Moreno Valley is a relatively new city that is experiencing fast growth. It is far away enough from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to truly feel removed from it, but close enough to everything that one would never get bored. This can be especially appealing for law school hopefuls, who would prefer to spend their time during the week being able to quietly study, while also being able to take in the city atmosphere that is so near. It’s not just the city that is near. In Moreno Valley, everything is just about an hour away.
Those who want to spend a relaxing day on the beach can do so, or if mountains are preferable, they are well within grasp. The Moreno Valley mall is great for a day of shopping and quick meals, while the diverse mix of restaurants scattered about the city. There are plenty of museums from the Western Science Center to the Orange Empire Railway Museum.
Those looking to study law will find a wealth of options right near Moreno Valley. It’s no wonder this city is growing so fast. Currently, it is the second-largest city in Riverside County. The cost of living in Moreno Valley is attractive as well, as it is 17% less expensive to live here than the California average. Practicing law in Moreno Valley can pay off; the average salary of a lawyer in Moreno Valley is right around $100,000.
Moreno Valley was the home to California Southern Law School, and even though the school has permanently shut down, there are still so many options in Southern California for law school hopefuls. The concentration of great law schools is truly unique, but that doesn’t mean that getting into any of them is easy. To gain admission to law school, hopefuls will need to have a background of academic excellence.
That alone won’t get you in, though. To have the best chance of getting into any Southern California law school, you will need to perform above average on the law school admission test, known as the LSAT. The LSAT is known for being one of the hardest tests that a student can take. It is also known for the stress that it can cause. This has been the case for decades, but with the right preparation, students can go into the LSAT with a plan and with nerves intact.
To do this, an LSAT prep course is highly recommended. Finding an LSAT prep course can be daunting in its own right. There are so many options available, and so many different types of courses. Considering how stressful the prospect of taking the LSAT is, knowing where to even begin looking for an LSAT prep course can be overwhelming. In this article, we will go over some of the things that you should be looking for in an LSAT prep course. With the information provided, you should be able to more confidently make a decision about which LSAT prep course is right for you. To this point in your academic career, this is the most important test you will have taken, so it makes sense that this is the most important test prep you will have done. Before we go into specifics, there are certain things that should be included in every LSAT prep course. 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
There are going to be a lot of factors to consider when you are making your decision as to which LSAT prep course to choose. One of the first things you should consider is the location of where you will be doing your LSAT prep work. Considering the amount of time that should be spent on this work, you will want to make sure that you can not only commit to the location but are comfortable there as well.
The typical idea of an LSAT prep course places a student in a classroom with an instructor and a group of peers, but with modern technology, online courses have gained quite a bit of popularity. This is for good reasons, as they are now able to offer the same amount of resources and support that in-person LSAT prep courses can. So, why choose one over the other? Let’s take a look.
In-person LSAT prep courses take place in a class with a group of peers and an instructor. There are several advantages to this. Having a group of peers present with you offers a built-in study group and support system. Being able to get feedback and face to face interactions with your instructor is also crucial. Plus, in a classroom, you don’t have the same distractions you might face at home or a coffee shop.
Most of these courses have specific guidelines for who can be hired as an instructor, and will make those guidelines available on their website. Class sizes are generally kept to a minimum to ensure a good mix of a classroom feel while still having plenty of access to the instructor. Most in-person courses offer support outside of the classroom, most commonly in the form of instructional videos. Typically these courses run in sessions of two months, and meet once or twice a week during that time.
This leads us to some of the downsides of in-person LSAT prep courses. If you are going to sign up for one, make sure you are committed to it, because they will take up a lot of your time and have rigid scheduling. They are also very expensive.
For those who prefer flexibility, online LSAT prep courses are the way to go. These courses are typically taught through video lessons. While you don’t get the same face to face interaction with an instructor, these courses do offer support in the way of email correspondence. Some even offer 24/7 email help. Because these courses are taught via video lessons, they can be taken whenever and wherever you would like. This is ideal for those who already have busy schedules.
Another reason to take an online LSAT prep course is that you get to learn everything at your own pace without ever worrying if you are falling behind the rest of the class, or getting bored because you are so far ahead. Not only are these courses a lot more flexible than in-person LSAT prep courses, but they are also much more affordable. Online LSAT prep courses cost only a fraction of what in-person LSAT prep courses cost. With all that considered, it is hard to make a case for in-person LSAT prep as the superior way to go.
Whether you choose in-person or online LSAT prep, you want to make sure that your course offers practice exams. These exams are the best way to see where you stack up against the towering LSAT. You’ll be able to pinpoint your trouble areas all while getting a feel for how taking the actual LSAT is going to go. That’s because the practice exams are actual LSATs from years prior. Courses vary how they administer practice exams, for example, some courses give out only a few at specific points during the course, while others will give out an unlimited stack to be taken whenever you feel like it.
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 Prep Courses in Moreno Valley
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
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
Best In-Person Prep Courses in Moreno Valley
University of California Riverside LSAT Prep:
Address: 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521
Phone Number: (951)827-1012
Link: https://arc.ucr.edu/gep
Why they are a good choice
When prepping for the LSAT, why not go straight to the source? UC Riverside offers an LSAT prep course that either meets for four weeks for four days a week, or eight weeks for two days a week. All the course materials are included, though there is extra reading that the staff of UC Riverside recommends that is not included. UC Riverside is located less than 10 minutes away from downtown Moreno Valley.
TestMasters:
Address: UC Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521
Phone Number: (800)696-5728
Link: https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Courses/california-san-bernardino
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters wants to make sure that you have everything that you need for your LSAT test prep. They start by giving you 60 hours of classroom time and top it off with an extra 100 hours of video instruction when you get home. All instructors for TestMasters have scored in the 98th percentile or higher of the LSAT. TestMasters also gives you access to every LSAT question released since 1991. TestMasters in Riverside is located at the UC Riverside campus, only 10 minutes away from Moreno Valley.
Manhattan Elite Prep:
Address: UC Irvine Science Library, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92623
Phone Number: (800) 858-0152
Link: https://www.manhattaneliteprep.com/lsat-irvine-prep-course-class/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Elite Prep (MEP) was designed with the busy adult in mind. These classes are best for those who are looking to make a career change while still working, or are seeking a career in law while raising a family. MEP is aware of how difficult it is to teach the LSAT when you have all the time in the world, so to effectively teach it in a timely manner they only hire the most qualified instructors. Manhattan Elite Prep in Irvine meets just outside of the University Town Center, next to the William R. Mason Regional Park.
The Best Law Schools Near Moreno Valley
- Gould School of Law at USC
- University of California – Irvine Law School
- Loyola Law School
- Fowler School of Law at Chapman University
- Western State College of Law
Interested in going to the best law school near Moreno Valley? See the best law schools in California.