The LSAT will ask you only to evaluate two choices—not to evaluate an argument. Argument writing prompts were discontinued in June 2007.

A good writing sample is direct and gets to the point. Even though they give you a whole page, don’t feel like you need to use every line. Instead, state your conclusion—your main point—in your first sentence. Then support it. Then stop.

1. In the first sentence, state which choice you support.

2. In the next three to six sentences, give three reasons why you support it.

• Make sure each reason relates to the two criteria.
• Keep it short but substantive by not repeating yourself.

3. Show that you understand the benefits of the other choice by concluding with one or two sentences starting with “although.” Here’s a good format to follow:

• Although the [other choice] has benefit X, person Y should still go with [your choice] because of reason Z.

That's it. No need to go further. Writing more for the sake of writing more will hurt your writing sample. They won't appreciate your verbosity.

It usually takes about 3 weeks.

For the June 2009 test, for instance, LSAC says you'll get your score by June 28:

June 2009 Dates and Deadlines

But they often send the scores a few days early. It just depends on your luck.

Yes, law schools will look at more than just your LSAT score. But in a sea of applicants, it's impossible not to rely on the exam. Some say that as much as 70% of the decision depends on your three-digit result from this four-hour test.

Not fair? Perhaps. But consider Georgetown Law School.

Georgetown's Numbers

In 2008, it received 11,000 applications for a class of about 400 students. How else is a small admissions committee to wade through all the chaos?

They could turn to everyone's GPA, but that, too, poses serious challenges. The main challenge is the lack of consistency. These GPAs come from schools all across the country (and, for that matter, the world) and represent every type of degree imaginable. Try to compare a physics-program 3.67 from NYU with an American-studies 3.92 from Stanford.

Not sure? Okay, just read all 11,000 personal statements.

But even personal statements are misleading. They favor those who know how to sell themselves. Granted, that's a talent that might suit a future lawyer well. But we're still looking at over 11,000 monologues of why so-and-so is the best applicant ever. There's simply not enough time.

Level Playing Field

This brings us back to the LSAT—the strictly monitored, standardized test. It's the easiest way to size people up in a heartbeat. So simple, in fact, a computer can do it.

It may not be fair, but it's the reality.

The Secret

Now for the least-understood secret:

The LSAT is no IQ test. The longer you study for it, the better you'll do. If you want to score high, just study more and beat the system.

That's why we created the 100-Hour Course. It's long, but it works.

Now imagine Harvard, Yale, Stanford . . .

Every year, the LSAT is administered four times—in February, in June, in late September or early October, and in December.

Most law schools start accepting applications in September and stop accepting them in February.

Applying Early

Because most schools start accepting students as soon as they get applications, it's better to apply as early as you can. UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall), for example, fills 75% of its seats by its application deadline, which is February 2 in 2009.

That said, every school is different. To give you an extreme example, ... more.

Some folks have asked about an online LSAT timer. Here's one we put online:

www.strategyprep.com/timer

It's free.

It's a proctor, really. You click "play" to start the 35-minute proctor, which tells you when to start, when you have five minutes, and when your time is up. We recommend using an analog watch with this online proctor to simulate the actual exam.

Let us know if you have any comments or suggestions!

Official LSAT PrepTests

Bye from DC!

The LSAC has published a booklet for minorities on how to apply to law school. The tips, however, are good for everyone. Here are a few, quoted verbatim:

• Apply early.
• Contact each law school you’re interested in for specific information and requirements.
• Prepare well for the LSAT; take timed practice tests.
• Research the right school for you.
• Talk to lawyers and find out what they do.
• Have realistic expectations.
• Know what you are getting into.
• Prepare a well-thought-out and intriguing personal statement.
• Do your best academic work as an undergraduate.
• Round out your portfolio with activities and leadership positions.
• Attend a Law School Forum.
• Reach out to and consult with prelaw advisors.

We must comment on their advice to "take timed practice tests" since we proctor more timed tests in our 100-Hour Course than any other national preparation company. It's nice to read that LSAC agrees that this practice is key.

In the end, however, we go further: Our students actually end up taking over 20 timed, full-length tests when you consider the homework they do in addition to the proctored, in-class exams. And that doesn't include the over 3,000 untimed but official practice questions that students work on in class and at home. Yeah, it's intense, but fun -- and rewarding!

If you're a minority, check out the advice on addressing your ethnicity in your personal statement on page 4:

Pursue a Career in Law: Change the Odds

The other pages also have good advice for anyone considering law school. Enjoy!

This GW article is old news, but it seems to happen every year. So register early.

You can always change your test date -- even after the test. If you're signed up for the February 7, 2009 LSAT, for example, you can switch to the June exam as late as February 9, as long as you do it online and pay LSAC $33.00.

Although this article is talking about the September LSAT, which attracts the most test takers, it still makes sense to register early if you want to take the test in DC.

Also, the article mentions that the LSAT is "four hours." That's true, somewhat. The test itself is only 3 hours and 45 minutes. But when you take the actual test, set aside 7 hours. With so many people taking the test in DC, it usually takes 2 hours or so to check everyone in at the testing center.

Some students forced to leave D.C. for LSAT:

"Many law-school hopefuls in Washington are leaving the District Saturday to take the Law School Admission Test because all test centers in D.C. were filled nearly three months before the registration deadline. ..."