On this week’s Thinking LSAT, Josh joins Ben to answer questions from students who feel stuck. They explain that plateaus often come from ignoring the core skill tested by the LSAT: “Did you understand what you read?” “Strategies” like skimming passages or completing 10 questions in 10 minutes distract from comprehension. Instead, you unlock the LSAT when you read each sentence carefully and make sure you understand every word.

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1:01 – Be Careful What You Share

Josh and Ben unpack a NYT report on a white nationalist who won an award for a paper on originalism. They focus on a student quoted in the article who lost a job offer after telling a future employer about the interview. Their point: it’s not about politics—employers want to avoid liability and bad press. The same logic applies to law school admissions, where offices will use any self-disclosed information to their advantage.

7:15 – Save My RC

Ellie writes in hoping to “save” her reading comprehension. They urge her to slow down, spend more time digesting each passage, and treat every question as Must Be True—provable solely by the text.

14:50 – Professors’ Letter of Recommendation

When Joshua’s professors ask what to include in letters of recommendation, highlight experiences that prove future lawyer competence—research, writing, leadership, and advocacy. Ensure recommenders understand LSAC’s credential assembly service upload process so letters arrive on time.

19:12 – Retaking Classes

Emma wants to know if she should retake classes to boost her GPA. If your school removes old grades from your transcript, retaking a course can improve your GPA. If not, stack easy A’s instead. Delay graduation if needed to add GPA-boosting coursework, and consider a gap year to raise numbers further—every decimal point can translate into larger scholarships.

LSAT Demon Scholarship Estimator

24:44 – Plateauing in Scores

The guys diagnose Sydney’s stall, where she was missing seven questions per section. She’s fixated on speed. Strategies like “10 questions in 10 minutes” detract from accuracy and understanding. Instead, Josh and Ben prescribe concentrating on accuracy, ditching box-checking wrong-answer journals, and digging into the logic of each missed question instead of types.

37:56 – Applying Early Decision

Applying early decision is a scholarship-killer. You surrender negotiation leverage and forfeit the chance to apply broadly and early elsewhere. Keep your options—and bargaining power—open.

42:46 - Word of the Week - Nimrod

“In Wisconsin, as I was driving through, a hunter shot his own guide between the shoulder blades. The coroner questioning this nimrod asked, ‘Did you think he was a deer?’”

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Law School Lemons & LSAT Ceilings

Ben and Nathan discuss how law school admissions resemble a “market for lemons,” where students face steep information asymmetries. They highlight tools like the Scholarship Estimator and 509 reports that help applicants manage expectations and avoid overpaying. While there are several ways to strengthen an application, none are as effective as a strong LSAT and GPA.

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0:26 – Law School Lemon Law

Demon student Luca applies the “market for lemons” concept to law school admissions, emphasizing the information gap between applicants and schools. Ben and Nate note that schools often string applicants along without providing transparent pricing. Tools like 509 reports and the Scholarship Estimator help narrow this gap by showing what students might actually pay. Despite the added time and cost, applying broadly remains key to determining your market value.

⁠The Disparity Index⁠

LSAT Demon Scholarship Estimator

The Market For Lemons

17:36 – Getting In Isn’t the Goal

Ben and Nathan discuss a Reddit post that shared an email in which the University of Oklahoma’s law school advised an applicant to raise their LSAT score. Some were outraged, but the data supports it—Oklahoma’s median LSAT is 160. They caution against accepting offers where you just meet the medians. Barely squeaking in often means overpaying.

23:31 – Announcements

August LSAT Registration closes June 26th. See all registration details at lsat.link/dates.

25:22 – Holistic Applications

Extracurriculars and soft factors help, but only after your LSAT and GPA are competitive. Athletics, internships, and work experience can strengthen your application, but they won’t offset weak numbers.

29:48 – Tips from Departing Demons

Recent Demon students share what worked for them. Asma recommends “having a conversation with the test” to stay mentally engaged rather than going on autopilot. Another student, LT, shares that they ultimately decided not to pursue a JD, showing that sometimes the best move is to walk away.

34:23 – What’s My Ceiling?

Seth asks if massive LSAT gains—30 or even 40 points—are possible. The guys say yes, but they stress not to rush toward specific schools or deadlines. Instead, slow down, focus on one question at a time, and aim for a minimum of 160. Below that, law school might not be the right investment.

39:21 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Amy feels that the Personal Statement Gong Show has given her a great idea of what not to do. Now, she wants to know what makes an elite personal statement. Ben and Nathan highlight some essential lessons using a personal statement from the Gong Show’s first celebrity contestant, Demon team member Stefan.

1:04:32 - Word of the Week - Aegis

[The memoirs] written by royalists, who opposed the Revolution, were published under the monarchy’s aegis.

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