Winter LSAT Grab Bag (Ep. 272)
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Diversity statements are an oft-overlooked part of some students’ application packages. But a short and to-the-point diversity statement can give law schools a much better picture of you as an applicant. In this episode, the guys review a lengthy diversity statement from a listener and offer some advice about how to make it a stronger piece of their application. Nathan and Ben also consider some advice about LG questions, they offer some “tips” on how to improve your LR and RC performance, they help a student narrow down where to apply to law school, and they advise a student with a disappointing first-time score. Plus, the guys introduce a new segment, Hills to Die On.
As always, if you like the show and you want to get more from the Thinking LSAT community, check out the links below. You can connect with other folks studying for the LSAT, and get more useful resources from Nathan and Ben.
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Important Dates
12.02.2020 – It’s the last day to register for the January LSAT
01.06.2021 – It’s the last day to register for the February LSAT
01.16.2021 – Bundle up and hunker down! It’s the January LSAT
02.20.2021 – Hearts-for-eyes for days—it’s the February LSAT
3:15 – Pearls vs. Turds
Anon was browsing ye olde internet and came across a video about how to tackle LG questions. In the video, the tutor recommended making worlds using a pen, and then to switch over to a pencil to overlay the variables presented in each question per game. If this sounds like a lot of work to you, you’re absolutely right. This tip went straight into the turd pile. PSA: just use a pencil, y’all.
8:04 – Struggling with LR and RC
Struggling has been working towards her LSAT goals and after a diagnostic in the high 130s, she’s practicing in the low 150s. Not a bad jump for a first-timer. She’s pretty strong when it comes to LG sections, but Struggling’s wondering if the guys can help her out when it comes to RC and LR questions. Nathan and Ben double down on their usual advice when it comes to RC and LR questions: go slow, make sure you understand each sentence, engage and argue with the text, try to predict an answer, deeply understand why you answered correctly or incorrectly. Even if it’s slow-going at first, you’ll be building a foundation of understanding that will unlock accuracy and speed with more experience.
21:49 – Hills to Die On
It’s a brand new segment for y’all, called Hills to Die On. In this segment, Nathan and Ben each share some LSAT advice they’d be willing to hold on to while “going down with the ship.” In the introductory episode of this segment, the guys talk about the importance of reading the stimulus (not the question) first, understanding the passage before moving to the questions, and more.
30:42 – First-Time Score Disappointment
G did a very little bit of LSAT studying—15-20 hours worth—before sitting for the test. And with this time spent, G was able to nab a 156 on the test. Pretty effing good, G. Realizing the error of his ways, G now wants to put in some serious study time and tackle the test again—but he wants to know-how. What’s the best study program for G to make gains on the LSAT? The guys agree that G needs to check out the LSAT Demon which offers a busy schedule of classes, tons of drilling, all the practice tests you could want (including proctored ones), and written and video explanations for pretty much every LSAT question, ever. G, if you give the Demon one hour of engaged study a day, you will probably see some serious gains on that 156 LSAT score.
44:40 – Narrowing Down Applications
T absolutely crushed the LSAT Flex this summer, earning a 176 on record. But with a 3.14 GPA, she’s wondering how to decide where to apply. Ben and Nathan recommend checking out the LSAT Demon Scholarship Estimator. That way, T can include her credentials and see where she has a high probability of going for free.
50:33 – Diversity Statement Review
Erik asks the guys to review his diversity statement and the guys oblige. As a general rule of thumb, diversity statements should be brief and fact-filled; they should be one-to-two paragraphs at most. And Erik’s statement? It doesn’t quite follow these guidelines.