In 1938, founder Flora Mae Statler named this new Arizona city "Surprise" because she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much." She was mostly right until the early 2000s, when Surprise had a huge population boom. It is a city that is still growing thanks to the number of retirees who move here to live at Sun City Grand, an age-restricted retirement community. Because of the proximity to Phoenix and Scottsdale plus the average cost of living, Surprise is an attractive town for a young person looking to start a career. Those looking to have a career in law might find it very attractive: the average salary for a lawyer in Surprise is roughly $75,000 per year.
Students looking to stay close to Surprise have a great option in the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University. It is known for being one of the top law schools in the country, consistently ranking in the top 25. Because of this, it is a very competitive school to get into. Each year, the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law only accepts about 35% of applicants. Students who apply here will be expected to have an academic background that exhibits strong performance.
That alone won't get you into one of the better schools in the country, though. Students will also need to do very well on the law school admission test, also known as the LSAT. The difficulty of this exam is well known, as is the stress that most of the students feel going into it. Some even go as far as to say that it is impossible. This isn't true, but to make sure you go into your exam date with confidence, you'll need to do plenty of studying and develop a strong strategy. To do this, you are going to need an LSAT prep course.
Finding the right LSAT prep course is not as easy as it may seem. You can't just log into the internet and pick one, you'll want to do some research to make sure that it is the right type of LSAT prep course for you. This makes the search more difficult, especially when you consider how many different types of LSAT prep courses that are out there, but it is much better to be thorough so you can put yourself in the best position to succeed.
When you consider how important the LSAT is in regards to your academic and eventually professional career, it follows that this will be maybe the most consequential test prep you have ever done. There is a lot to consider when choosing an LSAT prep course. How do you know which one is right for you?
In this article, we will go over some of those very important considerations you will be faced with when choosing an LSAT prep course. With the information provided in this article, you should be able to more easily make a decision about which LSAT prep course is the right LSAT prep course for you. Before we dive into specifics, there are some things that we think are necessities for any LSAT prep course. Those things are:
- Actual 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
There will be a lot to consider when you are choosing your LSAT prep course. One of the first things you should be thinking about, and arguably the most important, is where you will be taking your LSAT prep. Considering the amount of time you will be spending studying for the LSAT, you want to make sure you are at a venue where you are physically comfortable and able to focus. You will also want to make sure that you are fully committed to the LSAT prep course you sign up for.
The two most popular location options are in-person LSAT prep courses and online LSAT prep courses. Both have the same goal of getting you as ready as possible for the LSAT but get there in very different ways. Traditional thinking might put more faith in in-person LSAT prep, but with modern technology, online LSAT prep is every bit as effective. So, why choose one over the other? Let's take a look.
In-person courses will be ideal for students who thrive in a classroom setting. You'll be placed with a group of peers who are all studying towards the same goal. This is a great built-in support system, as each student will have their own unique strengths while learning from the strengths of other students. Class sizes are kept small, typically 12 or fewer, so that each student has ample access to the instructor. LSAT prep instructors are hired for a variety of reasons, but each one of them has some form of expertise on the LSAT. Those curious about the hiring practices of any particular course can often find the information included in the course details on the course's website.
Once outside of the classroom, you will receive extra learning in the form of video lessons. These lessons are sometimes only available for the duration of the course. Courses typically run for 6-8 weeks, meeting once or twice a week during that time. Because of this, the scheduling for in-person LSAT prep courses is inflexible at best. You will want to make sure you can fully commit to the full 6-8 weeks before signing up. This isn't the only downside of in-person LSAT prep: these courses can be incredibly expensive. Sometimes prohibitively so.
Online courses will be great for students who need flexibility in their scheduling. These courses are most commonly taught via video lessons, which gives the student the ability to complete them anywhere they want at any time that they want. This is especially good for students who may be in the middle of a career change and have to juggle the stress of studying the LSAT while keeping a part or full-time job. While you won't have the built-in support of a group of peers or face to face interactions with instructors, you'll still receive an ample amount of resources and plenty of support via email. Some courses even offer 24-hour email support for those who like to study during odd times of the day.
The flexibility is also great for those who like to learn at their own pace. With online LSAT prep courses, you never have to worry about falling behind the class or getting too far ahead. The flexibility isn't the only perk: online courses cost only a fraction of what in-person LSAT prep courses cost. When you consider the scheduling flexibility and the price, it is easy to see why online courses are becoming more popular year after year.
Whether you choose in-person or online, you will want to make sure that your course offers practice exams. These exams are the best way to see how you stand up against the daunting LSAT before your exam date. You will be able to see what areas give you the most trouble all while being able to develop an effective strategy for navigating the test. These practice exams will also give you an authentic look into what taking the LSAT will be like because they are actual LSATs from previous years. These will be administered differently depending on the course. Some courses will only offer three or four at strategic points throughout the course, while others will give you as many as you would like to take, whenever you would like to take them.
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 Surprise
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
TestMasters Online LSAT Prep Course
https://www.testmasters.net/online-lsat-course
The TestMasters Online LSAT Prep Course gives you a chance to watch live training courses for up to 100 days before your LSAT is administered. Available for a moderate price, this course is taught by Robin Singh who holds the record for the most perfect LSAT scores. TestMasters uses a large selection of real questions from previous LSAT exams in its curriculum. Rather than creating on-demand video lessons exclusively for the online course, the TestMasters Prep Course features recorded videos from previous live classes. While the information is good, this lack of interactivity makes you feel more like a fly on the wall of a prep course rather than an active participant.
Pros:
- 160+ hours of recorded classroom training
- Uses real LSAT questions
Cons:
- More expensive than most LSAT prep courses
- Taught by an instructor who was a “natural” at the LSAT, so it can be hard to relate for those of us who need extra help
Kaplan Live Online LSAT Training
https://www.kaptest.com/lsat/courses/lsat-prep-live-online
Delivered over the course of eight live classes, the Kaplan Live Online LSAT Training also includes two live, proctored LSAT practice exams. While the Kaplan instructors have good reviews, this 32-hour course is more expensive than many alternatives offering 100+ hours of video training. Kaplan also allows students to purchase three additional hours of one-on-one training by upgrading to the Live Online PLUS plan. One drawback to the format of the Kaplan Live LSAT training is that it’s not very flexible: you must attend classes during specific times, or attend a make-up session later.
Pros:
- Access to 80+ real LSAT tests
- Includes LSAT lesson books
Cons:
- One of the most expensive online LSAT courses
- Must attend live classes during scheduled times
- Only 32 hours of video training included
Best In-Person LSAT Prep Courses in Surprise
Manhattan Review
Address-Manhattan Review GMAT GRE LSAT Prep, Scottsdale Teaching Center at the Garden Inn, 7324 East Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone Number-(480) 478-1309
Link-https://www.manhattanreview.com/scottsdale-lsat-prep-courses/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Review teaches each individual student to their own strengths. To find out how students learn best, Manhattan Review conducts evaluations before and during the duration of a course. This extra attention to detail may make teaching the LSAT a bit more difficult, which is why Manhattan Review only hires instructors who have scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT. Manhattan Review is located 45 minutes east of Surprise, in Scottsdale.
TestMasters
Address-Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and Conference Center, 60 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone Number-(480) 894-1400
Link-https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/arizona-scottsdale
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters makes sure that students have all the time they need to get fully prepared for the LSAT. To do this, they offer 60 hours of classroom time and an additional 100 hours of video lessons to be completed away from class. Instructors who scored in the 98th percentile or better on the LSAT teach a curriculum that was developed by one of the world's leading experts on the LSAT, Robin Singh. TestMasters is located 30 minutes east of Surprise, in Phoenix.
Manhattan Elite Prep
Address-Embassy Suites Phoenix – Airport at 24th St, 2333 East Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone Number-(602) 325-5282
Link-https://www.manhattaneliteprep.com/lsat-phoenix-prep-course-class/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Elite Prep was designed with the busy student in mind. Perfect for someone who can't commit to a full 6-8 week course, Manhattan Elite Prep offers both week-long and weekend crash courses on the LSAT. The abbreviated amount of time to teach the LSAT comes with its challenges, which is why MEP hires only the best instructors. Manhattan Elite Prep is also located in Phoenix.
The Best Law Schools Near Surprise
- Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University
- The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Interested in going to the best law school near Surprise? Check out the best law schools in Arizona.
