LSAT Demon Daily | Episode 43 | Law School LORs for Military Applicants

Summary

In this episode of LSAT Demon Daily, Ben Olson and Nathan Foxx respond to an email from Logan, a subscriber who has seen significant improvement in his LSAT scores thanks to their help. Logan, an army officer, seeks advice on letters of recommendation for law school applications. He plans to get one from a Harvard professor and another from an army lieutenant colonel. The hosts reassure him that a mix of academic and professional recommendations is appropriate, given his background, and encourage him to focus on his strengths rather than overthinking his choices.

Takeaways

• 📈 Logan's LSAT scores have improved significantly with the help of LSAT Demon, starting at 147 and reaching 169, 171, and 170.
• 🎓 Logan graduated in 2017 and has been serving as an army officer, which has influenced his choice of recommenders for law school applications.
• 💼 Logan plans to get a letter of recommendation from a national security professor from his senior year of college, who has an academic background from Harvard.
• 🏫 Ben suggests that Logan is overthinking the importance of the professor's credentials and that a good letter from someone who knows him is more valuable.
• 👨‍⚖️ Logan is considering a second letter from a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, his boss and mentor in the army, who can speak to his work ethic and character.
• 🤔 Ben reassures Logan that having one academic and one professional letter of recommendation is appropriate, given his time out of academia.
• 🚫 Ben advises against seeking a second academic letter, as it might seem outdated and unnecessary given Logan's strong LSAT scores and work experience.
• 📝 The discussion highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in letters of recommendation, rather than focusing solely on academic qualifications.
• 🧘‍♂️ Ben shares a personal mantra, 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast,' emphasizing the value of being deliberate and avoiding mistakes that can cost more time.
• 📧 Listeners are encouraged to reach out with questions or news to be discussed on the podcast.

Q & A

Who are the hosts of the LSAT Demon Daily podcast?

The hosts of the LSAT Demon Daily podcast are Ben Olson and Nathan Foxx.

What is the primary concern of Logan, the email sender, regarding his LSAT preparation?

Logan is concerned about the quality of his letters of recommendation, especially considering he has been out of undergraduate studies for four years and is now an army officer.

What is Logan's initial LSAT score and what has been his recent improvement?

Logan's initial diagnostic test score was 147, and his recent practice tests have improved to scores of 169, 171, and 170.

Who does Logan consider writing his first letter of recommendation?

Logan considers having a national security professor from his senior year of college, who has an undergraduate, master's, and PhD from Harvard, write his first letter of recommendation.

What is Ben Olson's opinion on the importance of the professor's academic background for the letter of recommendation?

Ben Olson thinks that Logan is overthinking the importance of the professor's academic background, as having a master's or PhD, or being from Harvard, is not as significant as the personal relationship and the professor's ability to write a compelling letter.

Who does Logan plan to ask for his second letter of recommendation?

Logan plans to ask one of his bosses from the army, a special forces lieutenant colonel, who has become a close mentor and can speak about his work ethic and character.

What advice do the hosts give Logan regarding his second letter of recommendation?

The hosts advise Logan that it is appropriate to have one professional letter to go along with his one academic letter, and that he is overthinking the need for a second academic letter.

What is Logan's concern about his academic qualifications in his application?

Logan is worried that since he has been out of the academic environment for a long time, his application might lack in the academic aspect.

How do the hosts address Logan's concern about his academic qualifications?

The hosts reassure Logan that his good undergraduate grades and high LSAT scores will demonstrate his academic promise, and that many applicants have been out of undergrad for four years, so it is not a rare situation.

What is the meaning of 'B-L-U-F' as mentioned in the script?

B-L-U-F stands for 'Bottom Line Up Front,' a phrase used in the army to prioritize important information at the beginning of a communication.

What mantra does Ben Olson mention that he uses in his daily life?

Ben Olson mentions the mantra 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast,' which he uses not only for the LSAT but also as a general life principle to encourage deliberate actions over rushed ones.

Outlines

00:00

📚 LSAT Prep and Letter of Recommendation Strategy

In paragraph 1, Ben Olson and Nathan Foxx, founders of lsatdemon.com and the Thinking Also podcast, address an email from Logan, an LSAT Demon subscriber. Logan shares his progress from a diagnostic test score of 147 to consistent 170s on practice tests, aiming for the August LSAT. He seeks advice on letters of recommendation, considering one from a national security professor with a Harvard background whom he has a strong relationship with. Ben and Nathan suggest that Logan is overthinking the importance of the professor's credentials and reassure him that a compelling letter from someone who knows him well is more valuable. They also discuss the second letter, advising Logan to ask a special forces lieutenant colonel, his army boss and mentor, who can speak to his work ethic and character, rather than seeking another academic letter. They emphasize that Logan's professional experience is relevant and that his academic background, indicated by good undergraduate grades and high LSAT scores, should suffice for law school applications.

05:02

🏌️‍♂️ The 'Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast' Mantra

In paragraph 2, the conversation continues with Ben and Nathan reflecting on the advice they provided to Logan. They touch upon the mantra 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast,' which Ben had mentioned in a previous podcast or class. Nathan shares how this mantra is applicable not just to the LSAT but to everyday life, using an anecdote about helping his kids get dressed quickly without rushing. Ben also relates the mantra to his own life, particularly when preparing for golf, emphasizing the importance of being deliberate rather than rushed to avoid mistakes and save time. They conclude by encouraging listeners with questions or news to email them at dailylsatdemon.com, and thank the audience for listening.

Keywords

💡LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for prospective law school candidates. It is a critical component in the law school admission process, as it measures reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning skills. In the script, the individual's LSAT scores are discussed as a significant factor in their law school application, reflecting the test's importance in assessing their readiness for legal education.

💡Demon Subscriber

A 'demon subscriber' refers to a user who subscribes to LSATdemon.com, a platform that provides resources and training for LSAT preparation. The term is used within the script to identify the email sender as someone who has been utilizing the services of LSATdemon to improve their test scores, indicating the effectiveness of the platform's offerings.

💡Diagnostic Test

A diagnostic test in the context of the LSAT is an initial assessment that gauges a test-taker's baseline performance. It helps identify strengths and weaknesses to tailor study plans accordingly. The script mentions the individual's diagnostic test score, which serves as a starting point for their improvement journey.

💡Practice Tests

Practice tests are mock exams that replicate the actual LSAT to help candidates familiarize themselves with the test format and timing. They are crucial for assessing progress and refining strategies. The script highlights the individual's practice test scores, which show a significant improvement over time, demonstrating the effectiveness of their preparation.

💡Target Window

The 'target window' refers to the desired score range that an LSAT test-taker aims to achieve for admission to their preferred law schools. In the script, the individual is 'knocking on the door of their ideal target window,' suggesting they are close to reaching their goal score.

💡Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation, often abbreviated as 'letters of wreck,' are documents written by individuals who can speak to the applicant's character, abilities, and potential. They are a key component of law school applications, providing a personal perspective on the candidate. The script discusses the selection of recommenders, emphasizing the importance of choosing those who can provide a well-rounded view of the applicant's qualifications.

💡National Security Professor

A 'national security professor' is an academic who specializes in the field of national security, often teaching courses related to defense, intelligence, and international relations. In the script, the individual considers asking a national security professor for a recommendation, highlighting the professor's academic credentials and the personal connection they share.

💡Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel

A 'Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel' is a high-ranking officer in the military, specifically within special operations units. The script mentions the individual's boss, a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, as a potential recommender who can speak to their work ethic and character, showcasing the value of professional references in the application process.

💡Academic Qualifications

Academic qualifications refer to the educational achievements and credentials of an individual. In the context of the script, there is a discussion about whether the applicant's academic qualifications, given their time away from academia, might be perceived as lacking. The conversation suggests that a combination of academic and professional recommendations can effectively address this concern.

💡Resume

A resume is a document that outlines an individual's education, work experience, and skills. It serves as a summary of their professional background. The script implies that the individual's resume can 'speak to their character through work experience,' indicating that a strong resume can compensate for a perceived lack of recent academic focus.

💡Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) is a military acronym for presenting the most important information at the beginning of a communication. In the script, the individual uses this term to summarize their question, although it is humorously noted that they placed it at the end of their email, which is a playful critique of the acronym's intended use.

Highlights

Introduction of the podcast and the hosts, Ben Olson and Nathan Foxx.

Logan, a listener, shares his progress from a 147 on his first diagnostic test to 169, 171, and 170 on recent practice tests.

Logan is preparing to take the August LSAT and apply for the Fall 2022 school year.

Logan seeks advice on letters of recommendation, being four years removed from undergrad.

Logan's first letter will be from a national security professor with a Harvard background.

Ben and Nathan discuss the importance of a recommender's relationship with the applicant over their academic credentials.

Logan's second letter will be from an army officer who can speak to his work ethic and character.

Ben and Nathan agree that having one academic and one professional letter is appropriate for Logan's situation.

Logan's concern about being out of the academic sphere for a long time is addressed.

Ben and Nathan reassure Logan that his resume and LSAT scores will speak to his academic promise.

The hosts discuss the mantra 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast' and its relevance to the LSAT and life in general.

Ben shares a personal anecdote about applying the mantra to his daily routine.

Nathan writes 'hot LSAT news' as a potential topic for future discussion.

The podcast concludes with an invitation for listeners to send in their questions or news.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey there welcome to lsat demon daily

i'm ben olson that's nathan foxx

together we're the founders of

lsatdemon.com

and the thinking also podcast here we

have an email from

logan hey guys i've been a demon

subscriber for about five months now

and while i don't say a lot in classes

i'm that guy with his camera off because

i'm normally just getting home from work

like a mess when art class when classes

start sorry

i've improved dramatically with your

help my first diagnostic test

going in completely cold resulted in a

147.

my last three practice tests have been

169

171 and 170. i'm knocking on the door of

my ideal target window now

just in time to take the august lsat and

apply for the fall

2022 school year i want to ask you a

question about letters of wreck

i'm four years removed from undergrad i

graduated in 2017

and since then i've been an army officer

serving in italy

africa and now back home in dc i'm

pretty certain i want my first letter to

be from a national security professor

i had in my senior year of college

he has an undergrad master's and phd

from harvard my top school

and a serious academic background

although not in law

i don't think that matters we've kept in

touch throughout my deployments and my

time abroad

and i'm certain he'll write a compelling

letter i would like to interrupt right

there

i think you're overthinking it the fact

that this person has a master's

who cares they're a professor of course

they have a master's of course they have

a phd

the fact that it comes from harvard i

don't really think like most professors

come from harvard

no that's not true that's an

exaggeration but so many professors come

from harvard it's a gigantic school

it tends to pump out tons of professors

you know you have a special relationship

with this harvard professor which is

great

but everyone else has a harvard

professor writing them their letter of

recommendation

so you know you're putting all these

eggs in this one back

in this one basket that you think that

that like really matters it doesn't

this person knows you they're going to

say complimentary things about you

that's kind of the end of the analysis

and that's great that they are connected

to harvard in some way

but yeah it's you're good you're fine

stop worrying about it yeah my second

letter is where i need

more guidance my thought as i write this

email is to ask one of my

bosses from the army he's a special

forces lieutenant colonel

i worked for in italy and africa he has

become very cl

a very close mentor of mine and can

speak at length to my work ethic and

character

but obviously not about my academic

qualifications

that's fine you're gonna have a college

professor write you one of your letters

why would you want the other one to say

the exact same thing

now you have one professional great

would that be a valuable thing and to

highlight in my letters of wreck or

should i instead seek a second letter

from another college professor

nope you're fine i'm confident that my

resume can speak to my character through

my work experience but my fear is that

i've been out of the academic game for

so long

that that aspect of my application will

be lacking

um no actually because you've been out

of it for so long

um i don't think they're going to expect

you to have

two academic letters of recommendation

it would look weird if you did it's like

yeah they're so outdated

like what this person's been out of

undergrad for four years but they still

have two undergrad

recommendations what have they been

doing with their lives since then no i

think you absolutely it would

be more more appropriate to have one

professional

to go along with your one academic also

you're overthinking this whole thing

there's

millions of applicants who have been out

of undergrad for four years that's not

rare and anyway if you got good

undergraduate grades and

you you say you're talking about la

lsat's in the 170's

if you're gonna show them a 170

something else at and you're going to

show them your good undergraduate grades

then why would they doubt your academic

promise

yeah law school is totally different

from undergrad anyway

so okay

he continues as i as we like to say in

the army

b-l-u-f which stands for

bottom line up front i don't

actually follow that phrase no

especially when he puts it at the end of

his

email if you put it at the top then it

would make sense

this is bottom line at the bottom but

anyway

we've already answered the question we

already did so

anyways he appreciates our thoughts by

the way ben you said on the podcast or

in a class a few weeks ago that slow is

smooth and smooth as fast

made me smile mantras to live by yeah i

like that one actually not only in the

lsat but just all the time

i was saying to my kids the other day

they had to get ready

dressed quickly for something and i was

like slow smooth man just get your arm

in that sleeve

like they're like rushing and your hand

gets stuck right it's like just get

like focused and we'll be done and we'll

be out of here

you know i do think about that actually

i when i'm rushing out the door

sometimes

um the only thing i ever rush out the

door for is a tea time

by the way i live eight minutes from the

golf course

and i i like i don't like to arrive too

early

i have what am i going to do out there i

don't need to hang out for forever

before the round i'm going to be out

there long enough anyway

so i do tend to kind of cut it close for

my tea time

but that is sometimes i end up like oh

i gotta go jump in the shower

i gotta get dressed i gotta like get you

know i gotta get

moving and i do frequently think about

like i have to take a breath

and go hey man you're not gonna get

there faster by

rushing you really do need to it's like

yeah

one arm in the other arm in

put it you're gonna be fine breathe yeah

you're gonna make it

because if you rush i mean it's like you

forget something and then have to come

back

yeah it's the mistakes that cost you

time right it's not like

it's not even like you're even going

slow it's just that you're

deliberate and not yeah

it feels like you're trying to go slow

but you're not you're just yeah

deliberate is a good word

yeah but slow is smooth and smooth is

fast yeah it's not gonna take that it's

not that hard

i've gotten ready for golf a million

times in my life

i'm gonna just get my together and

cruise out

and if i if i try to push it that's when

i'm gonna actually something up

and uh end up missing that tee time

thanks for writing in logan um it sounds

like you have two great letters of

recommendation

so you're good to go

if you have questions for us or some

great

hot as nathan wrote here hot lsat news

or law school admission news

email us at daily lsitdemon.com

thanks for listening