For many people, when they think of Gainesville, the first thing they will think of are the Florida Gators. Gainesville is home to the fifth largest university in the country, the University of Florida. While known as a college town, it is also known as a great place to live and is especially good for young professionals. There is ample opportunity for employment and economic growth, with the university being the main economic driver of the city. With a cost of living that is below the national average and no state income taxes levied on individuals, Gainesville could be the perfect place for someone looking to start a career in law. It could be lucrative as well: lawyers in Gainesville make roughly $80,000 per year.
Those with an interest in studying law in Gainesville will be able to do so at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. This is one of the better law schools in the nations, so it certainly won't be easy to get into. In fact, the acceptance rate for the Levin College of Law is below 30%, making it one of the hardest law schools to get into. Those looking to enter this prestigious and competitive institution will need to have a background of excellent academic performance.
Even more crucial will be acing the law school admission test, known as the LSAT. The LSAT is a towering exam, instilling fear in many, though it is not as impossible as purported to be. With the right amount of preparation and focused studying, you can go into the LSAT with confidence and a strategy. For this, you'll need an LSAT prep course.
Finding the right LSAT prep course for your needs is no simple task. There are so many available, and so many different types. Because there is such a large pool to choose from, even starting your search can seem almost as difficult as the LSAT itself. Considering how much time you will be spending studying for the LSAT, this is a decision you want to get right. There is a lot to consider when making your choice.
In this article, we will discuss some of the things you need to consider when making your choice for the most appropriate LSAT prep course for your needs. With the information you've gathered here, you should be able to more easily and more confidently pick an LSAT prep course that will give you all the tools you need for success. Before we go into detail, there are some things we think should be must-haves for LSAT prep:
- Actual LSAT questions from years previous.
- Detailed video/in-person explanations of the types of questions you'll receive.
- A sliding scale for pricing.
- A support system to help you with your prep even when you are not in class.
Online vs In-Person LSAT Prep Courses
Of all the things to consider when choosing your LSAT prep course, one of the first things you should consider is the location of your LSAT prep. Considering how much time you will be spending on studying, you want to make sure you are comfortable and committed. This comfort can be both physical and mental, as you want to make sure you will be able to fully focus on the task at hand.
When it comes to location, you have two options: in-person or online. Common thinking places most students in the classroom, but online courses these days offer all the resources and all the support of in-person LSAT courses. While the goals of these courses are the same, the way they get there is very different. So, why would a student choose one over the other? Let's take a look at both.
Those who prefer a traditional learning environment will want to opt for in-person LSAT prep courses. Here, you'll be placed with a group of peers and an instructor. The group of peers is a benefit as they give you a built-in support system. This may also aid your focus: as everyone in the class will be shooting for the same goal, each student knows how important studying is. Instructors for LSAT prep courses could be hired for a number of reasons, but they most certainly all have some level of expertise when it comes to the LSAT.
Outside of the classroom, you will be given video lessons to complete to supplement the work you are doing in class. These video lessons are often only available for the duration of the course. Most courses run for 6 to 8 weeks, meeting once or twice a week during that time. Because of this, in-person LSAT prep courses are rather inflexible when it comes to scheduling, which is why you will want to be fully committed when signing up. This isn't the only downside of in-person LSAT prep courses: they are also incredibly expensive.
Those who want or need flexibility will prefer online LSAT prep courses. Sure, you won't have a group of peers and an in-person instructor, but you will have the same amount of resources and the same amount of support. These courses are taught via video lessons, which allows you to use them whenever and wherever you would like. Those in the midst of a career change wondering how they are going to study for the LSAT while juggling a job will find this especially attractive. Support comes in the form of email. Some courses even offer 24-hour support for those who like to stay up late to do their studies.
Not only are these courses great for self-starters and busy people, but also for students who prefer to learn at their own pace. With online LSAT prep courses, you'll never have to worry about falling behind or getting too far ahead. On top of offering more flexibility, they are also much more affordable than in-person LSAT prep courses. All things considered, it makes sense that online courses get more popular by the year.
No matter where you take your LSAT prep, you need to make sure that your course offers practice exams. These exams are the best way to see how you are progressing in your studies leading up to the big day. You will be able to see your weaknesses and work on them. You will be able to try out different strategies and choose the one that works best for you. You'll see how it feels to take the LSAT, as these are actual LSATs from previous years. Different courses will give these out depending on their philosophy of teaching. Some give you only a few and at strategic points during the course, while others will give you as many as you want.
Pros of an In-Person Course:
- In-person resources such as teachers, books, and peers.
- A structured system that goes at a specific pace, allowing you to focus on one thing at a time.
- Take practice tests in a realistic environment.
Pros of an Online Course:
- Make your own schedule.
- An expansive list of readily available resources.
- Less expensive than In-Person.
- Personalized problem-solving.
- Take as many practice tests as you want.
Best Online LSAT Prep Courses in Gainesville
LSATMax LSAT Prep Course
Your secret weapon for getting accepted to the law school of your choice, the LSATMax online LSAT prep course from TestMax, is guaranteed to raise your scores. For a reasonable one-time fee, you’ll get instant access to a huge arsenal of tools to help you prepare for the exam on your own time. With countless five-star reviews across TrustPilot, Google Play, and the Apple App Store, LSATMax is clearly the best online LSAT course available.
What makes LSATMax the best online prep course for any pre-law student looking to max out their LSAT scores? First, because it’s available on both web and mobile, you will be able to access your course materials at any time. Next, unlike many online courses that use practice questions written by so-called experts, LSATMax only uses actual questions that have appeared on the LSAT. Your membership gives you access to up to 9,000 questions.
There are three LSATMax course packages available. All three contain the full LSATMax course catalog with over 100 hours of video from instructors who have all scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT themselves. You’ll also have opportunities to get personalized help from our instructors via real-time chat, message boards and scheduled office hours Q&A sessions. All students can also access their sample questions using LSATMax’s digital LSAT simulator for an authentic experience that replicates and gets you ready for the real LSAT.
Course Packages Available:
All LSATMax packages contain the full course catalog and a subscription to LSAT Prep Plus which gets you access to every LSAT practice exam available from the LSAC. You can choose between 3 flexible packages that give you access for the length of time you need to study for the LSAT.- LSATMax 60: This package gives you 60-day access to the full LSATMax course. It is great for students who have a shorter amount of time to study before their exam or who only need to raise their score a few points.
- LSATMax 180: This 180 day access package is designed to fit the needs of most students by giving access to the course for longer than the average time spent studying for the exam.
- LSATMax 365: This package is the best value for those who have a longer time frame to study for the exam or need to raise their score as much as possible.
No matter which package you choose, TestMax offers 0% financing for up to a full year through Affirm. Remember, the earlier you begin preparing for the LSAT, the higher your scores will be.
Pros:
- Get instant access to flexible packages and pricing
- Guaranteed to boost your LSAT score or your money back
- Interactive instruction with real LSAT experts
- Digital LSAT simulator for 100% realistic test experience
Alpha Score LSAT Prep
One of the few options for basic, affordable LSAT prep, Alpha Score offers a good selection of study materials for a reasonable price. There are over 50 hours of video lessons from instructors, each with at least 5 years of experience teaching LSAT prep courses. There is no live content, but you are able to ask questions to your instructor via messaging on the member’s area of the website. Membership to the Alpha Score LSAT prep course lasts for 12 months before you need to renew to keep access.
Pros:
- 50+ online lessons and tutorials
- Reasonably priced
- Long-lasting access
Cons:
- Only 10 official LSAT-licensed practice tests included
- No live instruction is available
Manhattan Prep
https://www.manhattanprep.com/
Like most of the online LSAT prep courses in this list, Manhattan Prep has instructors with very impressive credentials. With over 20 highly qualified instructors to help you prepare for your LSAT, Manhattan Prep is focused on in-person test prep, but their “LSAT Interact” self-guided prep course is a viable option for students looking to prepare for the test on their own time. With over 60 hours of video lessons included, you’ll also get access to lots of practice tests. There is also an option to upgrade your membership to include 1-on-1 tutoring.
Pros:
- 60+ hours of LSAT training from qualified instructors
Cons:
- Does not track your performance on practice tests
- Course enrollment lasts 6 months, but can be extended for a fee
Best In-Person LSAT Prep Courses in Gainesville
TestMasters
Address-University of Florida Levin College of Law, 309 Village Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone Number-(800) 696-5728
Link-https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/florida-gainesville
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters is a test prep company that wants to put all the necessary tools for success in the hands of their students. This is why they only hire instructors who have scored in the 98th percentile or higher on the LSAT and teach from a proven curriculum. With TestMasters, you'll get more than enough time to prepare, with 60 hours of classroom time plus an additional 100 hours of video instruction to be completed away from the classroom. TestMasters is held at the University of Florida College of Law campus.
Manhattan Review
Address-Manhattan Review GMAT GRE LSAT Prep, Jacksonville Teaching Center at the Hyatt, 225 East Coastline Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone Number-(904) 302-5456
Link-https://www.manhattanreview.com/jacksonville-lsat-prep-courses/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Review thinks that the best way to teach students is to each individual's strengths and weaknesses. Evaluations are done before and during the course so the instructors know how to best teach each student in the class. The instructors have all scored in the 99th percentile or higher on their own LSAT, so they know the test inside and out. Manhattan Review is located in Jacksonville, about an hour north of Gainesville.
Manhattan Elite Prep
Address-South Mandarin Library, 12125 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32223
Phone Number-(904) 672-3419
Link-https://www.manhattaneliteprep.com/lsat-jacksonville-prep-course-class/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Elite Prep is ideal for students who need help with the LSAT but don't have time for a full 6 to 8 week course. With MEP, you can either take a week-long or weekend crash course on the LSAT. MEP knows that teaching the LSAT isn't easy even when you have all the time in the world, which is why they hire only the best instructors and give their students access to a library of self-directed resources to go above and beyond. Manhattan Elite Prep is also located in Jacksonville.
The Best Law Schools Near Gainesville
- Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
- Florida Coastal School of Law
- Florida A&M University College of Law
- Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law
- The Florida State University College of Law
Interested in going to the best law school near Gainesville? Check out the best law schools in Florida.
