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
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Episodes577

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Dec 2, 2016 · 1 hr 27 min
Episode 76: How’s She Goin’, Eh?
Episode 76 is a nod to our Northern neighbors as Nathan records from Toronto, Ontario and we’re joined by Graeme Blake from Montreal, founder of LSAT Hacks. So kick off your ice hockey skates, grab a big mug of maple syrup, and listen in to the last episode before tomorrow’s LSAT exam! An article from the Wall Street Journal claims the American Bar Association is working on a rule that will revoke accreditation from law schools with bar passage rates of less than 75%. We discuss the article, the possible unintended consequences of such a rule, and our ideas for more useful changes the ABA could make. (4:28) Listener Matt asks for tips on staying focused during the Reading Comprehension section of the test. Ben suggests breaking sentences up into even smaller chunks and Nathan advises rereading any part that isn’t sinking in fully. We both tell Matt to learn to recognize when his mind is drifting early on so he can stop and re-focus without wasting time. (19:00) Kurt emails about finding the best law school to attend for certain specialties he might want to practice. Our advice is to disregard any rankings he finds regarding a schools’ specialties and instead choose the best school for the lowest cost in the location you would like to practice in. (30:16) We spend the second half of this episode working on two Logical Reasoning problems from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions 10 and 11, and listen in as we discuss the solutions in detail. (#10 at 45:00 and #11 with Graeme at 1:05:30) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Nov 19, 2016 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 75: The Ultimate Baller Move
Phillipe (not his real name and probably not the horse from Beauty and the Beast…probably) is wondering whether he should quit his full time job so he can focus on studying for the LSAT. We both advise against this drastic plan and encourage Phillipe to focus on the quality of his study time rather than the quantity. He also asks for suggestions on managing stress and fatigue and we share some of our favorite techniques. (7:30) Brett is a 30 year old professional who has a 3.65 GPA, a 164 average practice LSAT score, and a clean bill of health after recovering from surgery for kidney cancer in August. We’re so glad to hear you’re cancer-free! As he prepares for the December LSAT, Brett worries his application will be submitted too late to be considered for the big scholarships that he needs to attend law school. We talk about when applications are considered “late” and what that means for scholarship opportunities. Nathan counsels Brett on baller negotiating tactics, while Ben suggests he include his cancer story as an addendum to his application. (28:16) We work on two Logical Reasoning problems from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions 8 and 9, and listen in as we discuss the solutions in detail. (#8 at 52:20 and #9 at 1:05:02) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Nov 11, 2016 · 1 hr 27 min
Episode 74: Trumpocalypse and the Silver Lining, with Ann Levine
Feeling down about the election/the country/the very fabric of your existence?? Fear not, dear listeners, Nathan knows what will turn that frown upside-down…more LSAT prep! In the wake of Trumpocalypse, he is offering a $200 discount on his online, on demand prep course. This offer ends November 15 so use code ‘Trumpocalypse’ to sign up, rock the LSAT, become a lawyer, and save us all! (7:40) We receive a grateful email from “Leaf” who used the Thinking LSAT Podcast to keep herself entertained at the gym. She especially found Mike from Episodes 66 and 72.5 compelling, as she too struggles with over-preparation and score anxiety. We applaud her ‘beast-like’ work ethic and talk about the three R’s of LSAT prep-Review, Review, Review. Hopefully, a more thorough understanding of the toughest questions can provide Leaf with some peace of mind and her dream score. (8:38) Namrada does well in the early sections of her practice tests but starts to fatigue as she goes on; she is worried about her stamina when it comes to taking an entire LSAT on test day. We recommend good sleep, deep breaths, and some chair yoga and to stay fresh and alert on the big day. (39:15) Scott is great at finding flaws in Logical Reasoning problems, however he doesn’t always find the right flaw. Ben offers two stages of analysis for Flaw questions and Nathan advises Scott to slow down and consider all the answer choices before rushing into choosing one. (48:29) We interview Law School Expert Ann Levine about trends she has noticed in this year’s admission cycle so far. She offers advice on Early Decision, application timelines, and school interviews. Ann also has a pep talk for those future lawyers who may be disappointed in Tuesday’s election results. (58:10) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Nov 8, 2016 · 1 hr 45 min
Episode 73: Accomapocalypse
Nathan introduces a new Thinking LSAT feature: Really Dumb Move of the (September 2016) LSAT. A tutoring student of his receives the honors this time for discussing the test’s difficulty with a friend during break and then letting that discussion throw off her performance later. Honorable mention is awarded to a really loud wrist watch. (6:28) Nathan recommends a Rolling Stone article, Why We’re Living in the Age of Fear. The piece discusses the discrepancy between how safe we feel and how safe we actually are in the world today. Check it out, especially if you’re feeling nervous about the outcome of today’s election. (18:40) Ben, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of this election or guns or even of taking LSAT practice tests! We both urge listeners to take them early, take them often, and take your test prep to the next level. (24:15) Listener questions include asking for advice on how to best use the time-and-a half accommodation, why we suggest planning for two test dates, and how to best write an addendum- what to include and what to leave out. We hear a happy update from Episode 62’s Overwhelmed Dad (39:00) and a sad update from listener Tom (46:50), hang in there, Tom! Ben recommends two books that discuss some underrated traits, being messy and being a quitter. Messy presents the idea that some of the most successful and rewarding times in a person’s life happen when they aren’t planning and organizing perfectly. In Choose Yourself! Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream, author James Altucher suggests quitting strategically and how it can improve your life. (1:02:00) Cam asks about LSAT India’s prep tests and almost makes Ben swear. (1:23:00) Grace needs motivation to keep studying for her second LSAT attempt. (1:27:16) We wrap up the episode with some stats on the podcast, a big thank you to all the listeners, and Ben speaking Japanese. Domo arigato Ben’s high school Japanese teacher! (1:35:00) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Oct 25, 2016 · 25 min
Episode 72.5: An Interview with Mike from Episode 66
In Episode 66, Nathan and Ben discussed an email from Mike, a dedicated student who suffered from panic-induced insomnia the night before his June LSAT.
Oct 21, 2016 · 1 hr 34 min
Episode 72: For Whom the LSAC Screws
A quick update on the last episode’s story of the student who went one second overtime on his test day Writing Sample. The LSAC’s characteristically cagey response to him leaves us plenty of room for speculation. (1:00) Two listener emails describe separate but nearly identical issues with their proctors from the September LSAT. Each student took the test with accommodations and neither was allowed by their proctor to take the fifth section of the test. This administrator error led to their scores being canceled by the LSAC. Hear our response to what the LSAC is offering these students for their trouble. (3:40) Rebecca, a wife, mother, and law school hopeful, is quite embedded in her community. She is applying to the law school closest to her home, however she is worried that the program won’t offer her a scholarship because it is clear she means to stay in the area. We discuss the pros and cons of her community involvement to her application and encourage her to also consider programs further away. (15:30) Spicoli asks the dudes for advice on writing his personal statement and whether or not he should write about the specific type of law he wants to practice. Surfboard law, perhaps? Ben recommends making an audio recording before putting pen to paper, while Nathan suggests the Ernest Hemingway method- have two drinks then get to writing! (24:40) High school senior Jimbo is a high-achieving student who is looking at a dual program that would allow him to complete his undergrad and law school in only six years total. We question the huge commitment this would be for someone in his position and suggest other options for Jimbo, ranging from Alaskan metalsmith apprenticeship to just going to college and trying out a variety of classes. (44:20) We work on two Logical Reasoning questions from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Questions #6 and #7, and listen in as we discuss each problem in detail. (55:00) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Oct 12, 2016 · 1 hr 29 min
Episode 71: Who Killed the Electric LSAT?
Thinking LSAT gets political as we discuss the Trump-Clinton debate, and Nathan shares his surprising opinion on the outcome. Don’t worry if you’re not offended yet, we’ll discuss religion at the end of the show. (0:30) A commercial break here for Nathan to plug his upcoming LSAT Boot Camps in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Get more information and sign up for a magical weekend with Nathan Fox. (8:28) Tragically funny experiences from the September LSAT include distracting proctors and proctors who forget how to tell time, and a violation for going one second over in the Writing Sample section. We share some tips on avoiding these violations by wrapping up the sample quickly and clearly. (9:30) Ben shares big news from the 2004 LSAC Report— a tablet-based LSAT will be released for testing in 2015!!! Oh wait, it wasn’t. We discuss the pros and cons (there aren’t any cons, actually) of such a test, and speculate on why it never happened. (23:40) An email from Greg asks whether his advisor calling the September test “unusual” is accurate and what that might mean for the December LSAT he plans to take. (49:55) Anonymous is concerned about inconsistency in his practice test scores. Ben says this is a super common experience and Nathan says this student is just not good enough at the LSAT yet. Either way, we agree speeding up is not the answer. (49:55) We work on a Sufficient Assumption question from the June 2007 LSAT. To play at home just download the free test, work through Section 3, Question #5, and listen in as we discuss the problem in detail. (1:07:00) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Sep 28, 2016 · 1 hr 19 min
Episode 70: Big Law Advice from A Recent Graduate
Ben reads and recommends Alexander Hamilton. The biography by Ron Chernow inspired the recent musical phenomenon and Ben thinks it could also be an inspiration for aspiring lawyers. (5:30) Dreaming of a job in Big Law? If so, fire up your laptop and follow along as a recent law school grad offers advice on scoring a job at a Top 30 firm like she did. First, check out the NALP Directory to find the legal employer you might be interested in. Look at the employment summaries for specific law schools according to reports from the American Bar Association. Check out two articles, here and here, that describe Big Law salaries and the high expectations that can go along with that fat paycheck. Finally, study the bimodal distribution of starting salaries for lawyers by graduation year. (6:30) Nathan takes Ben back to middle school when he explains the difference between Mean, Median, and Mode. In other words, this is the part where you might want to break for a snack until the math is over. (37:30) Ben performs a dramatic reading of an email from Michelle, a loyal listener who compares the Blueprint prep course she took in 2012 to what she’s learned from the Thinking LSAT podcast. Since listening, she has made some strategic changes that have improved her practice scores. No Michelle, thank YOU. (51:08) Kirk is struggling with Logic Games and asks where his study time is best spent leading up to test day (58:05), and Travis wants help getting through the wordy answer choices in Reading Comprehension. (1:07:30) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!
Sep 13, 2016 · 1 hr 55 min
Episode 69: Psychic Ben, Sticky Notes, and Inbox Zero
The recent release of The 10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests 42-51 by the LSAC has Nathan and Ben all in a tizzy. While Nathan grumbles about the price, title, and layout, Ben is busy taking credit for willing the book into existence. (2:19) This week, Ben’s Book Corner features Make It Stick- The Science of Successful Learning. The book identifies the study and learning techniques that are most effective for understanding and retaining new information. Check out Make It Stick to see if your own strategies could be improved. A word of warning: be careful not to confuse it with the similarly titled but very different Made to Stickor Stick It. (8:00) Are you preparing for the LSAT and looking for even more study opportunities? Do you have eyes, ears, and…well that’s all you need, actually. Yes, you say? Perfect! Ben is looking for volunteers to review and rate videos from his LSAT prep class and you can contact him to sign up. (23:45) Listener mail came pouring in this week, covering a variety of LSAT and law school topics, and we work through it to get our inbox back to zero. Kyle proposes, and Ben tries out, a new strategy for Reading Comp questions (46:56), Shiva is panicked about missing the September LSAT she planned to take (59:29), Basic Laurenjenna asks if Logic Games are harder on recent tests (1:07:50), and Boba Fett wants to know if a recommendation from 2015 can be used for a 2017 application (1:26:40). Episode 69 concludes with a challenge from Ben to the Thinking LSAT listeners. Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve giving up your cell phone or juice fasts or anything. (1:53:56) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question!
Sep 1, 2016 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode 68: All You Need is Reason. And Money. And Wasabi Potato Chips.
Ben jumps right into Episode 68 by introducing listeners to LSAT India and their catchy tagline, “All you need is reason.” Nathan wants to check out this version of the 2009 test but reminds us that here in America, the LSAT motto is more like “All you need is money.” (1:28) We discuss a study that looks at the impact of texting and email on human IQ. Spoiler alert: it’s bad. Constant texting/emailing decreases the user’s IQ by an average of 10 points, definitely a problem when you are preparing for the LSAT. Get tips from the guys on how to disconnect and use those extra brain cells to raise your test score. (19:50) Ben has an issue with the Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible’s explanation of the Correlation-Causation flaw. Nathan agrees that properly understanding this flaw is paramount to LSAT success, so we discuss it in detail to clarify. (25:51) A letter from listener Wasabi Potato Chips* asks for advice on how much to prep before attempting her third LSAT. Hear the guys’ response to WPC and their thoughts on the third attempt in general. (43:15) *not her real name…but hopefully a real flavor of potato chip Finally, we work through another Reading Comprehension passage from the June 2007 test. This time we explain Passage 2 from Section 4, a comparative reading type of question. Download the test yourself and play along as we go. (1:02:00) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Aug 20, 2016 · 1 hr 24 min
Episode 67: Or Am I…
Josh planned to retake the LSAT but then received a recommendation from his pre-law advisor not to do so; now Josh is confused about what he should do. We give him our own recommendation and decide that a retake is almost always a good idea. (10:07) Tamra knows she is retaking the LSAT in September but is worried her score will be received too late to be considered at her top choice school by their early decision deadline. We compare the pros and cons of Tamra sending an application before her September scores are ready, then discuss how early the law school application truly needs to be sent in at all. (15:00) FarmBoy has a 142 on his first practice test, ADD, and, we can only hope, an impressive collection of overalls. He emails to ask whether reading the question stem before the passage is always a bad idea or if, as he suspects, he might be an exception to this rule. (20:00) Brett, a US Merchant Marine who alternates a month at home with a month at sea, is having an understandably hard time scheduling his LSAT. His current options are to take the test a month from now or a year from now, and we make our best recommendation by looking at his current practice scores. (30:28) We continue Section 3 from the June 2007 LSAT, completely working through Logical Reasoning Questions #3 and #4. Download the free test here and try the questions, then listen in for our explanation. (42:30) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! We’ll give you our two cents, [or will we]? Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Aug 2, 2016 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 66: Book Recommendations, Time Wasters, and When Good Habits Go Bad
We open Episode 66 with some book recommendations; Ben is enjoying Chaos Monkeys by Antonio García Martínez and Nathan just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Reading these could expand your mind and your vocabulary; at the very least, they will be more interesting than reading The Economist. (2:40) Mike, a dedicated listener and student of Nathan’s, writes in to discuss his personal battle with the LSAT. Mike was the picture of LSAT prep perfection- he completed 35 full practice tests, improved his diet and fitness routine, and even listened to every episode of Thinking LSAT… twice. All signs pointed to Mike acing the June 6th test, and then disaster struck. Listen to Mike’s heartbreaking tale, and hear our advice on how he can put that day behind him and move forward to success. (17:42) We begin Section 3 of Logic Games from the June 2007 LSAT, completely working through Questions #1 and #2. Download the free test here and try the questions, then listen in for our explanation. (48:04) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Jul 25, 2016 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode 65: NSFW
…JK. Episode 65 is no less safe for work than any other episode of Thinking LSAT. We do appreciate hearing about all of you that seem to be listening to this podcast at the office instead of, say, writing invoices or reading memos or playing Pokemon Go. We begin this episode by sharing a news item that features an uncharacteristically generous new refund policy from the LSAC. The wording of said policy is, however, very characteristically convoluted. Check out the fine print here while we admire the LSAC’s commitment to obscurity. (4:50) Brian, a listener who recently earned a very impressive 171 on the LSAT, vows to never set eyes upon the test again. We hear you, Brian. He asks us to speculate on his chances of admittance to a top law school with his awesome 171 and a 2.9 GPA. Nathan refuses to play fortune teller and instead directs all such queries to the LSAT/GPA Calculator. Try this tool for yourself to see the chances of getting into the law school of your dreams. (10:55) A lengthy email from Rachel covers a plethora of LSAT and law school related questions and we cover as much ground as we can in response. Included in her letter are queries about studying old LSATs, using a free app to prepare, whether or not she should study in a distracting environment, and if her understanding of sufficient vs. necessary conditions is correct; unfortunately, Rachel, it isn’t. We set her straight on these conditions and offer free resources to help even more, including Nathan’s blog posts on sufficient and necessary. (23:48) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Jul 12, 2016 · 1 hr 55 min
Episode 64: To Retake Or Not To Retake- That Is the Question…
'Tis the time for our noble listeners to decide whether or not they are satisfied with their June LSAT scores. Zach wonders if it is worth risking a lower retake score after earning a 172 on the test. ‘Appreciative Student’ was surprised to receive an official score that was 5-6 points higher than their highest practice test score, and asks if it would be a good idea to try for an even higher result in September. (6:50) We discuss a recent NY Times article, An Expensive Law Degree, and No Place to Use It. The article addresses the situation that some attendees of lower-tiered law schools find themselves in upon graduation: crushing debt, low bar passage rates, and a bleak employment outlook. We talk about these issues and what you can do to avoid a similar fate. (18:25) Last but not least, we debut the inaugural Reading Comprehension explanation on the Thinking LSAT Podcast. We carefully read, comprehend, and discuss Passage #1 from the June 2007 test. Download the test yourself and play along as we go. (32:20) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Jun 27, 2016 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 63: True Grit, Grititude, and It Looks Like We Made Grit
Ben recommends Grit by Angela Duckworth, a book that could help with your LSAT prep and studying mindset. In that same vein, he mentions episode 202 of the podcast “The Art of Manliness,” which discusses the effort and commitment required to achieve a goal. (5:27) Next, a barrage of emails (3 can be a barrage, right??) from listeners who want to thank Thinking LSAT for helping them achieve their LSAT goals. Mike channeled Nathan’s zen to overcome test day stress (13:43), Jeff realized LSAT success was more than a matter of innate ability (18:10), and Taylor used the podcast for hands-free studying while hiking in Spain (34:40). We also answer Taylor’s questions about how to improve her score in Reading Comprehension. At long last, we answer the final question in Section 2 of the June 2007 LSAT! Question #25 is a Logical Reasoning problem that demands an explanation of facts that don’t seem to line up. Download the free June 2007 test and play along as we solve the puzzle and wrap up this section. (52:58) Are you looking for an LSAT prep class in the Los Angeles area? Nathan has an upcoming Fox test prep class in LA with room for more students! Reach out to him for more information on the course and registration for the class. (1:07) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Jun 14, 2016 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode 62: Dear Thinking LSAT…
Did you take the June LSAT? Are you freaking out about your performance?? If you answered yes, we encourage you to slow down, take a deep breath, and refrain from any drastic decisions about canceling your score. (4:05) “Overwhelmed Dad” in South Texas emails a series of questions regarding his potential career shift from high school history teacher to lawyer. Worried about his ability to balance work, law school, and a newborn baby, Overwhelmed wants to know what advice we can share to help him be successful in his endeavor. (5:45) “Anxious and Anonymous” writes in to admit he disregarded our [totally awesome] advice and read LSAT forums even after receiving a great offer letter from his top choice law school. Now questioning whether he set his sights high enough, Anxious is considering turning down this offer and starting the application process over next year. (36:20) We work through two Logical Reasoning questions from the June 2007 Official LSAT. Question #23 is a Sufficient Assumption problem that uses big, heady abstractions to confuse test-takers and Question #24 tests how well you understood the question and predicted an answer. To play along at home, pause at 46:20 for #23 and at 1:06 for Question #24. Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
May 22, 2016 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 61: Doogie Howser, JD: An Interview With 15 year old College Senior Seth Harding.
Episode 61 features an interview with Seth Harding, a 15 year old college senior who is preparing to take the LSAT. Seth is planning to take the test on June 6th and hopes to raise his current practice score of 148 to an Ivy-league competitive score within the next 3 weeks. Will we convince Seth to postpone his test date, as his goal is extremely ambitious, if not impossible? Will he convince a skeptical Nathan that he’ll be mentally and emotionally prepared to start law school at only 16 years old? Will Seth appreciate any of Ben’s spot-on Doogie Howser jokes? Listen in to find out the answers to these questions and more. (0:55) Nathan discusses some recent advice his prep class received from law school admissions expert Ann Levine, including the optimal time to apply to law school and when applying “early” is no longer considered early. (35:10) We dole out some tough love to Henry, a law school hopeful who emailed Nathan asking for tips on how to raise his LSAT score from an untimed 160-165 to a 175-180. We definitively conclude that any score must be from a timed practice test to convey real information on one’s performance on the test. (42:30) We work through Question #22 in section 2 of the June 2007 LSAT, a Logical Reasoning problem that asks you to find the answer that Must Be True. Download the free test here and try the question, then listen in for our explanation. (53:15) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
May 5, 2016 · 1 hr 47 min
Episode 60: An Alaskan voyage to the LSAT and an Interview with Attorney/Sportswriter Jeff Todd
After months of anticipation and teasers from Nathan, The Fox LSAT Logic Games Playbook is now available! Check it out here and start crushing all those games. (3:10) Ed, a far-flung listener from Meyers Chuck, Alaska describes the unique route he will be taking to get to the LSAT testing center, and asks for advice on how to stay focused after the expedition. We discuss his questions and pose some of our own–what’s the Airbnb situation in Juneau? Does the pet deposit cover the entire sled dog team or just individual dogs? (7:20) We spend time working through Logical Reasoning questions #20 (starting at 21:15) and #21 (at 33:25) from the June 2007 LSAT. Download the free test and try it for yourself, then listen in as we discuss them. Nathan interviews Jeff Todd, a Harvard Law School graduate who left his position at a prestigious law firm to write for MLBTradeRumors.com. Hear Jeff discuss his decisions, his life now, and his sage advice to Thinking LSAT listeners. (55:00) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Apr 20, 2016 · 56 min
Episode 59: Nathan Interviews ‘The Hustler,’ Alison Monahan
In Episode 59, Nathan interviews Alison Monahan: Columbia Law School graduate, co-creator of The Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox programs and podcast, and creator of The Girl’s Guide to Law School. 10 Things You’ll Hate About Alison Monahan: 10- Nathan nicknamed her “The Hustler.” So awesome. (0:55) 9- She could have gone to medical school without taking the MCAT. (2:55) 8- She decided she wanted to go to law school, took the LSAT a few weeks later, and scored a 170 out of the gate. (12:25) 7- She couldn’t get laid off during the recession in 2010, even though she begged her boss to do it. (31:00) 6- Every day for a year, Alison woke up, asked herself what she felt like doing that day, and did that. (33:00) 5- She’s already lived in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. 4- She now spends her summers in Mexico City and her winters in San Francisco. (37:30) 3- She also shares a ski cabin with friends in Tahoe. (46:00) 2- She gets to drink beer with Nathan. (56:00) 1- That, despite making you feel lazy and inadequate, you can’t hate Alison at all–she is too awesome! Alison knows her life is amazing, and she wants to help you make your life remarkable too. Check out her programs and tweet her for all your bar prep/law school/workplace needs. Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Apr 9, 2016 · 1 hr 14 min
Episode 58: Bloody Nipples, Free Money, and WRITING THINGS IN ALL CAPS MAKE THEM VERY IMPORTANT THINGS, or Making the Most of Scholarship Offers and an Update on LSAC Photo Requirements
Two old dudes leave the jogging to the kids while they rhapsodize over the benefits of swimming slow laps—it’s so easy on the joints! Nathan really hammers the point home when he makes Ben aware of a runner’s worst nightmare…nipple bleeding (4:20). Good news! Law schools are giving out more scholarships than ever! Bad news–you’re going to have to do some math to determine which offer is really your best option. We discuss two frequently overlooked factors you need to consider when comparing which scholarship to accept. (8:03). The LSAC fully utilized social media last week when they tweeted the following link to their Facebook to deliver this announcement: Important message for June 2016 ‪#‎LSAT registrants: Review the photograph you uploaded when registering for the LSAT. It MUST meet the LSAT Admission Ticket Photo requirements. It is your responsibility to make sure these requirements are met. Admission to the test center may be denied if your photo is not acceptable. If you are denied admission, you will not be eligible for a refund. If you determine that your photo does not meet LSAC requirements, call LSAC at 215.968.1001 during our business hours for assistance. Don’t let all the caps intimidate you; LSAC clarifies by providing a link to some amazing examples of UNACCEPTABLE photos (their caps, not ours). After mocking our favorite of the bad photos, we demystify the requirement rules with a few easy tips (26:25). Anna Alaburda, the 2008 graduate who sued her former law school for allegedly inflating their post-graduate employment statistics, finally had her day in court. We discuss the outcome and what it could mean for future law school graduates with the same litigious plan (36:42). Listener Bonifacio asks for information about LSAC fee waivers and the overall cost of applying to law school. We advise him to apply for any waivers he has a chance of getting and encourage him to disregard some of the smaller expenses that occur in the process of applying to and choosing a program (39:20). We work through Question #19 of the June 2007 LSAT, a Logical Reasoning problem that is an example of one of the most common flaws on the test- Correlation vs. Causation. Nathan is suspicious of the question from the get-go and thinks the argument is lying to him, while the more trusting Ben is pretty sure the argument is just an idiot. Play along by downloading the free test and working along with us (48:00). Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.