Notes - Nathan and Ben explain why note-taking can be counterproductive on the LSAT.
16:43 - Pearls vs. Turds - When taking practice tests, is it OK to flag questions to review later?
25:53 - One-on-One Tutoring - Ben and Nathan discuss what a focused and productive LSAT tutoring session looks like.
33:47 - Scheduling Your Attempts - When you’re happy with your practice test scores, take each successive LSAT until you’re happy with your official score. There’s no need to space out your official attempts.
46:16 - Undergraduate Transcripts - Listener Alex considers excluding a community college transcript from their law school applications. Nathan and Ben urge Alex to disclose all information required by the Credential Assembly Service.
52:07 - Score Cancellation - In almost all cases, Ben and Nathan advise students not to cancel an official LSAT score. But listener Emma might be the exception to the rule.
55:37 - URM Enrollment - The Harvard Crimson reports that enrollment of students of color has dropped eight percent at Harvard Law School.
1:00:13 - Word of the Week - Law schools often arrogate prestige.
Since the LSAT dropped Logic Games, anxious test takers have feared the rise of more “formal logic” questions in Logical Reasoning. So far, no significant changes to LR have been disclosed. No matter what happens, every LR question is perfectly solvable with some careful reading and common sense—no diagramming required. Need proof? This week, Ben and Nathan make quick work of a Must Be True question that’s chock full of conditional logic. But first, they help a burnt-out student build a sustainable study plan. They compare the benefits of national and regional law schools. And they offer words of hope to low-GPA splitters.
5:04 - Application Fee Waivers - Law schools often waive their application fees. Just ask them.
8:52 - Scoring 160 - Nathan and Ben prove that it’s possible to score 160 while only attempting 18 questions per section. It pays to slow down and focus on accuracy.
16:18 - Burnout - Listener Will considers taking a few months off to recover from LSAT burnout. Ben and Nathan advise Will to instead dial back his study to one or two quality hours per day.
23:50 - Confusing Language - Nathan and Ben share some tips for navigating confusing language on the LSAT.
32:20 - Small Town, Big School? - LSAT Demon student Will plans to set up shop as a probate lawyer in a small town. Should Will pursue law schools in the T14? Or is he better off attending a regional school?
41:15 - Academic Renewal - Ben and Nathan encourage an anonymous listener to persist in their efforts to scrub an F from their undergraduate transcript.
46:56 - Hope for Splitters - Listener Grace went to law school for free despite her low GPA.
50:13 - Don’t Diagram - Reports of more “formal logic” questions on recent LSATs are likely exaggerated. Regardless, you can solve any Logical Reasoning question without diagramming by reading carefully and engaging your common sense. Nathan and Ben demonstrate on a Must Be True question from PrepTest 123.
1:10:41 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student Braden says: “Take the time to really understand each question, and you will get faster. Don’t try to go faster without understanding. That’s why I improved when I started digging into the RC passage.”
1:11:27 - Word of the Week - Treat your official LSAT with the same insouciance that you would a practice test.
If you’ve hit a score plateau, you might feel like you’re spinning your wheels—stuck in place despite your best attempts to make forward progress. How do you regain traction? This week, Nathan and Ben advise a discouraged student to ease up on the gas pedal and take it one question at a time. Later, the guys address the problem of tuition inflation in higher education. They frame law school as a trade school. And they tackle a Necessary Assumption question from PrepTest 135.
2:39 - Stuck in a Plateau - Ben and Nathan guide listener Michael away from untimed practice tests and suggest a better way to review his mistakes.
14:48 - $81,000 Tuition - The guys shake their heads at Cornell Law School’s astronomical tuition.
24:03 - Student Loan Forgiveness - According to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, “the CBO estimates that a quarter of new student debt issued next year—$22.1 billion—will get written off.” Nathan and Ben consider the failures of the student loan system and suggest ways to reign in the cost of higher education.
39:59 - Law Is a Trade - Listener Ben seeks a steady job in the law. The guys advise Ben to rethink his motivation for pursuing a legal career.
45:49 - Logical Reasoning: Necessary Assumption - The guys attempt a Necessary Assumption question from PrepTest 135. Try the question yourself. Then, listen to Ben and Nathan’s explanation.
54:31 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student Senyo affirms the Demon way: “Read carefully, evaluate the argument (or think about the set of facts) before looking at the actual question, try to predict the answer, take as much time as you need to answer the question, review anything that gives you trouble, and do not move on until you fully understand it.”
56:46 - Word of the Week - The LSAT student was miraculously unfazed by their skirling neighbor.
Ben and Nathan share what they’ve learned from LSAC about whether the exclusion of Logic Games had any impact on test scores this August. The guys also celebrate listeners’ successes on the August LSAT. They react to news of declining URM enrollment at top colleges. And they discuss why LSAT students should consider cutting back on social media.
0:36 - August LSAT Shoutouts - The guys celebrate listeners’ successes on the August LSAT.
7:45 - Underperforming on Test Day - LSAT Demon student Molly has twice underperformed her practice test scores on the official LSAT. Nathan and Ben instruct Molly to treat future tests like any practice test.
22:17 - August LSAT Scores - LSAC reports that scores for the August 2024 LSAT are in line with scores from previous years.
32:14 - Score Audit - Ben and Nathan advise listener David not to waste money on an LSAT score audit.
39:33 - College Demographics - The guys discuss new demographic data on the first undergraduate class since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in college admissions.
47:29 - Pearls vs. Turds - Is social media hurting your LSAT study?
55:44 - Word of the Week - The library is a common haunt for law students.
LSAT growth comes from thoroughly reviewing your mistakes. But what does a thorough review look like? Ben and Nathan describe their approach and explain why they don’t recommend keeping a wrong answer journal. The guys also compare law school to wizard school. They reject an impatient admissions strategy. And they consider potential risks associated with the military’s Funded Legal Education Program.
1:31 - Confusing Writing - In a new study, cognitive scientists at MIT explain why legalese is so difficult to understand.
9:13 - Improving in RC - An anonymous listener has been told that they won’t improve much in Reading Comprehension. Ben and Nathan tell Anonymous to ignore the haters.
14:18 - Review - Nathan and Ben advocate a deep review of every mistake. But keeping a wrong answer journal is likely a waste of time.
26:42 - Apply Now or Later? - Is it better to apply early with a subpar LSAT or to apply late with a great LSAT? Ben and Nathan ask: Why pick the lesser of two evils when you can avoid the evil entirely?
34:49 - Comparative RC Passages - The guys outline their approach to comparative passages in Reading Comprehension.
37:28 - JAG and FLEP - An LSAT Demon student warns listeners about potential risks associated with the military’s Funded Legal Education Program.
48:28 - Word of the Week - You can mollify your test anxiety by improving at the test.
Ben and Nathan warn listeners about tactics that some law schools use to make mediocre scholarships appear better than they really are. The guys also discuss a new ABA regulation meant to standardize 1L learning outcomes. They double down on their advice to apply broadly. And they model their approach to Logical Reasoning on a Weaken question from PrepTest 123.
2:27 - Fee Waiver Changes - LSAC now requires students with fee waivers to test twice in LawHub before registering for an official LSAT. Fee waiver recipients must also take the interactive course “How Do I Apply to Law School?”
7:44 - New Rules for Law Schools - A new ABA regulation aims to make law school courses more uniform and give law students more feedback about their academic progress. Nathan and Ben doubt that the new rules will have their intended effects.
15:51 - Better School or Better Price? - Is it better to attend a great law school for an OK price or an OK law school for a great price? Ben and Nathan urge listener Daniel to apply broadly and to focus on the LSAT before worrying about his law school decision.
23:36 - Scholarship Shenanigans - Nathan and Ben shine a light on a shady scholarship practice.
41:02 - Logical Reasoning: Weaken - The guys tackle a Weaken question from PrepTest 123. Try the question yourself. Then, listen to Ben and Nathan’s explanation.
56:50 - Word of the Week - Adopt a parsimonious attitude regarding law school.
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