Update

Just a small update. Been testing consistently in the 170s range. RC killing me. Good night.

Ready, Set, Go...!

So I graduated (yay!) and have started studying for the LSAT. I'll be taking the October test, which leaves me around 5 whole months to study. I'll be taking summer classes to complete my Economics minor, which will no doubt be a pain, but a welcome distraction from LR, which is surprisingly my worst section in the test.

I pick up on LG very quickly, and RC isn't a big deal either because I studied for that for 3 months last year for the GRE (back when I didn't really have a plan). I've taken two PT so far:

#7: 170
#9: 162

My plan is to take a PT every two days until I reach PT 39, which I will then go back and retake all the PT, saving the last 10 or so PT for the last 2 months leading up to the real test. I'm actually excited, but I know it's still a long ways away, so I'm trying to pace myself. The test itself isn't boring, especially having experienced the tediousness of the SAT and the GRE beforehand, so that's not my problem...yet. What is a problem is sitting in front of the computer for 10 hours, which leads to many distractions, both welcome and unwelcome.

What's my goal? Obviously to land a 180 one of these days. I realize how insanely hard that is, and only like .01% of the people taking the LSAT receive above a 177, but this just makes me want to work harder to reach it. I keep telling myself, "five months, five months, you've got five months", and I calm down and relax my brain a little. There's no point in burning out this early in the game.

Here's my signing out.

Grind, grind, and grind some more

Spring Break's here and I'm not letting myself off one bit. I'm planning on finishing off my UG on a strong note, so between now and May, 8th (graduation) I'll be working myself senseless to squeeze out what little bit of enthusiasm I have left for my UG, which, while sounding disgustingly gruesome, is actually a healthy escape for my 4 month LSAT binge, which will come up real soon.

If you're interested, I'm in the Environmental Design program in CU Boulder, with an emphasis in Architecture. One thing I'll say about architecture is that it's no cakewalk, especially if you want to impress your professors, aka. get that A. While there are many lecture classes, the Studios ultimately take up the majority of an Architecture student's time.

OK, let me rephrase, Architecture is no cakewalk if you have 2 Harvard grad instructors. They know exactly what they're talking about and will call you out on your bullshit the minute you walk up to your boards and start your lecture on why this building, which you finished designing 2 hours before under the influence of 5 cups of coffee and 30 hrs of grind, is the best, out of the infinite possibilities that is Architecture.

I'll be glad to be done with Architecture and start my LSAT studying, that's for sure. <=== Watch me eat my words in 2 months.

The beginning of an era...

Or so it seems.
 
I visit this website called Top Law Schools (http://www.top-law-schools.com/) in which the members on its forum post valuable advice and guides to doing well on the LSAT, as well as in the future when I enter law school. I can honestly say that this place is the best find in my academic career. The people on the forums are extremely helpful, and while I don't generate discussion, I can sift through all their posts over the years and gain valuable insight in how they went about their tests.

The three prep books they recommend to students studying the LSAT are Powerscore LGB and LRB, and The Official LSAT SuperPrep. I can't wait for these to arrive. I'm still working on final projects for my last semester at my undergraduate school, so I can't do any heavy duty studying until I graduate, which will be this May, but I can still flip through them just to see what will be in store for me during the summer.
 
I've also bought two books (for light reading). The first one is Getting to Maybe by Fischl and Paul, and it is one of the books recommended for law students to use as supplements to their education in law school. This means I am getting ahead of my self a little bit, but I am in between books right now and I feel the need to immerse myself into law study just so I am prepared for when I do go into law school.

The next book on my reading list is Should You Really Be a Lawyer?: The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During & After Law School. It's supposedly a fun little read about the realities of law and many people really like how the author explains and unravels the myths of being a lawyer, most likely to dissuade the faint of heart. Seeing how I am dead set on becoming a lawyer, this book should provide me with extra knowledge on the careers I can look forward to as I graduate, as well as prepare me for the grueling years in law school.

My first foray into LSAT is a complete success...in that I have bought all the necessary materials I feel I need to follow my study plan. I am thinking about taking the LSAT in December, which will give me time for a retake next February if I need it. I am of course aiming for just one test, which is the reason I am starting my studying so early. I also do not want to burn myself out, which is also unlikely as I find the material extremely fascinating. I flipped through Kaplan's and Barron's LSAT study books in the library today which gave me a sense of where I needed to be in 9 months, and I took a few LR drills just to warm myself up. The questions asked in those books are much more interesting than the dull ones you find on the GRE, which was a killer to study for.

I'm feeling very confident going into this and I can't wait to get started on the bulk of my studying. Another 2 months until graduation!