Thinking LSAT

Nathan Fox and Ben Olson

Ben Olson and Nathan Fox started the Thinking LSAT Podcast to become better LSAT teachers and have some fun. Please 1) subscribe, 2) rate and review, and 3) send us questions: help@thinkinglsat.com. Don't pay for law school!

Learn more at lsatdemon.com

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

577 episodes
Updated Yesterday
Explicit

Episodes577

Newest first

March 16 · 1 hr 39 min
Your LSAT Is Your Application (Ep. 550)
A listener asks whether they should quit their job to focus on LSAT study and law school applications. Ben and Nathan explain that there’s only so much productive studying you can do in a day and recommend keeping the job. Also in this episode: - Ben and Nathan poke fun at a New York Times article on homeownership with a clear flaw - How to break out of a stuck practice test range - Whether it makes sense to enroll with plans to transfer after 1L Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 550 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Randomly Doing Bad 9:05 New York Times Newsletter Flaw 12:20 Stuck in the Low 160s 21:04 Asking for More Money 37:43 Quitting Job to Study for the LSAT 50:48 Misleading Rankings 1:01:38 Transferring After 1L 1:09:57 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:33:13 Word of the week — ascetic
March 9 · 1 hr 14 min
Should Law Schools Be Lenders? (Ep. 549)
Nathan and Ben react to WashU offering a new institutional loan to help students cover tuition beyond federal loan limits. They argue that chasing a prestigious name isn't worth it if you have to borrow heavily to get there. Also in this episode: - Ben and Nathan roast a poorly written Wall Street Journal headline - Whether highlighting and note-taking actually helps on the LSAT - An engineering grad considers switching to law Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 549 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Wall Street Journal Headline 3:29 Extremely Confused 14:34 Loan from WashU 25:27 Highlighting on the LSAT 27:20 Test D Question — Nonprofit Leaders 38:05 Career Change as an Engineer 50:07 A Few More Points on Your GPA 57:26 January Score Hold 1:09:51 Word of the week — suzerain
March 2 · 1 hr 32 min
WTF is “Layered Conditional Logic”? (Ep. 548)
A listener asks about alleged changes to Logical Reasoning that an LSAT YouTuber has reported. Ben and Nathan push back, maintaining that the test hasn’t meaningfully changed and that the so-called “new” question types have been around for years. Also in this episode: - A listener successfully secures a GPA change on their transcript. - Whether to use a letter of recommendation from a university president - What’s going on at Vanderbilt Law Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 548 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Conditional Scholarships 11:00 Getting GPA Changed 16:35 Letter of Recommendation from the President 22:22 New Demon Plans 28:04 Tips from Departing Demons 37:50 RC Speed 47:15 Updated LR Questions? 1:01:48 What’s the Deal with Vanderbilt 1:25:34 Word of the Week — diminution
February 23 · 1 hr 5 min
RIP Remote LSAT (Ep. 547)
LSAC announces that upcoming LSAT administrations will return primarily to in-person testing. Ben and Nathan discuss the shift away from remote testing and what it means for test takers. Also in this episode: - How to approach a final LSAT attempt - Cooley Law offers a scholarship for attending a meet and greet with the dean - How much time to spend studying each day Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 547 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library
February 16 · 1 hr 22 min
The Full Ride Formula (Ep. 546)
Reagan writes in after following Ben and Nathan’s advice from a previous episode to retake the LSAT and reapply. She shares her success story, including multiple full-ride offers and additional stipends. Also in this episode: - How an older applicant can best prepare. - A student gets waitlisted…for the waitlist. - The guys react to Nathan’s nephew’s argumentative essay. Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 546 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Older Applicant 8:43 Waitlist for a Waitlist 18:19 Retake & Reapply Results 31:42 Test D Question — Room for Dessert 48:42 Tips from Departing Demons 54:02 Accommodation Solicitation 57:04 Reaching Out for a Grade Change 1:07:35 Argumentative Essay on Meat Pizza 1:18:53 Word of the Week — paucity
February 9 · 1 hr 43 min
Harvard's "Fix" for Grade Inflation is... More A's? (Ep. 545)
Ben and Nathan react to Harvard considering A+ grades in response to grade inflation. They discuss how grading practices have changed and what could meaningfully change the system. Also in this episode - Demon students share their January LSAT results - How to choose between a regional school and a top-ranked school - A listener asks about attending a non-ABA accredited law school New York Times Articles by Mark Arsenault Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 545 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Harvard Adding A+ Grading 11:07 January Score Release 21:35 Attending a Regional School 27:38 Improving Accuracy 42:44 Test D Question — Vor 58:57 Pearls v. Turds 1:05:35 140s Jail 1:13:55 Non-ABA Law School 1:23:20 Too Late to Apply? 1:31:13 Thank You Email 1:36:36 Word of the Week — chiaroscuro
February 2 · 1 hr 31 min
More LSAT Points Won't Fix This (Ep. 544)
A listener wonders if another LSAT retake will improve her chances at her dream law school. Ben and Nathan explain why retaking may not help when she’s already above the school’s 75th percentile, and why affordability should matter more than rank. Also in this episode - Ben and Nathan dunk on a law school offering a mystery "commemorative gift” in exchange for a binding commitment - A listener writes in about discouraging waitlists - A student who took the long road to law school shares their journey Claude’s Constitution Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 544 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 How High is High Enough? 18:10 Law School Offering a "Commemorative Gift” 24:16 Good at Drilling but Bad at Timed Sections 31:42 Test D Question — Sunlight Exposure 43:40 Things We Actually Enjoy 50:50 Discouraging Waitlists 1:03:41 Long Road to Law School 1:07:22 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:23:12 Word of the Week — emolument
January 26 · 50 min
LSAC's Stealth RC Change (Ep. 543)
On the January LSAT, some test-takers noticed their RC section lacked a comparative reading passage. LSAC had quietly updated the test to allow zero to one comparative passages per RC section. Ben and Nathan explain why this change should have no impact on test-takers. Also in this episode - Florida ends the ABA’s status as the state’s sole law school accreditor - A viewer writes in to share their full-tuition scholarship success story - Should you write a GPA addendum for a semester that ended early? Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 543 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Florida Supreme Court News 2:55 Law School Horror Stories 10:47 ABA Legal Education Arm Seeks Independence 14:50 LSAT Rule Change 20:19 Not Paying for Law School 21:52 Test D Question — Four Iron 32:00 High Diagnostic Score 38:44 Things We Actually Enjoy 40:02 GPA Addendum 45:07 Word of the week — euchre
January 19 · 1 hr 20 min
Tips from Departing Demons (Ep. 542)
After each test administration, a group of Demon users leave the platform and share their parting advice. Ben and Nathan dive into a selection of insights from these departing users. Also in this episode - A viewer asks whether to skip questions - A listener asks if it’s better to move on from time-consuming questions - How much students can expect from stipends Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 542 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Applying with No GPA 11:35 “Best” Trial Advocacy Programs 16:23 Test D Question — “Plagiarism” 42:18 Skipping Questions 49:46 Tips from Departing Demons 58:22 How Much Are Stipends? 1:06:08 Variance in Practice Tests 1:13:45 Word of the Week — Testatrix
January 12 · 1 hr 14 min
Maximizing Your LSAT Score (Ep. 541)
A viewer asks whether to register for the LSAT while their scores are still improving. Ben and Nathan advise the student to sign up if they are happy with their scores but continue to study as they still have room to improve. Also in this episode - How to handle studying on “difficult” days - Whether to accept a conditional scholarship or keep studying for a higher score - Another contestant on the Personal Statement Gong Show Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 541 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Studying on “Difficult Days” 5:17 Test D Question — “Mount Stupid” 24:04 Things We Actually Enjoy 28:03 Attending with a Conditional Scholarship 43:36 Maximizing Your LSAT Score 48:20 Wrong Answer Journal 51:17 Trust the Process 58:08 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:05:19 Word of the week — heterodox
January 5 · 1 hr 17 min
Grades First, LSAT Later (Ep. 540)
A student writes in asking whether they should focus on studying for the LSAT while having a low GPA. Ben and Nathan advise them to prioritize focusing on earning the best possible grades before beginning LSAT prep. Also in this episode: - A question about choosing between law schools with a $15,000 difference - Advice a student received from another prep company - When to send a letter of continued interest Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 540 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Test D Question “Animal Owners” 19:13 Things We Enjoy 23:03 The $15,000 Difference 33:43 Pearls v. Turds 39:57 Leaving the Demon 42:55 Focusing on Your GPA 53:22 Retaking a 175 1:05:18 When to Send a LOCI 1:10:20 Word of the Week — flummoxed
Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 39 min
Higher Medians for 2025 (Ep. 539)
The ABA has released new 509 data revealing how LSAT and GPA medians have shifted over the past year, along with updated data into how schools are distributing scholarships. Ben and Nathan break down the numbers and react to several schools that have made significant changes. Also in this episode: - How to handle LSAT questions you’ve seen before - The Arkansas Supreme Court allows lawyers to use AI in their work - Should a listener prioritize location or ranking for law school? https://lsat.link/509 Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 539 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 LSAT Question on Pinched Nerves 19:46 New 509 Reports 40:10 Repeat Questions 50:47 Fourth RC Passage Strategy 55:30 Arkansas Supreme Court Updates Rules on AI 1:01:28 Accusation of Cheating 1:18:00 Regional vs. T20 Law School 1:27:55 Word of the Week — admonition 1:34:22 Things We Like
Dec 22, 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
Ben and Nathan Get Roasted (Ep. 538)
The internet is full of opinions, and not all of them are kind. This week, Ben and Nathan dig into a reddit thread, reacting to some of the tougher criticisms aimed at the Demon and our co-hosts. Also in this episode: - Ben and Nathan react to Washington’s decision to retroactively lower its bar passage score - A listener asks whether applying Early Decision makes sense for top law schools - Whether a law school increasing its class size improves your odds of admission Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 538 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Making a Last Push on Next LSAT 7:18 Should I Take the LSAT Again? 23:48 Washington Lowering Bar Passage Requirements 42:03 We Read Our Mean Comments 1:03:10 Law Schools Increasing Class Sizes 1:11:22 Can Early Decision Be Beneficial? 1:22:55 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:39:40 Word of the Week — penumbra
Dec 15, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
FTC Labels ABA a Monopoly (Ep. 537)
The FTC submitted a letter to the Texas Supreme Court supporting its decision to drop the ABA as the state’s official accreditor. Ben and Nathan agree that the ABA has been slow to modernize and often lags behind student needs, but they don’t fully align with the FTC’s reasoning. Also in this episode: - A listener asks whether to choose a part-time or full-time law program. - Whether to cancel an official score that comes in lower than a prior LSAT. - A personal statement with an unusually bold opening. Links Mentioned: FTC Letter to Texas Supreme Court Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 537 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library Questions? help@thinkinglsat.com 0:00 When to Take Practice Tests 6:11 FTC Claims the ABA is a Monopoly 21:43 Full-Time vs. Part-Time Law Programs 29:47 Tips from Departing Demons 35:02 Performing Worse on the First Section 43:19 Cancelling a Lower Score 46:45 Personal Statement Gong Show
Dec 8, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
The One-Point Difference (Ep. 536)
Ben and Nathan dig into a striking chart showing dozens of schools clustering their LSAT medians at 150 and 160, while almost nobody reports 149 or 159. They break down why schools chase these round-number medians, how it leads to irrational admissions behavior, and what it means for applicants trying to play the rankings game. Also in this episode: - How applying without a GPA can affect your admissions chances - Success stories from Demon students who crushed the November LSAT - Why the University of North Carolina has climbed so quickly in the rankings Links Mentioned: Derek T. Muller Article Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 536 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Retaking to Beat New Medians 5:37 Applying with No GPA 14:05 November LSAT Success 20:05 The Irrational Pursuit of Round LSAT Medians 27:20 Lower Scores When Timed 34:50 Meeting with an Admissions Counselor 39:35 What’s the Deal with University of North Carolina 55:56 Word of the Week — Prolixity
Dec 1, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
How to Take Your Last LSAT (Ep. 535)
A listener writes in asking how to handle the pressure of their final official LSAT attempt. Ben and Nathan remind them that their highest score on record, a 165, is already strong enough for full scholarships at many law schools. They encourage the listener to let go of perfectionism, be comfortable with not finishing a section, and approach test day expecting incremental improvement. Also in this episode: - An update on an LSAC cheating allegation - Ben and Nathan react to the ABA lifting its probation of Cooley Law - Advice from Demon students who recently crushed the LSAT Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 535 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Update on Cheating Allegations 5:24 ABA Lifts Probation for Cooley 10:50 How to Approach Your Last Official Attempt 21:44 Tips from Departing Demons 34:25 Chances at a T14 as a Super kJD 41:10 Pearls vs. Turds 43:27 Personal Statement Gong Show 57:12 Word of the Week — Percolation
Nov 24, 2025 · 1 hr 45 min
Law School Lowballs (Ep. 534)
A listener writes in after a disappointing first round of scholarship offers. Ben and Nathan explain that initial offers are rarely a school’s best, they’re just the starting point. They reassure the listener that more and better offers are still on the way. Also in this episode: - Whether taking the January LSAT is too late to apply this cycle - Questions about Harvard’s Junior Deferral Program - A deeper look at one of the newest members of the T14: WashU Links Mentioned: Derek T. Muller Article Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 534 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 - Is the January LSAT Too Late? 23:45 - Receiving Bad Scholarships 35:24 - When Do I Know When I’m Ready? 43:05 - Follow–Up on Cheating 45:18 - Harvard’s Junior Deferral Program 1:07:45 - Demon Team Tracker 1:09:19 - What’s the Deal with… WashU 1:36:54 - Word of the Week — Propinquity
Nov 17, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Retaking a 173 (Ep. 533)
A listener writes in asking whether they should retake a 173, worried that a future attempt could be lower. Ben and Nathan explain why they should be willing to use all four remaining attempts: law schools only care about your highest score, and every point, especially for higher scores, can turn into thousands of dollars. Also in this episode: - When applicants can expect scholarship responses from law schools - Advice from Demon students who crushed the LSAT - Another brave contestant steps up for the Personal Statement Gong Show Links Mentioned: https://lsat.link/grades Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 533 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 - Following the Demon Way 3:30 - When Will I Hear Back on Scholarships? 9:31 - Medians Above 4.00 24:25 - Tips from Deparing Demons 31:40 - Should I Retake a 173? 36:35 - Light at the End of the Tunnel 50:56 - Personal Statement Gong Show 1:05:23 - Word of the Week — Anachronism
Nov 10, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
Cheating or Genuine Score Jump? (Ep. 532)
When LSAC accused a student of cheating, claiming his score jump had “Powerball odds,” Ben and Nathan dig into the details. They break down LSAC’s vague statistical claims and explain why big score increases are both possible and common for serious students. They also urge the student to document their prep to show clear evidence of progress. Also in this episode: Early 1L and 2L law firm hiring trends A student asks whether to keep taking undergrad classes to boost their GPA Should you ask law schools for an application fee waiver? Links Mentioned: https://lsat.link/grades ⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 532 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 - Is It Ever Worth Paying for Law School? 23:40 - LSAC Accuses a Student of Cheating 49:20 - 1L and 2L Law Firm Hiring Trends 56:37 - Should I Keep Taking Classes? 1:03:37 - Community Colleges Offering A+ Grades 1:09:59 - Pearls vs. Turds 1:15:06 - Should You Ask for a Fee Waiver? 1:19:44 - Word of the Week — Demarcating
Nov 3, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Stop Blaming the Test (Ep. 531)
Since the October score release, there's been some online chatter claiming the October LSAT was unusually difficult. Nathan and Ben respond to one student's concerns by pointing to numerous Demon students who crushed the LSAT this month. They remind listeners that every test administration sparks the same rumors, but the LSAT remains consistent from one test to the next. That consistency should inspire confidence. If your practice test scores match your goal score, you’re ready for the real deal. Also in this episode: - Ben and Nathan explore community colleges awarding A-pluses - Demon students share their parting advice for LSAT success - They critique a prep company that promotes a “blind review” score Links Mentioned: lsat.link/grades Northeast Community College Course Search: https://reg-prod.ec.northeast.edu/StudentRegistrationSsb/ssb/term/termSelection?mode=search Foothill College Course Search: https://foothill.edu/schedule/ Arizona State University Universal Learner Courses: https://courses.ulc.asu.edu/ ⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 531 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments. Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library. 0:30 - Was the October LSAT Harder? 7:45 - Drill Rating System 12:51 - Colleges with A-pluses 25:32 - Tips From Departing Demons 39:24 - Blind Review Score 53:08 - Lived Experience Essay 1:00:00 - Personal Statement Gong Show 1:07:55 - Word of the Week — incommunicado