Step 1

So I finally took the LSATs. I think in many ways, this is among the more grueling tests you can take. It's not more grueling because it's necessarily harder, or longer (certainly not longer than the MCATs). It's more grueling because the stakes are so high. From what I can tell, no other test is weighed so heavily in admissions as the LSAT - and you really only have one good chance to take it. Why? Law schools typically average your scores. So that means if you get a 160 on your first try, and a 170 on your second (which is pretty damn good - 99th percentile), most schools will look at you like you got a 165. There is a lot of pressure to not screw up the first time.

I think the part that is most anxiety-causing is the hour and half prior to the test. The official reporting time is 8:30am, and of course, everyone gets there like 8:00am or earlier. The process of filing in and taking seats takes 30+ minutes, and when it's all said and done, we didn't start the test until after 9:00am. That's 1.5 hours of just sitting around with nothing to do but be nervous (you're not allowed cell phones, music players, etc).

Something that is also very interesting about sitting in that room - if I end up going to law school, there is a good chance that these people sitting in this room will be my peers.

I'm pretty exhausted right now. I'm so exhausted that I'm not tired.