The LSATs

[Vulcan Princess]

I'm going to echo the advice that several others have said and say to just not stress about it. Also, arrive early. I got lost and I only arrived with 5 minutes to spare, and it stressed me out. Bring a snack; the test is long, and you'll have an opportunity to eat something during the break.

My final bit of perspective: your score on the LSAT doesn't tell you how good a lawyer you'll be, how smart you are, or how you'll do in law school. It tells you exactly one thing: how good you are at taking the LSAT.

I would be happy to give you law school advice if you need it. I've been around the block in that arena.

 

[abeardall]

Good Luck to you.

I have taken the PSAT, the SAT, the GRE, the MCAT, the LSAT, Biochemistry Boards, and the Bar.

Best pieces of advice, relax...get a good night's sleep, and eat a big breakfast.

I'll keep good thoughts for you.

-Andrew

 

[Tomato]

^
Yes sleep is key. Before my GMAts, I took like five days off and slept when I felt like sleeping.

Writing these tests is like training for an Olympic race. You don't see Michael Phelps burning himself out before a race.

 

[Galactus]

Good Luck to you.

I have taken the PSAT, the SAT, the GRE, the MCAT, the LSAT, Biochemistry Boards, and the Bar.

Best pieces of advice, relax...get a good night's sleep, and eat a big breakfast.

I'll keep good thoughts for you.

-Andrew

Wow you got me beat. Are you like a professional test taker or do you just like being smart.

Standardized test suck. I probably will be taking some of those next year. I am too old to study so I will just show up.

 

[abeardall]

Good Luck to you.

I have taken the PSAT, the SAT, the GRE, the MCAT, the LSAT, Biochemistry Boards, and the Bar.

Best pieces of advice, relax...get a good night's sleep, and eat a big breakfast.

I'll keep good thoughts for you.

-Andrew

Wow you got me beat. Are you like a professional test taker or do you just like being smart.

Standardized test suck. I probably will be taking some of those next year. I am too old to study so I will just show up.

I just have a lot of degrees...hence lots and lots of tests...

 

[Major Chord]

As with what others have said...just get some sleep, make sure you use the time given to you to your advantage (don't answer questions too quickly, but don't over think them either), and stay relaxed. Just focus on the test, each section at a time, and think of nothing else. Don't worry about your results, or your future, or anything that isn't on that sheet of paper. That's what I did when I took my SATs, and I pulled a 1770, writing section included.

Good luck!

 

[Harvey]

Just make sure you get a good night of sleep, and, if possible, have someone drive you to the testing center so you don't have to worry about the added stress of getting there.

I took the GRE for the first time a month ago, and I'll be taking it again (and, for the last time, probably) next month.

I can't wait to be done with that test.

 

[Galactus]

I just have a lot of degrees...hence lots and lots of tests...

In a lot of different fields. It is funny cause I know too many folks that have no degrees and are making lots of money and I know too many people that have like 2 degrees, masters, law, sometimes phD and are flat out broke. Haven't met the poor nurse or doctor yet.

 

[Tomato]

Ditto about breakfast. These are long test and if you get hungry like me high protein breakfast are the way to go.

I usually eat two eggs and a peanut butter toast.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't usually eat breakfast, but peanut butter toast will definitely be on the menu on Saturday (at 7am! ).

 

[Thena]

My impression was that the LSAT seemed like an endurance test. My advice is to be relaxed, because it is easy to stress yourself out over the test and the assorted hoopla.

One thing I was not prepared for on test day was the the procedures beforehand. You have to write a statement that you will not cheat, etc., etc., and sign it, and they insisted that it be done in cursive, not printed. I haven't used cursive since junior high, and it rattled me more than I expected before the test even started. It also took something like an hour to process everyone coming in, and we were in a stuffy lecture hall with no A/C on a day when it hit 90˚F. There were a lot of people who walked out and canceled their score rather than stay and finish the test under those conditions.

 

[Tomato]

I remembered when I wrote my CFA. It was a shit show. There was only like one washroom for 5000 people. Washrooms were inside the test center so when it was lunch time (it was a 6 hour exam) those washrooms were not accessible. There was a massive freaking line up to pee. It was inaccessible by transit and car.

And on top of all that, the place I wrote was right beside a soccer stadium so we heard the play by play announcements.

Thank god I packed my lunch because they ran out of $10 sandwiches.

 

[SmoothieX]

I've heard nothing but bad things about the CFA. I got a buddy, who's damned smart, and can't get past the second part.

 

[abeardall]

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes...

-Andrew

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Well, I finished it. It wasn't too painful. I'll let you know in a month how I did.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Congrats, buddy - I'm glad you came through it in one piece!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Well, I got my score back. A 164. I was hoping for a touch higher, but it's not a bad score. Now the question is if I want to try and take it again (which basically means I might as well take the year off and work) or stick with what I have and get into a solid law school.

 

[TheBrew]

Grats! Just be careful in you want to work in the private sector: they expect results.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

164 is a perfectly fine score. You should be able to get into all sorts of places with that one. (I got a 160, and I still got into a first tier law school, and my undergrad grades weren't all that great.)

 

[TheBrew]

So I guess a 161 and worse grades means tier 2?