Burn the Boats (Ep. 584)

Don’t try to sneak into law school late and unprepared without your best LSAT. Burn the boats and decide to be one of the best applicants next cycle. You’ll be glad you did. Also in this episode: ⬜ A listener shares a puzzling interaction with LSAC⬜ Our approach to reading LR passages0:34 - Applying to only Harvard, Yale, and Stanford13:45 - Announcements and feature updates15:45 - Reprimanded by LSAC22:02 - “What’s the Deal with UGA” update from a current student42:16 - More people are retaking the LSAT47:31 - Overcoming a low GPA1:00:44 - How to read LR passages1:26:50 - Applying before you get your score1:35:27 - Personal Statement Gong ShowNew York LSAC ForumWashington DC Law School FairPhiladelphia Law Fair​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What’s the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library

The LSAT is changing in 2027. In this episode, Josh and Nathan break down the changes and how they will affect students. Also in this episode: ⬜ How should students with accommodations change their study schedules? ⬜ How to use your Logical Reasoning skills in Reading Comprehension0:26 - Introduction0:52 - Explaining the 2027 LSAT changes11:33 - Tips from departing Demons18:32 - Update from a listener taking a gap year22:54 - LR strategy for the final third of the section31:50 - Shoutouts and announcements34:59 - Study schedule for students with accommodations41:49 - How to treat RC more like LR49:44 - Studying for the LSAT on a budget57:11 - Word of the Week—Obeisance

Law school application cycles are only getting more competitive. Set yourself apart by doing it the right way. Get your best LSAT, then apply early and broadly in the next cycle. Also in this episode: ⬜ How to get from the low 170s to the high 170s⬜ Should slow LSAT progress discourage you from changing careers?Watch this episode on YouTube!Start studying at lsatdemon.com

In the game of rankings and medians, BYU makes their play with an admissions pathway where not only is an LSAT not required, taking the test can lead to your admission being rescinded. Also in this episode: ⬜ Can an addendum erase bad pre-med grades? ⬜ What should your admissions strategy be when geographically limited in your choice of law school? New York LSAC ForumWashington DC Law School FairPhiladelphia Law Fair0:00 Applying When Locked Local 19:05 No LSAT Required (or Permitted)35:00 Tips From Departing Demons46:04 Test D Question — Trading Cards59:03 Assumption Confusion1:09:20 When to Hang It Up? 1:18:21 Please Excuse My Pre-Med1:32:13 Word of the Week — minatory​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What’s the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library

A Demon student posts on Reddit about skipping the third passage on Reading Comprehension. Ben and Nathan advise doing the passages in order. As the student’s LSAT ability improves, their reading and answering speed will improve with it.Also in this episode:⬜ A Demon student shares their September LSAT score.⬜ Cardozo Law accidentally sends an acceptance to every applicant.⬜ Another contestant takes the stage on the Personal Statement Gong Show!0:00 September Score Release8:35 Cardozo Law Mistaken Acceptance11:29 Test D Question — Community center43:50 Suspicious Pre-Law Advice1:01:02 Skipping the Third RC Passage1:06:10 Holding Applications1:13:49 Personal Statement Gong Show1:24:00 Word of the Week — Solecism1:31:20 Email of the WeekNew York LSAC ForumWashington DC Law School FairPhiladelphia Law Fair​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What’s the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library

A listener asks about how to prepare on the day of her LSAT administration. She worries about underperforming her practice test scores. Ben and Nathan advise the listener to treat it like another practice test. Also in this episode:⬜ Diving into a study from AccessLex comparing bar passage rates and law school grades.⬜ Why a student has not seen a score change in five months.⬜ A four-step approach from a listener on finding the correct answer.0:00 Bar Passage Rate Study14:59 Missing 50/50 Questions34:07 No Score Change in 5 Months50:11 Test D Question — Handmade pasta1:07:26 Advice for Test Day1:17:34 Demon Hot Take1:24:57 Steps to the Correct Answer1:33:26 Word of the Week — Otiose1:40:20 Email of the WeekAccessLex Study​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What’s the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library

Donors at Harvard Law are pushing the school to adopt a two-year JD program. Ben and Nathan agree. Also in this episode:⬜ Can you build a law school without the ABA? The University of Austin is about to try⬜ Should you apply to law school now or bet on a stronger application next year?⬜ What makes SMU Law tick? Ben and Nathan break down the numbers, jobs, and Dallas market​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What’s the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library0:00 “Have You Applied to Other Schools”6:40 Two-Year JD at Harvard 10:58 University of Austin Law School21:40 Too Slow on RC40:19 Test D Question — Company emails55:48 Tips from Departing Demons1:05:07 Opportunity Cost of Gap Year1:16:52 What’s the Deal with… SMU1:25:37 Word of the Week — stultifying1:28:26 Email of the Wee

A listener currently in school who can only study once or twice a week asks whether infrequent studying is worse than not studying at all. Ben and Nathan explain that intermittent studying can still be beneficial, as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of your grades. For students still in school, GPA comes first.Also in this episode:- Aaminah joins the show to talk about Crushing 1L- Harvard Law moves up its big law recruiting timeline - Does law school prestige matter for a public interest jobStudy with our Free Plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠Watch Episode 577 on YouTubeCheck out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segmentsGet caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library0:00 Crushing 1L with the Demon8:42 Layoffs at George Washington Law14:45 Harvard Law School Moves Recruiting Timeline25:02 Test D Question — Bar Prep35:36 The One Question Study Plan40:34 Public Interest Career Goals49:03 Skills & Interests Resume Section53:47 Word of the Week — deleterious59:46 Email of the Week

A new law review article estimates the financial condition of every ABA-accredited law school. Ben and Nathan discuss how the financial model of law schools has shifted with the rise of U.S. News rankings, and how that financial burden increasingly falls on the least credentialed students.Also in this episode:- Whether you can take the LSAT too many times- How to study for the LSAT the week of your exam- If you should retake your argumentative essayIs Your Law School Going Broke? (Paul Campos)Law School Financial DataStudy with our Free Plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠Watch Episode 576 on YouTubeCheck out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segmentsGet caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library0:00 Is Your Law School Going Broke?33:47 Ten Point Score Jump in One Month43:12 Too Many LSAT Attempts47:21 Test D Question — Cats’ meow1:01:13 Studying the Week of your Exam1:07:54 Retaking the Argumentative Essay1:12:50 Personal Statement Gong Show1:40:28 Word of the Week — obstreperous1:43:49 Email of the Week

A listener writes in hopes to land the best possible scholarship for a law school in New York City. Ben and Nathan's advice: cast a wide net, apply to every school in the city, and lead with your best LSAT score.Also in this episode:- August LSAT score release day celebrations from the Demon Discord- A student whose score hold finally got released- What's the Deal with... University of GeorgiaPaul Campos’s Article: Is Your Law School Going Broke: A Field Guide for Interested PartiesStudy with our Free Plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠Watch Episode 575 on YouTubeCheck out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segmentsGet caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library0:00 August LSAT Score Release15:30 Receiving a Disappointing Score 23:16 Test D Question — Cake Baking32:05 Cheating Allegations Exonerated41:57 Tips from Departing Demons49:10 Don’t Pay for Law School58:13 How to Bring Up RC Accuracy1:07:40 What's the Deal with... University of Georgia1:25:15 Word of the Week — pernicious1:28:22 Email of the Week