If you’re like me, this Valentine’s Day had you revisiting your favorite romantic comedies. And personally, all these movies have me thinking about how preparing for the LSAT is like a romantic comedy. Like love in a rom-com, taking the LSAT can be fun, stressful, exciting, and full of self-doubt all at once. But also, like in the movies, the goal is for it all to be worth it in the end.
The “Meet Cute”: Starting Your LSAT Studies
Starting to study for the LSAT might not be love at first sight, but it is a bit like a meet cute in a rom-com. According to Merriam Webster, a meet cute is “a cute, charming, or amusing first encounter.” Think Julia Roberts wandering into Hugh Grant’s bookshop in “Notting Hill,” or Tom and Summer riding the elevator together in “500 Days of Summer.” Of course, this term can also contextualize how you decided to start studying for the LSAT.
Maybe you one day stumbled upon the idea of taking the LSAT, or you impulsively signed up for a prep course. You found the LSAT like two people at a coffee shop brushing hands while reaching for the same vanilla oat milk latte. Or perhaps you’ve known for years that you want to go to law school, and you’re finally, confidently, taking that first step on your studying journey. In this way, you’re more like the protagonist waiting outside your crush’s window, finally ready to commit. Whatever your journey was to finding the LSAT, you’re now committed and ready for anything.
The Central Conflict: You and the LSAT Come from Different Worlds
The beginning of your studies can be really fun and exciting. You’re discovering all the nooks and crannies of this unfamiliar challenge. But soon, anxiety sets in. The number of question types and passages starts to feel overwhelming. I mean, what even is a logic game anyway?
It might feel like you and the LSAT are two star-crossed lovers who come from different worlds. You now realize that if you really want your happy ending, you’re going to have to put in some work.
The (Almost) Break-Up: When the Going Gets Tough
Okay, so you’ve been preparing for the LSAT for weeks, maybe even months at this point. You feel like you know every game, question, passage, and trick in the book. Yet, your score suddenly stops improving. You feel dejected, and you’re half tempted to call the whole thing off.
This is called a score plateau, and it can feel pretty hopeless. If you don’t start to improve as time goes on, you might want to break up with the LSAT entirely. But don’t give up! Score plateaus aren’t a sign that you can no longer improve. They just signify that you need to change something in your approach. What if Lara Jean had given up on Peter Kavinsky in “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”? What if Elle Woods hadn’t gone back to finish working on Brooke’s case in “Legally Blonde”? To get through this difficult time, you have to double down, re-evaluate your approach, and change course.
The Grand Finale: True Love (AKA Proper Preparation) Prevails!
Finally, after all your hard work, test day arrives. You’ve studied, had a good night’s sleep, and feel ready for your big moment. You get your score back a few weeks later and you learn your hard work really paid off and you got your dream score! You realize that it was all worth the sleepless nights, the stress, and the struggles, because they led you to your happy ending.
Do you want to guarantee your own happy ending with the LSAT? Facing score plateaus yourself? Consider trying one of our LSAT prep courses or tutoring packages here!
