Appendix: The Long-Game Map
Find your situation on the left. Go straight to the move on the right. This is the page to open when you’re stuck or scared and need the next step, not the whole book.
“I don’t know where to start.” Run the diagnostic in chapter 3. Score your 4 moves, and your lowest one is your start. That’s the entire point of the audit: it finds your move so you don’t have to guess.
“My GPA is already low.” Chapter 4 (bend the trend up, and the Bad-Semester Reset) plus chapter 15 (the behind playbook). Your biggest lever now is the LSAT, not the past. Point there first.
“I bombed a semester.” Chapter 4, the Bad-Semester Reset. Check your drop and withdrawal dates this week, triage your classes, protect the trend, and document anything real while it’s fresh.
“I haven’t done anything yet, no experience.” Chapters 9 and 10. Climb the field-research ladder and send one get-in-the-room email this week. One real thing you start now beats a panic list later.
“I think I picked the wrong major.” Chapter 5. If you’re early, changing is cheap, run the grades-skills-interest test. If you’re late, add rigor or a skill-building minor and protect the trend instead of switching.
“I’m behind. I found this junior or senior year.” Chapter 15, then the timeline in chapter 13. Point everything at the LSAT, build one real record piece now, and seriously price out a gap year, which is often the strongest move when you’re behind.
“My parents are pushing law school (or pushing me away from it).” Chapter 2 for the advice detector, and chapter 11 for the honest numbers. Decide this on the math and your own read, not on anyone’s expectations, theirs or yours.
“I’m not sure I even want to be a lawyer.” Chapter 1 (the moves cost you nothing if you walk away) and chapter 11 (the honest read). Climb the field-research ladder in chapter 9 to test it cheaply before you commit anything.
“I’m scared of the debt. I’m not sure I can afford it.” Chapter 11 for the real numbers, chapter 12 for the money you can win back. The debt is a variable you set years early by building a strong position. Build it, then choose on net price.
“I’m overloaded and can’t add one more thing.” Chapters 5 and 13. The early Long Game is light, choices plus a weekly habit, and your big commitment may already be your record. Don’t add, aim what you’ve got.
“I think I’m in the wrong major.” Chapter 5. Run the three-part test. Early, switching is cheap. Late, add rigor or a minor and protect the trend instead.
“I’m prepping for the LSAT now / I’m about a year out.” You’ve graduated from this book’s job. Go to Anyone Can Beat the LSAT, and keep your completed Annual Long-Game Audit handy for when prep starts.
