Springfield is the third-largest city in the state of Missouri, with a long and storied past. By the time the Civil War rolled around, Springfield was an important commercial hub as a go-between for other cities and the city of St. Louis. The 1950s saw Springfield as one of the entertainment capitals of the country, when the only two cities that produced more nationally syndicated television programming were New York and Hollywood. Now, Springfield is a college town with health care and education as the main economic drivers. You can also see the future stars of the St. Louis Cardinals play here at Hammons Field, home of the double-A Cardinals. Springfield is a great town for college students as it has a lively downtown with plenty of good eating and late-night spots. Being a lawyer here would be bad either: the average salary for a lawyer in Springfield is around $80,000 per year.
Those in the Springfield area interested in studying law will have an option pretty close by at the University of Missouri School of Law. A bit further east you'll find the prestigious Washington University School of Law. Neither of these schools is easy to get into, with the University of Missouri's acceptance rate being below 50% and Washington University's sitting right around 30%. Those who hope to gain acceptance will need to have a history of strong academic performance.
That alone won't get you in, though. You will also have to do very well on the law school admission test, otherwise known as the LSAT. The LSAT has long been considered one of the most difficult tests that a student can take. It is also notorious for the stress it can put on students, but with the right amount of preparation and the right kind, you can go into the LSAT with a strategy and a head full of confidence. For that, you are going to need an LSAT prep course.
Of course, finding the right LSAT prep course is no walk in the park. There are so many options available to you that even knowing where to start looking might feel like an impossible task. When you also factor in how important the LSAT is, it only makes sense that choosing the right LSAT prep course is one of the more consequential decisions you will make. There are going to be a lot of things that you will need to consider when selecting your LSAT prep course. In this article, we will go over several factors of LSAT prep that can be crucial to your success. Using the information provided, you should be able to more easily make a decision about which LSAT prep course is right for you. Before we look into details, there are aspects of LSAT prep that we think any good course should have:
- 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
When searching for an LSAT prep course, there is a lot that you will need to consider. One of the first considerations you make, and a very important one, is where your LSAT courses will be located. Considering how much time you will be spending studying for the LSAT, you will want to make sure that you are comfortable and able to really focus on your studies.
You will have two main options when it comes to location: in-person or online. In-person LSAT classes have been popular for decades, but online courses keep getting better and keep gaining popularity. Both have the same goal, which is to make sure that you have all the tools you need to succeed on the LSAT. The way they reach this goal is unique to themselves. What are the reasons to choose one over the other? Let's take a deep dive and look at both.
In-person courses will place you in a classroom with a group of peers. This group of peers also effectively works as an extra support system. You will be able to bounce ideas off of each other and see new ways of thinking from your fellow classmates. This can be especially useful when you are struggling with aspects of the test. Most courses keep class sizes small so that each student has plenty of one on one time with the instructor. These instructors all have expertise on the LSAT in some way but could be hired for a variety of reasons. Most courses list their hiring guidelines on their website.
Once out of the classroom, you have more studying to do. This will come in the form of video lessons. For a lot of courses, these lessons will only be available for the duration of the course, which is typically 6-8 weeks. Most courses meet once or twice a week during that span. You will want to make sure you can commit to your course when signing up since, as you can see, the schedules are inflexible at best. This isn't the only downside to in-person LSAT prep courses. These courses can be prohibitively expensive. Some colleges offer courses at discounted rates, but typically only for students of that college.
Online courses are especially good for those who seek flexibility. These courses are administered via video lessons. Because of this, the coursework can be done anywhere and at any time. This is beneficial for those who are already busy with their day to day lives. People who are looking to change careers and have to study for the LSAT while still working will find this especially attractive. One of the downsides of online courses is that you won't get the built-in support of a group of peers, or one on one interactions with an instructor. You will, however, receive the same amount of resources and the same amount of support. Support for online prep courses comes in the form of email, with some courses offering 24/7 support for those who study at odd hours.
These courses are also great for those who like to study at their own pace. With online courses, you'll never be bored because you are too far ahead, and you'll never feel sheepish for falling behind. Not only do these courses offer more flexibility, but they are considerably less expensive. Online courses cost just a fraction of what in-person courses charge.
Whether you choose online or in-person, you will want to make sure that your LSAT prep course offers practice exams. Practice exams are the best way for you to see how you are progressing on your mission to best the LSAT. With practice exams, you can see where your weaknesses are and work on them before the big test. You'll be able to try out different strategies and figure out which one works best for you. You will also get a great feel for the LSAT, as these practice exams are actual LSATs from previous years. Not all courses administer these the same. Some will give you only a could, 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 Springfield
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
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
Fox LSAT Demon
Before opening up his LSAT test prep service, Nathan Fox scored 179 on his LSAT, a near-perfect score that placed him in the 99.9th percentile of all test-takers. He’s also personally written six books about preparing for the LSAT. Primarily focused on live LSAT prep courses, Fox LSAT has released their online-centered program called the LSAT Demon. Using A.I., the LSAT Demon program tailors the example problems and explanations to each user based on their strengths and weaknesses. While it is an interesting tool, the program suffers from a lack of video instruction and a fairly high monthly fee.
Pros:
- I. tutor helps reveal your weakest area
- Private tutoring available for an additional fee
Cons:
- Monthly fee for access
- No video instruction, online exercises only
Best In-Person LSAT Prep Courses in Springfield
Missouri State University LSAT Test Prep
Address-Missouri State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897
Phone Number-(417) 836-5000
Link-https://noncredit.missouristate.edu/lsattestprep.htm
Why they are a good choice
Not only is it beneficial to take a course with fellow students, but it is even more beneficial to take one within the halls of a major university, run by a major university. With Missouri State University LSAT test prep, you'll get expert instructors that will help you not only with the LSAT but with law school application as well. They use proven strategies and give you an abundance of materials from which to study. The scheduling is also a bit more flexible than your average in-person LSAT prep course. These courses are held at the main campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
TestMasters
Address-Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis, 6300 Forsyth Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63105
Phone Number-314-935-9040
Link-https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/missouri-springfield
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters wants to make sure that students have everything that they need to succeed in the difficult LSAT. That is why they have top instructors teaching a proven curriculum that was developed by the world record holder for most perfect scores on the LSAT, Robin Singh. Here, you'll get 60 hours of classroom time plus an additional 100 hours of video instruction outside of the class. TestMasters is located 3 and a half hours northeast in St. Louis, Missouri, at Washington University.
The Best Law Schools Near Springfield
- University of Missouri School of Law
- Washington University School of Law
- Saint Louis University School of Law
Interested in going to the best law school near Springfield? Check out the best law schools in Missouri.