Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Stay on target... stay on target...
The homework from class has been going better, although I'm still a few lessons behind schedule. I'm understanding why the answers are one and not the other, and of course, that's the point. Overall, I'd say the class has been very beneficial.
I still plan on keeping about 95% of my focus on the LSAT at this point, but I have also been thinking more and more about my personal statement. I've gotten all of my transcripts sent to the LSAC, and after looking over my grades, it's clear that no matter how well I do on the LSAT, I will still fall into the category of "maybe" at most of the schools I want to attend. So, the only way I will have a chance at getting in to them is by doing really well on the LSAT and writing a very strong, convincing personal statement. It would be nice to have strong letters of recommendation, but I'm not going to rely too heavily on them right now.
A lot of this is obvious, but it's important to remind myself of what my priorities need to be. I have a little over a month before the test and over two months before I have to have my applications in. That means the whole month of October can be dedicated to writing and revising my personal statement. If I just keep it in the back of my mind for now and work on it as a study break between lessons, I should be in good shape. I'm going to amend one of my goals: Finish a first draft of my personal statement by the end of September.
I still plan on keeping about 95% of my focus on the LSAT at this point, but I have also been thinking more and more about my personal statement. I've gotten all of my transcripts sent to the LSAC, and after looking over my grades, it's clear that no matter how well I do on the LSAT, I will still fall into the category of "maybe" at most of the schools I want to attend. So, the only way I will have a chance at getting in to them is by doing really well on the LSAT and writing a very strong, convincing personal statement. It would be nice to have strong letters of recommendation, but I'm not going to rely too heavily on them right now.
A lot of this is obvious, but it's important to remind myself of what my priorities need to be. I have a little over a month before the test and over two months before I have to have my applications in. That means the whole month of October can be dedicated to writing and revising my personal statement. If I just keep it in the back of my mind for now and work on it as a study break between lessons, I should be in good shape. I'm going to amend one of my goals: Finish a first draft of my personal statement by the end of September.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
One step forward...?
After doing my first couple of homework assignments from class, I feel like I'm not doing as well as before I started the class. The obvious conclusion is that I'm trying to learn a new systematic way of attacking the problems so, of course, I'm not up to the same speed. Over time, I'm sure I will use my "old way of doing things" for a certain number of the more standard questions that I had been getting correct anyway and utilize these new techniques for dissecting the more challenging ones. I was surprised by the amount of "sufficient vs. necessary" problems I was answering incorrectly.... The subtleties within an "If/Then" statement are almost imperceptible, but they are definitely there. Fortunately, I've learned that there is a difference between these two sentences: "If the children go outside, then the sun is shining" and "If the sun is shining, then the children go outside". Or how about "If I do well on my LSAT, then I will get into a Top 25 law school" vs. "If I get into a Top 25 law school, then I did well on my LSAT"?
P.S. I should do some more work on my personal statement.
P.S. I should do some more work on my personal statement.
Friday, August 12, 2005
The Day After Yesterday...
Well, not much exciting news from my first LSAT prep class. Not that I think it will be boring or ineffective, but we just did a practice test to help us get an idea of where we are starting from. One problem however... I have been doing practice tests on my own and had done this one the previous night. So I scored really well (177), but it won't help me gauge my progress. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I know where I'm at right now and I'm looking forward to Lesson 1 tomorrow.
The good news is there are only three of us signed up for the class. The other two guys seem really friendly, so it should be a relaxed, casual atmosphere. The instructor seems like a decent guy too. He told us he scored 174 on his LSAT and is trying to get into Harvard... I hope he does so I don't have to compete with him for a spot somewhere else!
Tonight I'll do some more studying. The most common bit of advice I've heard or seen is to simply do as many practice tests as you possibly can, so when I get home, I'll do another. I've finished six or seven of them now and my scores have averaged in the mid-160's but they have been a little more inconsistent than I would like. I'm confident that will work itself out in the next month and a half, however.
The good news is there are only three of us signed up for the class. The other two guys seem really friendly, so it should be a relaxed, casual atmosphere. The instructor seems like a decent guy too. He told us he scored 174 on his LSAT and is trying to get into Harvard... I hope he does so I don't have to compete with him for a spot somewhere else!
Tonight I'll do some more studying. The most common bit of advice I've heard or seen is to simply do as many practice tests as you possibly can, so when I get home, I'll do another. I've finished six or seven of them now and my scores have averaged in the mid-160's but they have been a little more inconsistent than I would like. I'm confident that will work itself out in the next month and a half, however.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Day 1
I've decided to go to law school. I take my LSAT in two months. I start my prep course tonight. I thought it would be interesting, at least to me, to record my experiences along the way. My intent is to keep this focused on the application and admission/rejection process followed by the whole law school experience.
My goals:
Score 170+ on the LSAT.
Finish my personal statement(s) by the end of September.
Have all of my applications sent by the end of October.
Be accepted at a "Top 25" law school.
So, as they say, every journey, no matter how long, begins with a single step. Here goes...
My goals:
Score 170+ on the LSAT.
Finish my personal statement(s) by the end of September.
Have all of my applications sent by the end of October.
Be accepted at a "Top 25" law school.
So, as they say, every journey, no matter how long, begins with a single step. Here goes...
