I did a much cheaper weekend class through Powerscore. It worked real well to give me a feel for the exam and what the tricks are. It also helps if you're short on time or attention span.
Beanie | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 2:07 pm | #

I didn't do one at all...I just walked in with two #2 pencils and took the test. I think it depends on what kind of test taker the person is, how nervous they are, and whether it will increase their confidence. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money.
energy spatula | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 2:15 pm | #

I used to teach for Kaplan, and there was nothing you could get from the live class that a focused student couldn't get from the company's test-prep books. I'd only do it if the student is a really strongly visual/auditory learner and generally has trouble picking things up from books.
Trevor | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 3:18 pm | #

There isn't a single thing I learned in my prep class that you couldn't get out of a test-prep book. Waste of $1000.
Antilles | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 4:35 pm | #

I took a class, and I would credit it as singularly responsible for my admission to the law school I attended. (169-->176) However, that is due to the fact that without bi-weekly classes and weekend practice tests, I would not have had the self-discipline to get myself to study regularly. I do, however, feel that something more than just practice tests is very, very useful; I genuinely learned from the curriculum.

I also have strong feelings on the utility of the various kinds of classes. I think that different brands are useful for different people, and it behooves you to take a practice test first and gauge your starting point, to wit:

155 or lower: Princeton Review or Kaplan
155+: Testmasters or Powerscore.

I believe that the latter brands are better for people who are already doing well, but want to max out their score, whereas the former are for people who are struggling but want to get into a decent range. I also think TM and PS may be, because of their relative complexity, of negative utility for lower scorers.

Finally, the Powerscore weekend course is a good alternative cost-wise, but does of course require a great deal of discipline. My own preference was to shell out the $1000, because the increase in course materials and class time vastly outstrips the increase in cost.

Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, I was a Powerscore instructor for many years, but I am no longer employed there and have no financial interest whatsoever in this advice.
Rousseau | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 5:02 pm | #

I have never been an instructor in anything, so, while I have no conflicts of interest, I also have no relevant or useful knowledge.

All I did to prepare for the LSAT was to read a bit of one of the books and take 2 practice games sections. But that's the way I've always rolled on standardized tests. I imagine that the class might best serve to calm a particularly nervous test taker down, which would no doubt lead to a more positive outcome. Assuming, of course, that going to law school is a "positive outcome."
Centinel | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 6:02 pm | #

I went through training to be a Princeton Review LSAT teacher, and my impression was that the only thing it could really help you for at the high end is games. At the low end I don't know and don't care.

The best preparation is to be born smart and then read a lot growing up.
Dylan | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 8:16 pm | #

There were games? Holy crap, did I block that out? Is that the code word for the logic problems? Amy, Billy, Corbin and Dave go to the beach....
energy spatula | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 10:30 pm | #

Yep, ES, they call 'em "games."

Bob went to the butcher with Carl, Dave and Ethyl. Carl eats only bologna, Bob is a vegetarian, and Dave and Ethyl are having an affair. What is the butcher's middle name?
Rousseau | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 10:36 pm | #

You can actually buy books with those games in them for fun.

I took a prep course, Kaplan. I did well and got into a good school. I also took a lot of practice tests and studied from my mistakes. I think it boils down to discipline really.
Melissa | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 10:48 pm | #

I did not take a prep course. I started by taking a timed practice test, cold, and decided I'd use that to determine if I wanted to take a prep course. I did well enough on every section but games that I prepped myself.

I'm not terribly disciplined, so I probably could have scored higher than I did if I had spent time with some of the other sections. But once I was maxing out games, I lost my impetus.

So, prep courses are good, I think, if you are consistently having difficulty with a coachable section (i.e., games). And they are good if you are having problems evenly across the whole test and don't think you can prep yourself.
kristine | Email | Homepage | 10.11.05 - 11:46 pm | #

I think that if you're not disciplined about studying or good at picking things up from books, you could use a prep course. I also think that if you're not good at these things, you won't do well in law school.
CM | Email | Homepage | 10.15.05 - 9:05 am | #