The LSAT is Monday. You probably already know this.
You’re probably getting pretty nervous, and planning your last minute cram-sessions.
STOP right now.
THINK.
If ANYTHING crazy is going on in your life right now, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
I guarantee you that a month from now I’ll be fielding dozens of calls and emails from people who are disappointed with their performance on the June LSAT and who will blame the following:
1. Lack of preparation. If you have not studied for 2-3 months and taken more than 3 full length, timed practice exams, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
2. Death in the family or death of your best friend. If anyone in your family or close circle of friends has been injured, traumatized or killed in the last 2 weeks, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
3. Illness. You have the flu? Do not take the LSAT on Monday! No one wants to read an addendum mentioning vomit, diarrhea or both.
4. Side effects. Started a new medication? Does it make you drowsy or have the potential to make you drowsy or physically ill? Started a new medication to treat ADD? Don’t take the LSAT on Monday.
I don’t mean to make light of serious problems, but stop and think. Four times a year, whenever the LSAT is given, I hear from people who seek my help writing addenda to explain an LSAT score. These four reasons are among those that come up most often. You can avoid the heartache and stigma of a very low LSAT score that fails to measure your abilities on the test by simply making the adult decision – despite fever, grief, exhaustion, and anxiety – to postpone taking the test until October. Yes, you’ll have a ‘no-show’ but I swear it’s not a big deal. And if you want the experience of sitting through the test, take it and cancel it as you leave the test center. But go in with a clear head and make a good decision. Is this a good time for YOU to take the LSAT?
For those of you who ARE prepared, healthy, and whose life is (thankfully) in a state of relative normalcy, then DO take the LSAT. And spend this weekend getting TONS of sleep, reading the newspaper or other interesting/thought provoking things, maybe dabble in a logic game or two, stay away from other people taking the LSAT, and refrain from talking to anyone about the LSAT. Take care of yourself. Get yourself into a frame of mind that gets you to a place where Monday morning, over a great breakfast with lots of protein, you are saying “Alright! Let’s prove what I can do on this thing!”
Good luck to all June LSAT takers. Oh! And come back to the Blog on Monday to learn how to spend your time while waiting for your LSAT score. Good luck!
