Ben and Nathan focus on shifting the power dynamic in law school admissions. From controlling scholarship negotiations to spotting misleading admissions practices, they offer practical advice for staying in control and making informed decisions. Sometimes, that means rejecting law schools that aren’t making the cut when it comes to scholarship offers.

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0:35 – How Often Do Students Reject Schools - If you’re not turning down offers, you didn’t apply to enough schools. Applying broadly puts applicants in the driver’s seat and creates leverage for better offers. Nathan and Ben explain how schools are under pressure to fill their class and how savvy students can use that to negotiate their scholarship offers. They also caution against binding early decision programs, 3+3 tracks, and anything else that limits a student's ability to apply broadly.

14:23 – Is the Scholarship Estimator Broken - Two students express concern over their scholarship prospects. The updated 2024 ABA reports in the estimator appear less optimistic than earlier estimates. Nathan and Ben explain how changes to reporting standards might allow law schools to deflate reported scholarship numbers and obscure actual financial outcomes. They emphasize the importance of focusing on getting the best score possible on the LSAT, applying broadly, and not panicking.

33:22 – Eliminating Wrong Answers as a Strategy - There are two ways to get a question right: identifying the correct answer or eliminating the wrong ones. While the latter can work, it’s not the most efficient method. Ben and Nathan caution students against eliminating an answer choice because they don’t understand it. The preferred strategy is understanding why the right answer is correct, which often saves time and improves accuracy.

36:53 – Personal Statement Gong Show - Nathan and Ben continue their “gong show” series, reading listener-submitted personal statements. The guys read until they find something that derails the statement and then immediately stop. The current record stands at five lines. This week, James submits his essay in an attempt to beat the record.

44:27 – What’s the Deal with Southwestern Law School - Southwestern still uses conditional scholarships that Nathan and Ben classify as “scammerships.” Nearly 50% of students had their scholarships eliminated while in school. While the top students may thrive, the majority face poor employment outcomes and low bar passage rates. They advise listeners not to attend Southwestern at full or even half price. Anyone facing a scholarship cut should be prepared to drop out. They also discuss Southwestern’s part-time, online, and accelerated JD programs. These options might be more convenient, but they usually cost just as much as the regular three-year JD.

1:03:09 – Word of the Week - Many economists argue that tariffs create market distortions that can harm domestic consumers over time.

On Episode 500 of Thinking LSAT, Ben and Nathan tackle the most pervasive myths surrounding the LSAT, law school, and the legal profession. The core of the Demon philosophy shows up again and again in their myth-busting: read for comprehension, solve each problem, and don’t pay for law school.

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3:46 - Myth 1: Most Students Pay Full Price to Attend Law School Only about 1 in 5 actually pay full price. Law schools use clever marketing tactics to make full-price tuition seem more common than it is. Ben and Nathan emphasize that this is the number one myth that the Demon dispels.

12:31 - Myth 2: You Should Only Take the LSAT Once The advice not to retake the LSAT is outdated. U.S. News no longer factors in multiple LSAT scores, and law schools only care about the highest score. You should plan on using all five of your attempts.

26:09 - Myth 3: Learn the Basics Before Attempting Questions The Demon doesn’t force theory first because it’s dull and counterproductive. By diving into questions first, you build the skills that actually matter—understanding and solving. With the Demon, you get written explanations for every question, thousands of video explanations, and a vast lesson library.

35:23 - Myth 4: You Need a Strategy to Manage Timing Many LSAT companies’ advice focuses on unnecessary timing strategies. The guys remind listeners to ignore the clock and instead take one question at a time and solve it. Trying to “manage time” while understanding the test is a losing game. The LSAT rewards careful, critical thinking, not gimmicks.

50:27 - Myth 5: Read the Question Before the Passage Ben and Nate explain that the fundamental skill on the LSAT is understanding what you’re reading. Any distraction from that only makes things more complicated. By focusing on comprehension first, tough questions become more straightforward. The goal is to turn level fives into level ones by fully understanding the passage before worrying about the question.

57:58 - Myth 6: You Need to Learn Formal Logic You don’t need to learn formal logic to succeed on the LSAT. Everyday language and basic common sense are enough. The LSAT tests argument understanding, not rule memorization.

1:00:34 - Myth 7: Law is a Lucrative Career Many students assume that a career in law guarantees big paychecks, but the reality is more complicated. Ben and Nathan share an ABA report highlighting an average salary of approximately $170,000, but many lawyers make closer to $70,000. The salary distribution is bimodal, meaning a few big salaries drag up the average. In fact, lawyers report some of the lowest satisfaction levels with the value of their graduate degrees.

1:12:06 - Myth 8: You Should Highlight Reading Comprehension and Diagram Logical Reasoning Highlighting and diagramming might seem helpful, but they often become a substitute for actual understanding. Worse, errors in diagramming can throw off comprehension entirely. Focus on understanding the passage, not marking it up.

1:15:30 - Myth 9: You Should “Blind Review” After a Practice Test Blind reviewing every question isn’t the most effective method. Instead, identify the ones you missed and retry those. But just because you got it right the second time doesn’t mean you’re done—dig deeper to understand why you missed it in the first place

1:18:11 - Myth 10: Drill a Specific Question Type Recognizing question types is a crucial skill on the LSAT, one that is hindered by focusing on only one question type. Instead, rely on the Demon’s choice when drilling. Demon’s choice emphasizes the best approach: reading carefully, thinking critically, and solving the problem at hand.

1:21:44 - Myth 11: You Should Study as Many Hours as You Have Available More hours don’t mean better results. Studying 8 hours a day isn’t the answer—high-quality studying is. One focused hour can be far more effective than grinding away all day with diminishing returns.

Ben and Nathan kick off the return of Thinking LSAT’s personal statement review segment with a listener's personal statement that had potential. But the statement quickly strays into the weeds, and Ben and Nathan “ring the gong.”

Then Ben and Nathan emphasize the importance of securing a full scholarship to minimize risk during a potential economic recession. They also reassure a listener that reapplying with a higher LSAT score won’t hurt her chances. Later, they offer advice on effective LSAT review strategies and discuss the value of LSAT skills beyond the test. Ben and Nathan caution against Seton Hall’s 3+3 program, and others like it.

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0:27 - The Risk of Law School Debt - Bobby shares a blog post highlighting the risks of taking on law school debt. Ben and Nathan discuss how law schools have evolved from para-professional training programs into elite “finishing schools” detached from the realities of legal practice. This shift has contributed to skyrocketing student debt. As economists warn of a potential recession, history suggests that the legal job market may suffer just as it did during the 2008 financial crisis. The guys reference a piece by Karen Sloan that paints a grim picture of recent law school graduate employment, potentially signaling tougher times ahead. Their advice? Avoid the risk—attend law school only if you secure a full-tuition scholarship.

28:52 - Reapplying Next Cycle - Alice originally applied to law schools with an LSAT score below the medians of her top choices. Following Demon’s advice, she retook the LSAT to improve her score before reapplying. Now, she worries that reapplying to schools that previously accepted her might hurt her chances of securing a scholarship. Nathan and Ben reassure her that law schools will treat her new application independently and that reapplying won’t be held against her. They commend her decision to wait a year to maximize her scholarship opportunities.

33:31 - How Do I Review? - Alanna feels like she’s spinning her wheels and isn’t sure how to review effectively. The guys remind her that most mistakes stem from simple misreading. True learning happens when concepts “click” because you’ve uncovered the logic you previously overlooked. They encourage her to focus on understanding the reasoning behind the correct answers rather than just memorizing explanations.

45:31 - Use Scholarships to Motivate Your Study - A student making solid progress on the LSAT expresses a loss in motivation. Ben and Nathan remind her that LSAT prep builds essential skills for a legal career—if she isn’t enjoying the process, she should seriously consider whether law is the right path. They also warn that while a 155 might be enough for admission, it’s unlikely to secure a scholarship. They suggest using the goal of a full-ride scholarship as motivation to keep improving her score.

51:04 - LSAT Skills Are Transferable - Departing Demon, James reflects on the invaluable skills he gained from studying for the LSAT.

52:43 - Personal Statement Segment - Ben and Nathan review Jeremiah’s personal statement. While his topic is compelling, they note that the statement quickly shifts away from the “personal” aspect, getting lost in the story's context.

1:04:43 - What’s the Deal With Seton Hall? - A student asks about Seton Hall’s 3+3 program, but Ben and Nathan caution against it, arguing that such programs lock students into paying full tuition before they can explore other law school options. They also criticize Seton Hall’s continued use of predatory conditional scholarships. However, they acknowledge that Seton Hall’s part-time program is a smart choice for students who want to work while attending law school.

1:52:34 - Word of the Week - “In that construct, the strong performance of the few can obfuscate the mediocrity of the many.”

Law school tuition is designed to exploit the students willing to pay full price, even though very few actually do. This week, Ben and Nathan explain why the more you pay for law school, the more you subsidize your classmates' scholarships.

Later on, Ben and Nathan warn students not to confuse understanding with memorization. They caution listeners against taking on significant debt with the hope of loan forgiveness later. And they help a student pick a topic for his personal statement.

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0:30 - Stuck on Questions - Devin struggles with complex questions no matter how long he spends on the passages. Ben and Nathan hypothesize that Devin may be falling into the trap of memorizing, but not understanding, the passage.

10:24 - Last Few Points - How do you go from a 170 to a 175? One student describes the daunting feeling accompanying the jump in those last few points. The guys advise him to slow down and attempt fewer questions in exchange for better accuracy. The only road to a 175+ is understanding every question you attempt.

15:25 - Do STEM Majors Get a Break? - One student is feeling pressure from her challenging science courses, which negatively affects her GPA. Nathan and Ben confirm that STEM majors receive some grace because of their difficult courseload, but that grace only comes with a high LSAT score. The first question a STEM major has to answer, though, is why she wants to be a lawyer.

28:13 - Don’t Depend on Student Loan Forgiveness - Nathan and Ben discuss recent changes to the public loan forgiveness program and income-driven repayment plans. They remind students that taking on significant debt with the expectation of future forgiveness is a gamble that can lead to disaster. Instead, they advise getting a score on the LSAT that will allow students to go to law school for free.

50:32 - Personal Statement Subject - Thinking LSAT is reviving its personal statement review segment. Nathan and Ben guide Demon student Tim through selecting a compelling topic. They advise him to use his statement to demonstrate his genuine interest in law by highlighting his experience working in the legal field. They emphasize the importance of showcasing exposure to law rather than relying on sensationalized or overly personal narratives.

57:55 - What’s the Deal With Arizona State University? -Brianna asks about Arizona State University’s new online program, and Ben and Nathan share their generally positive take on online law programs. But if you are considering attending ASU while paying full price, whether you’re studying online or not, you’re subsidizing your classmates' legal education. The guys also advise students to stay as far away as possible from ASU’s achievement program (and almost every early binding decision program).

1:32:39 - Word of the Week - Which one of the following statements is consistent with the biologist’s claim but not with the politician’s claim?

The clock shouldn’t affect you on the LSAT—but you still need to practice ignoring it. This week, Ben and Nathan advise a student to use timed sections to learn how to take the test like the clock doesn’t exist. Then, the guys explain how to approach the LSAT in an intuitive way.

Later, Ben and Nathan encourage a student to try to get high school dual enrollment courses removed from their transcript, and they investigate Baylor University School of Law.

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0:30 - It Sure Feels Like Timing Is the Issue - A student scored a 170 on an untimed diagnostic test. The guys encourage him to complete timed sections in practice to learn to ignore the clock while keeping the accuracy high.

11:30 - You Play Like You Practice - Ben and Nathan encourage students to play like you practice. Read for understanding and learn to do the LSAT intuitively. Diagramming is only going to get in your way.

20:25 - Feeling vs. Performance - One listener expresses disappointment in her February score after feeling confident at the end of the test. Nathan and Ben suggest that a score in her practice test range shouldn’t be surprising.

30:40 - Dealing with High School Dual Enrollment Courses - Gabe has a few grades from high school dual enrollment courses dragging down his GPA. The guys encourage him to make his best effort to get those credits removed from his transcript. If he’s unsuccessful, a one-sentence addendum highlighting his college grades could be beneficial.

40:10 - The Cost of the LSAT and Law School Applications -Nathan and Ben shed light on the cost of the LSAT and law school applications.

57:55 - What’s the Deal with Baylor University School of Law? - Benjamin wants to know if Baylor University School of Law is worth the cost.

1:32:39 - Word of the Week - Were it possible to identify and zap all of that fraud in real time—an extremely tall order—it would still not get Mr. Musk close to his ultra-abstemious targets.

If you don’t have a burning passion to do the work of a lawyer, don’t go to law school. This week, Ben and Nathan caution a listener who is considering giving up a successful career to attend law school.

Later, the guys emphasize the importance of accuracy when studying for the LSAT. And they encourage students not to write an addendum about an LSAT score increase.

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0:48 - Will My GPA Overshadow My Career Accomplishments? - A non-traditional student considering a career change is concerned that his GPA will hold him back. Ben and Nathan caution him to carefully consider whether law school is the right move.

7:00 - Practice Test Scores Drop - Ben and Nathan assure a listener that their “drop” in practice test scores isn’t a concern as long as their accuracy continues to climb.

9:14 - Letters of Recommendation - A student was asked by their professor to compose a few paragraphs to serve as the basis for a letter of recommendation. The guys encourage them to use Chat GPT to generate ideas.

13:51 - Score Increase Addendum - A dean at the University of Michigan law school encouraged (21:42) students to write addendums to explain LSAT score increases. Ben and Nathan discuss the harm that can come with writing unnecessary addendums, and what you should write if you must.

20:54 - What’s the Deal with William and Mary Law School? - William and Mary made news issuing erroneous acceptance letters, including to some students who had previously been denied admission. The guys then take a deep dive into the school’s real cost, fees, and outcomes.

46:42 - Word of the Week - While some species of apes have learned elements of human communication, philosophical thought is unique to humans.

Don’t Throw Away Your (Five) Shots (Ep. 494)

You have five attempts at the official test. Should you use all of them? This week, Ben and Nathan encourage students to plan on taking the test five times, but not to waste their official attempts by signing up before they’re ready.

Later, they discuss a student’s question about requesting a sixth LSAT attempt, and they caution applicants not to make excuses when writing appeals. The guys also advise a listener about character and fitness requirements. And they review how students should and should not use AI on their law school applications.

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0:35 - April LSAT Sign Ups - Registrations for the April LSAT close on February 27.

3:50 - Am I Ready for April? - Ben and Nathan advise a listener to prioritize accuracy when evaluating readiness for the April exam. But they also encourage students to take the pressure off any one test by planning to use all of their five official attempts.

16:29 - Reading like Ben and Nathan - A departing Demon says that they felt as if Ben and Nathan were in their head, helping them spot bad arguments when taking the official LSAT. The guys explain why attacking each argument leads to success on the LSAT and beyond.

19:45 - Sixth Attempt Appeal - Ben and Nathan encourage a listener to shoot for a sixth attempt, but discourage them from making excuses for poor performance. And they expand that advice to all application materials.

28:47 - Character and Fitness - Ben and Nathan provide direction for character and fitness questions. They advise a student to reach out to law schools they’re considering and the state bar to determine if they would be permitted to practice law before going any further in their application process.

37:17 - AI and Law School Applications - The guys circle back to a discussion from Thinking LSAT Episode 452 about the use of AI and law school applications. They read and evaluate several AI policies from law schools.

51:50 - Word of the Week - I am crestfallen that this incident undermined the degree of professionalism we seek to uphold.

Nathan and Ben weigh in on the reports from some test-takers that the February LSAT featured more LG-style questions in Logical Reasoning. The guys also advise listeners on how to bounce back from a disappointing LSAT score. They caution applicants not to overshare in their law school applications. And they consider the importance of the LSAT Writing sample.

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0:52 - New LSAT Dates - LSAC just announced test dates for the 2025–2026 LSAT cycle.

2:37 - January LSAT Scores - As January test-takers navigate the highs and lows of score release, Ben and Nathan encourage anyone who was disappointed with their score to keep studying and to treat their next official test like any other practice test.

13:33 - Is LR the New LG? - Some February test-takers have reported an increase in Logical Reasoning questions that “require” diagramming. Nathan and Ben suspect that these claims are more fiction than fact. You don’t need to diagram in LR.

28:30 - Oversharing on Applications - The guys share some common red flags in law school applications that people unwittingly raise by oversharing.

39:25 - Process of Elimination - Ben and Nathan explain when it’s okay to pick an answer via process of elimination.

42:55 - LSAT Writing - How important is LSAT Writing? Nathan and Ben discuss how law schools might consider—or ignore—these writing samples.

46:59 - Word of the Week - Bad LSAT prep stultifies students’ progress.