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How to Maximize Your Time Before the June LSAT

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The December LSAT comes right on the heels of the October exam, and the February exam comes right on the heels of the December exam. However, oddly enough, there’s four months on either side of the June exam. It’s also the only exam that’s on a Monday afternoon rather than a Saturday morning. It also happens to be the next exam on the calendar.

Why is this exam different than all other exams?

Who knows? Maybe spring is in the air in Newton, PA, and whatever passes for love at LSAC is along for the ride. Maybe the makers of the LSAT figure you need a few months to recover from Mardi Gras. Maybe they’re burned out themselves and just want to kick it for a while.

Whatever the reason for this scheduling anomaly, there’s tons of time to study for the June exam, which can be especially advantageous for those of you who work and/or go to school. (Or play professional baseball. Or just don’t feel like cramming for two straight months.)

This “tons of time” business is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, four months is a lot of time to study, which means you can craft a reasonable study plan that dovetails with work and school and all your other commitments. On the other hand, four months is a lot of time to study, which spells burnout for a lot of would be test takers.

So, let’s talk about threading the needle between diligence and despair. You should make a schedule well ahead of time that allots your time wisely. It’s best if you can make studying a regular and predictable part of your week. For example, let’s say you work a regular 9-5 and you’re comfortable devoting six hours a week to studying. You might want to just make sure you do all your studying in two-hour blocks Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday night. (Leave Friday and Saturday for marathon beer pong.)

However, don’t forget that you’re going to be studying this way for several months, and you will need to turn on the afterburners in the last few weeks before the exam, maybe doubling your study time or more. You know yourself best. Is the pace you’ve set for yourself one that will leave you with enough jet fuel to turn on those smokin’ hot afterburners? Or will you be gasping for air by then?

A good way to minimize this risk, other than keeping your study load light early on, is to plan a vacation somewhere in there. Maybe you get a week off after two months of your study odyssey. Take a trip to the Caribbean, or just binge watch Gilligan’s Island. Hell, stare at a wall for 96 hours. It worked for the Buddha!

Another great way to avoid burnout is to have a study group. Having someone else with whom to weather the LSAT storm could be beneficial.

Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself along the way. Exercise, eat right, blah blah blah. I know, I’m not your mom. But just do it. Or I’ll tell your mom.

As with most things in life, you’ll do best if you think critically about how to proceed. Feel free to leave your own ideas in the comments.