(IG: beforeyoutaketheLSAT; time stamps below!) For the first time, Doreen — along with special guest host Shannon (her sister) — shares insights into her path going from community college (Santa Monica College) to Columbia Law. The interview covers topics including her experience improving from a 148 diagnostic score (well below 50th percentile) to a 174 (99th percentile), her experiences in undergrad, and the advice she wish she had known before she started law school.
Here are the timestamps for the questions asked:
+ 1:00 Can you tell us a bit about your background?
+ 1:26 How were you able to navigate through school with English being your second language?
+ 2:13 Can you tell us a bit about your experience at community college, at Santa Monica College? [choosing a major]
+ 3:04 How were you able to complete UCLA in 3 years? Did you plan on doing that?
+ 3:35 When you were majoring in psychology, what was your game plan? Did you think you would go to grad school for psychology?
+ 4:24 How did you decide that you wanted to go to law school?
+ 5:54 How did you decide to minor in Spanish?
+ 7:05 How did you get started in terms of beginning to study for the LSAT?
+ 8:45 When you first started studying for the LSAT, were you just studying or were you working as well? What do you recommend for others who are studying?
+ 9:58 So you don't get the score that you wanted the first time you took the LSAT, what happens next?
+ 11:19 Tell us about the last time you take the LSAT, where you get the final score which was a 174?
+ 12:41 You almost decided not to register for the LSAT that last time, can you tell us that story?
+ 14:08 Finding out that final LSAT score
+ 16:07 What were some of the strategies you used to study for the LSAT?
+ 17:33 When you see that LSAT score, what does that mean for you? [I also talk about how I chose my target score]
+ 19:29 Hearing back from law schools
+ 20:22 Why Columbia?
+ 21:04 What's your favorite part of going to Columbia?
+ 21:59 What do you wish you would have known before you started at Columbia?
+ 23:04 How can someone better prepare themselves before going to law school?
+ 24:02 What advice would you give in general for getting involved in law school?
+ 25:17 You've take advantage of the extracurriculars at Columbia, can you talk a bit about your involvements?
+ 26:17 What are you most looking forward to?
+ 27:26 Do you want to talk about your experience being a legal extern at Mastercard's HQ? [I also talk about the ways in which law schools differ, and how that's important in deciding which law school you want to attend.]
+ 28:56 What are you most proud of so far?
+ 29:31 Why did you create "Before You Take the LSAT"?
+ 30:42 What has been your experience since you started "Before You Take the LSAT"?
+ 31:48 You've been able to interview some really cool people, do you want to talk about any of those interviews?
+ 33:48 What I wish I would have known [applying to law school, studying for the LSAT]
+ 35:28 How do you keep going even when you want to give up (on the LSAT?) [mindset on the LSAT]
Hope you enjoy and please do not hesitate to reach out via email (beforeyoutakethelsat@gmail.com) or on Instagram @Before You Take the LSAT with any questions, future videos you would like to see on this channel, or feedback!