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3 Ways the LSAT Prepares Students for Law School

By U.S. News & World Report

Prospective law school applicants often experience anxiety when it comes to the LSAT. The exam plays a large role in your law school admissions results and requires extensive studying. .

With the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and Harvard University Law School accepting GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT, aspiring J.D.s may hope that other programs will follow suit. Harvard conducted a 2016 study that concluded “the GRE is an equally valid predictor of first-year grades.”

[Read about GRE, LSAT test prep considerations for law school.]

However, the vast majority of law schools continue to require the LSAT. And although as an admissions counselor, I often encounter frustrated applicants who complain that the LSAT has nothing to do with the study of law, the exam plays a key role in preparing students for law school. Here are three ways your LSAT preparation pays dividends beyond test day .

— Substance: The LSAT was specifically designed to test the aptitude of applicants interested in studying law.

According to the Law School Admission Council’s website, “The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.”

Analyzing, comparing and critically evaluating arguments is fundamental to the study and practice of law. As a law student, you will be asked to spot legal issues from a set of hypothetical facts and discuss the various legal consequences. You may also need to make policy arguments about the merits of certain laws and regulations.

To excel on law school exams, you will need to have strong skills in analyzing, comparing, critically evaluating and drawing conclusions about arguments. Sound familiar? Those are the very skills the LSAT requires you to master.

— Endurance and speed: The LSAT is also a test of endurance and speed. Composed of five multiple-choice sections, each 35-minutes long, and a 35-minute unscored writing sample, the LSAT is three-and-a-half hours of testing.

At Harvard Law School, where I studied, in-class exams typically last between two and four hours, while eight hours are allotted for take-home exams. Note that bar exams last two days.

You will need to become comfortable sustaining rigorous analysis and logical reasoning as a law student. The LSAT can help you build that critical thinking endurance.

[Know how to manage your time for each section of the LSAT.]

If the LSAT is a marathon in terms of endurance, it is also a sprint in terms of speed. You will have about one minute to answer each question if you divide your time equally between question types. That means you need to work efficiently and analyze problems quickly.

Lawyers need to work hard and be good at thinking on their feet. This skill is not only applicable in dramatic courtroom scenes but also in depositions and negotiations, as well as when reviewing contracts and conducting due diligence. Clients charged by billable hours also appreciate efficiency.

— Long-term study: Unlike the GRE, the LSAT does not test your knowledge of external subjects. In other words, you do not have to study math and vocabulary words to do well.

While you do not need to have external knowledge to pass the exam, most test-takers would benefit from long- term study. The LSAT is not a test you can cram for. The reason for extended study is because the analytical and logical reasoning skills, as well as the format of the questions, are unfamiliar to the majority of test-takers.

The Pre-Law Advising Office at the University of Massachusetts– Amherst suggests applicants develop a study plan of “at least 4-6 hours a week for at least three to four months prior to the test date.”

[Follow a four-month LSAT study plan.]

Guess what else requires long-term study? That’s right — law school exams and the bar exam.

Doing well in law school requires diligence and months of study leading up to finals. In many respects, your three years in law school are preparation for the bar. On top of that, you will have to commit to months of bar prep after graduation.

The GRE also prepares students in many of the same respects. That is why schools like Harvard and the American Bar Association have accepted it as an alternative to the LSAT.

Nonetheless, the LSAT is likely to remain a key criteria of law school applications for many years to come. Embracing the ways the exam will prepare you for a career in law may alleviate some test anxieties.

Have questions about how law schools evaluate LSAT scores? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.

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3 Ways the LSAT Prepares Students for Law School 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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