How to Choose an LSAT Prep System
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-The 3 Options that Matter |
If you're serious about boosting your LSAT score by getting outside help, there are three options to consider: one-to-one tutoring, classroom courses, and online prep.
Go search on Google or Amazon, and you'll find hundreds of books, flashcards, blogs, sites, etc. for LSAT Prep. Unfortunately, none of these alone will do you much good. They are good supplements to an actual LSAT program, but rarely enough to help students achieve remarkable score increases. You need a step-by-step LSAT program (and possibly coach) to improve your test score by 10+ points.
Below I will outline three options that you should consider. Let's look at the pros and cons of each option. By the time you finish reading this page, you'll have a more thorough understanding of how to choose the best LSAT prep system for you.
Go search on Google or Amazon, and you'll find hundreds of books, flashcards, blogs, sites, etc. for LSAT Prep. Unfortunately, none of these alone will do you much good. They are good supplements to an actual LSAT program, but rarely enough to help students achieve remarkable score increases. You need a step-by-step LSAT program (and possibly coach) to improve your test score by 10+ points.
Below I will outline three options that you should consider. Let's look at the pros and cons of each option. By the time you finish reading this page, you'll have a more thorough understanding of how to choose the best LSAT prep system for you.
1. One-to-one Tutoring
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Many education systems have come and gone, but tutoring has withstood the test of time. Aristotle, for example, was Alexander the Great's tutor. Humor me and let's imagine, if Alexander, in all his glory, might, and wealth, was alive today and planning to take the LSAT, how would he have prepped for it?
I think he'd have opted for tutoring. That's because one-to-one tutoring is the most effective prep method, period. Don't believe me? Ask any honest instructor or even mass marketing prep company, and you'll find that they all agree: tutoring is best. Simply put, no prep class or computer system can match the expertise, flexibility, personalized attention, efficiency and (if you're lucky) entertainment value that tutoring provides. Unfortunately, tutoring usually comes with a high price tag and its fair share of drawbacks. |
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Pros:
+ Personalized coaching and motivation + Customized program tailored to you + Flexible schedule + Efficient use of time + Focused, hands-on attention + Potential for great chemistry and rapport |
Cons:
- Costly (tutoring programs can cost anywhere between $1,500 - $60,000) - No uniform or standardized curriculum - Potential for boredom and lack of chemistry - Lack of consistency among tutors and prep companies - Difficult to find a true LSAT expert with availability - Tutor may be flaky and horrible at scheduling |
When you find the right tutor, it can mean a world of a difference not only for your LSAT score, but also for the caliber of law school end up at. But finding a good tutor is easier said than done. If you choose to get tutored, do your due diligence well.
Suggestions and Key Points:
- No two tutors are the same – do your research before you hire a tutor.
- On-paper credentials do not mean that your tutor can teach – make sure your tutors have an individual track record of success.
- Testimonials and references are essential.
- Get on the phone – make sure you trust your tutor, ask him/her all your questions, and establish rapport before you begin working together.
- Avoid large firms. Remember: you’re not working with a company – you’re working with one person. People aren’t brand names. You’re much better off working with individuals than you are working with companies, who often do little if any vetting of their instructors’ teaching abilities.
- Try to get a sample lesson - some tutors offer mock lessons. These are extremely useful, even if they last for only 20 minutes, in helping you assess your chemistry with the tutor.
2. LSAT Classroom Courses
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An LSAT classroom is probably the image that came to mind, when you first thought about prepping for the test. And why not? It looks and sounds akin to how subjects were taught to you in college. And let's not forget the mega prep companies, like Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Blueprint Prep, that spend ginormous amounts of money to advertise and mass-market their classes in your face at bookstores, on the web, and on your campus. LSAT Prep classes are extremely profitable for these firms. Just do the math, a classroom of 20 students paying $1500 per head. It's a cash making machine, especially, if you think about how such classes are being held all over the country.
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Unfortunately, if you're hoping for the maximum score increase, an LSAT class is probably the worst option to choose. In any LSAT class, you'll have students from various score ranges studying together. Therefore, it doesn't matter whether you're a quick or slow student, the class will never be at the right pace for you. Moreover, all LSAT classes are designed to help the lowest common denominator (a.k.a., the average student) rather than to help each and every student taking the course. Unfortunately, when it comes to test prep, there is no such thing as a "one-size-fits-all" strategy. In my 12 plus years of tutoring, I learned there are at least eight different methods to think about and explain each and every LSAT problem. If you know you're above or below average, you should avoid LSAT class.
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Pros
+ Schedule that forces students to arrive and study. + Good curriculum. Most large companies do have excellent tips and tricks at their disposal. + "Peace of mind" - many students would rather go with the "devil they know" than try other lesser-known options. |
Cons
- Horrendous price-to-improvment ratio - Quality of learning highly dependent on instructor skill level - Lack of any individualized attention, curriculum, or lesson plans. - Inconsistent and under-trained teachers. - Distracting classroom environments. - Lack of feedback and extracurricular teacher support. - Homework geared for the “average student,” rather than for each student taking the course. - Inconvenient, inflexible locations and schedules, coupled with travel time and costs. - Total lack of accountability. |
As you might be able to tell, I’m not a huge proponent of classroom courses. You’re paying hundreds or thousands of dollars to drive to a packed room and have someone read a book at you. You’re better off buying the book yourself and saving the money.
Suggestions and Key Lessons:
A significant percentage of my one-on-one clients come to me after horrendous LSAT classroom experiences. So if you want to save money, you may be better off going one-on-one right away.
Suggestions and Key Lessons:
- Save your money – think very hard and well before you enroll into an LSAT prep classroom course.
A significant percentage of my one-on-one clients come to me after horrendous LSAT classroom experiences. So if you want to save money, you may be better off going one-on-one right away.
3. Online LSAT Prep
Ten years ago, online LSAT prep programs weren’t even an option. Now, there are dizzying number of online prep options. Many online test prep courses utilize video technology to deliver classroom lessons, but at less than half the cost. If you pick the right online program, you can improve your score by double digit points for less than $500 without ever changing out of your pajamas. However, like everything else in the world, not all online programs are well made:
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Pros:
+ Ultimate convenience – prep from the comfort of your own home on your schedule. + High improvement-to-cost ratios. Most courses cost only a few hundred dollars, and outperform LSAT classroom courses. + High time flexibility – most good programs allow students to spread their lessons over months, or take hyper-accelerated lessons when need be. + Low time risk – students can quickly and easily access online course efficacy – if they’re not fans, they can quickly switch to a new option without investing too much time into these courses (and any reputable course will allow for a refund). |
Cons:
- Lack of “personal touch” – some students prefer having a real, live human being to teach them. - Motivation gap – some students aren’t motivated enough to complete online programs on their own without having someone else push them through. - Constant influx of new players – new options on the market seemingly every day. - Improper lesson plans – many online courses have lots of excellent explanations and videos, but little in the way of real, step-by-step curriculum. |
Suggestions and Key Lessons:
- Never buy an online test prep course without a full, no-questions-asked guarantee. If they don’t stand by their course, don’t waste your time or money.
- Make sure your online course isn’t just a set of videos and practice problems – it needs to be an actual program to make any real difference, otherwise, you're just paying to do more self-studying with a bunch of recordings and paperless books.
- Be wary of any online courses that offer their own practice tests – they’ll never be as accurate or helpful as those provided by LSAC.
- These courses are best for students who are already motivated to do well – if you aren't disciplined to self-study, online courses won’t provide the discipline required to make it through.
- Above all else, look at your online LSAT course’s results – bells, whistles, and great graphic design are all fantastic – but the only thing that matters is score improvement. If your program doesn’t publish a good student score improvement, think twice before putting down your hard earned cash.
Online LSAT courses are convenient, relatively inexpensive, and can be very effective. They’re also a great place to start, since they can be completed over a long period of time and can lend a strong base to your student’s prep program.