Podcasts about lsat

September 2025's LSAT proved to be one for the record books, as the test makers chose to forego the usual routine of mixing old sections with new, and instead presented exclusively first-use material for the entire week. But fear not: Dave and Jon weathered the storm and managed to track it all, compiling the entire catalogue of content! In Episode 172 they outline everything on offer, noting what was real and experimental, and detailing the scoring scales for all the content combinations.

Ben and Nathan host a special marathon edition of the Personal Statement Gong Show. They kick things off by laying out the fundamentals of personal statements—what they are, what to write about, and when to start. Then, nine students face the gong, each vying to set a record and earn their place in Thinking LSAT Gong Show history. ⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠⁠Watch Episode 523 on YouTube⁠3:33 – Personal Statement, Not Resume RecapBen and Nathan introduce the starting point for a personal statement: bringing one bullet point on your resume to life. Your personal statement should show, not tell, how a particular experience from your resume is going to make you a successful law student and lawyer. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to cover too many positions or experiences. The personal statement is a chance to illustrate your character, not an unnecessary resume recap. 9:41 – When to Start WritingIsaac finds himself with several hours of free time every day, even after his LSAT studying. The guys give him the green light to start working on his personal statement, but the LSAT still has to come first. They also suggest spending time on professional development through networking and research to make informed decisions about his legal career. 17:46 – Personal Statement on RunningJust because you don't have legal experience on your resume doesn't mean you don't have a valuable story to share. Riley asks about writing a personal statement about marathon running. While Ben and Nathan don't dismiss the idea outright, they explain why it might not be the best option. Customer service, familiarity with regulation and compliance, and tenacity are among the lawyery attributes that Sean could highlight from his experience in retail and landscaping. 22:37 – Personal Statement Gong Show MarathonIn a special edition of the Personal Statement Gong Show, Ben and Nathan bring nine contestants who are looking to break Sophia's record of 34 lines. The rules are simple: Ben and Nathan read until they find an unforgivable mistake—then ring the gong. Check out all of our Gong Show Segments!

Alexandra worries she's running out of time to apply to law school. Josh and Nate tell her law schools don't care how old you are. They care about your LSAT score.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Nate and Josh tell Elena her practice scores will vary and remind her she should only take the LSAT when her practice tests consistently show scores she's happy with.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Josh and Nate bring Jesse back down to Earth and remind him you can't rush the LSAT. You have to slow down before you can speed up.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Ben and Nate tackle three frequently asked questions on whether schools consider only your highest score, LSAC GPA, and when to apply.LSAC transcript information: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/cas/requesting/transcript-summarizationRead more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

When you substitute understanding with gimmicks, you hamper your score now and in the long term. Tips like “10 questions in 10 minutes” or “If you don't understand an answer, it's probably correct” excuse poor reading and rushed test-taking. When you accept that the LSAT is easy and every question is solvable, you're more likely to commit to a problem until you solve it. No shortcuts needed. ⁠Study with our Free plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠⁠Watch Episode 522 on YouTube⁠0:40 – Structuring StudyMila started with a 150 and plans to study two to three hours a day while in school. Ben and Nathan suggest limiting LSAT time to one focused hour and prioritizing perfect grades. After she's secured perfect grades for the semester, she can switch to LSAT prep. Mila and other candidates looking to boost their GPA could also consider enrolling in a few community college courses that offer A+ grades. 5:21 – Undergrad Involvement in Pre-Law ClubsKyle wonders whether joining pre-law clubs is necessary. The guys explain that clubs and extracurriculars are negligible compared to GPA and LSAT. A 4.0 GPA paired with a great LSAT score will always outweigh résumé fluff. Schools may pretend otherwise, but admissions officers prioritize numbers.15:17 – Graduate School ConundrumCarson asks if finishing grad school before law school makes sense. Ben and Nathan point out that lawyers learn what they need on the job—grad degrees won't add value. Universities push unnecessary certificates and programs because they profit from them. Don't pair bad LSAT prep with wasted tuition. Learn freely, but don't pay for credentials you don't need.26:53 – Pearls vs. TurdsDemon team member Beatriz shares a questionable piece of advice that one of her students heard from another prep company: “If you don't understand what the answer is saying, it's probably correct.” Turd. This advice is antithetical to the Demon approach. Wrong answers don't need to make sense, but right answers do. If you understand the passage, you should be able to understand why the right answer is right.  The LSAT is easy if you approach it correctly.32:57 – UC Law San Francisco Welcome EmailNate reads a verbose welcome email from his alma mater, UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings). It's a wall of text showing what students pay thousands for—law school administrators framing business interests as justice. The email is more about promoting the school's image than welcoming students.39:50 – Choosing the Right Law SchoolSean wants advice on picking the right school. Step one: get your best LSAT. Step two: apply broadly and early. Step three: compare offers. Rule of thumb: rank schools by cost, not prestige. If a more expensive school is ranked higher, double its rank and see whether cheaper options fall within that range. Going cheaper often means graduating at the top of your class, with better job prospects and stronger networks.59:57 – Question TypesMcKenna asks whether she should study question types. The guys explain that focusing on question types is a distraction. Meaning is in the words on the page, not labels. Most struggling students overemphasize question types instead of careful reading. 1:07:53 – Personal Statement Gong ShowCelebrity contestant and Demon teacher Kaley shares a lived-experience essay. 1:19:05 - Word of the Week - InexorableAmong them was a rigid belief in the inexorable power of logic to change the opinions of others.Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library. 

In Episode 127 of Let's Talk Learning Disabilities, Laurie reconnects with DJ Tharrington to hear about his incredible journey from struggling with dyslexia to graduating law school. After facing workplace discrimination due to his learning disability, DJ decided to pursue his long-held dream of becoming a lawyer. Despite being discouraged by several education consultants and rejected by 18 out of 19 law schools due to low LSAT scores and a modest GPA, he was eventually accepted by Southern University. Resources:Let's Talk Learning Disabilities Website: https://ltldpodcast.comContact info for the podcast: letstalklearningdisabilities@gmail.comE-Diagnostic Learning Website: https://ediagnosticlearning.comSocial:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eDiaglearning/X: @diaglearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diagnostic-learning-services/Instagram: @diaglearning

Nate and Josh dissect a Reddit post and issue a PSA: Just because you get accommodations on the LSAT and in law school doesn't mean you will get them for the bar exam.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Nate and Ben tell Paige to cancel her Demon subscription and focus on raising her GPA for the rest of undergrad.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Molly asks if her lack of improvement means it's time to give up on the LSAT. Ben and Nate remind her that growth will come from solving one question at a time and understanding her mistakes.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Demon Team Members Rachel and Tim explain the keys to a successful law school admissions cycle, including getting the best LSAT score you possibly can, and resisting the temptation to accept an early scholarship offer.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Ben and Nate break down the measurable cost of applying late in the law school admissions cycle. Your LSAT score has the most value on the day that applications open. By rushing your LSAT or applying late in the cycle, you sacrifice points and leave money on the table. With AI poised to disrupt the legal market, it's more important than ever to go to law school for free. ⁠Study with our Free plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠⁠Watch Episode 521 on YouTube⁠0:32 – AI Making Law School Obsolete?Ben and Nate discuss an article from a former Google exec claiming AI will make law and medical degrees obsolete. The guys acknowledge that AI is improving, but it still makes mistakes. While they agree that a law degree isn't a guaranteed gravy train, they also note that the law itself is a barrier to modernization, which will slow AI's impact on legal education. The schools most at risk are bottom feeders churning out lawyers for grunt work. Their advice: don't pay tuition at weak schools.14:50 – LSAT Suspended in Mainland ChinaLSAC halts testing in China after evidence of cheating. A Reddit post earlier this year even advertised cheating services. While tough for honest test takers in China, applicants should appreciate LSAC's effort to safeguard exam security.24:03 – Cost of Delaying AppsHow late is too late? While early applications are stronger, it's never worth rushing the LSAT. The best strategy is to get your best LSAT and then apply at the start of the next cycle. A University of Chicago Journal of Law and Economics article finds that delays weaken applications. Waiting 100 days is equivalent to dropping 2.1 LSAT points or 0.26 GPA points. Schools review applications in waves, and the earliest applicants are often the strongest. Missing the first wave, even by a day, can carry measurable costs.Dynamic Decision-Making under Rolling Admissions: Evidence from US Law School Applications47:43 – Main Point vs. SummaryA summary lists information, but a main point answers “why.” It's what the author is trying to convince you of, not just what they said.52:31 – Doing LR BackwardsListener Blair wants to work backward in Logical Reasoning to combat fatigue. Ben and Nathan's answer: If you're scoring under 175, you shouldn't be finishing sections anyway, so working backward means skipping easier questions to do harder ones. If you're at 175 or above, then fatigue isn't an issue.59:28 – Score PlateausListeners Trevor and Ireland feel stuck. The guys caution against chasing a single breakthrough. Progress comes from carefully reviewing and learning from every mistake, one question at a time.1:04:42 – Personal Statement Gong ShowListener Elena is the next Gong Show contestant. Ben and Nathan read her personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.Want in? Send in your statement by September 1, 2025, to be considered for the Gong Super Show. 1:07:20 - Word of the Week - TruismThe standard advice about writing is mostly truisms, like “Make a plan,” “Don't use the passive,” or “Think of your audience.” Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library. 

In part one of this series, Josh is joined by Billy and Robert to break down what it takes to score a 175 on the LSAT.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!

Ben and Nathan share strategies for using visualization to stay engaged in Reading Comprehension. They also explain that getting a full-ride to law school takes more than just a high LSAT score—your application timing, school choices, and willingness to walk away from weak offers all matter.⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠⁠Watch Episode 520 on YouTube⁠0:28 – How Law Schools Guide Career DecisionsA Harvard alumnus describes losing his job in big law after publishing an op-ed criticizing the Trump administration. Nathan and Ben discuss how law schools recruit students under the banner of justice, but then steer them toward corporate law firms. The guys remind listeners: you can't do public-interest work and make big-law money at the same time. Sending their students to big law is a choice that schools have a vested interest in. 9:27 – UC Law SF Sweatshirt DriveNathan shares an email from UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings) asking alums to buy sweatshirts for incoming 1Ls. He and Ben laugh at the school's request for $40 sweatshirts while simultaneously charging students more than $50,000 in tuition per year. 21:16 – Visualizing PassagesConnor asks for advice on improving visualization skills in RC. Strong reading comprehension depends on pausing to visualize the text—especially when it's abstract. Creating a mind map lets you evaluate each sentence and anticipate what's coming next. If you're not actively questioning and connecting ideas, you're missing the forest for the trees. 34:01 – Proctor TroublesMichael ran into issues with a proctor during his test and wonders if he should cancel his score. Ben and Nathan say there's no advantage to canceling. The real question is whether his practice test results showed he was ready. Prepared students need not worry about minor test-day issues.37:51 – Don't Settle for Sub-ParMike has a 3.98 GPA and practice LSAT scores in the 170s. He's considering applying in-state with a 166 but also wonders about his T-14 prospects. The guys advise Mike to take an additional gap year, score 170+, apply early, and secure scholarships at top schools, especially given his career aspirations. 44:17 – Conditional Full RideTheo adopted the motto of going to law school for free. After a gap year, he improved his LSAT, applied broadly, and accepted a full-ride scholarship to his top choice law school. The downside is that it's a conditional scholarship. Nate encourages Theo to stick to his commitment not to pay for law school.52:37 – Personal Statement Gong ShowNatalie is the next Gong Show contestant. In this segment, Ben and Nathan read your personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record to beat is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.1:08:34 - Word of the Week - WaylayI don't want to waylay our meeting with this topic.Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library. 

The host of “The Adam Friedland Show” is here to come out of the closet as the secret inspiration for one of PTFO's most controversial episodes. Also: Pablo and Adam's (real) LSAT scores; loving Kobe; telling Kobe how your ass tastes; @perfectbooties; if LeBron is the Millennial Michael Jordan; the secrets of good interviewing; calling Tony Kornheiser; photo shoots; campus protests; dunking on Chris Cuomo; Jonathan Livingston Seagull; cucking Richard Nixon; and value premises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices