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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!

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  • 577 episodes
  • Updated Monday
  • Explicit

Episodes577

Newest first
  • May 27, 2019 · 1 hr 23 min

    Ep. 194: Gaming the System

    Nathan and Ben are just back from a weekend in DC delivering a Personal Statement Workshop and they jump right into the show debriefing each other on their experiences teaching the class. And while Nathan laments he couldn’t spend more time causing mischief with Ben’s kids, they both had a blast going deep on personal statements with 2020 1L hopefuls. After the workshop recap, the guys touch on a bunch of topics ranging from how to properly time yourself during practice tests to whether community-college grades can be a boon to your LSAC GPA. They also take a look at a listener-submitted graph covering 5 months of practice-test data, and they break out the knives and blow torches for a personal statement review. As always, if you like the show and you want to get more from the Thinking LSAT community, check out the links below. You can connect with other folks studying for the LSAT, and get more useful resources from Nathan and Ben. Thinking LSAT Facebook Group Instagram (upcoming events) LSAT Demon Strategy Prep Fox LSAT Personal Statement Review Package Upcoming Events 6/3/19 - The June 3rd LSAT! 6/4/19 - Last day to register for the July LSAT 6/27/19 - June scores released 7/15/19 - July LSAT Thinking LSAT Personal Statement Workshop If you missed out on Nathan’s and Ben’s personal statement workshop this weekend, don’t fret. The guys have posted the class online! Check it out here and follow along with the personal statements they cover in the workshop: The workshop. The personal statements. (https://www.strategyprep.com/admissions/ps-workshop-190518.pdf) 6:21 – Gaming the system? Listener of the show Will recently asked a question via the comments section on the Thinking LSAT website. Will’s sitting pretty with a 176 official score backed up by a 3.9 LSAC GPA. Pretty sweet, huh? But ‘not so fast,’ Will says. It turns out that Will had a GPA of 3.7. It was only when he factored in his good grades from (non-transferrable) community college classes that he got this boost. Now he’s worried that the elite schools he’s planning to apply to are going to scour his transcripts and determine that he “gamed the system,” with community classes. Should he worry, he wonders? Watch Episode 194 on YouTube

  • May 20, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min

    Ep. 193: Logic Games Home Runs

    Did you know that if you sort through all of the possible outcomes of any given logic game, it’s likely that you’ll be lookin’ at less than 18 possible outcomes. Not that many, right? And when you know all of the outcomes of a game, chances are you can slay the questions. In this episode, the guys get gnarly with Logic Game 4 from the June 2007 LSAT. They make worlds, they split worlds, and then they split the splits. It gets wild. They also share an email from a law school who wants you to apply to the school so they can give you admissions advice (ummm…insert crying while laughing emoji, pls). Lastly, you’ll hear about the latest from the LSAT Demon, AND you can get a first look at the new Thinking LSAT website. Happy (Logic) gaming! As always, if you like the show and you want to get more from the Thinking LSAT community, check out the links below. You can connect with other folks studying for the LSAT, and get more useful resources from Nathan and Ben. Thinking LSAT Facebook Group Instagram (upcoming events) LSAT Demon Strategy Prep Fox LSAT Personal Statement Review Package Important Dates 6/3 – The June LSAT 6/4 – Registration cutoff for the July LSAT (SIGN UP! This puppy is a freebie, and you can cancel your score without penalty AFTER you see how you did…) 6/27 – June scores are released 7/15 – July LSAT 7:17 – Email 1—Alana received a rather amusing and ingenious email from Wash U. Turns out they are writing folks and offering FREE* law-school-admissions advice. Of course, they mention, it sure would be easier to give you said advice if you actually applied to Wash U. so they can review your application documents during the consultation. The guys half love this slick move by Wash U, but they’re also hearing Admiral Ackbar issuing a warning from the cosmos. On one hand, this move basically starts a negotiation with Wash U. You apply to their school. You get a one on one with their staff so you can feel each other out. Pretty cool so far… But their free advice will probably leave you with some warm and fuzzies about Wash U., increasing your chances of actually attending the school if you get in. On the other hand, whether or not you go to Wash U., you are getting advice from admissions officers who will probably share a valuable perspective on your admissions docs. We’d love to hear about this experience if any listeners dare to give it a try… 23:08 – Watch Episode 193 on YouTube

  • May 13, 2019 · 1 hr

    Ep. 192: Understanding Your LSAT Scores

    Studying for the LSAT can be hard work. And when you feel like your practice test results are all over the place, even after weeks or months of work, it doesn’t make it any easier. Nathan and Ben get it, and today they dive into the question of interpreting—or not interpreting—your LSAT scores. Plus, you’ll hear more about financial aid incentives from our old friends at Concordia University School of Law in Boise, ID. And the guys set up Logic Game no. 3 from the June 2007 LSAT. As always, if you like the show and you want to get more from the Thinking LSAT community, check out the links below. You can connect with other folks studying for the LSAT, and get more useful resources from Nathan and Ben. Thinking LSAT Facebook Group Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinglsat/) (upcoming events) LSAT Demon (https://thinkinglsat.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fe329bfb10b040201eca3e434&id=94a715faa8&e=0a4528cbc6) Strategy Prep (https://thinkinglsat.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fe329bfb10b040201eca3e434&id=7119a5d445&e=0a4528cbc6) Fox LSAT (http://www.foxlsat.com/) Personal Statement Review Package (https://thinkinglsat.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fe329bfb10b040201eca3e434&id=9219f16936&e=0a4528cbc6) Important Dates. 6/3 – It’s the June 2019 LSAT 6/4 – The last day to register for the July 2019 LSAT 6/27 – June LSAT scores will be released via email 7/15 – It’s the July LSAT! Otherwise known as “the digital transformation.” Make sure you register for this test. It might be $100, which kinda sucks, but it’s basically a low-risk shot at the test. You can see what the digital LSAT is all about, and when your score comes back, you can take a look and decide whether or not to cancel. If you do cancel, it’ll still show up as a cancel on your score history. But you’ll be able to know exactly what score you’re cancelling, and how you faired on an official test day. 4:47 – LSAT FUNdamental: Understanding your LSAT Scores You sit down, you ready your pencil, you dial up 35 minutes on your phone’s timer, and you get ready for your first ever crack at the LSAT: the cold diagnostic. Maybe you’re curious. Maybe you’re relaxed. Maybe you’re anxious about what the test has in store for you. No matter how you feel, this is the start of your LSAT journey. It could be weeks or months or even years of study, practice tests and official tests before you nail the 120-180 score that will propel you into your 1L semester. For many law-students-to-be, this is an arduous path full of elated highs and disappointing setbacks that can make you wonder: am I even making any f*cking progress on this thing? Nathan and Ben set out to set the record straight about the range of practice test scores you’ll experience during your LSAT study in today’s LSAT FUNdamental. Here are some key takeaways: * Your 120-180 is an imprecise measure of your progress as you prepare for the LSAT. * Making progress has LESS to do with your score, and more to do with WHICH questions you got wrong and WHY you got them wrong. If you feel like you’re beginning to understand the test at a deeper level, you’re on the right track. * Don’t obsess over your score. It will get in the way to your overall progress. * The LSAT scale is just sixty points: 120-180. If after a month you move from a 140 to a 144, that’s great. In fact, moving the needle one point per week is a massive improvement. And a sustained two points a week is more or less unheard of. Watch Episode 192 on YouTube

  • May 8, 2019 · 1 hr 32 min

    Ep. 191: Desert Island LSAT

    5:48 – Bad Reviews At long last, the guys pry open the lid of iTunes, hack through the stacks of glowing 5-star reviews, and check out the dank and sad corner of 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star reviews. Watch Episode 191 on YouTube

  • Apr 29, 2019 · 1 hr 2 min

    Ep. 190: The Guys Roast Their Own Personal Statements

    Put on your slippers and pull up your favorite comfortable chair, dear listeners, because you’re in for a treat. Ben and Nathan take advantage of the calm before the summer LSATs to do story-time theater. They read, or rather laugh their way through their own personal statements from when they applied to law school. Plus you’ll hear some advice about Ben’s “Murph” and how it could apply to your LSAT study. News Flash Mark it, friends. June 4, 2019 is the last day to register for the July LSAT. And Nathan and Ben take some time to put folks’ fears at bay. The guys talk about how this LSAT will be the same, if not better than any LSAT you’ve ever attempted. No precious seconds bubbling in an answer. Just tap a piece of glass. No accidentally erasing a correct answer and forgetting where the fuck you are. Just tap to change your answer. It’s gonna be sweet. And the best part? You can still bring a pencil and scrap paper to the test to do any writing that you like. The digital LSAT has tons of upside. The guys tell you all of the reasons why you should absolutely register for and take the July test. 5:24 – LSAT Demon Updates Ben and co. have been hard at work, finalizing some new features for the Demon. Most notable amongst them is the full-test feature. Soon you’ll be able to smash out a complete timed test right in the Demon. The guys are hoping to roll this out to the preview site this week, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, Nathan’s been loading the Demon with a ton of new written explanations for questions throughout. If you’re working on a passage or a question you just don’t understand or can’t seem to get right, hit the “help” button in the platform to request an explanation from Nathan or Ben. 8:08 – The Murph While y’all are hard at work cramming for the LSAT, Ben’s preparing for his own personal Everest. It’s “the Murph.” An insane cross fit workout that Ben’s going to attempt in May. Ben polled folks for advice on how to prepare and get through the famous workout, and listener Frankie wrote in with some pro advice. Frankie recommends that throughout the workout, if you feel the need to stop, stop. Then count to three—one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, etc.—and get back into the workout. Frankie recommends not to stop for longer than that. Of course, Nathan pipes in with thoughts on how this gem advice can be applied to LSAT study. 11:00 – Pearls vs. Turds In today’s Pearls vs. Turds, a listener offers this advice for test takers with accommodations. He says that even if you have accommodated testing (like time and a half) you should still practice at a 35-minute pace. He found that if he practiced at 70 minutes, he kind of lost focus throughout the section and became comfortable with that amount of time. As a result he had pacing and accuracy issues even with extended time. However, when he bumped his practice back to 35-minute sections, the renewed sense of urgency throughout helped him stay sharp and engaged. After practicing this way, he found that he fared better on practice tests with accommodated timing. So is this something you should try at home if you get accommodations? Ben says this can bake in bad habits, and Nathan agrees—you should practice how you’re gonna play. The guys almost throw this in the Turd pile, but deem it a Tie considering this seemed to work for this listener. 21:16 – The Guys’ Personal Statements The stars of the show today aren’t visiting guests or listener questions. Nope. It’s a pair of personal statements. Watch Episode 190 on YouTube

  • Apr 22, 2019 · 1 hr 25 min

    Ep. 189: The Zen of LSAT Prep with Nina Marinaro

    March LSAT scores are rolling in and the phones are ringing off the hook. Nathan and Ben are starting to hear tales of triumph for some test takers and bitter complaints from others. Watch Episode 189 on YouTube

  • Apr 15, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min

    Ep. 188: Advanced Conditional Reasoning on the LSAT

    None. Some. Most. All… When you smash these words together in conditional reasoning statements, things can get tricky, fast. The guys walk through advanced conditional reasoning. Watch Episode 188 on YouTube

  • Apr 8, 2019 · 1 hr 40 min

    Ep. 187: 154 to 175 with LSAT Tutor Max Youngquist

    Today the guys have a wide-ranging conversation with Thinking LSAT team member, Demon contributor, and LSAT tutor Max Youngquist about his LSAT journey. Watch Episode 187 on YouTube

  • Mar 18, 2019 · 1 hr 35 min

    Ep. 184: Two weeks before the LSAT

    It’s a little less than two weeks until the Spring 2019 LSAT and the guys talk LSAT FUNdamentals for the final weeks of your test prep. Watch Episode 184 on YouTube

  • Mar 4, 2019 · 1 hr 52 min

    Ep. 182: The artist formerly known as Grouping Games

    Between Ben getting snubbed by his neighbors at the ABA and Nathan booking talks around the country, there’s never a dull moment in the Thinking LSAT world. Watch Episode 182 on YouTube

  • Feb 25, 2019 · 2 hr 3 min

    Ep. 181: Conditional Reasoning is FUNdamental

    Ben’s been getting better rest, and Nathan’s been playing golf with his best friends in some terrible weather conditions. And today? They get to dive into IF/THEN statements and conditional […] Watch Episode 181 on YouTube

  • Feb 18, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min

    Ep. 180: LSAT Question Types

    Today on the show, the guys continue their LSAT FUNdamentals series with an introduction to question types in LR. They break question types into two families. Watch Episode 180 on YouTube

  • Feb 11, 2019 · 1 hr 30 min

    Ep. 179: Logic Games Fundamentals

    It’s no secret that the Logic Games represent the biggest challenge for most folks who are starting with the LSAT. But the good news? The games are perfectly solvable. Watch Episode 179 on YouTube

  • Feb 4, 2019 · 1 hr 33 min

    Ep. 178: The Law Career Playbook with Rachel Gezerseh

    If you’re a long-time listener of the show, you may be questioning whether or not you should go to law school. And if you’ve decided you’re going to take the […] Watch Episode 178 on YouTube

  • Jan 28, 2019 · 1 hr 45 min

    Ep. 177: The Path of Most Resistance

    Nathan’s excited to travel east for a joint talk with Ben at GW. And Ben’s excited, too, even though he’s also got a bizarre groundhog-day cold. But before they drop […] Watch Episode 177 on YouTube

  • Jan 21, 2019 · 1 hr 14 min

    Ep. 176: Hello, LSAT Fundamentals

    Ben’s just finished shoveling his snow-covered driveway, and while Nathan’s pumped to travel east for their joint talk on changes to the LSAT, he’s not thrilled to hear about the […] Watch Episode 176 on YouTube

  • Jan 14, 2019 · 1 hr 21 min

    Ep. 175: Don’t Plan. Do.

    Ben’s an outlaw, y’all. And the show opens with a badass tale of Ben flaunting the authorities as he speeds around the DC beltway with his LSAT vanity license plates. […] Watch Episode 175 on YouTube