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Weigh Taking the June LSAT, Master Logic Games

By U.S. News & World Report

Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature of Law Admissions Lowdown that provides admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.

If you have a question about law school admissions or LSAT preparation, please email us for a chance to be featured next month.

Dear Dan: I applied for law school this year and am currently wait-listed at several schools. When I applied, I knew that my GPA was on the higher end of the schools I applied to, but my LSAT score was on the lower end, and I think that my low LSAT score is what might have placed me on the waitlist at some schools. I am considering taking the June LSAT to increase my chances of gaining admission from the waitlist. Do schools consider June LSAT scores when evaluating their wait-listed applicants and, if so, would it be worth it to retake the test? –Wait-listed

[Learn how law school applicants can handle low LSAT scores.]

Dear Wait-listed: This is a great question, and it’s one that comes up a lot this time of year. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer. Whether taking the June LSAT has any bearing on a wait-listed applicant varies from year to year and from school to school. You should reach out to each school that has placed you on their waitlist and ask them if an improved LSAT score on the June exam would strengthen your chances of being admitted.

Working with my Stratus Prep clients this year with similar circumstances, we know that some schools will consider the June LSAT when evaluating waitlisted candidates.

Assuming you are wait-listed at a school that will consider the June LSAT, you are right to ask whether it is worth it to retake the test. The reward is greater than the risk only when you have some concrete reason to believe that you did not maximize your score previously — for example, incomplete preparation and underperformance on test day. In this situation, however, the risk of retaking is much lower. Your June LSAT score only affects the few schools that will consider it.

Dear Dan: As I prepare for the June LSAT, it is becoming clearer and clearer that I am not going to be able to complete the logic games section of the exam. I have been studying for a couple of months already, and I can only complete two games consistently in 35 minutes. Should I speed through each game to try to get to every question or should I just randomly guess on the questions that I don’t have time to answer? –Running Out of Time

[Know how to win at LSAT logic games.]

Dear Running Out of Time: First, you are not alone! The LSAT as a whole is designed to be extremely time intensive, and many people find the logic games to be the most difficult to complete in the 35-minute time limit. You still have approximately two months until the June LSAT, so you should work on gradually improving your speed with the goal of getting to three of the four games in 35 minutes.

Assuming that you cannot get to all four games in 35 minutes, there are a few steps you can take to maximize your score without being able to comfortably complete every question in the section.

— Tackle the easiest games first: At the beginning of the games section, quickly skim each of the four games and try to identify the easiest and most difficult games. Do the easiest game first, and only spend time on the most difficult game if you have addressed all the other games.

— Focus your preparation on the most common games: Ordering games are the most common type — 40 percent of all games, and at least one per test since 2007 — and are also generally the easiest for most students. Since you can be almost assured of finding an ordering game, make sure you are extremely comfortable with this game type.

[Apply these techniques for conquering LSAT logic games.]

— Avoid time-consuming question types: Questions that change a rule or ask you whether the game’s outcome is fully determined are rare — only 5 percent of all questions — but they’re inherently time-consuming and almost always require you to test answers. It is best to skip these questions and move on to the next game.

— Always answer the complete and accurate questions: Complete and accurate questions ask you to choose a complete outcome that doesn’t break any of the rules. These questions can generally be done quickly and with only a cursory understanding of the game’s setup and rules. Always save yourself a bit of time at the end of the section to answer any complete and accurate questions.

More from U.S. News

Evaluate Risks, Benefits of Multiple Law School Seat Deposits

Follow These Strategies for Tackling Rare LSAT Logic Games

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Weigh Taking the June LSAT, Master Logic Games originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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