Pittsburgh is known as the “Steel City” which perfect describes the attitude of the city itself. The people who live here are known to be hard workers, a sentiment that rings true now and comes from the days of the steel mills. It’s not hard to see how important steel is to the city, as it is also known as the “City of Bridges.” In fact, in the city of Pittsburgh alone there are 446 bridges, the most prominent of which lead to downtown. Their football team bears the name of the metal that has put this city on the map and is the first indicator of how great of a sports town Pittsburgh is. The impressive skyline of downtown is beautifully framed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
There is plenty of opportunity in Pittsburgh as well. As we move into the future, Pittsburgh is moving away from its steely roots. These days, the main industry of Pittsburgh is high technology. Whether this is robotics or healthcare, there is plenty of work to be done. Anywhere that high-tech industry exists, there are also legal problems. As such, being a lawyer in Pittsburgh is a rewarding and fulfilling career path: lawyers in Pittsburgh make around $90,000 a year.
Pittsburgh is also known for its academia, making it a great city to study in. Within the city, you will find the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Both of these schools are well regarded, which means that gaining admission to either is not easy. A student applying to one or both of these schools would most likely already have a solid academic background, but there is more to getting into law school than your previous performance in school.
One of the heavily weighted factors for getting into law school is how well you do on the law school admission test, otherwise known as the LSAT. Many regard this exam as one of the more difficult tests that exist. Because of this, the prospect of taking it can be quite daunting. This is why preparation is crucial. With the right amount and the right kind of preparation, you can go into the LSAT with a strategy for success and the confidence to execute.
Of course, finding a prep course can be stressful in its own right! This is the most important test you have taken up to this point in your academic career, so the studying you’ll be doing needs to be guided and clear. With so many options in the way of test prep, it can be hard to know where to start, and even if you have a good idea of that, it can be hard to know what you are looking at.
The type of prep course you take will ultimately depend on how you prefer to study, what your schedule is, and your budget. In this article, we will go over some of the different types of courses you will have available to you. With our experience in LSAT prep, you should be able to more confidently make a decision as to which course is the right course for you. Before we go into specifics, there are things that we think of as requirements for good LSAT prep courses. Those things are:
- 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
Several factors will come into play when you are deciding what prep course you would like to take leading up to the LSAT. The first of these factors is location. This is very important because you will be spending a lot of time doing prep work for your exam. You’ll be choosing between two options: doing your courses online or in-person. The traditional way of thinking would place you in a classroom with an instructor and other students, but online courses have caught up when it comes to resources and support. However, there are differences between the two. Let’s take a look at those now.
If you think that you prefer a more traditional setting, than in-person courses might be the way to go for you. In-person courses typically last at least two months and meet once or twice a week. You’ll be placed in a classroom with other students and an instructor who is well versed in the LSAT. A lot of test prep firms only hire instructors who have scored in a certain percentage or better on the LSAT. Most instructors focus not only on the content of the exam, but also help you with test-taking strategy. These courses also offer support once you have stepped away from the classroom in the form of video instruction and help on the other end of your email address.
There is a downside to in-person courses, though. If you decide to go this route, you will need to be committed to it as they will take up a lot of your time, but more importantly, they are very expensive. As online courses are able to offer more resources, the case for in-person courses becomes harder to make each year.
Online courses are great for several reasons. For those who need flexibility, these are ideal. Online courses are most commonly taught through video lessons, meaning you can start and stop your studying whenever you would like. Those who work full-time jobs or have families can take comfort in knowing that they can study whenever they want and wherever they want. These courses are also good for people who prefer to learn at their own pace.
With online courses, you will never fall behind your peers or get ahead of them, avoiding embarrassment or boredom. While you won’t have the same face to face interaction with an instructor, you will have plenty of materials to study, plus email support. Not only do these courses allow for maximum flexibility, but they are significantly more affordable than in-person classes.
You may choose in-person classes, or you may opt for online, but no matter what you choose, you need to make sure that your course offers practice exams. These exams should be actual tests from years past, and can give you a great idea for how taking the actual LSAT is going to feel. Not only that, but they are great for pointing out your strengths and weaknesses, so you know exactly what to work on. Different courses administer these in different ways, but it is absolutely crucial that your course offers them in some capacity.
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.
The Best Online Prep Courses in Pittsburgh
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
Velocity LSAT Prep
Founded by two friends who met in college, Velocity LSAT Prep promises to help students “kick the LSAT in the face.” Behind the irreverent style is plenty of substance with in-depth explanations of over 9,000 authentic LSAT questions from previous tests. There is also a series of videos available that explain a wide variety of theoretical concepts that will appear on the test. Each membership lasts eight months. There’s a lot of quality material in Velocity’s LSAT online prep course, but the pricing is somewhat confusing. This is in part because the practice questions must be purchased separately, so costs can get out of hand pretty quickly.
Pros:
- Explanations for thousands of authentic LSAT questions
Cons:
- Only accessible for 8 months
- You must purchase the practice questions separately
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
The Best In-Person Prep Courses in Pittsburgh
TestMasters:
Address-Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone Number-(800) 696-5728
Link-https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/pennsylvania-pittsburgh
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters boasts a curriculum made by the world record holder for perfect scores on the LSAT, Robin Singh. Along with his expertise, TestMasters only employs instructors who have scored in the 98th percentile or better on the LSAT. In these classes, you’ll receive 60 hours of in-class instruction, with an additional 100 hours of video instruction once you go home. You will be given access to 20 practice exams to take at your leisure. TestMasters courses in Pittsburgh are located at Duquesne University.
Manhattan Review:
Address-Manhattan Review GMAT GRE LSAT Prep, Pittsburgh Teaching Center at the Marriott, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone Number-(412) 235-1755
Link-https://www.manhattanreview.com/pittsburgh-lsat-prep-courses/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Review has built its reputation on the success of the students who have gone through them. They have many former students who are now either attending top law schools or are working in top law firms. The instructors have a firm grasp of every stage of the LSAT and offer a course that is more focused on strategy. Part of this strategy is to mainly focus on your weaknesses and get them up to speed before test day. Manhattan Review courses in Pittsburgh are held in between the Cultural District and the Hill District, right next to PPG Paints Arena.
Manhattan Elite Prep:
Address-Doubletree Hotel and Suites Pittsburgh City Center, One Bigelow Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone Number-(412) 235-6113
Link-https://www.manhattaneliteprep.com/lsat-pittsburgh-prep-course-class/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Elite Prep operates under the assumption that you want to get your LSAT prep out of the way in a timely manner. Because of that, they only hire instructors with extensive knowledge of the LSAT, thinking that they would be able to teach it in the most time-efficient way possible. That being said, they also have a large number of resources available for students who want to put in some extra time. MEP offers a mixture of lectures and exercises, with plenty of support once you leave the classroom. These courses will also focus on test-taking strategies. MEP in Pittsburgh is located between the Cultural District and the Hill district, right by PPG Paints Arena.
The Best Law Schools Near Pittsburgh
- Duquesne University School of Law
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Temple University School of Law
- University of Pennsylvania – Carey Law School
- Drexel University – Thomas R. Kline Law School
