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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Mar 29, 2016 · 1 hr 27 min
Episode 57: Leveraging Scholarship Offers, When to Start Law School, and Tips for Campus Visits
After a bad test day and a “questionable” prep guide got him a 147 on the LSAT, Torvald* uses the Thinking LSAT podcast to jump his retake score to a 165 — Gratulerer, Torvald! As he considers law school options, Torvald wonders how to leverage scholarship offers from lower-ranked schools to get the best offer from his top-choice program. We advise him to apply broadly and discuss how to make the most of any offers. (2:25) *not his real name, unfortunately Muhammad has already been accepted to his top choice, Brooklyn Law School, but is starting to doubt his decision after seeing the new rankings that drop the program from 78th to 97th. Nathan dismisses the drop, while PI Ben conducts a thorough investigation of Brooklyn Law School and uncovers some disturbing trends. (12:50) An anonymous listener writes in for advice after her less-than-perfect session with the assistant admissions director at the school she is interested in. We discuss the potential effects of such a meeting and suggest ways to ensure you make a good impression on your law school visits. (25:25) We talk Socratic method as Nathan rants about professors who don’t employ the approach correctly and Ben shares his personal Socratic method faux pas. Learn from our mistakes as we tell you how to deal with this notoriously intimidating teaching style. (28:55) A string of listener emails lead to discussions about starting law school in the summer vs. starting in the fall, reasons to go to or skip public events held by schools, and whether a particular LSAT prep audiobook is any good for studying. (44:10) We wrap up with Question #18 from the June 2007 LSAT. Download the free test and try it for yourself, then listen in as we work through it. (59:41) 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.
Mar 15, 2016 · 1 hr 30 min
Episode 56: Are Law Schools Responsible for Assuring You Have a Job After Graduation?
Nathan recommends adding something unusual to your morning coffee. Try it and look like a badass at your next brunch. (2:30) David, a listener who graduated in 2006 with a degree in civil engineering, asks about his chances of being accepted into a good law school despite his cumulative GPA of 2.78. He is currently preparing to take the June LSAT after letting his 2009 score of 161 expire without applying to any schools. Ben uses the LSAT/GPA calculator to give David an estimation of his chances at admission. (9:15) We discuss the importance of highlighting personality and “painting a picture” of yourself on your law school applications. Exhibit A: Cate Hall, a graduate of Yale Law School who quit a successful law career to become a professional poker player; she was recently interviewed on one of Nathan’s favorite podcasts, “Thinking Poker.” You can listen to that episode here. (26:00) An article in the New York Times discusses Anna Alaburda, a 2008 graduate of Thomas Jefferson Law School who is charging the institution with inflating their employment stats to convince people to enroll in their program. The story prompts our discussion about the responsibility of a law school in their students’ future employability. (33:35) Nathan’s heart skips a beat when Cate Hall, the aforementioned poker player, likes the tweet he wrote about her! Tweet Cate and beg her to come on our show. (51:30) Listener Cordelia is preparing for the LSAT and is planning to purchase one of Nathan’s LSAT books to help but she doesn’t know which one to choose first. Nathan recommends starting with his primer Introducing the LSAT, a “quick and dirty” overview of the LSAT’s most common concepts and how to handle them, and then moving on to Cheating the LSAT, which walks the reader through one full test. (53:35) We work on the official June 2007 LSAT, Question #17- a particularly useful flaw question in the Logical Reasoning section. Play along by downloading the free June 2007 LSAT here. (58:10) Listen closely as we discuss the argument and you will hear even more authentic Costa Rican birdsongs! This episode features a less melodious species of bird (or maybe it’s a monkey?!) but will put you in a tropical mindset just the same. 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.
Feb 29, 2016 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 55: Ann Levine Talks Meditation and Studying for the LSAT
We interview Ann Levine, law school admissions expert, author and yoga teacher. Ann counsels us on the importance of meditation in creating a clear mind before studying. She also discusses test day anxiety and answers questions about the admissions cycle. Read more about Ann and sign up for her newsletter here. (2:00) Listener John is joining an LSAT study group and asks for tips on how to make the sessions as productive as possible. We debate whether study groups are the best use of prep time and how to keep focused while studying with other students. (34:30) An email from economics major Cameron prompts a discussion about the subject content of Reading Comprehension passages. Do you know what a lichen is?! We don’t either, but we tell you how to correctly answer questions about them anyway. (43:10) Ben shares stories from listeners who recently received LSAT accommodations on test day, and we discuss how those accommodations were handled by test proctors. (54:50) Looking for more LSAT prep help? We spend the last few minutes of the show talking about the variety of resources we have for students who want more guidance. As an added bonus, if you listen closely while Ben is speaking, you will hear the melodious birdsong of Costa Rica! (1:01:00) Nathan is teaching a weekend LSAT Bootcamp in Los Angeles on April 23 and 24. It promises to be a concentrated dose of LSAT awesomeness! Get all the details here. 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.
Feb 18, 2016 · 1 hr 43 min
Episode 54: LSAT Test-Day Horror Stories, Tips for Attending LSAC Law School Forums and an Interview with a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Fire alarms, marching bands and mice … oh my! Listeners Ayung and Lauren share their LSAT test day horror stories. We discuss what to do when you encounter the unexpected in the test room, and how test-takers can sometimes turn a bad situation to their advantage. (7:30) We stop talking about the LSAT and start talking about law TV! Nathan recommends two shows, one of which has shown him more courtroom trial footage in ten hours than law school did in three years. (16:45) After misunderstanding the 5-minute warning policy on test day and panicking, Nabiel is worried his LSAT score will be lower than he hoped and plans to retake in June. We urge him to make some big changes in his study strategy for the coming months. (28:17) Following a positive experience she had at a recent LSAC Law School Forum, Kaley writes in to encourage others to make the most of this resource. We agree, and follow up with advice on forum preparation, making a lasting impression, and even what you should wear to the event! (38:00) Kaley, currently in a wait-list situation herself, compiled a list of past “Thinking LSAT” episodes where the wait-list issue was discussed. (45:00) A double-major in electrical engineering and computer science, listener Ben is worried his GPA isn’t high enough to get him into a top-tier law school, even if he does great on the LSAT. We talk about GPA vs. LSAT score in the admissions process and whether the type of degree a person has earned impacts their law school application. (46:15) Ben must abruptly exit Episode #54 when his son makes an adorable request for him to “come watch Octonauts”; Nathan laughs and laughs. (1:02:20) Nathan interviews Kevin Hayslett, a full-time criminal defense lawyer/part-time radio personality lawyer. (1:03:20) 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.
Feb 4, 2016 · 39 min
Episode 53: How Do You Pace Yourself During the Logical Reasoning Section?
Nathan finally saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and we find the flaws in the film like it’s Question #16 from Section 2 of the June 2007 LSAT. (Spoiler Alert from 0:55-9:00) Bonifacio, a former student of Nathan’s, asks for advice on slowing down while working through the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT. We talk about pacing during this section of the test, and whether or not it is a major factor in test success. (9:06) Ben provides a handy 3-part checklist to go through when attempting any Logical Reasoning question. (16:40) We answer Question #16 from Section 2 of the June 2007 LSAT. To play along at home, pause the podcast at 24:53 to read and attempt the question, then press play to hear our discussion and answer. (24:14) 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.
Jan 20, 2016 · 2 hr 5 min
Episode 52: Questions From Listeners and a Conversation With Immigration Attorney Nikki Black
Arnold took the LSAT in October and December 2015, and ended up raising his score to 174. We talk about retaking the LSAT, the third Logic Game on the December LSAT, and how actual LSAT scores compare to practice exams. (5:24) Hannah has a question about an application fee waiver. She took the December LSAT and improved ten points to 163. She received an email from Georgetown inviting her to apply, but the school will not waive the application fee. Hannah asks: Is this an indication she may be admitted? Should she apply? (39:38) Sydney asks how to create an affordable, self-led study schedule to bring her LSAT score to 170 or above. She is currently taking a prep class and working full time, and received a 161 on the December LSAT. We talk about the importance of practicing for the LSAT every day. Here’s an article that speaks to that concept, as well as Ben’s daily commitment calendar that will help you stick to your schedule. (47:20) Oscar shares with us his experience applying for and receiving LSAT accommodations after listening to our episodes about the subject. (57:48) Finally, Nathan interviews Nikki Black, an immigration attorney who talks about her experience attending law school and being happy as a lawyer. If you’d like to reach out to Nikki, you can send her an email or connect via Twitter at @nikkimarieblack. (1:17:40) 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.
Jan 7, 2016 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 51: Money, Internships, Volunteering and Letters of Rec: Do They Help Get You Into Law School?
Curtis is 33 years old, has an associate’s degree and wants to be an attorney. He is enrolled in a bachelor’s program and received a 146 on the June LSAT. He is worried about competing against younger law school applicants. Curtis asks about letters of recommendation, and the importance of internships and volunteer work when applying to law school. (3:25) Diane asks about financial resources and how big of a difference money makes on the LSAT and applying to law school. (17:25) We tackle Logical Reasoning questions 14 and 15 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. (24:40 – question 14; 41:52 – question 15) Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Dec 23, 2015 · 1 hr 40 min
Episode 50: Implications of the Number of LSAT Test-Takers and Reflections on our 50th Podcast
Emma just took the December LSAT. She's trying to decide if she should apply to law schools this year or wait until next year. Most of the schools she's interested in attending do not have deadlines until March; but will her chances of admissions increase if she applies early? We discuss the number of people taking the LSAT (based on numbers from the LSAC), and the implications of those statistics. In celebration of our 50th episode, we share some stats and reflections from the last 50 episodes of the Thinking LSAT podcast. We also tackle Logical Reasoning question 13 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think. And tell us if you'd like to hear from different attorneys on the podcast!
Dec 16, 2015 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 49: Should a Student Retake the LSAT After Getting a Score of 171?
One listener has a full-time job, a diagnostic score of 165 and wants to take the June LSAT. She plans to study now, take a break during her busy season at work, and then re-start studying in the spring. Is this a workable study strategy? Should this listener retake the LSAT after getting a score of 171 on the October test? A listener from Brazil is studying for the LSAT and has taken five practice tests with scores ranging from 153 to 166. He asks the following questions: Do I have a chance at a scholarship (even with a lower GPA) at a good school? Is a 175 score feasible? Does being an international student make a difference for law school admission? We also tackle Logical Reasoning question 12 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Nov 24, 2015 · 1 hr 19 min
Episode 48: Logic Game 3 of the Oct. LSAT and Should This Student Skip the Dec. LSAT?
A student asks if she should take the December LSAT if she's currently scoring in the 130s on practice tests. Her GPA is a 3.3 and she has three "F" grades on her transcript. In addition, she is half-way through the Princeton Review LSAT course and her scores are not improving. Should she take the December LSAT, or wait until the February test? We tackle Logical Reasoning question 11 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Finally we discuss Game 3 on the October 2015 (Test 76) LSAT. Got questions you want us to answer in a future podcast? Send us an email! Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Nov 16, 2015 · 1 hr 34 min
Episode 47: LSAT Accommodations, LSAT Test-Day Score Drops and Whether to Drill Specific Question Types
We discuss the current state of LSAT accommodations since the topic was discussed in episode 43. We tackle Logical Reasoning question 10 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Camilla asks what ranges we recommend for reach, target and safety when using the LSAC calculator and the percentage it gives. Two listeners ask if they should spend time reviewing questions/answers they got correct, or just those that were incorrect. Chris is heading into the final stretch before the December LSAT. He asks if we've seen patterns among students who have experienced test-day score drops compared to their practice test scores. Similarly, Courtney asks if we have suggestions for how to improve her test-day score to match her practice scores. Chris asks if he should drill specific question types, or continue taking mixed sections to help strengthen the question gaps and understanding. In addition, he asks for suggestions to go from the low 160s to high 160s. Ben suggests using the Strategy Prep question tracker to help with this. Finally, Courtney is seeking additional test materials to complete her LSAT preparations. If you're interested in reviewing a draft of Nathan's Logic Games Playbook, send him an email and he'll be in touch! Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Oct 29, 2015 · 1 hr 22 min
Episode 46: What To Do If You Got Disappointing October LSAT Results
The October LSAT scores are out. Should you retake the LSAT? And what's the first thing you should do when you get your actual results back? Paul asks if it's possible to go from a LSAT score of 146 to 170. Vincent shares his experience after taking our advice to stop reading the Logical Reasoning question stem first. Did his practice scores improve? Dylan wants help answering abstract questions (e.g. flaw, method of reasoning), and shares his strategy for taking simulated practice tests at the actual LSAT start-time of 8:30 a.m. A listener asks what suggestions we have for continuing to study when waiting for test results. She also asks about a strategy for disclosing speeding tickets on the law school application, and whether those traffic violations will hurt her chances of admission. Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Oct 21, 2015 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 45: Law School Early Decision Programs and an October LSAT Horror Story
Ann Levine, Law School Expert, talks about whether law school early decision programs are worth exploring. She also addresses whether law schools can see if you've applied to multiple schools via early decision. Joe shares an October LSAT test-day horror story that involved the use of an analog watch during the test. He asks advice on how to address the situation with LSAC. Listener Kayle talks about an offer she received from a law school in Alabama that included a waiver of her application fee and a $30 iTunes gift card in exchange for her application to the school. She asks if other law schools are engaging in these offers. After scoring in the mid-teens on Logic Games, Steve asks for help and suggestions for additional Logic Games study materials. One listener doesn't feel confident about his most recent score with respect to Reading Comprehension. He already took the LSAT once and scored a 162. He asks if he should take the December LSAT, and what are the implications of taking the LSAT for a third time. He also asks about the option of cancelling his score and if we have suggestions for additional comparative reading materials. Thinking LSAT is now on Twitter! Follow us at @thinkinglsat and tweet us a question! Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Sep 29, 2015 · 1 hr 22 min
Episode 44: Help, My LSAT Score Is Going Down! (And Other Questions Before the October LSAT)
This student's practice LSAT score is stuck in the mid 140s, despite the fact she has been studying for quite some time using several different prep materials. She wants to reach the 150s. Should she take the October LSAT or wait until December? This student has been studying consistently for the LSAT and scoring in the mid 160s. But as the October test approaches, his score is slipping down to the 150s. What should he do? Jack asks how he can improve his speed completing Logic Games. Should students worry about the LSAT writing sample? (Listen to Episode 34 for more information on the writing sample.) Are law school early decision programs worth pursuing? Nathan will be living part time in Los Angeles, and is now accepting appointments for private LSAT tutoring in Southern California. You can book an appointment online for in-person or Skype tutoring sessions. We also tackle Logic Games question 1 (Section 1) from the June 2007 LSAT. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Sep 25, 2015 · 1 hr 30 min
Episode 43: Applying for LSAT Disability Accommodations
Mika talks about applying for LSAT accommodations for persons with disabilities, and what the LSAC decided in her case. She discusses the process of submitting more than 100 pages of documentation, and her request to take four LSAT sections, additional time to answer the sections, the use of noise-cancelling headphones, and an isolated testing environment. We answer questions from Benny who is pursuing his MBA and wants to attend law school. He asks whether a graduate degree will help his chances of admission to a law school such as Georgetown. He also asks if law schools will consider his graduate GPA more or less than the undergraduate GPA. We clarify an answer Ann Levine recently gave about how the LSAC computes your GPA when you retake a college course and receive a higher grade. Ann refers to the LSAC's policies related to transcript summarization webpage for further clarification. We also tackle Logical Reasoning question 9 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Sep 18, 2015 · 1 hr 15 min
Episode 42: Heather Jarvis, Student Loan Expert, Talks About Law School Debt
Student Loan Expert Heather Jarvis addresses the following topics: What are need-based versus merit-based scholarships? How does tuition discounting work? How should students ask for more scholarship money? Tips for borrowing and reducing living expenses in law school. Should you borrow money from an IRA investment account or take out student loans to pay for law school? We also answer the following questions from listeners: Melissa is a 34-years-old mother who is considering law school. She asks about a LSAT prep strategy and whether to take a practice LSAT as her first step. Eric asks about "must be true" questions and when to diagram Logical Reasoning questions. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Sep 4, 2015 · 1 hr 39 min
Episode 41: Ann Levine, Law School Expert, Shares Tips for Law School Admission
Ann Levine, Law School Expert, shares advice and answers questions about law school admission. What do law school admissions committees do with LSAT score bands? How does the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) compute your GPA when you retake a college course and then receive a higher grade? How does LSAC handle transcripts when you're involved in a dual degree program? What are the first things you should do to prepare for law school? Brittany asks if you can submit a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher. When you're asked to supply bullet points for your own letter of recommendation, what information should you give your recommender? How do you decide on a personal statement topic when you have several life experiences to share? Kirk has a bachelor's of music degree in trombone performance. He asks how law school admissions committees will view his degree in music, and should he ask for letters of recommendation from his music professors? He also asks about study abroad programs in law school. Should you submit your law school application now or wait until after taking the October LSAT? Be sure to check out Ann's new Law School Expert scholarship program. After our conversation with Ann, we tackle Logical Reasoning questions 7 and 8 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Don’t forget to try out the LSAT tracker. This lets you track your progress and discover what you need to work on. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Aug 26, 2015 · 1 hr 35 min
Episode 40: Should You Focus on the Overall Score or Learning From Your Mistakes When Taking Practice LSAT Tests?
Andrew asks if he has enough time to study for the December 2015 LSAT or should he wait until the February 2016 test. He also asks if he will be at a disadvantage if he takes a later LSAT because more people will be sitting for the exam. Kayle is doing well on her practice LSAT tests (scores of 169 and 172). When studying, she asks if she should: a) concentrate primarily on the number of questions missed; b) consider the overall score; or c) ignore everything and focus on learning from her mistakes? Dennis is concerned about a college class that has negatively impacted his GPA. He is currently retaking the class. Should he apply to law school as soon as his LSAT score is available, or wait until the semester is finished so he can report the better grade and higher GPA? We also tackle Logical Reasoning questions 5 and 6 (Section 2) from the June 2007 LSAT. Don't forget to try out the LSAT tracker. This lets you track your progress and discover what you need to work on. Lastly, Heather Jarvis, student loan expert, will be a guest on an upcoming episode. If you have a question for Heather, email us by Sept. 1. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Aug 12, 2015 · 1 hr 37 min
Episode 39: Will Legal Experience and Letters of Recommendation from Lawyers Get You Into Law School?
Here's what we talk about in this week’s Thinking LSAT podcast: Andrew asks what we think his chances are of admission to the University of Iowa College of Law. He scored a 155 on the LSAT without any preparation (and is now scoring much higher), and is retaking the test in October. He will have a compelling personal statement, and has impressive extracurricular and leadership activities. He also has a potential letter of recommendation from an attorney. Carmen will apply to law school next fall. She graduated from California State University, Chico with a bachelor's degree in history and a 3.0 GPA. She also works as a paralegal. She asks if we have tips for studying the LSAT on her own while working full time. She also wonders if there are grants and scholarships available for her first-choice of Lewis & Clark Law School, given her GPA and potential LSAT score. In addition, will her experience as a paralegal help her gain admission? Danny disagrees with our approach of not reading the question stem first in the Logical Reasoning section. We talk about Danny's approach versus our recommendations. We also get an update from Andre who took our suggestion to slow down and analyze Reading Comprehension passages. Here's the link to the LSAT tracker we mention during the show. This lets you track your progress and discover what you need to work on. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!
Jul 28, 2015 · 2 hr 7 min
Episode 38: Should You Select a Law School Based on Bar Exam Passage Rates or Tuition Costs?
In this week’s podcast, we answer the following LSAT questions and whether to select a law school based on bar exam passage rates: Mike asks how to address “uncommon word usages" on the LSAT. For example, the word "obtain" appears frequently. What other words should LSAT test-takers look for? Matt is taking the October LSAT. He slowed down his approach to answering Logical Reasoning questions, which has significantly improved his accuracy. When should he increase his speed to answer more questions while still maintaining accuracy? Nathan's student was admitted to Golden Gate University School of Law (46% bar passage rate) and University of La Verne College of Law (67% bar passage rate). Should he select a law school based on bar exam passage rates or the cost of tuition? Bram just started studying for the LSAT. He asks about a strategy for answering different sections, recommendations for a LSAT class in Atlanta, and whether he should break Logic Games questions into "sub-games" or "worlds." Take a listen and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter. Everyone who signs up will receive updates and sample chapters of the upcoming Logic Games Playbook! Sign up and we’ll be in touch!