A student writes in asking whether they should focus on studying for the LSAT while having a low GPA. Ben and Nathan advise them to prioritize focusing on earning the best possible grades before beginning LSAT prep.

Also in this episode:

- A question about choosing between law schools with a $15,000 difference

- Advice a student received from another prep company

- When to send a letter of continued interest

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 540 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 Test D Question “Animal Owners”

19:13 Things We Enjoy

23:03 The $15,000 Difference

33:43 Pearls v. Turds

39:57 Leaving the Demon

42:55 Focusing on Your GPA

53:22 Retaking a 175

1:05:18 When to Send a LOCI

1:10:20 Word of the Week — flummoxed

The ABA has released new 509 data revealing how LSAT and GPA medians have shifted over the past year, along with updated data into how schools are distributing scholarships. Ben and Nathan break down the numbers and react to several schools that have made significant changes.

Also in this episode:

- How to handle LSAT questions you’ve seen before

- The Arkansas Supreme Court allows lawyers to use AI in their work

- Should a listener prioritize location or ranking for law school?

https://lsat.link/509

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 539 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 LSAT Question on Pinched Nerves

19:46 New 509 Reports

40:10 Repeat Questions

50:47 Fourth RC Passage Strategy

55:30 Arkansas Supreme Court Updates Rules on AI

1:01:28 Accusation of Cheating

1:18:00 Regional vs. T20 Law School

1:27:55 Word of the Week — admonition

1:34:22 Things We Like

The internet is full of opinions, and not all of them are kind. This week, Ben and Nathan dig into a reddit thread, reacting to some of the tougher criticisms aimed at the Demon and our co-hosts.

Also in this episode:

- Ben and Nathan react to Washington’s decision to retroactively lower its bar passage score

- A listener asks whether applying Early Decision makes sense for top law schools

- Whether a law school increasing its class size improves your odds of admission

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 538 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 Making a Last Push on Next LSAT

7:18 Should I Take the LSAT Again?

23:48 Washington Lowering Bar Passage Requirements

42:03 We Read Our Mean Comments

1:03:10 Law Schools Increasing Class Sizes

1:11:22 Can Early Decision Be Beneficial?

1:22:55 Personal Statement Gong Show

1:39:40 Word of the Week — penumbra

The FTC submitted a letter to the Texas Supreme Court supporting its decision to drop the ABA as the state’s official accreditor. Ben and Nathan agree that the ABA has been slow to modernize and often lags behind student needs, but they don’t fully align with the FTC’s reasoning.

Also in this episode:

• A listener asks whether to choose a part-time or full-time law program.

• Whether to cancel an official score that comes in lower than a prior LSAT.

• A personal statement with an unusually bold opening.

  
  

Links Mentioned:

FTC Letter to Texas Supreme Court

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 537 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

Questions? help@thinkinglsat.com

0:00 When to Take Practice Tests

6:11 FTC Claims the ABA is a Monopoly

21:43 Full-Time vs. Part-Time Law Programs

29:47 Tips from Departing Demons

35:02 Performing Worse on the First Section

43:19 Cancelling a Lower Score

46:45 Personal Statement Gong Show

Ben and Nathan dig into a striking chart showing dozens of schools clustering their LSAT medians at 150 and 160, while almost nobody reports 149 or 159. They break down why schools chase these round-number medians, how it leads to irrational admissions behavior, and what it means for applicants trying to play the rankings game.

Also in this episode:

- How applying without a GPA can affect your admissions chances

- Success stories from Demon students who crushed the November LSAT

- Why the University of North Carolina has climbed so quickly in the rankings

Links Mentioned:

Derek T. Muller Article

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 536 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 Retaking to Beat New Medians

5:37 Applying with No GPA

14:05 November LSAT Success

20:05 The Irrational Pursuit of Round LSAT Medians

27:20 Lower Scores When Timed

34:50 Meeting with an Admissions Counselor

39:35 What’s the Deal with University of North Carolina

55:56 Word of the Week — Prolixity

A listener writes in asking how to handle the pressure of their final official LSAT attempt. Ben and Nathan remind them that their highest score on record, a 165, is already strong enough for full scholarships at many law schools. They encourage the listener to let go of perfectionism, be comfortable with not finishing a section, and approach test day expecting incremental improvement.

Also in this episode:

- An update on an LSAC cheating allegation

- Ben and Nathan react to the ABA lifting its probation of Cooley Law

- Advice from Demon students who recently crushed the LSAT

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 535 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 Update on Cheating Allegations

5:24 ABA Lifts Probation for Cooley

10:50 How to Approach Your Last Official Attempt

21:44 Tips from Departing Demons

34:25 Chances at a T14 as a Super kJD

41:10 Pearls vs. Turds

43:27 Personal Statement Gong Show

57:12 Word of the Week — Percolation

A listener writes in after a disappointing first round of scholarship offers. Ben and Nathan explain that initial offers are rarely a school’s best, they’re just the starting point. They reassure the listener that more and better offers are still on the way.

Also in this episode:

- Whether taking the January LSAT is too late to apply this cycle

- Questions about Harvard’s Junior Deferral Program

- A deeper look at one of the newest members of the T14: WashU

Links Mentioned:

Derek T. Muller Article

Study with our Free Plan⁠

⁠Download our iOS app⁠

Watch Episode 534 on YouTube

Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

0:00 - Is the January LSAT Too Late?

23:45 - Receiving Bad Scholarships

35:24 - When Do I Know When I’m Ready?

43:05 - Follow–Up on Cheating

45:18 - Harvard’s Junior Deferral Program

1:07:45 - Demon Team Tracker

1:09:19 - What’s the Deal with… WashU

1:36:54 - Word of the Week — Propinquity

A listener writes in asking whether they should retake a 173, worried that a future attempt could be lower. Ben and Nathan explain why they should be willing to use all four remaining attempts: law schools only care about your highest score, and every point, especially for higher scores, can turn into thousands of dollars.

Also in this episode:

• - When applicants can expect scholarship responses from law schools

• - Advice from Demon students who crushed the LSAT

• - Another brave contestant steps up for the Personal Statement Gong Show

  
  

• Links Mentioned:

  https://lsat.link/grades

  Study with our Free Plan⁠

  ⁠Download our iOS app⁠

  Watch Episode 533 on YouTube

  Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments

  Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library

  
  

  0:00 - Following the Demon Way

  3:30 - When Will I Hear Back on Scholarships?

  9:31 - Medians Above 4.00

  24:25 - Tips from Deparing Demons

  31:40 - Should I Retake a 173?

  36:35 - Light at the End of the Tunnel

  50:56 - Personal Statement Gong Show

  1:05:23 - Word of the Week — Anachronism