Admissions Books

this book basically has nothing you cant find online, get a better book that tells you more about the college itself, like college prowler, and then look up the film program information online

Unfortunately, I bought this book from a bookstore prior to reading these reviews. If I had, I definitely would not have bought it. The strategies themselves are okay (although some seem very time consuming for use on the actual LSAT), but the errors in this book made it nearly impossible to learn anything. I noticed a few errors in the "Formal Logic" section but thought I must have done something wrong. By the time I got to the "Sequencing" section, I realized it wasn't me. It was the book! The writers frequently confuse "before and after" statements with "immediately before and after" causing me to get a lot of problems wrong that were actually right. I also found it annoying that they use "None of the Above" as an answer choice since I have never encountered this on an actual LSAT. I'm taking this book back today and getting a different one.

The point of the book is to help you get a higher score on the LSAT. Typos may kill anal people. But the typos are insignificant if you understand what they are teaching you. For example putting a / through a variable when you don't need to. But the methods are better than even powerscore.

They teach you diagram every type of game. Powerscore uses too many words in their explanations.

This book is more for visual learners. I knew by studying the powerscore bibles that you have to link combined variables. But they never teach you how to do it in complex problems.

The book is created by harvard students. So they are not using official LSAT questions. But they teach you how to get better doing the problems.

This book is so comprehensively lame it defies description. I believe the study of logic is an important and often overlooked area of study. It is relevant in math, science, languages, music, and in the support of an argument; it helps to understand the difference between a matter of opinion and a matter of fact. I bought this book to use in homeschooling my two sons, ages 8 and 10. My 8 year old found mistakes in the first chapter. I proceeded to find one mistake after another.

If you have no experience in these types of problems, this book will be a huge disservice. Forget the $20 or so you've spent. An aspiring law student (or any student) will waste valuable time and energy trusting that McGraw-Hill, Harvard law grads and students, and the proofing corp will have vetted any errors. With all these filters, the answers must be right, right? WRONG. I dare any of these "CURVEBREAKERS" (the anonymous team name of the authors) to take individual credit for this miscarriage of justice.

I have never seen such a poorly edited book in my life and I am not talking about grammer, spelling, etc. This is supposed to be a book teaching you how to conquer logic games but the book has so many logic flaws you have to second guess every answer string.

If you can get past the editing and are willing to check their answers then this book does have some good qualities. It is fairly well laid out and did help me develop a strategy for completing each type of game (although not exactly like theirs). It also has a large number of games which was usefull.

If a friend has the book then borrow it from them. Otherwise wait for the 3rd edition, the editor is promising a lot of the errors to be fixed.

As clearly asserted by others, this text is full of errors including explanations that employ flawed reasoning which leads them to provide/justify incorrect answers. The most frequent errors of this kind were related to "could (not) be true"/conditional questions where the writer(s) confuses this condition. This is highly problematic if you rely solely on the book to determine whether you arrive at the correct answer. HOWEVER, if you have time, it is marvelous for refining your higher level logic game skills. When the book indicates that you have selected a wrong answer, the fun is only beginning. You can then work to determine who TRULY made the error... It's like a book full of trick questions!!! Enjoy!

Everything said in the other reviews are true. Strangely, however, relying on this weird book with bizarre answer keys and mysterious questions, I still managed to get from scoring 155 to breaking 170 on practice tests.

To be honest, I have no idea why it was so helpful, but it was. So if you're looking to get a variety of books (which I would definitely recommend... the fact is, none of these companies really capture the essence of the true LSAT, and the LSAC official books are basically just a collection of tests), it can't hurt to make this one of them.

The questions on this book hardly resemble what are tested on the LSAT. Many of them are poorly written. This book is no substitute for other excellent guides out there and certainly not for the actual PrepTests. However, this book contains so many questions compare to other test prep materials so if you need reading and game practice, you get tons. I think this book contains nearly 3 times more questions than similarly priced books. A good value.

I bought this book because it was the only one on the shelf and I thought,what could be the difference between this and Kaplan and Prin. Review? Wow was I wrong. This is awful. I was getting nearly half of the LR, half of the AR and half of the RC sections wrong. EVERY TIME! I didn't know what I was doing wrong...Then I read the reviews.

This book, in no way, indicates how well you will do on the test. If you own a copy of this, burn it, like I did. Buy anything from Powerscore instead. I burnt this book (literally) and did some practice LSATS. I scored 6 more correct on nearly every section. EVERY ONE!

It's tough studying for the LSAT. It can drain your confidence. This book makes you think you're not a smart person and you'll never get into a law school. It's not true. You'll do fine, but toss this book. NOW!

I can't speak for the people below, but my experience with this book was nothing but good. My friends were all spending a couple thousand dollars on LSAT prep courses; I bought this book, followed the 5-week study guide, felt confident and prepared on the testing day, and ended up getting a perfect score-- 180. Yes, the practice tests are harder than the actual LSAT-- I scored between 165-175 on most-- but my opinion is that it's better to be pleasantly surprised with the actual LSAT than unprepared.

The book does a great job of familiarizing you with the test (I knew nothing about it before this book) and even tells you things about LSAC like how to get a free actual past LSAT from them and other helpful information. The best thing it did for me was, with all its practice questions, help me identify what I needed to work on and give me a plan for fixing them. And, contrary to what another reviewer says, this book DOES NOT encourage you to bring outside knowledge to the questions-- answering within the context of the question only is one of the hardest things about the LSAT, and this book more than prepared me for it.

If you need serious, intensive test prep and have a few hundred-thousand dollars you're willing to pay for it, take a course. Otherwise, this is one of the best books out there if you're willing to put the work in. I can't guarantee anything, but this book really did help me earn that 180.

I had been getting continually higher scores on every practice test I was taking in the Princeton Review book (which is excellent, by the way) and on actual practice LSATs (scoring around a 170). Before diving into the Barron's book, I took a practice test in the back and did surprisingly badly. I couldn't understand what happened. Then I read the answers and the reasoning behind them. Here's the problem: they expect you to pick the answer that makes the most sense based on information you ALREADY possess about the world, NOT on information provided in the exam. That is a recipe for disaster, as that is precisely what you should NEVER do on the LSAT. Barron's also thinks that answers that make the most sense logically, regardless of their relevance to arguments given on the exam, are the most correct. This is ridiculous. Trusting the answers in this book will teach you bad habits that will lower your score and prevent you from being admitted to the law school of your choice. If you want to do well, take real tests from LSAC or read the Princeton Review book. Frankly, doing nothing at all would probably get you a better score than reading and trusting the Barron's book.

I am not a law student, and I don't think I will be with this book. Maybe I should say that I am not pre-law. I have no prior understanding of law, except what I've seen on TV, which is totally accurate, I'm sure. If you're like me and you have no knowledge of law, you might want to get the Princeton Review book, instead.
I went to my library and started reading it and found it much more helpful. This book reads like a computer manual. I will use it for the practice tests that come with it, but I think for advice on the LSAT I will go back to my library and study the Princeton Review one. And no, I don't work for them, in case that's what you're thinking.
If you are good at reading computer manuals or law jargon, then this book should be great for you!

Horrible Horrible! If you want to fail the LSAT BUY THIS BOOK! The practice tests have so many incorrect answers I doubt very much that the author could get into an accredited law school.

I should have checked this area before I bought the book... tsk, tsk..

Although you can use the tests to practice, I found that I was spending an enormous amount of time trying to understand why my answers were wrong. My conclusion was that the book actually contained MANY wrong answers! Since the author does not provide explanations, you can't understand the rationale in the (mostly wrong) answers! You will not find any advice particularly useful. I found "Cracking the LSAT" a much superior, worthwhile book!

I took the LSAT in October 2002 and used this book, Kaplan's LSAT 180 and a few old exams provided by LSAC.

I disagree with the negative reviews that this book has received. I used this as my core study aid in preparing for the LSAT and was happy with my result. I think the author does a good job of preparing you for the test by explaining how the test is structured, why it's structured the way it is and then providing advice on how to approach the problems in each section.

In theory, you do not need any other book to prepare for the LSAT, but I did have one issue with this book that led me to supplement it with LSAT 180 - the sample exams and questions. I struggled with some of the questions in this book and did not score very well on the sample exams, initially. What frustrated me was the lack of explanations for why certain answers were right or wrong so that I could better understand my mistakes.

I purchased LSAT 180 because it is filled with difficult LSAT questions and accompanying detailed explanations that break the questions down. It served as an excellent supplement to this book because I could apply the techniques learned in LSAT Success to the questions in LSAT 180 and then understand why I answered a question correctly or incorrectly.

Bottom line: This is a much better book than for what other reviewers give it credit. My advice would be to do what I did: Buy this book, LSAT 180 and some old exams. If you apply yourself for a month or so in using these tools and taking a few practice exams, you'll be in good shape.

this is quite possibly the least insightful book ever written. i have learned more worthwhile information about the LSAT from reading candy wrappers. the most maddening part of the book is that the answers to their practice tests are ridiculous. i don't know what those weasels at peterson's were drinking when they wrote this piece of garbage, but one would be better served to spend their $16.95 on a back alley lobotomy. unless you are hoping to score a 120 on the lsat, buy some other book. ANY OTHER BOOK! writing such trash should be a crime.

This LSAT book flat sucks. Their practice tests are not actual LSAT questions. They are just bunk they came up with that looks like LSAT questions. Beware the difference. You will waste time studying for questions you will never see and trying to comprehend flawed and debatable questions. Stick with real LSAT questions and save yourself the money. I went from scoring 90% on real LSAT's to 65% out of this book. I'm never buying anything from McGraw Hill again!

I agree with the other reviewers' comments. This book is fraught with incorrect answers. The explanations are very unclear. I don't feel more prepared for the LSAT after going through the book than I did when I started.

Trust me even though I am an idiot who bought the book without glancing at the reviews or rating. This book is counter productive! The assessment that about 1 in 10 of the questions is fundamentally wrong is probably about the real rate, if not an understatement. I spent hours a day for a week drudging through the errors in this book only to find out the items that happened not to be flat out wrong don't really look much like the real LSAT anyway.

And sure there is an errata sheet online but that doesn't help at all with the tests the poorly navigable CD includes.

On top of that, the claims of free online help from LSAT coaches could be considered out right fraud and I wish the publisher was held accountable for these things.

We are not over exaggerating. THIS BOOK SUCKS.

Never again will I trust something just because it has a name I recognize (In this case McGraw Hill).

Aside from the errors the other reviewers mention, on the cover and in the introduction it states that you get free online help and additional practice on the curvebreakers website. Wrong. The only free option on the website is a discussion board. I attempted to ask a question about a problem in the book and I was told that I needed to pay for private tutoring. Do yourself a favor, and just buy the books from LSAC or Kaplan.

Talk about bad...OK, others have said it, but I'll elaborate. Roughly 10 percent of the answers to the questions and examples in this guide are completely and obviously incorrect. Not in the way of, "Well, if you think about it, this answer is a bit more appropriate," but in the way of, "This is the exact opposite of what they're asking." There are very important words such as "not" or "is" completely removed, and numbers and constraints wholly changed when explanation times come around. Considering this is a thirty dollar book, with less than 100 pages of actual study aid, this is complete and utter b.s.

It's especially frustrating when you come across one of these errors (and you will, like me, in the first few minutes of reading the guide) because part of preparing for this test is learning to build momentum and self-confidence, both of which are shattered when you are repeatedly told you are wrong for choosing the obviously correct answer. You lose momentum, because the time you could spend moving forward is spent wondering how you could have messed up (you didn't), and you lose confidence because it makes you question your judgment on things you shouldn't waste your time on. And if you take these mistakes as accurate, it will totally mess you up when it comes time to take the test.

If you choose to get this book, please don't mark it up. You'll want to return it. And don't remove the CD. It only has two practice tests; the other six are the same as the paper ones in the book.

I wonder how so much error is possible. Then I remember that all my McGraw Hill textbooks in high school had the same problems. This isn't an isolated incident. This is McGraw Hill's laziness. There is no excuse for a lack of proofreading or accuracy in teaching materials. Let us make our own mistakes. Don't force us to make unnecessary ones.

I worked through the 6 biological sections and found multiple mistakes. Eventhough my copy is from 96, they still haven't changed the test format in the 2000 revision. In fact all of the incorrect answers are still in the new book.

A few caveats; 1. the review sections aren't the worst. I read through them for a general level of understanding. For any in depth information refer to a textbook. 2. The physical science section is difficult. However, if you can work through the tests it will help. 3. I bought my dated version for 10% of the listed cost and it is exactly the same as the 2000 version.

I worked through the 6 biological sections and found multiple mistakes. Eventhough my copy is from 96, they still haven't changed the test format in the 2000 revision. In fact all of the incorrect answers are still in the new book.

A few caveats; 1. the review sections aren't the worst. I read through them for a general level of understanding. For any in depth information refer to a textbook. 2. The physical science section is difficult. However, if you can work through the tests it will help..

Although this book does have six full exams as promised, they are not in proper mcat format and do not match the difficulty level of the real exam. It is an O.K. book if you want to reinforce the basics, but your performance on these exams would be a poor indicator on how you would do on the actual test.

this is a really terrible book! The verbal section has only 7 passages. It really messes your timing up when you are really taking the test. Plus, the questions are a joke. The physical sciences and bio. sections are filled with errors, which required way too many calculations in a timed test. The mcat is about timing, strategy, and intelligence. This text fails at two out of these three criteria. The latter is due inheritance. And the editor claims that this text is up-to-date(Actual Publishing date is 1991).

This book features six "mcat-like" exams that are anything but "mcat-like". This is especially true for the sciences, notably the physical science sections. Quite simply, the exams ask you to do way too much calculating (with numbers that are next to impossible to handle without a calculator) and the real tests aren't like that. You can't do all that math (which you won't have to on the real thing) and keep your pace up. Don't bother with it.

This book gives you wrong information about the GMAT. The book claims that each section is scored out of 60 points (it's actually out of 51). Also, the book's practice math questions cover such topics as calculating standard deviation, finding the area of a parallelogram, and analyzing data sets - none of which are actually on the GMAT.

I am surprised to read all these negative reviews. I own Master the Gmat, the Official Guide 11th edition, and the Kaplan 800. And let me tell you something: none of them give you a comprehensive review of all the aspects tested by the GMAT.

Master the GMAT's verbal section is weak but it has by far the best explanations on geometry and coordinate planes, giving you formulas that I have not found anywhere else (like the formula to calculate the area of a rhombus). Also the lesson about exponents is one of the best I have seen and the math exercises are very realistic and similar to the ones you'll encounter in the real test. I have taken it twice so I know what I am talking about.

I bought this book in a hurry at a local store, since I remembered good things about a different Arco prep book - what a mistake. It doesn't seem like the writers spent too much time putting this together. Lots of copying and pasting of instructions; annoying formatting/structure; sometimes questionable explanations to example questions.

In short - I'm going to purchase another guidebook today. Don't waste your time/money on this one!

I got the book a few days before my exam because I wanted more practice. The material in the book is early beginner level. If you rely on this as a primary guide, you're in for a rude awakening on test day. More importantly, the testing software leaves a lot to be desired. Besides being buggy, there are problems with the material as well. Some questions are vague, incorrect and at least one was simply wrong. The level of the questions in the quant section is low and unrealistic. I believe that the same software is packaged with the Peterson guide as well (same publisher) and I looked at that guide too.
You could apply any of the reviews written for this book to that book as well.
In short, save your money and time. Go elsewhere.

2 out of the first 20 practice questions (quantitative section) are wrong. I don't feel like using it any further, as the remaining questions are ambiguous.

Glad that I borrowed the book from a library and did waste my money.

This book was OK, although I wish the answers were explained for you. I used this and the book "Registry Review in Computed Tomography" by Daniel N. DeMaio to study and I passed my CT exam the first try after not having taken a test of that nature in 30 years!

Received in a timely fashion in mint condition. Full of great learning material.

THIS BOOK HAD MANY ERRORS AND NOT WORTH THE MONEY I PAID FOR IT. ACTUALLY THREW IT AWAY! THERE ARE MANY OTHER BOOKS OUT THERE THAT ARE BETTER AND SOME EVEN LESS EXPENSIVE WITH ACCURATE INFO!

don't spend your money on this book was no help in preparing for CT registry

I bought several books to study for the MCAT, including this one. I didn't even touch this one. It provides superfluous information that you don't even need on the MCAT and the practice exams do not the reflect the questions from the actual test.

This book is kindda pointless. It goes WAY into detail.. they cover things that seriously WON'T be covered on the mcat. I do NOT recommend this book whate-so-ever. There is no focus.

I barely even use this book as a resource. Lots of detail, not very useful in preparing you for the MCAT

The biology goes into a lot of details -- which is great -- but also not-so-great if you are trying to learn. It is like they expect you to know your stuff before you start reviewing. Hence, it could work on a better presentation.

I purchased the two verbal books produced by mgmat. The company boasts about going beyond mere gimmicks and teaching a concrete basis for best test results. While the sentence correction is unbelievably lucid and thorough, the reading comp/critical reasoning is the polar opposite. It is nothing more than a fragmented regurgitation of the princeton review's far superior attempt at teaching rc/cr. Avoid this manual, but do pickup the mgmat sentence correction guide.

Caution: this book does not provide examples. Almost seems as though they try to make studying difficult and cumbersome. Was of no help seeing as I was already in posession of a Kaplan review.

In general do not buy any of the seven series of books offered from MANHATTAN... they are not worth the buck.There is too much hype associated and it does not deliver to its expectations Tips in this book are outdated as can be seen from the other reviews as well. Save money and save time.

While I appreciate the clearly outlined strategies for Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, in the end they just weren't practical enough. For example, when I tried making notes of the Critical Reasoning questions, it took way too long. I was much better off reading the argument once and then eliminating as many irrelevant answer choices as possible. When I narrowed my choices down to 2 or 3, I would re-read the argument and choose the best answer. I found this tactic to be much more effective and used it to practice lots of Critical Reasoning questions from the 11th edition of the Official Guide. In the same vein, the GMAT Prep's suggestion to make rather detailed notes was not practical enough for me; it took too much of my time. Some of the tips were useful though - I paid close attention to the first paragraph and found that the main point of the passage is usually in the first paragraph. For an excellent GMAT Prep guide, purchase the Sentence Completion book. It's great.