By Danielle Wong
Princeton Review is coming to Ryerson, but the Law Society can help you out for free.
The American company will be offering a $1,500 Law School Admission Test (LSAT) preparation course to students.
Meanwhile, the student group Law Society at Ryerson offers LSAT preparation free of charge, said co-president Rachel Barsky.
The group runs proctored practice tests, invites guest speakers and hosts forums to address students’ questions about getting into law school.
Barsky, a fourth-year journalism student, said she wouldn’t recommend signing up with Princeton Review.
“People weren’t happy with the material and the quality of the instructors,” she said.
Princeton will also be offering similar courses for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Roman Brailovskyi, an MBA student, took the month-long LSAT course.
“(My) instructor was less than useless,” he said. “He didn’t know the material and couldn’t answer the students’ questions.”
When his class complained, the company offered partial refunds or the course free of charge with a new instructor.
Still, Brailovskyi thought the course was worthwhile because it forced him to study.
“If you have the discipline to stick to the study schedule on your own, go for it,” he said. “But for me, that course was essential.”
Sonny Coelho, Princeton Review Canada’s director of marketing, said students should enroll for the structure of the courses and the classroom environment.
“Many students like to have a one-stop-shop when preparing (for tests),” he said.
Princeton Review also provides previous LSAT examinations as practice.
Tyn Sunthar, a fourth-year engineering student, says $1,500 would be too much for him. “But at the end of the day, you are investing in youself.”
It also depends on how much money he gets from bursaries and scholarships, he added.
However, you have to do your research for any company before taking their courses, he said.
“Everyone has a different response to the course,” Coelho said.
According to Coelho, Princeton Review instructors have to meet a minimum LSAT score of 165 out of 180 and have 35 hours of training.
For Brailovskyi, the course was a necessary expense.
“If you want to get into law school, you’d need to be prepared to pay the amount of money,” he said.
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