Why Should I Take an LSAT Class?

I'm often asked, "Why should I pay $29872394874 for a class when I can just buy books and study at home?" I asked this same question and, unfortunately, opted not to take a class before my actual LSAT. My reasoning was that I'm fiarly intellegent, did fine using only books for the ACT, and don't really want to fork out all that money. These are all valid concerns, and I can't blame anyone for raising them. So why should you take a class?

There are several answers.

1) Books don't give feedback. If you are misapplying a concept on the test, no book is going to correct you. You may find upon a second glance why you got a particular question wrong, but if there's a fundamental misunderstanding, you will continue to miss the same questions. In my classes I use the socratic method, which allows me to discover and patch leaks my students may have. Books can't do that.

2) Most books use fake LSAT questions. In fact, unless your book comes from LSAC, it almost certainly does. Classroom courses, however, often license questions from LSAC for use in their live curricula. This is not to say that non-LSAC questions are altogether bad, but it's hard to judge whether or not they paint an accurate picture of the LSAT.

3) Books don't require accountability. Live classroom courses offer proctored diagnostic exams, tons of homework (at least they should), in-class quizzes, and peer pressure. A class schedule forces you into a regular study schedule, and the class itself has someone to give you hell in the event you haven't studied.

Every point on the LSAT opens doors to schools you otherwise couldn't attend. Every point has the potential to mean thousands of dollars in scholarship and fellowship money. Every point counts. Without live instruction from a competent mentor, you are probably missing out on a world of opportunity.