LSAT Prep Course Comparisons

LSAT Prep Course Comparisons
Does a LSAT prep-course prepare you any better than studying from prep books?

Any past takers in here to comment on the comparison?

I used both books and a course when I was prepping, and I now teach LSAT prep classes, so I feel like I have a lot to say about this one

Both ways have advantages and disadvantages. Courses are a lot of work and they are expensive, but they have structure and they present ideas in an orderly and easy to digest manner. Books are much cheaper but there's no one to turn to if something doesn't make sense. You are on your own. Both approaches can work, but the best option depends on the person.

Here are some questions I think you should ask yourself before making a decision on which route to take:

* Where are you scoring now, and how much do you need to improve?

* What kind of studier are you? Can you motivate yourself, or does a more structured environment and study plan better suit you?

* What kind of time do you have for studying on a weekly/monthly basis?

For the first question, if you haven't already, go to http://www.LSAT.com and download the free June 2007 practice LSAT and take it as a timed test. Getting a starting score will help you make some decisions on what method to use when you start studying.

Next, look at some of the average entrance scores for the law schools you are interested in. That data is also available at LSAT.com in the "Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools" section. As you might expect, the scores needed to get into Harvard or Yale will be much higher than the scores to get into, say, Ohio State or Texas Southern. How much you wamt/need to improve will probably have a big impact on what study method you choose.

If you go the book route, make sure to get real LSAT PrepTests, such as the The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests and 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests books. Those are ten real LSATs for $30 each--by far the cheapest way to get real exams. Then, buy some LSAT prep books (I'm partial to the LSAT Bibles) and study those religiously.

If you work through the prep books, you would be in pretty good shape in terms of strategies, and then do a ton of the tests from the real LSAT books. Try to take at least one test a week if you can. The only real trick to studying is to put in a lot of hours and to take a lot of practice tests. Getting familiar with the test format and your own strengths and weaknesses will make you as comfortable as possible on test day.

On the other hand, if you decide to take a course, the main benefits of a class are that:

A. They lay out the strategies for you so you don't have to figure them out on your own. You also have a source to go to when you have questions or need help.

B. They provide plenty of study material, and that material is directed in a particular way.

C. They structure your preparation in a way that self-studying cannot.

D. You meet other people in the same position you are in, and it helps to have friends who can motivate you to study.

Regardless of what approach you use, you have to study a huge amount of time to lock down a high score. Just be prepared to clear your schedule for it as much as you can.

One other note: I completely disagree with the person who said that LSAT logic can't be taught. I see people every day learning how to solve LSAT problems and learning the ins and outs of what the testmakers do. Sure, it is a hard test, but you can definitely learn the logic they use on the exam.

Whatever route you take, good luck!