THE STUDY AID REVIEW

Well...

Over the weekend I tried to gather some feedback from this blog's Facebook members regarding some books for use as study aids while studying for the LSAT. I actually got quite a lot of feedback and decided to put together two separate articles: one which is being posted today (this one) and one to come at a later time about law school aids, such as hornbooks, outlines, websites etc.

My personal experience with LSAT study material comes from numerous aid sources. In this article there will be a link to purchase directly from Amazon.com for every book I discuss.

First things first, let me recap the sections on the LSAT (yes, I know everyone knows ... but just in case).

Logical Reasoning - will be referred to as LR from now on.

Analytical Reasoning (games) - will be referred as games from now on.

Reading Comprehension - will be referred to as RC from now on.

Written Sample - Will be referred to as WS from now on

There are at least two LR sections, at least one RC section and at least one Games section (not including the Experimental which could be any of the three above), and there is ONLY ONE WRITTEN SAMPLE ALWAYS AT THE END.

OK... lets get to it:

The PowerScore Logical Reasoning Bible - This book is a MUST HAVE whether you know logic or don't know, whether you have used other aids or not before. It's an organized book about formal logic, which is THE MEAT AND BONES OF THIS ENTIRE EXAM. It will teach and explain topics like: Identifying Question Types, Making Inferences, Time and Section Management, Assumption Identification, Causality, Conditional reasoning, and FORMAL LOGIC. This is one of the best guides available in my opinion. All questions are 100% real questions from the LSAT rather then simulations. 

The PowerScore Games Bible - This guide by PowerScore is also a very valuable tool to have. The guide is for the Games section of the exam. Game types are explained in detail (LINEAR, PATTERN, GROUPING, HYBRIDS etc) and their respective setup guides are taught. The guide works with real (not simulated games) from previous exams.

The PowerScore Ultimate Setups Guide - This goes hand in hand with the Games Bible. It is the setups for every game from 1995 till 2002. Same techniques as in the Games Bible are applied here. Excellent source for the solidification of the games section.

ExamKrackers Reading Comprehension - This is in my opinion the better guide to Reading Comprehension. While nobody is going to teach you how to read, the ExamKrackers guide teaches you the types of Passages used (thesis, controversial, comparative,historical)and the types of question each one has and how to recognize, attack and succeed with them. Alternatively one could choose the PowerScore Reading Comprehension Bible which approaches the section of RC with almost the same steps of identification and attack, but doesn't get down to the details of types of questions and typical tricks and tips, which is something I have found important when attacking the RC section.

A NOTE ABOUT TESTMASTERS: The TestMasters material compares best to the PowerScore system of attack and I will evaluate it at the same level as the PowerScore study aids.

A NOTE ABOUT KAPLAN : While I purchased both the Kaplan 2009 Ultimate Lsat Premium and The LSAT 180, I felt that both use a technique I call the Reverse Answer Strategy which is not very detailed or explanatory. I feel they derive their explanations after viewing the answers as opposed to trying out a method of their own. The Premium Kaplan book uses a mix of simulated and real questions which are not the best ways of studying for the exam. The 180 sums up the "hardest" LSAT questions ever which (while real) still represent to little to be used on their own. I WILL CATEGORIZE THE KAPLAN GUIDES AS EXTRA, ADDITIONAL BUT NOT CRUCIAL STUDY MATERIAL WHICH COULD BE PURCHASED IF YOUR BUDGET ALLOWS.

OTHER BRANDS SUCH AS PRINCETON REVIEW, BARRON'S, MCGRAW HILL etc will not be reviewed as I have recieved too little or none information and student reviews on them.

The most important thing is to be comfortable with whatever guide you're using. I recommendthe PowerScore package because they are the most comprehensive. It's also highly reccomended that one purchase at least 10 real LSAT's from LSAC by clicking here.

There is no subsitute for real exams and one should not!

Practice on real exams and never simulated ones. THEY'RE NOT INDICATIVE OF WHERE YOU STAND.

Furthermore while timers are not allowed any longer in the LSAT, purchase or get used to an analog wrist watch for that is all you will have to measure your time. (more on that on the time management article). 

I hope this article is helpful in putting together a introductory package of study aids for the LSAT taker. Best of luck to all.

This brands names in this article are property of their respective owners and subject to copyright. I do not support or dismiss any of the guides.

How I got into Yale Law...

Ok... A couple of things: The title misled you. Yes I know, it's horrible and you might be disappointed. However I didn't really lie, you just assumed that by "got in" I meant accepted. What i meant was a little more literal than that. I got into the building of Yale Law through the main visitor entrance....thats how. 

Moving on...

With this particular post I'm going to go off tangent just a bit but still remain devoted to the law school environment or context.

I took off for a couple of days and went to New Haven in CT. This little town is where the famous "Ivy League" Yale University is located. The town is only about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Queens, NY where I reside. The decision to go was mostly out of a need for reassurance. While it is understood that Yale University is a hard school to get into "its only the number 1 school in the country", the motivational and inspirational aspect of the town, atmosphere, environment, and a level of seriousness beyond belief are plenty of reasons to visit this wonderful town.

The ride is comfortable and with minimal traffic. (I'm from NYC so lack of traffic is like divine intervention to me). After arriving there an immediate air of seriousness sets in. Even the parking garage attendant seemed to be well educated. So after I parked the car I whipped out the map and figured out a point of attack. The town could possibly be explored in 3-4 hours and in this time one could manage to see quite a lot. 

The town is grid-lined (much like Manhattan) and divided in little square blocks. For a map click here. The city is lined with greenery and trees and the autumn colors set in beautifully. The park "the center greene" is the center of the town. The streets of the city are quiet, even on a saturday, and the town has a very serious aura.

The school itself is composed of numerous little buildings scattered about the town. Plenty of old architecture, with over-stressed arches and columns are the main attributes of buildings. The school was founded in 1701 which makes it a pretty old school (300+ years old). There seems to be churches in every corner street. All christian sects are represented widely, the Catholics, Methodist, Protestants, Reformist, Orthodox, Greek, Evangelical, etc. The Jewish community is also well represented with a few congregations. Though I only found one of them, The Reform Chavurah At Yale - 80 Wall St., later I found a website linking existing synagogues in New Haven Ct. 

To get to a more direct and related point, the reason for my visit was to get inspired. And I did. The town is a college town with triple seriousness level. It releases a level of energy that penetrates any troubled mind and clears the though process. As I have stated in previous posts, I am not in law school yet. Factors of what kind of environment one goes to school, are important in deciding ones future. Personally, the town of New Haven and the Yale University, gave me clarity and motivation to the education aspect as well the "college town" aspect. Some people, especially those from large cities (NYC, CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES) have opportunities to go to city schools where the previous life one held is undisturbed. 

While it may work for some people to not change their daily routines but rather just fit Law School in there, I think it is crucial that one derive a state of peacefulness and remove all other unimportant matters from the equation while leaving Law School as a undisturbed experience. 

Yale university provides that structure simply on the seclusion and peaceful basis. (mind you the top notch education). 

I am not saying that people should be inclined to go to schools away from their homes. I just hope that what I described as the experience of my New Haven Visit, might clear the doubts of the large city resident contemplating the "going away school". The environment is different. You're surrounded by the students. Everything is at your fingertips. You control your destiny. 

p.s 

Here are some pictures of New Haven from my trip. Also I have included a bunch of links to the town. I would recommend anyone from NY, NJ, PA, CT who is contemplating a legal education away from home, to visit New Haven Ct. The experience there will serve as a major eye opener for what it means to be on your own.

Yale University

The town of New Haven

Wikipedia's New Haven Page

Wikipedia's Yale page