Sunnyvale is located right in the heart of Silicon Valley and is the seventh most populous city in the San Francisco Bay area. It is home to companies such as Yahoo!, Google, Nokia, and Apple. It should come as no surprise that the main economic driver of the city is high tech, which means that the economy of Sunnyvale is healthy and thriving. Google has even announced plans to help develop the city even further. Alongside all the high tech comes a great place to work and raise a family. In fact, Sunnyvale has often been called the safest city in America. This makes it an especially attractive destination for a young professional when you consider the beauty of living in the Bay Area and an economy that is on the up and up. Law professionals like it here too. The average salary for a lawyer in Sunnyvale is roughly $150,000 per year.
Students who are looking to attend law school near Sunnyvale are in luck as there is not only a plethora of options, but many of them are top-notch. In fact, northern California might have the best law schools in one geographical area in the world. Stanford is the most prominent of these schools and is regularly ranked in the top 3 law schools in the country. It should be no surprise then that Stanford is incredibly hard to get into. In fact, it is one of the hardest schools to get into in the world, accepting less than 10% of the students who apply. To get into a place like Stanford, you will need an academic resume that is almost spotless. You will also need to do well above average on the law school admission test, known as the LSAT. The LSAT is notorious for being one of the hardest tests there is. It is also known for the amount of stress it causes in students. To do your best on the LSAT, you'll need to calm your nerves and have a solid strategy going in. To achieve this, you are going to want an LSAT prep course.
Some students might think that the search for an LSAT prep course will be a walk in the park. This is not the case. Once you see how many courses are available, and how different they are from one another, it becomes clear that this is much more than just a simple decision. This is especially true when you consider the importance of the LSAT. This test will be consequential for not only your near future but your long-term future as well. While there are many things to keep in mind, the most important considerations will be made based on your level of comfort and how you learn best. How can you tell if the LSAT prep course you're looking at is right for you?
This article will go over many of the things that you need to consider when deciding on your LSAT prep course. With the information provided, you should be able to go about your search more confidently, and then more easily choose an LSAT prep course that you feel comfortable with. Before we really dive into the details of things you should consider, there are some things that we think are absolute necessities when it comes to the LSAT. Those things are:
- Actual Prep Tests and LSAT questions from previous years.
- 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, one of the first and most important things to think about is where you will be doing your LSAT prep. You are going to be spending a lot of time studying for the LSAT, so you want to make sure you can fully commit to your studies. You will also want to make sure that you are in a venue that is both physically comfortable and allows you to focus. When it comes to location, the two main options are in-person and online. While in-person courses have been around for decades, modern technology has seen the advancement of online LSAT prep courses. Both of these types of courses have the same goal of getting you prepared for the LSAT, but they do so in very different ways. Is there a reason why you should choose one over the other? That will come down to personal preference. Let's take a look.
Students who prefer the classroom setting will want to opt for in-person LSAT prep courses. These courses will place you in a classroom with a group of peers and an instructor. Having a group of peers works well as a built-in support system and allows you to exchange ideas with your fellow students and learn ways of thinking about the LSAT that you might have otherwise not been aware of. This can also help with focus as everyone in the course will have the same goal. Class sizes are normally kept to 12 students or fewer to make sure that everyone has plenty of access to the instructor.
These instructors could be hired for a variety of reasons, but each one of them has some level of expertise when it comes to the LSAT. Students who are curious about hiring guidelines can generally find them on the website corresponding to the course. Once outside of the classroom, students will receive extra material in the form of video lessons. It should be noted that some courses only make these videos available for the duration of the course, which is typically 6-8 weeks (meeting once or twice each week). Because of this, scheduling for in-person LSAT preparation is rigid. That's not the only downside to in-person LSAT prep; these courses are very expensive, to the point where they could price out several students.
If you prefer flexibility, then online courses are the way to go. These courses are taught via video lessons which allows you to do your LSAT prep wherever you want and whenever you want. This could be especially beneficial for students who are in the middle of a career change and holding down a full-time job who don't have the time to be able to commit to in-person studies.
You won't have a group of peers to bounce ideas off of, but you will still receive support through email. Some courses even offer 24-hour support for students who study very late or very early. The flexibility of these courses is also great for students who prefer to learn at their own pace. With online LSAT prep, you never have to worry about falling behind or getting too far ahead. These courses are also much more affordable than in-person LSAT prep. In fact, online courses cost only a fraction of what in-person courses cost.
Whether you take online or in-person courses, you will want to make sure that you have practice exams available. Practice exams are the best way to see how you are progressing as you get closer to your test date. You will be able to develop your strategy more. You'll see your weaknesses and be able to work on them. Because these are actual LSATs from previous years, you'll get an accurate feel for what to expect when your test date rolls around. These will be administered differently depending on the course. Some offer them at strategic times throughout the course, while others give you as many as you want to be done whenever you please.
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.
- Practice tests are taken 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 Sunnyvale
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 Sunnyvale
TestMasters
Address- Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Airport, 1471 North 4th Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone Number- (408) 452-0200
Link- https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/california-fremont
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters makes sure that students have all the time they need for success on the LSAT. With TestMasters, students receive 60 hours of classroom time plus an additional 100 hours of video lessons. Instructors are top-notch and teach a curriculum developed by the world record holder for most perfect scores on the LSAT. TestMasters is located 20 minutes east in San Jose.
Manhattan Review
Address- Manhattan GMAT GRE LSAT Prep, San Jose Teaching Center at the Hilton, 300 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone Number- (408) 624-1241
Link- https://www.manhattanreview.com/san-jose-lsat-prep-courses/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Review thinks that the best way to teach students is to their strengths. To figure out how each student learns best, Manhattan Review conducts evaluations before and during the LSAT prep session. This attention to each individual might make teaching the LSAT more difficult, but the results are worth it. Manhattan Review has former students in some of the top law schools and law firms in the world. Manhattan Review is also located in San Jose.
Manhattan Elite Prep
Address- Dr. King Library, S 4th St. & E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95112
Phone Number- (408) 850-0966
Link- https://www.manhattaneliteprep.com/lsat-san-jose-prep-course-class/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Elite Prep was designed with the busy student in mind. Their week-long and weekend crash courses are perfect for those who want face-to-face instruction but don't have the time to fully commit to a 6-8 week course. Teaching the LSAT on an abbreviated schedule isn't easy, which is why Manhattan Elite Prep hires only the best instructors. Like the others, Manhattan Elite Prep is located in San Jose.
The Best Law Schools Near Sunnyvale
Stanford Law School
Location: Stanford, CA
Website: https://law.stanford.edu
Admissions Email: admissions@law.standford.edu
University of California – Berkeley School of Law
Location: Berkeley, CA
Website: https://www.law.berkeley.edu
Admissions Email: admissions@law.berkeley.edu
University of California – Davis School of Law
Location: Davis, CA
Website: https://law.ucdavis.edu
Admissions Email: admissions@law.ucdavis.edu
University of San Francisco School of Law
Location: San Francisco, CA
Website: https://www.usfca.edu/law
Admissions Email: lawadmissions@usfca.edu
Santa Clara University School of Law
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Website: http://info.law.scu.edu
Admissions Email: lawadmissions@scu.edu
Interested in going to the best law school near Sunnyvale? See the best law schools in California.