What hobbies do you enjoy the most?

[Bond]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

What the heck do you need to study for? You said you got a 172 on the practice. That's like Harvard-good. What is the normal deviation from the practice to actual? Not to mention you read a lot. That's gonna boost your score better than any studying.

The normal deviation is probably anywhere from 0-5 points (based on my own observations), which is quite significant. The old preptests that I am using are also slightly different from the current LSATs that are administered, but I will eventually move up to the more modern ones closer to the test date.

The thing about the LSAT is that it is most often weighted more heavily than one's GPA, which is rather ridiculous in my view, but is also why I am studying so much.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Bond

The thing about the LSAT is that it is most often weighted more heavily than one's GPA, which is rather ridiculous in my view, but is also why I am studying so much.

Yeah, a huge emphasis is put on these tests. It's a profitable industry, that's why. However, the tests theoretically should predict potential to do well. I'm learning about all the major tests in my Psychological Testing class, so I hear your pain. I'm starting to look over the GRE stuff. Studying for it is lame, I wish I just read more during college. I rocked the ACT (not quite as good as you ) and I attribute my success to all the reading I did as a kid. I think I got a 34 or 35 on English and a 32 or 33 on the Reading.

[magus113]

I enjoy playing music (I lack creativity to write, I seem to have a problem with that), and reading aside from playing video games. Programming is cool but I'm mostly bogged down with learning shit Java in school so it takes away my free learning time.

[Acebot44]

Originally Posted by Bond

I'm actually planning on taking it in June '10, but I started studying this summer (ridiculous, I know).

I was talking about it to BlueFire a few months ago, and was thinking of making a thread for study strategies and such if there is interest.

What are your plans as far as taking the LSAT / law school?

Plan on taking it next October, devoting the entirety of the summer to that study effort and reading a few books throughout this year. Am applying for the Law Fellows program here too, which offers some great benefits to the people that make it in (75 out of 35,000 students). They include:

-Professional-Level Instruction by Law School Faculty
-Personalized Juris Doctorate (Law School) Action Plan
-Mentoring by Current UCLA Law Students
-Full Scholarship for one LSAT Prepartion Course
-Presentation by Practicing Attorneys and Leaders in the Law Community
-Admission, Financial Aid, LSAT, and Public Interest Law Workshops
-Legal Research Primer by Law Library Staff
-Follow-Up Activities and Counseling until Law School Matriculation

This program is heavily favored toward disadvantaged and minority groups, so hopefully my family's lower class economic status and the fact that I've received full financial aid for the past 4 years will help me out.

As Law School itself, I'd ideally want to stay in CA, and go to a top 10 program, which leaves me with the options of either Berkeley or Stanford, numbers 3 and 6 respectively. This suits my goals quite well actually, because I want to focus on Intellectual Property and/or Copyright Law and both Cal and Stanford have been back and forth between ranking 1 and 2 for the past several years.

I'm shooting for Stanford though, because I'm ready to hit up a private school after 4 years of the University of California system. According to Admissions Predictor, I'd need to score a 174 with my GPA in order to be considered a Strong candidate for Stanford, but of course I'm shooting for that 180 like everyone should.

I plan on using Blueprint Prep for my LSAT class, which will you be using?

ps: Your 172 diagnostic score is amazing this early on. Props.

[Bond]

That Law Fellows program sounds amazing. I haven't heard of anything similar at other undergrad schools.

To study I've used the Powerscore Bible books, mostly the logical reasoning and logic games. The reading comprehension one isn't very helpful. Basically I use their strategy for the entire games section, and for tough logical reasoning questions.

I've found taking actual past LSATs to be the most helpful in preparation, can't beat the real thing I suppose.

I'm shooting for a T-14 school as well, but I would probably be okay with going somewhere such as Texas, Vanderbilt, Wash U, or ND as well. Especially if they offer $$$.

[KillerGremlin]

Jeez, everyone and their plans for the future. I'm just beginning to look at Grad school. I'll be taking out a loan and going off to grad school if I can. Probably in Illinois or maybe Indiana. I'd like to secure a job while doing grad school, even if it means I spend an additional year doing a Masters. I thought about pursuing a phd straight out of undergrad but I'm not sure I want to commit to a school or a program in Illinois or Indiana for 5 years. I'd like to secure a job or internship doing something with psychology or teaching. I figure if I do succeed in getting a phd one day I will most likely teach at some point in my life.

If that doesn't work I'm going to attempt to pole dance. I look pretty good in a g-string, true story.