The "Perfect" Personal Statement (Ep. 463)

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Ben

Your LSAT and GPA are the most important parts of your law school application, but a strong personal statement can set you apart from other applicants with similar numbers. What makes for a well-crafted personal statement? This week, Nathan and Ben pull no punches as they critique a listener’s essay through the eyes of harried admissions officers. The guys also delve into Logical Reasoning prediction methods, urge a listener to fire their awful tutor, and unpack a new report that casts doubt on the golden-ticket reputation of a law degree.

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2:15 - Prediction and Review

The guys instruct LSAT Demon student Brian on how to review his mistakes. They emphasize prediction as crucial to success in Logical Reasoning.

13:09 - Awful Tutor

Nathan and Ben counsel an anonymous listener to fire their terrible LSAT tutor and to cut back on their full-time study. One to three quality hours of study per day is plenty.

23:26 - Comparative Passages

Ben and Nathan summarize their approach to comparative passages in Reading Comprehension.

28:34 - Tuition vs. Cost of Living

Listener Alex compares the cost to attend two in-state law schools. Nathan and Ben weigh Alex’s options and advise them to broaden their list of target schools.

35:26 - Earnings Outcomes

The guys discuss a Georgetown study on what lawyers are earning after four years of practice. Reuters’ Karen Sloan reports that outcomes vary wildly depending on which law school graduates attended.

45:14 - Personal Statement Review

Ben and Nathan give listener K a brutally honest appraisal of their personal statement.

1:07:25 - Word of the Week

Deposition is more than just a torturous legal exercise.