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• 🚫 Ben advises against seeking a second academic letter, as it might seem outdated and unnecessary given Logan's strong LSAT scores and work experience.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.