You’re Not Failing the LSAT - You’re Just Studying Wrong

In this Success Unlocked episode, Dr. Adrienne Shnier sits down with Osgoode Hall JD/MBA student and Apply Yourself LSAT Coach Syed Reza for a refreshingly real and inspiring convo on what it actually takes to crush the LSAT, navigate law school admissions, and build the mindset that turns stress into strategy.

From outdoor classes at York University to coaching future law students, Syed shares how his non-linear path, his boxing background, and his passion for growth helped him flip the script on self-doubt and impostor syndrome.

Together, Adrienne and Syed unpack how to use discomfort for growth, how not to burn out with test prep, and why believing you are enough is the most underrated strategy of all. This episode is your masterclass in planning, persistence, and power moves.

 What You’ll Learn:

• Why LSAT prep is more like athletic training than you think
• The #1 mistake students make when studying (and what to do instead)
• How mindset, habits, and consistency carry your score further than you realize
• Why different resources work for different learners - and that’s a good thing
• How to avoid burnout and study smarter (not longer)
• What Syed wishes he knew before his first sitting
• Why coaching isn’t a luxury - it’s a strategy
• How to treat your prep like a fight camp (seriously—it works)

Episode Chapters:
0:00 – Meet Syed Reza: From Student to Coach
1:47 – JD/MBA Decisions and Life at Osgoode
2:52 – Why Syed Chose AYG (and What He Wishes He Had Sooner)
5:42 – The Start of the LSAT Journey: It Wasn’t Linear
8:59 – Ditch the Perfectionism: Study What Works for YOU
11:33 – You Can’t Learn Everything—But You Can Learn What Matters
13:20 – Failures, Frustrations, and Nonlinear Growth
16:42 – Enjoying the Prep (Yes, Really)
19:28 – Why LSAT Skills Stay With You
21:59 – You Don’t Need to Do This Alone: Coaches Matter
28:31 – Productivity > Panic: Study Smarter
30:26 – You’re Not Just Studying. You’re Becoming
31:40 – The Boxing Analogy: Train Like an Athlete
38:47 – Fake the Fascination
41:36 – Syed’s Biggest Tip: Tackle What’s Right in Front of You
46:00 – From Future Self to Present You: You Are Enough

Tune in now to hear how Syed trained his brain, found his rhythm and got into one of the country’s top law schools - with his passion, purpose, and posture intact.

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Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

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Work with Adrienne

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