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Blueprint's Guide to LSAT Test Centers

Fall 2019 Update: We’ve updated this ever-growing list of test center reviews to include test centers listed for the September, October, and November 2019 LSAT. We’ve also added Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, and Portland to the list of cities we’ve included. We believe this is the most comprehensive, easy-to-use LSAT test center review guide on the internet.

The LSAT is supposed to be the great equalizer for law school applicants. It’s tough for admissions officers to compare a mechanical engineering major at MIT with a 3.6 GPA to a communications major with a 4.2 GPA at Central Nowhere University. But everyone, allegedly, takes the same LSAT. So it’s theoretically fair to compare someone who got a 160 to someone who got a 152. The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) takes great care to “equate” each LSAT, to ensure that, for example, a 160 on one LSAT administration means the same thing as a 160 on a different LSAT administration. So everyone takes the same LSAT, no matter which administration you take or where you take the exam.

But we know that not everyone takes the same LSAT. There are certain factors, generally outside of LSAC’s control, that can affect your LSAT experience. Chief among these factors is the test center itself. Test sites vary significantly in the size of your desk, the noise in your room, the zeal of your proctors, and many other factors. Some locations will give you, if not a great experience, at least as good an experience as can reasonably be expected. Some locations will leave you frustrated, irate, or even apoplectic.

So we want to help you out. You’re working so hard to improve your LSAT score, it would be a shame to have that not be reflected in your actual LSAT score, just because you were forced to work at a tiny desk, or there was construction outside the building, or because the proctors couldn’t keep their mouths shut when they were supposed to. We’ve done some sleuthing, and we’ve found as much information as we could for the great American cities we’ve included in this post. Once you’ve registered for your LSAT, don’t forget about your prep! We pointed out which test center is near an LSAT class. If there’s isn’t a class near you, then Live Online LSAT prep is perfect!

We’ve also assigned a rating to each testing center. You can probably figure it out, but just in case, here’s the very complicated rating system we devised:

:) :) :) = Reports are uniformly positive; sign up ASAP, before this testing center fills up

:) = Reports are generally positive; you’ll probably have a fine time taking the LSAT here

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ = We don’t have enough information to make a recommendation, or the reviews are generally mixed

:( = Reports are generally negative, or there’s such a major drawback to this location that you should think twice before signing up here

:( :( :( = Reports are uniformly negative; don’t take the LSAT here unless you absolutely have to

Jump directly to the location of your choice using the following links:

Arizona: Phoenix

California: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pasadena, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco

Colorado: Denver

District of Columbia: Washington, D.C.

Florida: Miami

Georgia: Atlanta

Illinois: Chicago

Massachusetts: Boston

Michigan: Detroit

North Carolina: Charlotte

New York: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens

Ohio: Columbus

Oregon: Portland

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia

Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston

Washington: Seattle

ARIZONA

PHOENIX

Gateway Community College (Phoenix, Arizona)

Offered in: September 2010

Notes: The rooms are big — over a 100 per room — but it sounds like the proctors do a good job of keeping things quiet and orderly. You’ll have just enough room on your desk — you’ll be sharing the desk with two other test takers — but the chairs are comfortable. Blessedly, they keep the AC flowing to battle that AZ heat. The parking is free and nearby.

Rating: :)

Arizona Summit Law School (Phoenix, Arizona)

Notes: They’re weren’t kidding when they called this the Arizona Summit. They take you all the way up to the 17th and 18th floors of the building to take this exam. On the plus side, there won’t be any street noise. On the other hand, you’ll kind of be stuck up there for your break, so bring your own snack. Also, it sounds like they go hard with the AC, so bring a light sweater. There will be 25 students per room, the proctors will be way overqualified (admissions counselors and even the assistant dean have been known to proctor), and the chairs will be comfortable enough. You should be aware that you’ll be in downtown Phoenix, so finding the place and parking will be difficult. We recommend taking a practice run to the testing center before the exam.

Rating: :)

Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: One of the few large universities we can recommend. Instead of those tiny folding desks, you’ll get a long table and plenty of space. Instead of the typical, barely-padded, semi-torturous lecture hall chairs, the chairs are reportedly comfortable. Instead of the usual loud and raucous crowd, sounds like testing conditions are pretty quiet. Honestly, we’re a bit disappointed. We thought the Sun Devils partied harder than this. We expected impish co-eds to disrupt all corners of the campus, not leave a quiet and orderly testing center for aspiring lawyers. Reports indicate that parking is free on Saturdays at a few places on campus, so do some pre-exam research.

Rating: :)

Tempe Area Test Center (Tempe, Arizona)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: These “Area Test Centers” are sort of ad hoc sites LSAC will use from time to time. We don’t know what kind of test center this is … other than the fact that exists in some “Area.” As such, there aren’t any reviews for us to make a recommendation on. So you’re rolling the dice with this one — and we wish you good fortune.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Southwest College of Natropathic Medicine (Tempe, Arizona)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find much on this testing center. We did learn that there’s enough of a market for “natropathic” medicine in Tempe to support an entire college, for what that’s worth.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Marriott Phoenix Airport (Phoenix, Arizona)

Notes: This is a new test center for the brand new July 2018 LSAT, but will stick to our old disclaimer about hotels: they’re risky. While hotels are pretty good at providing desk space, they can be really bad at keeping things quiet for test takers.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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CALIFORNIA

BERKELEY

Blueprint Berkeley LSAT Classroom Course

Berkeley City College (Berkeley, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The reports are positive for the test center known colloquially as BCC. But you should be aware that the entrance can be a bit hard to find — unsurprising, given that the building looks like a Blank Carbon Copy of every other civic center (sorry). But the positives: although the test center is in the bleeding heart of Downtown Berkeley, outside noise doesn’t seem to be an issue. The college also boasts modern facilities, which bode well for a comfortable testing environment.

Rating: :)

Alameda County Training & Education Center (Oakland, California)

Notes: Seems like this is a new test center, but photos on Yelp suggest that the rooms will be small and the desks will be big. Looks like parking is off-site and a little expensive though.

Rating: :)

California Ballroom/Conference Center (Oakland, California)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: Most conference and convention centers are nonstarters -– the massive amount of test takers these locations handle means the exams there can start hours after the check-in time. But apparently if the conference center is also a fancy ballroom, things can work in a more orderly fashion. Reviews are generally positive for this Oakland ballroom, where the proctors keep things moving on time and in step. Test takers also enjoy plenty desk space and the room is kept pretty quiet. However, some test takers have suggested that outside noise and obtrusive proctors were an issue on some recent exams. Those test takers, we regret to report, did not appear to have a ball.

Rating: :)

Samuel Merritt University-Health Education Center (Oakland, California)

Notes: Despite being used for every LSAT administration, there’s not a lot of info regarding Samuel Merritt U on the internet. It is the largest source of nurses in the East Bay, so if you fall ill during the exam, you’ll have hundreds of nurses in training to help you out.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

College of Alameda (Alameda, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: You’ll be in a room with somewhere between 25 and 50 students, but you’ll have plenty of desk space — enough to spread out and really dig into the LSAT. The lighting is good, but the room will be a little cold — East Bay legend Mac Dre warned you about that, though. It sounds like the proctors can be a little capricious with how they follow LSAC policy, but as long as you follow the day of the test rules, you’ll be fine. Unfortunately, parking is $5 to $10.

Rating: :)

John F. Kennedy University School of Law (Pleasant Hill, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Mostly good, but somewhat dependent on the room you get put into. You could be put into a very small room and be given more than enough desk space. Or you could be put into a slightly larger room with just enough desk space. But the chairs are generally comfortable, the rooms are generally quiet, and the proctors are generally fair and orderly. Parking is generally free and easy to come by as well.

Rating: :)

Marriott Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek, California)

Offered in: September and October 2019

Notes: Hotels can be extremely risky. You never know if you’ll be sharing space a particularly lit business conference, so sign up for this center at your own risk. However, the limited amount of reports indicate that at this particular hotel, you’re provided with ample desk space and proctors run a tight ship.

Rating: :)

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DAVIS

McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (Sacramento, California)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: A little Lady Bird told us that they really throw you into an enormous room at this testing center — like 100 to 150 test takers might be put into the same very large lecture hall. However, you will have enough room to work on a large desk, and the seats are comfortable and height-adjustable. Even with this many people, we haven’t really heard reports of the noise being overbearing. Parking is free and easy to find. Recommended, unless your extra-sensitive to the nervous energy generated by a hundred aspiring lawyers.

Rating: :)

Lincoln Law School of Sacramento (Sacramento, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Some good, some bad. You’ll be in a small room with plenty of desk space, which is great. But these rooms are also windowless and bound by extra thin walls, and sometimes the sounds from other rooms will seep into your room, which is not great.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Folsom Lake College (Folsom, California)

Notes: Not a lot of info on Folsom Lake College as a LSAT test center, but a few semi-dated reviews indicate that the location neither reminded test takers of prison nor left them with the Folsom College blues. According to these reviews, this location features small, quiet rooms that accommodate 10-15 test takers. The rooms also features long that give test takers plenty of space to work.

Rating: :)

Humphreys College – Drivon School of Law (Stockton, California)

Notes: The remote town of Stockton, California is within the 100-mile radius of Davis, California, so if you’re placed on the waitlist, you may be assigned to this test center. But if you’re willing to Drivon down the Pavement, you’ll wind up at an agreeable test location. This one features large tables to work at, small rooms with fewer than 25 test takers, and free street parking.

Rating: :)

California Northern School of Law (Chico, California)

Notes: For those of you in Davis, one is just within the 100-mile radius that LSAC uses for those on the waitlist. So you may end up taking a literal boy’s trip to Chico, California if you wind up on that waitlist. Other than that, we don’t have a lot of info on this one.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

California State University, Chico (Chico, California)

Notes: We couldn’t find much information on this location. However, the same warnings that apply to other large public universities will apply to Chico State, a large public university. You’ll likely be put into large room with uncomfortable chairs and limited workspace. You’ll probably have to pay for parking, and it may be difficult to find the testing center. Plan ahead, and take a dry run-through to the testing center if placed here.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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IRVINE

Blueprint Irvine LSAT Classroom Course

Western State University College of Law at Argosy University (Irvine, California)

Notes: While the name of this testing center certainly tells you a lot of things about its purpose and location — did we really need two prepositions? — there isn’t as much info on the webs about the testing center itself. Reports generally indicate that it’s a comfortable, quiet testing center, with rooms accommodating between 22 and 50 test takers. You’ll pay between $5 and $10 for parking. Also, seems like the proctors enforce LSAC’s rules very strictly.

Rating: :)

Irvine Marriott (Irvine, California)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: Not a lot of information about the Irvine Marriott. What happens in the Irvine Marriott, stays in the Irvine Marriott, apparently. But our usual caveat for hotels applies: there will probably be activity at the hotel — it is a place for vacationers, traveling businesspeople, and, heaven forbid, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and quinceañeras, after all — so a quiet room is no guarantee. Recent test takers have claimed that there were long delays getting checked in, and that they could hear the Top 40 radio hits played in the lobby during their test. On the other hand, this location appears to have large desks.

Rating: :(

The Westin South Coast Plaza Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: To our knowledge, it doesn’t seem like LSAC has used the Westin South Coast Plaza before the September 2019 LSAT. But it’s a giant hotel next to the west coast’s largest shopping mall. There’s probably going to be some hustle and bustle. As such, we’d try to avoid this one.

Rating: :(

Irvine Valley College (Irvine, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: You’ll be sharing a large classroom with somewhere between 25 and 50 aspiring lawyers, giving you more than enough desk space to lay out your test book, answer sheet, pencils, and analog wrist watch. You’ll be comfortable, the lighting will be good, and the center will be very quiet. Parking will be easy to find, but some say you’ll have to fork up between $5 and $10 to get it. Also, there’s only one kiosk to get that parking pass, so you’ll be getting to the testing center early, if you know what’s up. You may have an overzealous proctor. You’ll finish the exam, remember that you’re in Irvine, and that you’ll have to drive 15-20 minutes to find a bar that’s not inside a chain restaurant.

Rating: :)

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (Orange, California)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: You’ll be working in a law school classroom with long, shared desks, giving you plenty of room to work. The fixtures are modern and comfortable, and the volume is kept low. You’ll have to pay for parking ($5-$10), but the parking is conveniently located.

Rating: :)

Quality Tutoring Services (Anaheim, California)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find many LSAT-related reviews for Quality Tutoring Services, but according to their Yelp page, it seems like people have had a fine time taking other tests here. It’s also Happiest Place on EarthTM-adjacent, so maybe those good vibes will carry you through the LSAT.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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LOS ANGELES

Antioch University (Culver City, California)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: Not a lot of info on Antioch University as an LSAT test center. As a small, local university with modern amenities, it certainly fits the description of a good test center. But, as they say, don’t Antioch it ’til you’ve tried it.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Southwestern Law School (Los Angeles, California)

Blueprint Downtown Los Angeles LSAT Classroom Course

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: At the Southwestern Law School, centrally located in Koreatown, you’ll be put into a large classroom with around 25 other students. You’ll have plenty of desk space. The lighting will be bright, the temperature comfortable, the proctors efficient. It’s in a busy neighborhood, but the rooms are almost always kept quiet. Parking at the law school will cost you $8, though. Oh, and the art deco architecture of campus is stunning ¬¬- not that you’ll notice on test day. And the test center is located next to OB Bear, a bar that has perfected Korean fried chicken and would make the perfect post-exam meet-up spot.

Rating: :) :) :)

Loyola Law School (Los Angeles, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The rooms have either large shared desks or, if you’re lucky, individual desks. Either way, you’ll have plenty of space to cook. The rooms are also kept dead silent.

Rating: :)

LA Grand Downtown Hotel (Los Angeles, California)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: LSAC brought used the LA Grand Downtown Hotel for the July 2019 LSAT, and things went pretty well, according to some . The hotel cordoned students into small-ish banquet rooms, with about forty people per room. The proctors were apparently friendly, and they were able to figure out the tablets and move things along in an orderly fashion. Of course, this being a hotel — even if it *is* a grand one — you should be aware that you’re countenancing some risk of outside noise and the off-chance of hustle-and-bustle.

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California)

Notes: A beautiful campus full of beautiful people. It will seem welcoming, hospitable. But, befitting the school’s mascot, this testing center is a Trojan horse, full of disappointments. You’ll be placed in a huge room with a ton of other test takers. You’ll be seated in an uncomfortable chair, and you probably won’t have much space to work. You’ll have to pay an arm and a leg for parking. There’s no guarantee your proctors will know what they’re doing. Avoid.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)

Blueprint UCLA LSAT Classroom Course

Notes: UCLA used to be a stalwart LSAT testing center, but was recently taken off the list of LSAC’s published testing centers. Maybe this was because all the recent reports suggested that taking the test here was a disaster. Large rooms, tiny desks, uncomfortable chairs, expensive parking — enough to Bruin your LSAT experience (sorry). Anyway, if they ever bring UCLA back, try to avoid it.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of West Los Angeles (Inglewood, California)

Notes: Here’s a location that LSAC took out of its rotation for reasons that are unclear. Large classrooms, but comfortable seats, large desks to work, and a quiet environment made for one of LA’s more consistently good testing centers. Here’s to hoping they bring it back.

Rating: :) :) :)

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NORTHRIDGE

California State University, Northridge (Northridge, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The forecast for CSUN is, ironically, quite gloomy. There are large classrooms with tiny desks — never a good combo. Also, if you’re left-handed, you’re CSOL. The seats are uncomfortable. There might be something noisy going down on campus. Oh and you’ll have to pay for parking. You should CRUN away from this one.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of West Los Angeles – San Fernando Valley Campus (Chatsworth, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: You’ll be crammed into a medium sized room with 50 other students, but no one complains about a lack of desk space. We hear the seats are comfortable and the rooms are quiet. Plus, there’s a free parking lot in the front of the building. This is the Valley’s best testing center, other than all the testing centers that service the region’s adult film industry.

Rating: :)

California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: The university with the inelegant acronym CSULA features some of the issues associated with large public universities — having to navigate a byzantine campus, the risk of being put into a huge classroom, getting a small desk — but otherwise, this location is pretty good. It’s reliably quiet, according to reports, and includes comfortable seats. We can give it a tentative endorsement.

Rating: :)

University of California, Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, California)

Notes: If you’re willing to make the picturesque drive up the 101 to UCSB, well, you’ll get an OK testing center. But at least the drive was good? As with most large universities, expect large classrooms, tiny fold-out desks, and expensive parking (here, between $5 and $10). Everyone also claims the rooms are dark. Go figure. I suppose this is all a tax on the fact that you can literally walk from the test center to the beach after completing the exam. And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that one time, in December 2015, LSAC lost every UCSB test taker’s answer sheet. So no one got a score back. Hopefully they’ve since learned their lesson.

Rating: :(

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PASADENA

DOV Educational Services (Burbank, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: So this location is a small building with no signs. Apparently the staff isn’t super helpful. People are actually roasting the place over an open flame on Yelp. One of the two rooms you can take the exam in is next to a busy street, and you will be able to hear the hustle and bustle of the boulevard. The other room is next to a Crossfit gym, and you will be able to hear those meatheads slam their weights, jump on their boxes, and brag about their PRs. On the plus side, parking is easy?

Rating: :( :( :(

Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, California)

Notes: Not a lot has turned up in our search for this testing center. However, Azusa is a short drive away from the iconic Donut Man in Glendora, California, who serves some of the best donuts in America. So celebrate your LSAT with a donut with a veritable mountain of fresh strawberries and a tiger tail?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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RIVERSIDE

La Sierra University (Riverside, California)

Notes: Suicide. Homicide. Genocide. Riverside. That’s what they say about Riverside, anyway. But La Sierra University, at least, is a reliable testing center. You’ll be placed in a large room, but you’ll have comfortable seats and a large, shared desk to work at. It’ll be cold, but that’s probably a good thing, considering that Riverside is … warm, to say the least. It’ll also be a quiet room, and the parking will be ample and free.

Rating: :)

University of La Verne College of Law (Ontario, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Feel the Verne. No literally, you’ll feel it. It will be very hot if you take the LSAT here in September. Fortunately, they do a good job of creating a hospitable testing center at La Verne. You’ll be in a classroom with 25 other students and you’ll have a big, shared desk to work on. The seats are comfortable, the temp and lighting are on point, and the environs are quiet. And, the icing on this proverbial cake: the parking is free and plentiful.

Rating: :)

California State University, San Bernadino (San Bernadino, California)

Notes: CSUSB was taken out of the LSAC’s current rotation of published testing centers, which is a bit of a shame, because it was generally recommended by test takers. There were small, well-lit, quiet rooms, seating 10-20 students. The desks were apparently a bit small, though, and the parking cost a bit of money. If this testing location is brought back, it’s wouldn’t be a bad spot to take the LSAT.

Rating: :)

University of Redlands (Redlands, California)

Notes: Also not in LSAC’s current line-up of testing centers, but if it comes back, you can expect small classrooms and plenty of desk space. However, the classrooms would apparently get very sunny and hot (as everything does in the I.E.).

Rating: :)

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SAN DIEGO

Blueprint San Diego LSAT Classroom Course

Junipero Serra High School (San Diego, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Surprisingly, San Diego’s newest test center is a high school, known colloquially as just “Serra.” The limited amount of information on Serra indicates that the test experience can be dependent on which classroom you might get put into. Some have large desks, giving you ample room for your tablet and scratch paper. Others have the little desks attached to a plastic chair that no adult is meant to sit in. And this is to say nothing of the fact that you might be placed into a room that is far too reminiscent of the place you took your disastrous sophomore chemistry final. On the other hand, parking is free. Plus, this particular high school has the problematically-named mascot “The Conquistador,” which — if you can ignore all the bad stuff the conquistadors did — might give you some motivation to vanquish the LSAT.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

California Western School of Law (San Diego, California)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: One of the countless SoCal law schools that use some variation of California and/or a direction in its name. Don’t confuse it with Southwestern, Western State, Western State at Argosy, California Northern State, or Southern California, because this one’s a good testing center. You’ll be given a larger table to work at, and the room will be quiet. The proctors will follow the rules but won’t be disruptive. Parking is $5, but easy to find. You’ll finish, and you’ll be in downtown San Diego. You can celebrate with a California Burrito and beers from one of the eighteen trillion breweries in the greater San Diego area. There are worse things in life.

Rating: :) :) :)

Thomas Jefferson School of Law (San Diego, California)

Notes: This location may not exist for much longer, if recent reports are to be believed. The ABA hates TJ’s performance as a law school, but test takers are quite a bit more positive on its merits as an LSAT testing location. You’ll be put into a quiet room with a comfy chair and plenty of workspace. Plus, law students will be your proctor, and reports say they are organized, quiet, and, presumably, empathetic to your struggle. If this one survives financial woes and the ABA’s wrath, it’ll make for a fine LSAT experience.

Rating: :) :) :)

San Diego State University (San Diego, California)

Notes: Save this location for the after party; don’t do the actual test here. Reports indicate that that you’ll be put in an old building with a small desk and bad lighting. For whatever reason, the proctors tend to strictly enforce the rules … until they begin to talk amongst themselves during the test. You’ll also have to pay for parking and navigate a large campus to find your check-in spot.

Rating: :( :( :(

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SAN FRANCISCO

University of San Francisco (San Francisco, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: So the rooms are pretty big — potentially between 50 and 75 students. The desk size seems to vary based on which room you get assigned to. On the plus side, the chairs are comfortable, the temp is on point, and the lighting is good. Parking — this being San Francisco, of course — is outrageously expensive ($15-$20), so maybe take MUNI or BART?

Rating: :(

Skyline College (San Bruno, California)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Very little information on Skyline College, or which skyline this is supposed to refer to, or whether the college has anything to do with the the forgotten 2010 science fiction movie or vomitous-sounding Cincinnati delicacy. However, a little internet sleuthing into the classrooms suggest that the desks will give test takers enough space to work.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

College of San Mateo (San Mateo, California)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: This is a new test center, and we couldn’t find any reviews to go off of. Nonetheless, there is some promise … It seems to have modern amenities and spacious desks. It’s mascot is the Bulldogs (at Blueprint, we are adamantly pro-colleges with dogs for mascots). A photo on its Facebook page features a very chill-looking dude with a skateboard.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, California)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Apparently, Sonoma State will put you in a room with really small folding desks that can barely fit a test booklet and answer sheet. Plus there are reports of the proctors being a little lax for their task. More like So-NO-ma.

Rating: :( :( :(

Santa Rosa Junior College (Santa Rosa, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The little information out there on Santa Rosa Junior College suggests that it’s a pretty good test center, well-run and comfortable. However, a reconnaissance mission before test day is recommended, because figuring out where to park and check-in is apparently challenging.

Rating: :)

Empire College School of Law (Santa Rosa, California)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Unlike the Fox television show with which this law school shares its name, Empire College keeps things pretty quiet and orderly. Reports indicate that test takers are given plenty of space to work, although proctors can be a little overzealous, according to some.

Rating: :)

San Francisco Law School (San Francisco, California)

Notes: This testing center has large tables, giving you plenty of space to do your thing. Also, Pat Brown, father of current California governor Jerry Brown, went here. So if public service is your thing, you could do worse than this testing center.

Rating: :)

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COLORADO

DENVER

Community College of Denver (Denver, Colorado)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: It seems like you’ll be placed into a large lecture hall with 50 or so other test takers, and you’ll be given *just* enough of desk space to work with. But the proctors are allegedly quite efficient, and the room temp was on-point. Plus, the place will be easy enough to find — seriously, just stand on any nearby mountain and like for the “CCD” in size-1,000,000 font.

Rating: :)

University of Denver Sturm College of Law (Denver, Colorado)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: This one really puts the “Sturm” into “sturm und drang” if we’re to believe the tumultuous experiences of basically anyone who has written about taking the test here. The test room will include over 100 huffy test takers, the lighting is dim, the temp is sweltering, the proctors take awhile to get the test underway, and the desks are small. Also, apparently the admissions tickets sometimes tell test takers not to report to place where the test is held.

Rating: :( :( :(

Community College of Aurora (Aurora, Colorado)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: There isn’t much info on the Community College of Aurora. Based on some of the photos of the classrooms online, it seems like they may have those two-in-one plastic chair-desk workstations, which wouldn’t augur the most comfortable testing environment.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Colorado – Boulder (Boulder, Colorado)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We haven’t heard a single uniformly positive review about the University of Colorado. Everyone mentions at least one issue. Tiny desks and clueless proctors are the primary complaints; room temp, huge crowds, late start times, and noise levels also get mentioned. Suffice to say that test takers aren’t bowled(-ered) over by this test center.

Rating: :( :( :(

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Washington D.C. LSAT Classroom Course

Howard University (Washington, D.C.)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: This location features large auditoriums (between 75-100 test takers), tiny desks, uncomfortable chairs, cold rooms during the fall and winter, noisy conditions, inconsistent proctoring, and limited parking. It may be conveniently located to D.C. residents, but it’s a good idea to avoid this one.

Rating: :( :( :(

International Trade Center (Washington, D.C.)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Building is the second-largest government building in the nation, and as such, it is sprawling, heavily secured, and host to a ton of activity. You’ll have to pass through security to get in, and walk some distance to find the check-in point. If you’re taking the exam here, budget extra time for all of that. You can’t count on Reagan-ing your way to the center. However, once you find your way to the check-in spot, expect a smoothly run test. You’ll be surrounded by a lot of test takers, but you’ll have plenty of room to work. The proctors have the hyper-efficiency you might not expect from DC bueaucrats. However, multiple reports indicate that the test center is a little bit cold. But if you bring a sweater, expect the experience at the International Trade Center to be tariff-ic.

Rating: :) :) :)

American University University College of Law (Washington, D.C.)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: This university shows national pride with how it runs an LSAT. Long tables give you plenty of space to lay out your test book and answer sheet. The chairs are comfortable and height-adjustable. The rooms are bathed in natural light. Bathrooms are conveniently located right outside of the classroom. The rooms are quiet and the proctors are good.

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, Maryland)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The reports are negative on this formerly year-round test center in the DMV. Tiny, tiny desks are chief among the complaints here, but uncomfortable chairs are often mentioned as well.

Rating: :(

Northern Virginia Community College – Annandale (Annandale, Virginia)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Not very sterling reports. It sounds like test takers are placed into a large auditorium with over a hundred other people, the desks are those middle school-style combination hard plastic chair/wooden desk contraptions, the lighting is dark, and the proctors can be daffy. At least parking is free?

Rating: :( :( :(

Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold, Maryland)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Literally the only thing we could find on this test center came from a Herman Cain-supporting message board user (or, at least, a message board user who flaunted a Herman Cain avatar, ironically or not). This person’s unabridged review: “Anne Arundel CC? I tested there. It was okay.”

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Pretty solid reviews from Morgan State — although they are somewhat dated by this point. Assuming nothing major has changed, MSU’s test centers accommodate fewer than 50 test takers, are generally quiet, and provide test takers enough desk space for both their test booklet and answer sheet. Some people noted that the proctors were quite strict in enforcing the rules.

Rating: :)

Towson University (Towson, Maryland)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Reviews are universally positive for Towson University. The testing conditions are so uniformly excellent that most reviewers exclaim, “More like Tow-a-bunga, son!” [Ed. note: They do not.] Test takers noted that the rooms are spacious and soundproof, the desks provide ample space to work, parking is free, and the proctors follow the important rules but not the unnecessarily draconian ones (for instance, some proctors have allowed test takers to use the restrooms on their own volition, rather than making them ask for permission like a third grader).

Rating: :) :) :)

Fredericksburg Area Test Center (Fredericksburg, VA)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: These “Area Test Centers” are sort of ad hoc sites LSAC will use from time to time. We don’t know what kind of test center this is … other than the fact that exists in some “Area.” As such, there aren’t any reviews for us to make a recommendation. So you’re rolling the dice with this one — and we wish you good fortune.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cardinal Institute for Health Careers (Fredericksburg, VA)

Offered in: September, October, November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of the Cardinal Institute for Health Careers, but based on photos of its “Testing Center,” it seems like a fine place to take a test. You may even get your own private cubicle to work in!

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Marriott Washington Wardman Park (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: There isn’t really any information on this testing on this testing center yet. But hotels, especially major metropolitan hotels, can be very risky. While hotels can keep things pretty comfortable (a task that is solidly in their wheelhouse), they have a lot more trouble keeping things quiet (a task that is not really in their wheelhouse).

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: You’ll be in a large classroom with 25 to 50 other test takers, but your desk will be small — not large enough to fit both your test book and answer sheet. There have been reports that it may get a little noisy. Parking is apparently free, if a bit hard to find. In all, not the best, but not the worst either.

Rating: :(

Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: The discriminating LSAT taker knows to forgo Georgetown’s main campus and instead take the exam at Georgetown’s Law Center, which hosts the June exam. You’ll have much more desk space, the chairs will be fit for the most regal J.D. student, the environs will be quiet. The one drawback is parking — it’s apparently difficult to find, and it’ll cost over $10. Other than that, this is recommended.

Rating: :)

Trinity Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: Not must information on this university, and we’re not sure if any of the info we did find was TWU (sorry).

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Marymount University (Arlington, Virginia)

Notes: Limited information on Marymount University, but it looks the part of a good testing center. It’s a small-ish, private university, which means you have a better shot at getting placed in a small room with big desks and minimal noise.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Northern Virginia Community College – Springfield (Springfield, Virginia)

Notes: The only reports online about this testing center are all the way back when they used to fingerprint test takers when checking them in, but those reports were generally positive. They noted that there was plenty of desk space and quiet rooms.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland)

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of this test center. We wish people who took the LSAT at the University of Baltimore would B-More forthcoming, but what can you do?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, Maryland)

Notes: Taking the test at a large-ish, public university can be risky. Sometimes you’re put into a large auditorium with those small tabletops that fold up from the side of your uncomfortable seat, and sometimes you’re put into a smaller classroom with ample table space. Sometimes there’s commotion outside that seeps into the test room, and sometimes there’s no outside noise. The mixed reviews for the University of Maryland’s Baltimore County campus bear this uncertainty out. These reviews — much like Maryland’s crazy state flag — are all over the place. Some claim the testing conditions were fine, others claim they were not. Best to play it safe and avoid this one if you can.

Rating: :(

Lord Fairfax Community College (Middleton, Virginia)

Notes: The real Lord Fairfax was reportedly the first person to employ George Washington. Does this historical fact auger good employment-related fortunes to those who take the LSAT at the lord’s eponymous community college? Tough to say … there’s next to no information on this test center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

McDaniel College (Westminster, Maryland)

Notes: Reviews are a bit old at this point, but the general consensus from those who took the test here is that the chairs are uncomfortable and the desks are too small to fit both a test booklet and an answer sheet. This school’s athletic teams are nicknamed the Green Terror, but its test site should be nicknamed the Dream Tear-er, given its ability to frustrate test takers’ ambitions of attending law school.

Rating: :( :( :(

Harford Community College (Bel Air, Maryland)

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of Harford Community College, but its website did advertise its test center as “stress-free, positive, and supportive” … but of course “stress-free, positive, and supportive” are three adjectives no one has ever used to describe the LSAT, so they must referring to some other tests administered there.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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FLORIDA

MIAMI

Miami International University of Art & Design (Miami, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on this testing center yet …You could say that this info about MIU is MIA.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – North Campus (Miami, Florida)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: It appears that whoever takes the test at a MDC location swears a blood-oath to never speak of it again. Because, like so many of the campuses at MDC, there are no reviews for the Wolfson test center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – Medical Center Campus (Miami, Florida)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Like its North Campus counterpart, the reports on Miami Dade’s Medical Center are limited. Unlike its North Campus counterpart, the reports on the Medical Center are more positive. Large desks, efficient proctors, quiet rooms, and free parking give the Medical Center the winning edge in this Dade off.

Rating: :)

Miami Dade College – Hialeah Campus (Hialeah, Florida)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: A new testing center, and as such there’s not a ton of information. However, photos of the classroom online reveal new, if spartan, classrooms with long desks and plastic chairs. So you’ll have room to work, but they won’t be the most comfortable environs.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – West Campus (Doral, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on this testing center yet. Not even a picture of a classroom. This center may or may not exist.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Talmudic College of Florida (Miami Beach, Florida)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: The Talmud is notoriously difficult to decipher and understand, so much so that the word “Talmudic” has become synonymous with “overly detailed.” It’s ironic, then, that we can’t find any details on Talmudic College of Florida as a testing center. However, if you’re willing to risk a possible dud of a testing center, this location is right on Miami Beach, which, as we all know, is bringing the heat.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – North Campus (Miami, Florida)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Limited reports on Miami Dade’s North Campus, but it appears that test takers are put into a quiet room with efficient proctors and … small desks. Ah, small desks … the Achilles heel of so many otherwise good testing centers.

Rating: :(

St. Thomas University School of Law (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: St. Thomas is apparently the patron saint of well-run testing centers, because his namesake law school features everything you could want for the LSAT. Ample desk space, comfortable seating, good temp and lighting, low volume, and free parking.

Rating: :) :) :)

Miami Dade College – Homestead Campus (Homestead, Florida)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: There aren’t any online reports of this testing center that we could find. However, it’s a smaller campus that looks easily navigable.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Florida Atlantic University – Davie Campus (Davie, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: You should approach this one with caution. The reports regarding the main Jupitor campus of FAU are wanting, so it’s reasonable to expect more of the same at the Davie campus.

Rating: :(

Broward College – Central Testing (Davie, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The good news: All reports show that this test center has comfortable chairs, ample desk space, and free and plentiful parking. The bad news: reports on the proctors are all over the place. Some people claim that the proctors were disorganized, miscalled the time, and allowed alarms to go off at random times. Others claim that the proctors were so chill that they let students keep working for a few moments after time was called. r the exam. That said, the rooms are small and quiet, and the desks are large. On balance, reports are positive, but you’re rolling the dice with proctors at this one.

Rating: :)

Broward College – North (Coconut Creek, Florida)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The most common complaint at this Coconut Creek testing center is that the proctors are a little crazy in the coconut. Test takers from multiple test administrations claim the proctors didn’t properly enforce the rules, or talked among themselves, or just took a really long time to administer the exam. That said, the rooms are small and quiet, and the desks are large.

Rating: :(

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: There’s not a lot of information about FAU’s main campus, but there are a few things to go off. Bad news first. The usual caveats for large public universities must apply: parking can be expensive, the campus can be sprawling, the path to your check-in point may be tough to follow, the rooms may be loud, and the desks may be small. Now, the good news. First, unlike most other public universities, FAU has a dedicated testing center that hopefully has gotten the hang of running good tests. Their online footprint suggests that you’ll be greeted by an anthropomorphic owl upon arrival, which is delightful.

Rating: :)

Barry University (Miami Shores, Florida)

Notes: Details are Barry scarce for this center, which is Barry frustrating, because usually year-round testing centers have tons of Barry informative reviews.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Florida International University (Miami, Florida)

Notes: FIU comes correct as an LSAT testing center. The rooms aren’t too crowded — you’ll have 3 or 4 feet of desk space to cook. The chairs are comfortable, the temperature will keep you cool, and the proctors keep things quiet and orderly. Parking comes with a small fee, but is easy to find.

Rating: :) :) :)

Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Notes: The small desks at Florida Memorial University had many test takers saying, “That FMU.” Aside from that, the reports are mostly positive, with quiet rooms, free parking, and good proctors. But your desk is your temple during the LSAT, so small desks are a no go for most.

Rating: :(

Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on Nova Southeastern, née “Nova.” But “Nova” literally translates to “don’t go,” so … maybe they’re trying to tell us something?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Florida Atlantic University at Jupiter (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Notes: This one’s on the outer rim of the 100-mile radius for Miami denizens. Besides the great distance from Miami, this test center is replete with bad reviews. Uncomfortable chairs, tiny desks, and a lack of a clock plagued many test takers.

Rating: :( :( :(

Top

GEORGIA

ATLANTA

Crowne Plaza (Atlanta, Georgia)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Not a lot of info on the Crowne Plaza in Atlanta, but if you’ve read any review of a hotel, you know the deal. If the hotel is quiet, it’ll usually be a decent enough test experience. But there’s always a risk that the venue will host some rowdy guests, disturbing your concentration.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Reviews of Clark Atlanta are decidedly mixed. Most claim you’ll have enough room to work, although some state that the desk didn’t provide enough space for both the test booklet and answer sheet. Multiple reviews from different test administrations mention unprofessional proctors and beeping in the hallway, so that seems like a recurrent issue. Probably best to stay away from this one.

Rating: :(¯

Clayton State University (Morrow, Georgia)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Based on the limited number of reviews, things seem like they run pretty smoothly at Clayton State. The rooms hold just around twenty or so test takers, the desks provide ample room to work, and the proctors are efficient. Some mention that parking is limited — it’s important to get there early. So, for a reliable Atlanta-adjacent test center, don’t delay, head out to Morrow.

Rating: :)

University of North Georgia – Cumming (Cumming, Georgia)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: We’ll pass right by any unfortunate and unprintable jokes about this location, we’ll just quickly note that there aren’t any reviews of this test center. However, this is a small satellite of UNG, which at least fits the bill of the quality test center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of North Georgia – Gainesville Campus (Oakwood, Georgia)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Not many reviews of UNG’s Gainesville campus, but the ones on hand indicate that this is a great test center. Apparently, the parking’s free and convenient, he desks provide plenty of space, the proctors are efficient and professional, and the noise is limited.

Rating: :)

Top

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO

Chicago LSAT Classroom Course

Loyola University – Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The 1984 census revealed that Los Angeles ended Chicago’s nearly 100 year run as the U.S.’s second most populous city, turning Chicago’s long-time moniker, “the Second City,” into a misnomer. LA’s wresting away of Chicago’s “Second City” status has had innumerable effects on the public’s perception of the Midwest and the coastal-heartland socio-political dichotomy in this county. One unremarked-upon effect, however, is how the Loyola school in Chicago is now a significantly less desirable testing location than the Loyola school in Los Angeles. Unlike the LA-based law school, Loyola University has small desks, which really make a difference on the LSAT. The rooms do tend to stay quiet, according to reports, but the parking will set you back somewhere between $5 and $15.

Rating: :(

John Marshall Law School (Chicago, Illinois)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: John Marshall’s most famous decisions as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court involved striking a balance between federal and state sovereignty. His law school, which serves as a year-round testing center, strikes a balance between good and bad features. You’ll have ample desk space, but you’ll be in a huge classroom with many other students. The room will usually be quiet inside, but there seems to be a lot of Illi-noise outside that sometimes seeps in. The proctors are good, but the price of parking is literally criminal ($20). Not a bad testing center, and you’ll probably be fine taking it here, but there are definitely drawbacks you should factor in.

Rating: :)

DePaul University (Chicago, Illinois)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: A nice temperate environment, with long tables to work at, and the room stays pretty quiet. Some reports say the proctors can be a little shaky, but overall, a quality testing center.

Rating: :)

Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: The size of the room will vary here, but most people report that the rooms feature large shared desks with one or more seat in between each test takers. That means you’ll probably have enough room to fit your test book and answer sheet on your desk. The lighting is bright, the temperature is good, and apparently the seats are very comfortable. The noise can vary a bit — as it is at larger universities — and parking is rough, unless you’re already at NWU. Not Northbestern, but not Nortworstern, either.

Rating: :)

Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, Illinois)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Judging from the online photos of classrooms at Moraine Valley Community College, this testing center features the standard-issue long desks/plastic chairs/fluorescent lighting. It won’t be the most thrilling place, but it seems like you’ll have enough space for a test booklet, answer sheet, and watch.

Rating: :)

College of Lake County – Southlake Campus (Vernon Hills, Illinois)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: It sounds like this test centers puts two students to a desk, giving each just enough space to work. The rooms are smaller, with about 20 per room. However, there were complaints about power-tripping proctors that affected some students’ experiences.

Rating: :(

Indiana Wesleyan University (Merrillville, Indiana)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of Indiana Wesleyan University (no relation to the most well-known Wesleyan in Connecticut, as far as we can tell), but as a relatively small, private university, it’ll probably make a fine test center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

Notes: The main drawback of taking the exam at UIC is the size of the classrooms. They’ll be filled with 50 to 100 other anxious test takers. If you are highly sensitive to the nervous energy created by this many type A aspiring lawyers when taking the most important test of their lives, this might not be the testing location for you. Oh, and the rooms tend to be a little cold, but that shouldn’t bother your hearty, Chicago stock. That said, you will have quite a bit of space to work, and the proceedings tend to be quiet. Parking will cost between $5 and $15.

Rating: :(

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (Chicago, Illinois)

Notes: Looks like this is new for 2018, given the dearth of online accounts for this. But be careful with hotels, since a quiet testing room is no guarantee in a place full of hustle and bustle. Parking can also be astronomically expensive.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Kenwood Academy (Chicago, Illinois)

Notes: Kenwood Academy sounds like it produces nothing but cookie-cutter fancy boys who go on to become doctors and bankers and GOP politicians. As a testing center, though, it’s not cookie-cutter at all. It seems like experiences vary quiet a bit. You can be in a large classroom, or a small classroom. You might get some noise, you might not. Fortunately, everyone seems to have just enough desk space to work and the parking is free. A qualified endorsement from us.

Rating: :)

College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

Notes: DuPage is a huge community college, and should be approached with the same trepidation that one would approach a large public four-year institution. These institutions can be big, hard to navigate, and noisy. And it looks like many of the classroom feature tiny desks that won’t accommodate both a test booklet and answer sheet. Meaning you’ll have rearrange your whole test booklet set-up every time you turn to a new page at DuPage.

Rating: :(

Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Illinois)

Notes: Research into Northern Illinois University turned up very little info — not to stereotype, but Midwesterners do seem to be the soft-spoken types — and what was there was fairly dated. Take this with a grain of salt, then: This seems to be a fine enough test center. Reports suggest there’s plenty of space to work, and the rooms are kept dead quiet.

Rating: :)

Top

MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON

Boston LSAT Classroom Course

Suffolk University Law School (Boston, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Suffolk will stuff folks — about 15 to 20 of them — into a large classroom. And that’ll give everyone more than enough space to work. The seats are allegedly comfortable and the testing center is reportedly quiet. Parking’s pretty expensive — $10 to $15 dollars — but is located in a lot at the school.

Rating: :)

Boston Convention and Exhibition/Hynes Convention Center (Boston, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Sometimes LSAC will use a convention center, and these should be avoided at all costs. These convention centers usually handle a huge volume of test takers, and they typically put all the test takers into one room. Which means the process of checking in can take hours. It’s not uncommon for the actual LSAT to get started two hours after check-in time at these locations. And on the June 2019 at this particular convention center, LSAC apparently forgot there was another huge event being held at the same time of the exam, and had to relocate everyone to hotels a couple days before the test. Yikes.

Rating: :( :( :(

Boston University School of Law (Boston, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The reviews for BU School of Law are mostly positive. Apparently some rooms had small fold-out desks, but most gave test takers plenty of space to work.

Rating: :)

Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Northeastern puts around 50 test takers into large lecture halls, which gives the test takers just enough space for a test booklet and answer sheet. If you want space for 50 additional pencils, we suppose you’re out of luck. The seats are somewhat comfortable and things are mostly kept quiet. There’s been the occasional proctor complaint, but that’s to be expected at a testing center as busy as this one. Parking will cost $5-$10.

Rating: :)

Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find anything on Brandeis University. Some would say its online … brand is … wanting.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Salem State University (Salem, Massachusetts)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Authority figures have chilled the hell out in Salem since the witch trials of yore. The proctors at Salem State are reportedly very lax, in a good way. They keep things orderly, but let you drink water throughout the exam. This, plus the ample space to work, makes this a desirable testing center, if you can make the trip up from Boston.

Rating: :) :) :)

Middlesex Community College (Bedford, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Very negative reports for Middlesex Community College. Sounds like the desks are too small, the rooms are too hot, and occasionally, the outside noise too loud and distracting. Also, kind of weird they made an entire community college based around that book Oprah told everyone to read in 2002.

Rating: :( :( :(

Bridgewater State University (Bridgewater, Massachusetts)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The small desks and consistently slow proctors were definitely not water under the bridge to the many test takers who took to the internet to complain about these things.

Rating: :( :( :(

Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, Rhode Island)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The more recent reports suggest that this testing center features a lot of desk space and quiet rooms.

Rating: :)

Rhode Island College (Providence, Rhode Island)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Boston-area test takers willing to cross state lines will find a test center with quiet rooms, efficient proctors, free parking, and desks with just enough space to work. And lots of clams, presumably.

Rating: :)

Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts)

Notes: According to reports, the main campus’s testing center at Suffolk features slightly larger classrooms than the law school, with 25-50 students to a room on the main campus. But otherwise, the two testing centers are comparable. Plenty of space and a quiet working environment.

Rating: :)

Boston College Law School (Newton, Massachusetts)

Notes: The reports on BC are pretty dated, but unless the law school has done a full on renovation in the last few years, it sounds like you’ll be in a large classroom with plenty of workspace. Things are kept quiet, and the proctors are efficient and orderly.

Rating: :)

University of Massachusetts School of Law — Dartmouth (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)

Notes: Noted legal scholar Frank Black described UMass as an educational institution “in the sleepy West of the woody East,” which sounds like a lovely place to take the LSAT. But what of UMass’s law school, located near the southern shores of Massachusetts? We couldn’t find any information about this testing center, though law schools tend to be among the more reliable places to take the LSAT.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of New Hampshire (Durham, New Hampshire)

Notes: If you’re willing to journey into the Granite State — granted, it’s pretty far away from Boston — you’ll find a test center that past test takers highly recommend. Quiet rooms, orderly proctors, and plenty of workspace are among the features test takers praised. Parking is between $5 and $10.

Rating: :)

University of Rhode Island (Kingston, Rhode Island)

Notes: The reviews for this location are a bit dated — mostly from 2009. That said, nearly everyone complained about the tiny fold-out desks and uncomfortable chairs. Although most people commended the proctors for being reasonable with LSAC’s rules, such as not making people remove their hoodies — an actual prohibited article of clothing per LSAC’s test day rules. Who’s to say if the proctors would be similarly lax today? Literally everyone was wearing those heather grey American Apparel hoodies in 2009. And no right-minded proctor would kick out an entire roomful of test takers.

Rating: :(

Western New England College School of Law (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Notes: The name of this school is a mouthful — is its acronym WeNECSOL? Nonetheless, the people who have taken the test here have a mouthful of … praise … for it as a test location. The rooms are on the second floor, removed from the hustle and bustle of Springfield streets. The desks are large, the proctors are efficient, there are clocks on the wall to help you keep track of the time, and parking is free. Some reviewers noted that navigating to the test center can be a bit hectic, so taking a practice run to this test center is advisable.

Rating: :) :) :)

Top

MICHIGAN

DETROIT

University of Detroit Mercy Law School (Detroit, Michigan)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The LSAT, as we all know, shows no mercy, so this is a bit of an ironic venue for the exam. That said, based on the limited reviews, University of Detroit Mercy is a solid test center, with spacious rooms, large desks, comfortable chairs, and quiet environs. If only it could also impart the quality of mercy, like gentle rain from heaven, to those tortured souls who write this exam.

Rating: :)

Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Wayne State! Wayne State! LSAT Time! (Hope it’s) Excellent!

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Windsor Faculty of Law (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: You may end up taking the exam in a dusty old courtroom, but the proctors are apparently friendly (not to stereotype, but I mean … no duh, eh?), the noise is kept to down, and you’ll have plenty of space to work.

Rating: :)

University of Windsor (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We could only find one review of the main campus of University of Windsor, but it sounds like it was a very positive experience, with comfortable chair, plenty of desk space, and a digital clock prominently displayed on a wall. This reviewer also wanted to rate this test center as a “12” (out of … how many exactly?) but docked it “2 points … because Windsor’s a s—thole,” so we’ll let you assess their reliability as a source.

Rating: :)

St. Clair College (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: No info on St. Clair College. The eponymous Saint Clare of Assisi may have founded the aggressively ascetic Order of the Poor Ladies, which may make you worried about the campus amenities. But a glance at the campus’ online photos make the campus look modern and sophisticated, which suggests that this would be a perfectly comfortable place to take the test.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ann Arbor Area Test Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: These “Area Test Centers” are sort of ad hoc sites LSAC will use from time to time. We don’t know what kind of test center this is … other than the fact that exists in some “Area.” As such, there aren’t any reviews for us to make a recommendation. So you’re rolling the dice with this one — and we wish you good fortune.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: For the most part, Oakland University receives straight A’s from test takers. With respect to things people care about — desk space, proctors who know what they’re doing, comfortable testing environs, free parking — this test center hits for the cycle. However, some have noted that the test center has made finding the check-in location more difficult than it needs to be, on at least a few test administrations.

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: As far as large, public universities go, UM’s main campus is apparently one of the more reliable test centers. The rooms are quiet, the desks provide more than enough workspace, and the parking isn’t unreasonably expensive. Pretty much everyone notes that the test center is a little cold. It is this Californian’s understanding that all of Michigan is a frozen icescape, so that isn’t exactly surprising. But maybe bring a sweater.

Rating: :)

University of Toledo College of Law (Toledo, Ohio)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: At nearly every law school, you can expect long desks that provide suitable working space for the career-igniting test you’re about to take. Not so at Toledo College of Law, where the tiny fold-out desks in some (but apparently not all) rooms might lead to you exclaim a dejected, “Holy Toledo.” Other than that, this seems like a mostly fine test center (other than some reports of a frigid room), but the possibility of a small desk would make this a ToleDON’T for me.

Rating: :(

Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, Michigan)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Test takers have nothing but good things to say about the law school named after former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice and UM Law School dean Thomas M. Cooley — who, incidently, possessed of a prodigious beard. You’ll be put into a large auditorium with as many as 100 other test takers, but the rooms seem to stay quiet, you’ll have plenty of desk space for your scratch paper, and the proctors will keep thing moving. Allegedly, they’ve even provided breakfasts for test takers at some LSAT administrations.

Rating: :) :) :)

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NORTH CAROLINA

CHARLOTTE

Belmont Abbey College (Belmont North Carolina)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Abbeys are places devoted to monk-ish solititude and devotion, so it’s no suprise that Belmont Abbey is a consistently quiet and organized test center. But, also befitting abbeys’ cloistered and austere environments, Belmont Abbey is also reportedly a dimly lit and cold test center. So bring your thickest habit.

Rating: :)

Winston Salem Area Test Center (Winston Salem, North Carolina)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: These “Area Test Centers” are sort of ad hoc sites LSAC will use from time to time. We don’t know what kind of test center this is … other than the fact that exists in some “Area.” As such, there aren’t any reviews for us to make a recommendation. So you’re rolling the dice with this one — and we wish you good fortune.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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NEW YORK

BROOKLYN

City University of New York School of Law (Long Island City, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Mixed reviews at CUNY School of Law. Some say there’s comfortable chairs and plenty of desk space; others claim the test center is plagued by outside noise from foot traffic, nearby highways, and, occasionally, construction. You know what also receives mixed reviews from this aggregator: the fact that there are both CUNY schools and SUNY schools in this area. That’s confusing as hell, New York.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

LaGuardia Community College (Long Island City, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Ask someone about LaGuardia Airport, and they’ll let their feelings known. There’s a reason it’s considered to be the “most hated airport in America.” But we’ve been trying to find *anything* about the LaGuardia Community College test center, and there’s been nary a peep. I suppose that means it’s at the very least better than the airport. Plus, if you take the exam here, don’t worry — it’s not so close to the airport that we’d expect plane noise to be a huge issue.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, New York)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: This is the Cadillac of testing centers. You’re given a private, full-sized desk, partitioned into a little cubicle. Think about that, you don’t even have to look at the dumb faces of the test takers next to you! The chairs are comfortable, you’ll hear nary a peep from another test taker, and proctors are courteous and professional.

Rating: :) :) :)

South Shore High School (Brooklyn, New York)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: One of the few high schools utilized as an LSAT testing center. And with good reason. You might be at one of those half desks you sat at in high school, which can barely fit the tablet and scratch paper. You might have flashbacks to high school. The reportedly distracting and discourteous proctors might remind you of your worst high school teacher. There will only be 20 students in the room, though, and the parking is easy.

Rating: :(

Touro College, Brooklyn Campus (Brooklyn, New York)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: Quick, guess what Touro College’s mascot is. You thought it was the Bulls, right? Me too. We’re both dead wrong. They don’t have a mascot. Anyway, the limited reviews suggest that even if people aren’t especially bull-ish on this test center, they at least had a fairly positive experience. Lots of deskspace, comfortable conditions, etc.

Rating: :)

Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, New York)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: Uhh, there’s a reason people have been calling this “Broke-lyn College.” Apparently you’ll be stuffed into a big lecture hall and given tiny little desks that can’t fit both a test book and an answer sheet. The room fluctuates between sweltering heat and hypothermic cold. They make you pay a king’s ransom for parking, between $15 and $20. And the proctors they recruit are disorganized and distracting.

Rating: :( :( :(

Wagner College (Staten Island, New York)

Offered in: September2019

Notes: A highly recommended test center, despite being Staten Island. So it must be good. You’ll be in a small room with no more than twenty test takers. Peace and quiet. You’ll have a huge desk to work on. Solid proctors. The option to party on a ferry afterwards. Plenty to recommend.

Rating: :) :) :)

Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, New Jersey)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Brookdale Community College is a short drive from Bruce Springsteen’s stomping grounds of Asbury Park, which is appropriate, because this test location will treat you like a Boss. It provides test takers with “huge desks” according to one test taker. There are multiple clocks posted on the walls to help you keep time better than even Max Weinberg. Parking is free, and proctors are orderly but not overbearing. You might say that those at Brookdale were … Born to Run an LSAT test center. Some reports suggest that the rooms can be a little cold, and others mention that Brookdale can be a little hard to navigate, so we recommend that you pack a sweater and take a practice trip to the test center.

Rating: :) :) :)

The College of New Jersey (Ewing Township, New Jersey)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: The online write-ups are pretty old, but all note that the desks are very small. You should probably try to avoid this one, which is a shame for Jersey-area test takers, because the name of this school clearly suggests that this is the only college in New Jersey.

Rating: :(

Touro Law Center – Long Island (Central Islip, New York)

Notes: The few reviews online for the Long Island branch of the Touro Law Center are positive. Clean, well-lit rooms. Efficient proctors. Plenty of desk space. Free parking. On the downside, the chairs are not the most comfortable, and there are a lot of students assigned to each room.

Rating: :)

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MANHATTAN

Manhattan LSAT Classroom Courses

NYC Seminar and Conference Center (New York, New York)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of this location, but the photos suggest that — although there are a lot of different rooms you could be placed in — you’ll probably have at least enough deskspace to work. The tricky thing about conference centers like this, however, is the long check-in process.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

New York Law School (New York, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Fewer than 50 test takers will be placed in a large lecture hall that seats more than 100, giving everyone plenty of space to stretch out and get to work. The seats are comfortable, the lighting is warm and inviting, and the rooms are sound proof. Even the restrooms are large enough to accommodate the test takers during the break. A++++ would do testing again.

Rating: :) :) :)

Pace University – New York City (New York, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Everyone says the desks are way too small and a lot of people say the proctors are distracting and erratic. The room is often too warm, except when it’s too cold. The chairs are uncomfortable. People are so upset about this Financial District testing center that they’re saying “Never again” in the reviews without even realizing how tone-deaf that is.

Rating: :( :( :(

Rutgers the State University – Newark (Newark, New Jersey)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Uniformly positive reports from the Newark, the city, campus of Rutgers, the State University. Most note the large desks, orderly process, and comfortable chairs.

Rating: :) :) :)

Hilton Newark Penn Station (Newark, New Jersey)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: There isn’t much online information on Hilton Newark Penn Station, but you should try to avoid hotels if possible. You never know if your hotel is going to also be hosting a particularly loud rowdy bunch of tourists or businesspeople, so a quiet testing environment isn’t guaranteed.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Seton Hall University (South Orange, New Jersey)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Seton is, ironically, not very good at seating its test takers. Everyone complains about the length of time it took for proctors to check in test takers, and the small fold-out desks that won’t accommodate both a answer sheet and test booklet.

Rating: :( :( :(

William Paterson University (Wayne, New Jersey)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: William Paterson may have signed off on the U.S. Constitution, but we cannot sign off on you taking the exam here. The desks are far too small, which sinks an otherwise solid test center.

Rating: :(

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (White Plains, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: It might take awhile to get check in — you’d think this of all test locations could pick up the pace, amirite? — but all reports indicate that once in, you’ll have very comfortable test conditions.

Rating: :)

Eleanor Roosevelt High School (New York, New York)

Notes: This high school has small individual desks, which have just enough space to fit your test book and answer sheet. Proctors mostly keep the show running smoothly. You can expect all the normal janky-ness you remember from your high school though: incorrect clocks, small amount of outside noise, probably a chemistry lab with broken Bunsen somewhere.

Rating: :)

Rutgers – The State University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

Notes: It may be “the” state university of New Jersey, but Rutgers probably isn’t “the” LSAT location you should choose in the Garden State. Enough reports mention small desks, overzealous proctors, and cold temperatures to merit a second thought about signing up here. On the plus side, it appears as though that fewer than 25 test takers are assigned to a room, the rooms are kept quiet, and parking is free.

Rating: :(

Bergen Community College (Paramus, New Jersey)

Notes: Complimentary parking, rooms with fewer than twenty other test takers, desks that are just large enough to fit both booklets, and quiet conditions. This is a new but quickly Bergen-ing test center.

Rating: :)

Montclair State University (Montclair, New Jersey)

Notes: Fairly positive marks for Montclair State. You’ll be in a large auditorium — here, take a look at what the classroom will look like — with around 50 other test takers. But you’ll have plenty of room to work on the long tables. We read that proctors can be pretty strict, so make sure you’re not breaking any rules. Recent reports are generally very positive, but some older reports mention proctors talking amongst themselves and messing up the section timing. And it can be a little tough to find the check in point, so a dry run to the test center is a good idea. Parking costs $8.

Rating: :)

SUNY – New Paltz (New Paltz, New York)

Notes: There are only a few older reviews for the New Paltz campus. Unlike many public institutions, this test location offers large tables, quiet environs, and free parking. The forecast for your test day conditions? SUNY.

Rating: :)

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QUEENS

St. John’s University (Jamaica, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: St. John wrote the Book of Revelations according to most theologians, but there’s at least one revelation his namesake school failed to make: people like big desks. Reports on St. John’s are positive across the board, except for the tiny, pull-out desks test takers are forced to use.

Rating: :(

Queens College (Flushing, New York)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: You’ll take this in a large auditorium, which means that it takes quit a bit of time to get everyone seated. But you’ll have a large desk to work on. The site is well-managed and clean, and the parking is pricy ($10-$15), but plentiful and onsite. Not fit for royalty, but it’ll do.

Rating: :)

C.W. Post – Long Island University (Brookville, New York)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Parking is free, the chairs are comfortable, the rooms stay quiet, and you have plenty of deskspace to work. There’s a horror story involving marching band practice outside the testing room, but that’s probably an anomaly for an otherwise sterling testing center.

Rating: :) :) :)

Hofstra University (Hempstead, New York)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Free parking, organized proctors, a ton of desk space to work, very little to complain about at Hofstra.

Rating: :) :) :)

Fairfield University (Fairfield, Connecticut)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: This university should, based on its name alone, provide a solid test center provide a level playing field and a fair opportunity to all. There’s very little info on it online, however, although it fits the bill for what is usually a solid test center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, Connecticut)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: No info on University of Bridgeport online. As a smaller private univeristy, it’s probably perfectly fine as a test center. There probably won’t be any of the nagging issues at larger public universities that can lead to a low LSAT score and, ultimately, a law school rejection. Speaking of rejections, Bridgeport’s most famous alumni is the 7′ 7″ shot-blocking legend and Sudanese hero Manute Bol. May your score be in the same percentile as his height.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of New Haven (West Haven, Connecticut)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Must be tough to go a university in New Haven that *isn’t* Yale, especially when so many faux-modest Yalies will say they go to college “in Connecticut” to avoid bragging. We can understand why anyone who goes here would rather just avoid the subject. As a result, perhaps, there isn’t really any info as University of New Haven as test center. But maybe you can use its proximity to Yale to motivate you?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Reviews at Yale seem to suggest that at less popular test dates — like June — it’s an amazing center befitting the consensus best law school in America. But at more popular test dates — like September and November, you can be crammed into a huge lecture hall with tiny desks.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Notes: A lot of test takers claim Vassar’s test rooms are hot, stuffy, and way too bright. The desks are also way too small to fit both a test booklet and an answer sheet. And the proctors are occasionally distracting. So … yeah … don’t say “Yass, sir” to Vassar.

Rating: :( :( :(

Marist College (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Notes: There is only the barest of information on Marist College as a test center — and much of it is fairly old. The most recent reviews suggest that you’ll be given ample deskspace, comfortable chairs, and decent proctors.

Rating: :)

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OHIO

COLUMBUS

Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: *The* Ohio State University is one the largest universities by enrollment, land, majors offered, faculty, football-stadium-capacity … and yet, when it comes to desks on the LSAT, they go small. Basically every review of OSU mentions tiny desks, which are good for NPR concert series, but definitely not for the LSAT.

Rating: :( :( :(

Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Reviews are uniformly positive for Wright State University. Large desks, free parking, comfortable environs, fastidiuous proctors, the fact that their arena is called, delightfully the “Nutter Center” — if you chose to test here you’d be making the, ahem, Wright choice.

Rating: :) :) :)

Ohio Northern University (Ada, Ohio)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: The reviews of ONU are pretty old, and decidedly mixed. But the Claude W. Pettit College of Law here was recently renovated, which hopefully means the rooms are comfortable and quiet, at least.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Rating: :( :( :(

University of Dayton (Dayton, Ohio)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Limited, but positive reviews, for Dayton. This one apparently features free parking, ample desk space, comfortable chairs, orderly proctors.

Rating: :)

University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: There are limited reviews at the University of Cincinnati, but they do suggest that it’s a well-run test center that provides enough desk space and efficient proctors. Also, Cincinnati’s mascot — the bearcat, which is neither bear nor cat — is the perfect nonsensical creature to embody what occasionally feels like a nonsensical exam.

Rating: :)

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OREGON

PORTLAND

Lewis & Clark Law School (Portland, Oregon)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: There’s not much info on Lewis & Clark Law School as a test center; the few reviews suggest that things run smoothly, and law schools are pretty safe bets. On a related note, before Lewis and Clark set foot on their westward voyage across America, Thomas Jefferson told them to watch out for mastodons on their trip. At that point, mastodons had been extinct for over 10,000 years. Still, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also tell you to watch out for mastodons at this test center.

Rating: :)

Lewis & Clark Law School (Portland, Oregon)

Offered in: September 2019

Rating: :)

Corban University (Salem, Oregon)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Corban seems pretty solid test center, based on reports. Maybe not quite as good as “blessing from God that is dedicated back to God” good, which is apparently what “Corban” means. But still, it has small, quiet rooms. The desk space is plentiful. The proctors enforce the important rules but are pretty chill about the over-the-top ones.

Rating: :) :) :)

Willamette University College of Law (Salem, Oregon)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: There isn’t a ton of info on Willamette as a test center, but they apparently send pre-laws on their mailing list meme-y good luck emails before the test. If they try haalf hard to make a good test center as they try to pander to the youths, this would be a promising testing site.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA

Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: They may call them the Drexel Dragons, but fortunately the LSATs given here don’t drag on … reports indicate that the proctors are efficient and follow the rules. Drexel uses large auditoriums to fit between 22 and 50 test takers, so you’ll have plenty of room. Many indicate the room is a little dark, however. Drexel University is in the heart of Philly, so most test takers take advantage of the many public transportation options to get there, but parking seems to be, miraculously, free and easy to find, at least according to some reports. Overall, great reports, especially for a sizable university. The liberty bell may be nearby, but this testing center won’t make you crack under pressure.

Rating: :) :) :)

Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: November and September 2019

Notes: You’ll have to contend with all the typical issues that affect larger universities. It can be hard to find the location amidst the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia, making this test site the second most hidden Temple. You’ll eventually be placed in a sizable room with quite a few other test takers. You’ll have a tiny fold-up desk, so you won’t have enough space for both your test book and answer sheet. Your seat will be from the Mesozoic era, before we had the technology to make comfortable seats. Most test takers report that the rooms are quiet, but that’s no guarantee.

Rating: :(

Holy Family College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The name of this university sounds like someone doing a last minute course correction before bleating out an explicative in front of a child. Holy fu … uh … amily? Anyway, this small college in northeastern Philly features small classrooms, desks that give you just enough space, rule-abiding proctors, and free parking.

Rating: :)

Cheyney Univeristy (Cheyney, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Like the former veep with whom this test center shares a similar name, the reviews here are quite old. Unlike the former veep, however, they’re fairly positive.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Penn State University – Lehigh Valley (Center Valley, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The reviews of the Lehigh Valley (oxymoron much?) campus of Penn State are pretty positive. You’ll be in a pretty large room — a veritable Nittany Lions den — but you’ll have quite a bit of space between you and the presumably fidgety pre-law student next to you. The desk space should be sufficient. Things should be kept pretty orderly and quiet.

Rating: :)

University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: This one’s about 50 miles or an hour-long Amtrak train from Philadelphia. Reports vary on this location — but most indicate that the desks are small — barely large enough to fit just a test booklet. Some claim the chairs are super uncomfortable. And all indicate that parking is not free and a bit of a walk away from the check in location. Probably best not to roll the dice on this one.

Rating: :(

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (Galloway, New Jersey)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Here’s an actual quote from colonial-era jurist and Declaration of Independence-signer Richard Stockton: “The public is generally unthankful, and I never will become a Servant of it, till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man.” Good to know that the college that shares his name honors the spirit of his DGAF attitude when it administers the LSAT. Although the reviews on record are quite old, they all state the chairs are torturous and the desks provide either just barely enough room or not enough room to work, depending on the room you’re placed in.

Rating: :(

Lehigh University (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Notes: Not a lot of information to go off on Lehigh University (French for “The High University”). The few reviews out there are pretty positive. At the very least, the major boxes are checked: you’ll get a spacious desk and a quiet room. We can’t offer our Lehighest endorsement, but you’ll probably be fine here.

Rating: :)

Muhlenberg College (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

Notes: The information available online about Muhlenberg as an LSAT test center is limited. But if it is a convenient location for you, you shouldn’t have to mull over Muhlenberg for too long — the few reviews are quite positive. There’s free parking, located near the test room. The proctors are efficient. The rooms are quiet. And the desks are spacious.

Rating: :)

Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: The reviewers aren’t overly effusive, but it sounds like there’s a lot to recommend about Franklin & Marshall as a testing site. You’ll be placed in a lecture hall, but you’ll have enough desk space to work. The room will be kept quiet, befitting Franklin & Marshall’s residential location. It sounds like the proctors run a tight ship. All good news, and almost enough to excuse the fact that this college has the lamest mascot in the entire country (the Diplomats).

Rating: :)

University of Pennsylvania Law School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Notes: UPenn’s law school gets rave reviews, with most reviewers noting the comfortable testing environment, spacious desks, and laid-back-in-a-good-way proctors.

Rating: :) :) :)

Rutgers the State University – Camden (Camden, New Jersey)

Notes: Like Washington crossing the Delaware to surprise Hessian forces in Jersey, some Philly test takers may consider making the trip across I-676 into Camden to attack the LSAT at Rutgers’s Camden campus. Reports are uniformly positive, with many noting the large desks, efficient proctors, and free parking.

Rating: :) :) :)

La Salle University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Notes: You’ll be in a small classroom with only a handful of other students, so noise won’t be a factor. However, you’ll have very little desk space in most of the testing rooms, and the room will be very cold. Parking is free, but about a 5 minute walk from the classroom. These drawbacks didn’t quite La Salle-y this testing center, but the reviews didn’t exactly La Salle me on this location either.

Rating: :(

Lafayette College (Easton, Pennsylvania)

Notes: We couldn’t find anything on Lafayette College. So here’s a piece of trivia on General Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, for whom college was named: he helped create, along with George Washington, the American Foxhound breed of dog, which the American Kennel Club describes as a “good-natured, low-maintenance hound.” Perhaps the test center will be similarly chill?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Villanova University (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

Notes: Nova is literally Spanish for “Don’t go,” but reviews are mixed for this test location. Most agree you’ll be in a small room and that the proctors can be a little anal. Other than that … it seems like people have wildly different experiences depending on the test day. Roll the dice with this one only if you’re feeling lucky.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mercer County Community College (West Windsor, New Jersey)

Notes: Although you’ll be taking the test in a large auditorium with as many as 100 other test takers, your testing experience will not be at the Mercer … excuse us … mercy, of the nervous energy created by that many anxious pre-J.D.s. Things are kept quiet and orderly, and you’ll be given plenty of desk space to work at. The test location is apparently a corporate center, not a classroom, so the chairs are the kind made for adults — read: comfortable, plush, given the ability to roll — and not the kind made for children — read: uncomfortable, plastic, immobile. The proctors are apparently super cool as well, with some reports mentioning that proctors would occasionally ask test takers if they wanted to move to a seat with better lighting.

Rating: :) :) :)

Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware)

Notes: This one reaches the outer edge of the 100-mile radius LSAC sets, so the trek alone would be reason enough to try to avoid this one for Philly-residents. But if you’re willing to make a short trip and stay overnight at the quaint capital of Delaware, you’ll at least wake up to a solid test center. Although the rooms are fairly large — and hold up to 75 test takers — proctors reportedly keep things moving in a quiet and orderly fashion. Test takers also have enough desk space to hold both the test booklet and answer sheet.

Rating: :)

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TEXAS

AUSTIN

Austin Community College (Austin, Texas)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: You’ll be at the Highland campus. Mixed reviews for this location. In all likelihood, you’ll be put in a large auditorium with somewhere between 25 and 75 other test takers. It seems like the size of your desk may change based on which room you’re assigned to. Some complained about small desks, but other claimed they had enough space to work. Rooms are generally quiet, and parking is free.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Huston – Tillotson University (Austin, Texas)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Small desks, noisy conditions, stuffy rooms, overly lax proctors. Reports of people actually eating during the exam. Avoid.

Rating: :( :( :(

Austin Area Test Center (Austin, Texas)

Offered in: October 2019

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Courtyard by Marriott Austin Downtown (Austin, Texas)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Hotels are always risky propositions, because you never know who might be rolling through (in Austin’s case, probably tattooed artisanal queso-makers) and distracting you. So although we couldn’t find any reviews of the Courtyard by Marriott in Austin, that could be a concern. On the other hand, hotels almost always provide test takers with plenty of deskspace.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Texas State University (San Marcos, TX)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: There isn’t much info concerning LBJ’s alma matter’s test center mettle. But its motto is “The noblest search is the search for excellence,” which I guess means that my failure to find reviews attesting to the school’s excellence is just a sign that I am not the noblest of people.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)

Notes: You will placed in a large — some will call it normal Texas-sized — room with 50 to 75 other test takers. But as far as large, public universities go, reports here are fairly positive. You’ll have comfortable chairs and plenty of desk space. Things are kept quiet. Parking will cost you though, if you have to drive.

Rating: :)

Southwestern University (Georgetown, Texas)

Notes: There aren’t many reports on this location, but the ones we did find were uniformly positive. Quiet, plenty of desk space, comfortable, efficient proctors, free parking. Might be worth the drive from Austin.

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: This one’s within 100 miles from Austin, so you may end up here if you’re placed on the waitlist. Reviews are uniformly positive here, however. You’ll be in a comfortable chair and have more than enough workspace on your desk. The lighting and temperature of the room will be on point. It’ll be quiet. These may not be enough to (ahem) spur you to make the 80-mile drive from Austin, but if you end up here, it’ll at least be a good test center.

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: Another good testing center in San Antonio. The (incarnate) word on this one is very comfortable chairs, very quiet testing conditions, ample desk space. Oh and free parking.

Rating: :) :) :)

Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: Yet another great test center from reliably Lovable San Antonio Texas. Everyone says this is a good place to take the exam, with more than enough space to work, very comfortable chairs, and very quiet surroundings.

Rating: :) :) :)

Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: We haven’t heard anything, from the lake lady or anyone else, about this location.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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DALLAS

Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development (Dallas, TX)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: The facilities at this one are apparently fine, but there are more complaints about bad proctors from this test center than there are from any other test center we’ve read about. And you should know, based on the scope of this post, we’ve read about a *lot* of test centers. Proctors showing up late, proctors allowing devices to beep throughout the test, proctors keeping inaccurate time — you name it, we’ve heard it about Bill J. Priest.

Rating: :( :( :(

Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Reviews are generally positive at Southern Methodist University, with test takers praising the quiet environs and desk space.

Rating: :)

University of North Texas at Dallas (Dallas, TX)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of this test center, despite it handling a lot of LSAT administrations. Ask them about the Cowboys or barbecue or property rights or whatever and Texans can’t say enough; ask them about a LSAT test center and all the suddent they’re the shy types.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Dallas (Dallas, TX)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The limited reviews of the University of Dallas are extremely effusive, noting the limited number of students, the professional proctors, the large table to work at, and the super quiet conditions.

Rating: :)

University of Texas – Arlington (Arlington, TX)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: The reviews of UT’s Arlington campus are quite positive. You’ll have more than enough space to work, the conditions are quiet and comfortable, and you should get checked in quickly enough. There was apparently once a huge fiasco with proctors once incorrectly enforcing the watch rules LSAC has in place … but this school’s mascot is a Maverick, so a little bit of rule-bending is to be expected.

Rating: :)

Collin Higher Education Center at Collin College (McKinney, TX)

Offered in: September, October, and, November 2019

Notes: Saying everything is bigger in Texas is a horrible cliche, but apparently the desks at Collin Higher Education Center at Collin College really *are* bigger, with test takers noting that you’ll receive over 6 feet of space to spread out and work. You know what else is bigger in Texas? This dude Collin’s ego. Who puts their name in a college twice?

Rating: :)

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HOUSTON

South Texas College of Law (Houston, Texas)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Pretty standard law school testing center. You’ll have a good amount of desk space and the facilities will be quiet. It seems like the room size varies quite a bit at this location; reports indicate you could be put in a small room with fewer than 25 other test takers, or you could be put into a huge auditorium with almost 100. Parking is easy to find, but will cost you $5-$10.

Rating: :)

Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas)

Offered in: October and November 2019

Notes: You could do worse than TSU. You’ll be in an auditorium with 20-50 other test takers, but you’ll be using at a large shared desk with enough room to work. The chairs are the attached-to-the-desk type that can squeak a bit, but the room is otherwise kept quiet. There will be good proctors and free and easy parking.

Rating: :)

University of Houston (Houston, Texas)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: There are several testing centers at the University of Houston. This is the mainlocation (Test Center Code 12561, f.k.a. University of Houston – University Park). You should know this, because you probably want to avoid this particular location. A Hous-ton of complaints about this center: big auditorium, small desks, cramped quarters, stuffy rooms, overly lax proctors, long waits for the restroom.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of Houston – Downtown (Houston, Texas)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: Reviews are more mixed to negative at the downtown location of the University of Houston. Most of the complaints focus on the small wooden desks — which won’t give you enough space to lay your test booklet and answer sheet side-by-side — and the uncomfortable seats. On the other hand, the rooms are small and will be kept quiet.

Rating: :(

University of Houston – Clear Lake (Houston, Texas)

Offered in: November 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of the Clear Lake location of the University of Houston. But its proximity to the Houston Space Center could lead one to deduce that it is out of this world.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Texas A&M – Galveston (Galveston, Texas)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of Texas A&M Galveston, but it is on an island; as such, it provides opportunity for some beach-based revelry immediately after the exam is over, which few test locations can boast.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Prairie View A & M University (Prairie View, Texas)

Offered in: October 2019

Notes: You won’t be in a little house at Prairie View, you’ll be in a huge auditorium with nearly 100 other test takers. You’ll have large shared desks to work at least. The rooms are reportedly colder than Bun B’s verse on UGK’s legendary South Texas slapper “Murder.”

Rating: :)

Sam Houston State University (Hunstville, Texas)

Notes: A February-only location, which is pretty rare. Maybe because of that, we couldn’t find many reviews online. The real Sam Houston spoke out against the federal government’s fraudulent dealings with the Cherokee and opposed secession, so history judges him kindly on those counts. Maybe you’ll judge this test location kindly as well?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Baylor University (Waco, Texas)

Notes: Positive, if a bit old, reviews for Baylor. Test takers were especially jazzed on the comfortable chairs and ample table space. The only downside is the distance from Houston.

Rating: :)

Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)

Notes: As far as we can tell, there’s no information on Lamar University as a test location, so let’s make up some for you: The educational mission of the school is to honor famous Lamars: be they Odoms, Jacksons, Millers or comma Kendricks. Heck, even Lamarcus Aldridge and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck are feted. Consequently, before being allowed to cross the moat that separates the parking lot from the test center, you must complete a pop quiz on these notable Lamars. This not only adds an extra wrinkle of stress to your test day, but it’s also going to make it a bit more difficult to make the 8:30 am check in time. Plan accordingly.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)

Notes: This is juuuuust on the outer-edge of the 100-mile radius for Houston-residents. So if you’re left on the waitlist and you get assigned here … that sucks. To agg insult to injury, you’ll have a tiny desk to work on, there will in all likelihood not be a visible clock, the parking will cost you, and you may have trouble finding the check-in site.

Rating: :( :( :(

Top

WASHINGTON

SEATTLE

Seattle University School of Law (Seattle, Washington)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Aside from one year in which they jammed everyone into a giant ballroom on the main campus, this is a pretty reliable testing center. Big tables to work at, quiet rooms, orderly and efficient proctors. As with any urban testing location, we recommend that you figure out parking before the day of the test.

Rating: :)

Renaissance Hotel – Seattle (Seattle, Washington)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Ask any Seattleite, and they’ll tell you Seattle is having a renaissance, and they’ll tell you it definitely is. Whether they view that renaissance positively or negatively probably depends on whether they have shares in Amazon. Ask any Seattleite about the Renaissance hotel specifically, and they go mum — there aren’t any reviews of this one. But — much like passing on 2 and goal with 25 seconds left on the clock in the Super Bowl — hotels can be a risky proposition.

Rating:

University of Washington School of Law (Seattle, Washington)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: Most of the reviews we could turn up on UW were of the main campus, not the law school. The main complaints for the main campus involved the size of the desks, and that’s typically not a concern at law schools, nearly all of which provide ample desk space.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Shoreline Community College (Shoreline, Washington)

Offered in: September, October, and November 2019

Notes: There aren’t any reviews we could find of this testing center, but photos of the classrooms make it look like your prototypical community college classroom: long desks with two plastic chairs to a table, fluorescent lighting, drab carpet, etc. In all likelihood, this is an adequate testing center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Everett Community College (Everett, Washington)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: If the testing centers could get an LSAT score, Everett Community College would score in the 170s, easily. The desks have more than enough space, and there are even accommodations for the left-handed folks. The rooms are quiet, the chairs are comfy, the lighting is on point, and the temperature is regulated with precision (not that a little cold would bother a Washingtonian).

Rating: :) :) :)

Western Washington University (Bellingham, Washington)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The few reviews on Western Washington U are quite positive. Sounds like you’ll be in the test room with only a few others, so things are kept to a hush. You’ll have plenty of space to work. Parking is metered, but close to the check in point. And the proctors are efficient and friendly.

Rating: :) :) :)

Central Washington University (Ellensburg, Washington)

Offered in: September 2019

Notes: The rooms are on the larger side — about 70 students per room — but the proctors manage to keep them quiet and secure, according to reports.

Rating: :)

Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington)

Offered in: September and November 2019

Notes: Scouting reports on Gonzaga are a little thin. If the testing center is anything like the school’s basketball team, it will start out promising, there will be a bunch of tall white people, and then it will make a critical mistake in the end.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

Blueprint’s Guide to LSAT Test Centers was originally published on Blueprint LSAT Blog

#LSAT #Test Anxiety #test centers #test day #trent teti #lsat

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mediacalling · 6 years

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How Instagram Helps Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit to Serve Over 250,000 Customers Per Year

This post is part of our Instagram Marketing Strategy series. The series provides you with actionable insights and lessons on how businesses are using Instagram. Next up, Tarah Boyleston shows us how Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit uses Instagram to drive in-store sales.

Snap, filter, post, then eat. If you’re a millennial, Instagramming your meals is probably a guilty pleasure, and an occasional part of your mealtime routine.

An incredible 69 percent of millennials take a photo (or a video) of their food before eating. But social media isn’t just a place for us to share our posts about favorite foods, and scroll through endless images of beautiful, mouth-watering meals, snacks and treats. It’s completely changed the way we decide what and where we eat too. It’s even begun to adjust the way restaurants are designed, and meals are prepared.

Thanks to platforms like Instagram, we’re able to browse and discover cool restaurants, bars, and foods via social media.

And according to research by Zizzi, 18-35-year-olds spend five whole days a year browsing food images on Instagram, and 30 percent would avoid a restaurant if their Instagram presence was weak.

Many businesses in the catering and restaurant industries have started to catch on to the power of social media to not only build a following online, but to drive people in-store to buy, consume, and share experiences.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit is one of those businesses.

Callie’s now serves more than a quarter-of-a-million people at its events and eateries each year, and social media plays a big part in its growth.

Here’s how…

Embracing social media

“We had a business, so we needed an Instagram page,” Tarah Boyleston, Callie’s marketing and design lead explained to us.

And though Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit started out on social media through necessity, it’s now seeing the rewards of its social media strategy play out, with customers frequently heading to its events and eateries after seeing its biscuits on social media.

“Locals have come into the eatery just to get the special biscuit they saw on Instagram and vacationers tell us they’ve been waiting months to try our biscuits after seeing a video on Facebook,” explained Tarah.

“It’s a great feeling knowing you can connect to so many people with something as simple as biscuits.”

Focusing on high-quality content

Callie’s really started to go all-in on social media marketing at the beginning of 2018 as the team started to focus more on the quality of its content. Tarah especially focused on:

Sharing high-quality images

Writing fun, detailed captions

Using relevant hashtags on every post

“After making these changes, we watched our @callieshotlittlebiscuit account organically grow by the thousands per month,” Tarah told us.

And you can’t argue with the data over the course of 2018, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit’s main Instagram account has grown to more than 31,000 followers, and is adding around 2,700 new followers per month.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many followers you have if you can’t get people in your doors. We encourage our millennial following to join the hot little party with mouth-watering images, easily accessible Facebook events, and most of all, keeping things fun!”

Tarah Boyleston Marketing & Design, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

Spreading its message locally, and nationally

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit has three eateries: two in Charleston, South Carolina, and one in Atlanta, Georgia. But that doesn’t stop Tarah from using social media to share the brand’s message and voice far and wide.

“Our social channels are truly the voice of our brand,” Tarah explained.

“We are lucky to have our first location in a vacation destination like Charleston, and even though our followers are mostly local, we are able to get our voice out to the entire country. Non-local growth is just as important [as local].”

By thinking outside of the local areas in which it operates, Callie’s has been able to grow a brand that’s recognized by biscuit-lovers across the U.S. (and even further afield).

This approach has lead to new opportunities for Callie’s to run events, and generate sales, outside of Charleston and Atlanta. For example, Callie’s recently teamed up with Packed Party, a Texas-based online boutique, to promote National Biscuit Month, and this partnership was so successful on social media that it led to Callie’s running an event in Texas. As Tarah told us:

“Even though we were states apart, we used both voices to drive traffic to our stores and increase brand awareness in Texas. Our Texas following increased so much that we ended the month with a pop up in Austin.”

Working with partners and influencers

The event in Texas isn’t the only time Callie’s has worked with partners and influencers. In fact, it’s a staple part of their social media strategy.

“We love partnering with brands that share our values because it allows our followers to learn about amazing artisans and it brings new followers to us,” Tarah explained.

“Our largest events have been in partnership with amazing groups such as Create and Cultivate (500+ person event) and a seated dinner for 100 during Charleston Wine + Food week.”

These kinds of events are marketed heavily through social media, email marketing, and local press outlets. Callie’s likes to give away tickets on its social channels to increase awareness and build its audience. During these events, Callie’s also takes followers who are unable to attend behind-the-scenes using Instagram Stories.

And when it comes to launching new eateries, partnerships and influencer campaigns play a big role in establishing a new, local audience:

“This summer, we made a large effort to partner with more brands and influencers to grow our Atlanta account. This is an account that was on a slow-and-steady growth pace and partnering with big voices in town instantly made a difference,” Tarah shared.

Pro tip: Run small, exclusive events for followers

“Our locations are fairly small, so we keep events to a limited amount of people. Advertising a certain amount of tickets gives the allure of exclusivity, and Instagrammers love being ‘in the know’. Our email and social channels are our largest platforms for our voice, so posting event details to increase ticket sales is just logical for us.”

Tarah Boyleston Marketing & Design, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

How your business can use social media to drive offline sales

Tarah also shared four pro-tips for businesses that are looking to use social media to drive footfall and sales offline:

1. Be consistent

“Have a consistent online presence. The more followers see you, the more you will be on their minds when they’re looking for something to do on the weekend.”

2. Share information often.

“In a world of constant scrolling and swiping, you want to make things effortless for your followers,” Tarah shared.

“Give them any and all information necessary to get to your event. Instagram stories are a great tool for event information because you can use multiple slides to get the point across. I always include swipe up feature with a link to the Facebook event.”

3. Boost with ads

“For non-local events, we often use Facebook and Instagram ads to reach a targeted location. We boosted our ticket sales in Texas by targeting the neighborhood where the event was located and using key terms to attract our audience.”

4. Go behind-the-scenes

“Lastly, give your customers and followers a piece of your personal life,” Tarah recommended.

“No one wants to follow a brand that is only trying to sell them something. We share personal stories, family recipes, and behind the scenes imagery of our lives at the bakery. These glimpses into the ‘life of a biscuiteer’ are free!”

The Instagram Marketing Strategy Series

A nine-part series on how to use Instagram for business.

Up next:

How Bustle creates engaging Instagram Stories

Driving traffic using Instagram Stories ads

How Nike manages Instagram engagement

How Instagram Helps Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit to Serve Over 250,000 Customers Per Year posted first on http://getfblikeblog.blogspot.com

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lifeofthefree · 8 years

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1902 E. 6th Street, Austin Tx

I can’t get over how many awesome places there are to get coffee in Austin. No matter what the occasion is or what kind of mood you’re in, you kind find a coffee shop to suit your mood!

Today, Tiffany and I present to you Lazarus Brewing Company, a brand new brewery (and soon to be coffee roaster) in Austin, Texas. They opened up on December 24th, 2016 and have been doing great since then.

Upon arriving, I fell in love with the exterior design of the building, and walking in through the outdoor patio to the inside seating was just as lovely.

Staff

The first thing I noticed was the friendliness of the staff. One of the owners and a bartender greeted us happily as we walked in and were eager to chat with us. Not only did they treat us like family, they invited us to ask questions and gave us some inside scoops about Lazarus Brewing Co.

Atmosphere

Dog friendly patio

Plenty of bar seating, tables, and a comfy lounge area

Free WiFi

Books & Board games

Relaxing

The atmosphere was fantastic! The factory style building opens up into a nice outdoor patio, with beautiful lights strung about for a nice aesthetic touch. The outdoor patio is dog friendly as well, so that’s a plus for the dog lovers out there! Inside is just as nice, with plenty of bar seating, large tables, and a cozy lounging area (with an awesome orange couch) you won’t have a hard time finding a place to relax while you sip on your coffee or beer. They also have plenty of great books to read, as well as some board games if you came with some friends.

In-house brewery

Full bar with beer on tap

Coffee from Tiny House Coffee Roasters here in Austin

Soon to be roasting their own coffee beans

A specialty cup for $1000 and free beer for life! That’s right – if you’ve got $1000 to spare on a one of a kind cup, you’ll get a free beer (or coffee) every time you come in. That’s a great deal!

Tacos

Snacks, chips & salsa, etc

Tacos, coffee and beer… what more do you need! Their prices weren’t bad for the coffee and snacks. I ordered an almond milk cappuccino, and Tiffany ordered a soy milk cappuccino. We both enjoyed our drinks. I enjoyed the flavor of the coffee, although the almond milk was rather light and not as creamy as what I’m used to. However, since I typically drink black coffee, this worked out for me.

Final Thoughts

Although they do have good coffee, I’d recommend coming here here if you’re looking for a good local brewery to hang out at with your friends. I will come back here for sure, and next time I will bring my dog and try out some of their tacos! Yum!

We also want to give a HUGE shoutout to the friendliness of the owners and staff at Lazarus Brewing Company, who were more than glad to provide us with awesome drinks, chats, and content! Thank you!

Check out our video below for an insider-only chat with the owner!

*Photography: Sierra Lee Photography

*Videography: Tiffany Shim

Lazarus Brewing Co. | ATX Coffee Vibes 1902 E. 6th Street, Austin Tx I can't get over how many awesome places there are to get coffee in Austin.

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kevindalby · 4 years

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Kevin Dalby, Austin Professor, Shares 4 Super Ways to Keep Energy Levels High at Work

Originally published on personal-development.com

When it comes to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, efforts toward self-care is crucial. Properly taking care of yourself feeds over into excellent energy levels and a sharp mind all day long in and outside of the workplace.

Kevin Dalby, Austin local cancer research doctor, and professor at the University of Texas, spends long days on campus during research periods and school sessions. Defeating fatigue through healthy habits is how Dalby takes on his extended workdays, and he reveals four ways to stay full of energy during the day.

Way #1: Sleep

When trying to increase energy levels during the workday, start by taking a more in-depth look at your sleeping habits. Multiple studies show the impact sleep has on your performance ability. Some scientists say to take advantage of naps during the day to increase vitality, while others suggest restricting rest time. The National Sleep Foundation suggests a twenty to thirty-minute nap during the day can help limit regular sleep interruption while boosting energy. However, Harvard health specialists recommend trying to get less sleep if you are feeling a lack of rest. Using your bed for sleep only and excluding other tempting activities such as watching television helps open the door to deeper sleep.

Way #2: Eat Better

What you put into your body, your body will give back to you. When choosing food, consider leaning towards options that fuel your body to exert more energy. Healthy meals with a low glycemic index such as nuts, healthy oils, vegetables with high-fiber, and whole grains are great options. These foods have sugars that the body will absorb over a more extended period. Rather than sitting down three times a day to consume a meal, give your brain a steady stream of nutrition and consider filling yourself every couple of hours with small meals and snacks. Also, take in more water, less alcohol, and do not be afraid of a little caffeine.

Way #3: Exercise

Why exercise if it makes you feel more tired? Completing a workout might follow with a need to lie on the floor, but establishing a physical fitness routine will dramatically increase energy levels over time. The more you exercise, the more energy your cells can burn and circulate oxygen, and higher stamina and motivation will shortly follow and continue to escalate. Plus, working your body a little harder during the day will guarantee a better night’s sleep. Try working out in the daylight for a double dose of good for your body, too. Natural light will help avoid fatigue and depression during slower days.

Way #4: Plan

If you find yourself exhausted for multiple days at a time while working, that might be a sign that you are overworked. Too much work on your plate to handle while trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance can throw off your whole body. Try planning your day around your priorities and leave the less important tasks at the bottom of your list.

About Kevin Dalby

Dr. Kevin Dalby is a professor of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, currently working on cancer drug discovery. At the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas, he is examining the mechanisms of nature and cancer to develop new treatments, and teaching and motivating students to conduct research. Dalby is optimistic about the future of cancer treatments. When he is not working, Kevin Dalby enjoys photography and spending time in the Texas countryside with his dogs.

#kevindalby #highenergy #motivation #atwork

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charllieeldridge · 4 years

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Weekend in Austin: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary

If you’re headed to the Texas capital on a quick getaway, read on for the perfect itinerary for a weekend in Austin. Get ready to rock in the city that’s known as the Live Music Capital of the World!

Two days in Austin is just enough to check out some of the sights and enjoy the great outdoors by day. Come nightfall, it’s time to dive into the city’s famous culinary and live music scenes.

While Austin is the state capital, it’s actually only the 4th biggest city in Texas. The fact that it’s not a huge city makes it easy to cover a lot of ground with just a weekend in Austin.

It’s definitely one of my favorite cities I’ve visited in the US and I’ve been all over the place! A city with a love for live music, tacos, and craft beer is basically my dream come true.

In keeping with the city’s unofficial slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” I also encourage you to improvise a bit with this Austin 2-day itinerary.

Hear some funky music from a bar? Pop in to check the band out. Smell something delicious? Wander over to that food truck. Meet some cool locals? See where they like to hang out.

Read on for a look at the best places to stay and a jam-packed itinerary full of recommendations for how to spend 2 days in Austin.

Day 1 in Austin

With only 2 days in Austin, there’s no time to waste! On the first day, we’ll focus on the history and culture of the city during the day before indulging in the culinary and nightlife worlds.

Morning

I can’t think of any better way to kick off a weekend in Austin than with breakfast tacos. This is a city obsessed with breakfast tacos, and why wouldn’t they be?

Tex-Mex is king here, with a typical breakfast taco consisting of a flour tortilla stuffed with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and seasoned potatoes. Of course, each place has its own specialty tacos as well.

There are a million and one places to eat breakfast tacos in Austin, but some of the top choices include Cisco’s, Joe’s Bakery, and Rosita’s Al Pastor. Valentina’s is a bit of a hike but is worth it, as they’re often ranked the best in the city.

For a fun and informative introduction to the city, I recommend jumping on a free walking tour. One popular option is the downtown walking tour by Tipster. These run daily at 10AM and last about two hours, beginning at the State Capitol.

As with all free walking tours, it’s customary to leave a tip if you enjoy the tour. You can just show up if you want, or click here to let them know you’re coming and how many are in your group.

Another option is to just head to the State Capitol and join one of their free tours. These begin every 30-45 minutes from 9:30-3:30 on Saturday and 12-3:30 on Sunday.

Even if you don’t feel like taking any kind of tour, you should still check out the Capitol. It’s true that everything’s bigger in Texas —the State Capitol is bigger than the national one in DC!

While you’re over here, you might as well check out the Governor’s Mansion as well. You’ll have to book your spot at least a week in advance to take one of the free tours here, so click here to sign up.

Want to easily cover all of the above with a friendly and knowledgable guide, travelling by air-conditioned transportation and enjoying a food truck snack?! This tour is only 2 hours long, and $35, meaning you still have loads of time left to spend exploring all the fun things to do in Austin.

Afternoon

After exploring the Capitol grounds, a convenient lunch spot is Texas Chili Parlor. Not surprisingly, they’re known for their chili here. Try the XXX if you dare! They also have lots of tasty Tex-Mex options like tamales and enchiladas.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s definitely some room for improvisation when exploring Austin in 2 days. How you choose to spend the afternoon entirely depends on your interests, so let me give you a few options.

First of all, you can check out a few museums, the campus of UT, and the LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson) Presidential Library. Just a few blocks north of the Capitol is the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

With interactive exhibits, films, and an awesome IMAX theater, this is a good place to learn all about the Lone Star State. Tickets for the museum cost $13 and you can save time if you click here to book your tickets online.

Right across the street, you’ll find the Blanton Museum of Art. It’s famous for Austin – a stone building with colored windows designed by renowned artist Ellsworth Kelly.

Seeing that alone is worth the $12 price of admission, and there are 20,000 other artworks you can check out as well.

Perhaps you’re not really into museums and would rather spend more time outside. In that case, head straight to the University of Texas campus. It’s a beautiful place to explore, full of art and historical landmarks.

One thing you won’t want to miss is The Color Inside. This Skyspace from artist James Turrell is best viewed at sunset and is quite popular, so be sure to book your spot well in advance.

Other options on campus include heading to the top of the UT Tower to take in the views of this classic American campus. It costs $6 and only takes about 45 minutes to visit.

If you’re really into history, then a visit to the LBJ Presidential Library is a must-do on your weekend in Austin. Native Texan Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States after the assassination of JFK.

There’s enough to see and do here to keep you busy for hours, including listening to actual phone calls LBJ had as president. It’s open daily from 9-5 and tickets are just $10. Click here to buy them online in advance.

For a full list of some unique culture, history and art-filled things to do, click here to learn about the popular Airbnb Experiences on offer.

Evening

After a big day of sightseeing, it’s time to transition into Austin’s famous nightlife. In this city full of college students and musicians, there’s no shortage of places to wet your whistle.

There are bars of all shapes, sizes, and styles in the Texas capital!

I recommend just heading to 6th Street for a stroll to see what catches your eye. You won’t find many Happy Hours on a weekend in Austin, but you can catch live music just about everywhere.

One place that’s definitely worth checking out is the Firehouse Lounge. It’s located just off 6th Street in an old fire station. Find the secret entrance to this cool speakeasy and enjoy Prohibition-era cocktails with live jazz and blues.

When spending 2 days in Austin, one simply must eat barbecue. This culinary art form is an important part of the culture here, and locals are proud of their legendary barbecue.

I haven’t spent enough time in Austin to try and proclaim what the best BBQ in town is. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the famous Stubb’s. They usually have live music here as well, so it’s a one-stop-shop for a fun evening in Austin.

Other popular places to get your BBQ fix downtown include Cooper’s Old-Time Pit Barbecue, Iron Works, and Gebby’s. If you want to try the legendary beef brisket at Franklin Barbecue, you’ll have to get up early and wait in a long line. But, it’s worth it!

No matter when you visit for a weekend in Austin, there’s sure to be tons of live music going on. Whether you’re into rock, funk, jazz, bluegrass, hip hop, electronic, or just about any other style of music, there’s a place for you in Austin.

I recommend checking out this calendar of events in the city to better help you plan where you want to spend your time and money. The last thing you want to do is wait in line and pay a cover charge only to end up in a place where you hate the music!

Day 2 in Austin

Now that you’ve checked off many of the big sights, it’s time for some further exploration outside of Austin’s downtown area. I’ll give you some solid options for the end of this weekend in Austin.

But first, brunch.

Morning

You might be feeling a little rough around the edges after a big night out in Austin. That’s why we’re starting day two out with a leisurely brunch.

My recommendation goes to the area just south of the river known as SoCo (South Congress). Within a few blocks, you’ll find some of the city’s best brunch spots.

A classic choice is the South Congress Cafe. Try their famous short rib hash or eggs benedict with crab cakes. If you need a little hair of the dog, champagne bottles are 10% off on the weekend. Get those mimosas flowing!

Other excellent options in the area include Cafe No Se, June’s, and Magnolia Cafe. Wherever you eat, get ready for a little stroll around the area in search of street art and boutique shops.

Head up to Jo’s Coffee, where you can snap a pic with the “I Love You So Much” wall. Walk a block south to check out one of my personal favorites, the “Willie For President” mural.

You can also grab some chalk and scribble a message on the nearby Before I Die Wall. Write something that’s on your bucket-list then get to work checking it off!

While you’re in the area, make sure to see the Greetings From Austin mural. Go ahead and get your necessary shot for the ‘gram with this iconic mural. Show everyone just how much fun you’re having with your 2 days in Austin!

Down in SoCo you’ll also find plenty of nice cafes, galleries, and boutiques.

It’s definitely an area you can linger for a while. We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover on this Austin itinerary, though, so let’s keep it moving.

Note: If you’re really into street art, there are some fantastic pieces to see in East Austin. Explore on foot for a couple of hours to offtrack areas that you won’t find in your guidebook. Click here to learn more about this highly-rated experience — it’s one you won’t’ want to miss!

Afternoon

Enjoying the great outdoors is a must when traveling to Austin. Thankfully you don’t have to go very far to do so! Here are a few different options for spending an afternoon outside:

Zilker Metropolitan Park – This huge city park is the perfect place to go on a beautiful day in Austin. Here you can go for a stroll along one of the trails or just take a dip in the Barton Springs Pool.

The park is also home to a really nice botanical garden. It only costs $3 to visit, so you might as well go for it. Same for the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, which at $3.50 is a total steal for all the amazing sculptures you get to see.

Fun in the Water – You can also take in the sights from the water in a rented kayak, canoe, or SUP (stand-up paddleboard). If you’re in more of a “sit back, relax and drink beer” state of mind, go for some good old fashioned tubing down the river! Learn more about that here.

Lady Bird Lake – There’s a scenic 10-mile long hike-and-bike trail here that makes for a great outing. Just click here to download a map of the trail.

There’s also a mile-long boardwalk if you’re looking for something a bit more relaxing. Be sure to check out the interesting Belting It Out art installation here, which features belts engraved with lyrics from Texas musicians.

Whatever option you choose, you won’t have to go far to find a good lunch spot. If you visit the lake, you won’t be too far from the legendary Rosita’s Al Pastor.

Over near the park, there are plenty of restaurants on Barton Springs Road. There’s also the Picnic — a food truck park with several choices. Here you can find Italian, Thai, New Orleans style po’ boys and gumbo, and more.

Evening

If your weekend in Austin happens between March and November, you have to see the bats on your last evening in town.

About half an hour before sunset, over a million bats fly out from crevices in the bridge!

You can find a spot on the hill below the bridge to take in the spectacle or sign up for a tour to see them from a kayak or SUP. Austin even has an annual Bat Fest in August. I told you their slogan was “Keep Austin Weird!”

Learn more about the tours with bats flying above — on a kayak, SUP tour, or segway tour.

Another option for your final evening in Austin is taking a river cruise.

Capital Cruises has a few different cruises, including a bat watching and sunset tour for $12 per person. They can also set you up with a private dinner cruise. Head to their website to check out all the options.

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for dining and nightlife to wrap up your weekend in Austin, head on over to Rainey Street. It’s famous for the many bars set in historic, bungalow-style homes.

A fantastic dinner choice here is Emmer & Rye. In addition to their innovative menu of seasonal specialties, they also have a dim sum cart rolling around.

If you’re into beers and sausages, you can head to nearby Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden. With 30 different homemade sausages and over 200 beers on tap, the possibilities are endless here!

With the remainder of your final night in town, just walk around Rainey Street and pop into whatever place looks and sounds good. On any given weekend in Austin, there are always tons of choices for live music and good times!

Insider’s Tips for a Weekend in Austin

There you have it. I’ve set you up nicely for an awesome 2 days in Austin. Before we wrap things up, here are a few tips to ensure you enjoy your weekend to the fullest:

Skip the car – While some people like to rent a car for their visit to Austin, I don’t find this necessary. First of all, having to be responsible for a vehicle limits your enjoyment of a weekend in Austin. You’ll have to worry about parking and won’t be able to indulge in the city’s famous breweries and bars.

It’s easy enough to get around Austin by catching the bus, calling an occasional Uber, and maybe renting a bike for a few hours. Let other people worry about driving and have yourself some fun!

Book a table – Austin is a pretty bumping place on the weekend. It’s a popular tourist destination and locals love going out here as well. Avoid disappointment by booking a table where possible at some of the places listed in this guide.

Check the calendar – As I mentioned, there’s always something going on here. Austin has festivals all throughout the year and there’s live music every night. Be sure to check and see what’s playing so you can make a game plan and buy tickets if necessary.

Pace yourself – It’s easy to go into a food coma or get a bit tipsy in Austin. You will want to eat and drink all the things here, but it’s key to pace yourself when doing so! Don’t forget that water is your friend and it’s OK to eat a vegetable or two in between all the BBQ and tacos.

Getting to Austin

Many visitors arrive at Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which is 5 miles southeast of downtown. There are quite a few options for getting to your accommodation from the airport.

By Bus

You know this city rocks when you walk out of the airport and see a giant neon guitar for a bus stop. This is where you can hop on the Capital Metro bus to reach downtown, the University of Texas campus, and Northeast Austin.

The bus runs 7 days a week and leaves every 15 minutes.

It’s only $1.25 for a one-way ticket, or you can grab a day pass for $2.50 that’s good on all other routes. If you need to transfer to another route to reach your hotel, be sure to grab the day pass.

Taxi/Rideshare

Other options include taking a shared shuttle, getting a taxi, or using rideshare apps. A cab ride downtown from the airport costs around $30-35 these days.

It’s usually a bit cheaper to use Uber or Lyft if you have an account and a working phone.

Rent a Car

With just a weekend in Austin, it’s certainly not a bad idea to just rent a car. This gives you the freedom to move around the city as you please and more easily reach destinations outside of the center.

That being said, the city has solid options for public transportation. It’s also a great place for cycling and there are several shops renting bikes out as well as a bike-share program.

Arriving to Austin By Train or Inter-city Bus

If you’re already traveling in the US, you also have the option of arriving in Austin by train or bus. The Texas Eagle Amtrak line stops in Austin and continues as far as both Los Angeles and Chicago.

Several different bus companies have routes that go through Austin, including Greyhound and Megabus. If you book

Megabus tickets early enough they’re super cheap. I think we went from New Orleans to Houston to Austin for about $10 each!

Best Places to Stay for a Weekend in Austin

There are a few solid choices when it comes to areas to stay for a weekend in Austin.

If you’re in town for a bachelor or bachelorette party (which are huge here), then the Rainey Street Historic District is a great option. This area is known for its many bars in remodeled bungalows.

Another popular area to stay in for 2 days in Austin is South Congress.

Located just across the river from downtown, the area called SoCo is full of amazing street art and performers. Your Instagram feed will be on point if you base yourself here for the weekend!

Just a few blocks west is the Zilker neighborhood. Home to the city’s massive Zilker Metropolitan Park, this is the place to be if you’re hoping to spend most of your time outdoors.

While all of these are quality choices, my recommendation for a weekend in Austin goes to staying downtown. More specifically, the few blocks known as the Red River Culture District gets my vote.

This small but tight-knit neighborhood is the epicenter of Austin’s live music scene.

There are several fantastic restaurants, bars, and clubs here, meaning you can bounce around to different places and have a short walk home at the end of the night.

During the day, you’re just a few blocks away from the Texas Capitol and a short stroll down to the river. In short, it’s the perfect home base for an Austin weekend trip.

I realize that being surrounded by live music bars isn’t for everyone. Never fear — there are plenty of places to stay downtown if you prefer a quieter evening.

Here are some of the best options for accommodation in downtown Austin — a budget, mid-range, and luxury choice to satisfy all budgets:

Budget: Firehouse Hostel

Mid-Range: Element Austin Downtown

Luxury: Westin Austin Downtown

Of course, another great option is to book an Airbnb and have the place to yourself or rent a room. Click here to see the options available in Austin, and don’t forget your $55 coupon here.

Now You’re Ready For Austin

As you can see, you’re in for a treat when you spend a weekend in Austin.

There’s always something going on in this city, which is home to a wonderful blend of students, musicians, artists, techies, and entrepreneurs.

From massive festivals like Austin City Limits to the annual Bat Fest, it’s an eclectic mix of events here. Whether you travel there during a festival or not, you’re bound to have a good time in Austin.

If you’ve been to Austin and have some recommendations on what to do, where to eat, and bars to party it up at, leave a comment and let us hear about it!

Images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

The post Weekend in Austin: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary appeared first on Goats On The Road.

Weekend in Austin: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary published first on https://travelaspire.weebly.com/

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trentteti · 6 years

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Blueprint's Guide to LSAT Test Centers, Winter 2019

Winter 2019 Update: With LSAC amending their list of test centers for the January 2019 LSAT, we decided to update our guide to LSAC’s test centers. Below, we have every information on every test center within a 100 mile radius of the locations where we hold our classroom courses. This is our most comprehensive guide to date.

So we want to help you out. You’re working so hard to improve your LSAT score, it would be a shame to have that not be reflected in your actual LSAT score, just because you were forced to work at a tiny desk, or there was construction outside the building, or because the proctors couldn’t keep their mouths shut when they were supposed to. We’ve done some sleuthing, and we’ve found as much information as we could for the testing centers where we offer our classroom courses.

We’ve also assigned a rating to each testing center. You can probably figure it out, but just in case, here’s the very complicated rating system we devised:

:) :) :) = Reports are uniformly positive; sign up ASAP, before this testing center fills up

:) = Reports are generally positive; you’ll probably have a fine time taking the LSAT here

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ = We don’t have enough information to make a recommendation, or the reviews are generally mixed

:( = Reports are generally negative, or there’s such a major drawback to this location that you should think twice before signing up here

:( :( :( = Reports are uniformly negative; don’t take the LSAT here unless you absolutely have to

LSAT Test Center Reviews

Jump directly to the location of your choice using the following links:

Arizona: Phoenix

California: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Fullerton, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pasadena, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco

District of Columbia: Washington, D.C.

Florida: Miami

Illinois: Chicago

Massachusetts: Boston

New York: Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia

Texas: Austin, Houston

Washington: Seattle

ARIZONA

PHOENIX

Gateway Community College (Phoenix, Arizona)

Rating: :)

Arizona Summit Law School (Phoenix, Arizona)

Rating: :)

Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona)

Rating: :)

Southwest College of Natropathic Medicine (Tempe, Arizona)

Notes: We couldn’t find much on this testing center. We did learn that there’s enough of a market for “natropathic” medicine in Tempe to support an entire college, for what that’s worth.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Marriott Phoenix Airport (Phoenix, Arizona)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

CALIFORNIA

BERKELEY

Berkeley City College (Berkeley, California)

Notes: Not a lot of information on Berkeley City College, but it looks to appear to have modern facilities, which bode well for favorable test conditions.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Alameda County Training & Education Center (Oakland, California)

Notes: Seems like this is a new test center, but photos on Yelp suggest that the rooms will be small and the desks will be big. Looks like parking is off-site and a little expensive though.

Rating: :)

California Ballroom/Conference Center (Oakland, California)

Notes: Most conference and convention centers are nonstarter s– the massive amount of test takers these locations handle means the exams there can start hours after the check-in time. But apparently if the conference center is also a fancy ballroom, things can work in a more orderly fashion. Reviews are generally positive for this Oakland ballroom, where the proctors keep things moving on time and in step. Test takers also enjoy plenty desk space and the room is kept pretty quiet.

Rating: :)

Samuel Merritt University-Health Education Center (Oakland, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

College of Alameda (Alameda, California)

Rating: :)

John F. Kennedy University School of Law (Pleasant Hill, California)

Rating: :)

Marriott Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek, California)

Notes: No info on this one, but hotels can be extremely risky. You never know if you’ll be sharing space a particularly lit business conference, so sign up for this center at your own risk.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

DAVIS

McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (Sacramento, California)

Rating: :)

Lincoln Law School of Sacramento (Sacramento, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Folsom Lake College (Folsom, California)

Rating: :)

Humphreys College – Drivon School of Law (Stockton, California)

Rating: :)

California Northern School of Law (Chico, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

California State University, Chico (Chico, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

IRVINE

Irvine Valley College (Irvine, California)

Notes: You’ll sharing a large classroom with somewhere between 25 and 50 aspiring lawyers, giving you more than enough desk space to lay out your test book, answer sheet, pencils, and analog wrist watch. You’ll be comfortable, the lighting will be good, and the center will be very quiet. Parking will be easy to find, but some say you’ll have to fork up between $5 and $10 to get it. Also, there’s only one kiosk to get that parking pass, so you’ll be getting to the testing center early, if you know what’s up. You may have an overzealous proctor. You’ll finish the exam, remember that you’re in Irvine, and that you’ll have to drive 15-20 minutes to find a bar that’s not inside a chain restaurant.

Rating: :)

Western State University College of Law at Argosy University (Irvine, California)

Rating: :)

Irvine Marriott (Irvine, California)

Notes: Not a lot of information about the Irvine Marriott. What happens in the Irvine Marriott, stays in the Irvine Marriott, apparently. But our usual caveat for hotels applies: there will probably be activity at the hotel — it is a place for vacationers, traveling businesspeople, and, heaven forbid, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and quinceañeras, after all — so a quiet room is no guarantee. At least this location appears to have large desks.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

FULLERTON

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (Orange, California)

Rating: :)

Top

LOS ANGELES

Loyola Law School (Los Angeles, California)

Notes: The rooms have either large shared desks or, if you’re lucky, individual desks. Either way, you’ll have plenty of space to cook. The rooms are also kept dead silent.

Rating: :)

Southwestern Law School (Los Angeles, California)

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)

Notes: Another one no longer used for the LSAC, but this one was pretty good. It had some of the issues associated with large public universities — having to navigate a byzantine campus, the risk of being put into a huge classroom, getting a small desk — but otherwise, this location was pretty good. Reliably quite, according to reports, and comfortable seats. If LSAC brings CSULA back, we can give it a tentative endorsement.

Rating: :)

University of West Los Angeles (Inglewood, California)

Rating: :) :) :)

Top

NORTHRIDGE

California State University, Northridge (Northridge, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

University of West Los Angeles (Chatsworth, California)

Rating: :)

University of California, Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, California)

Rating: :(

Top

PASADENA

Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

DOV Educational Services (Burbank, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

Top

RIVERSIDE

La Sierra University (Riverside, California)

Rating: :)

La Verne University (Ontario, California)

Notes: Feel the Verne. No literally, you’ll feel it. It will be very hot if you take the LSAT here in June or September. Fortunately, they do a good job of creating a hospitable testing center at La Verne. You’ll be in a classroom with 25 other students and you’ll have a big, shared desk to work on. The seats are comfortable, the temp and lighting are on point, and the environs are quiet. And, the icing on this proverbial cake: the parking is free and plentiful.

Rating: :)

California State University, San Bernadino (San Bernadino, California)

Rating: :)

University of Redlands (Redlands, California)

Rating: :)

Top

SAN DIEGO

California Western School of Law (San Diego, California)

Rating: :) :) :)

Thomas Jefferson School of Law (San Diego, California)

Rating: :) :) :)

San Diego State University (San Diego, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

Junipero Serra High School (San Diego, California)

Notes: Surprisingly, San Diego’s newest test center is a high school. Not much info on this center yet, but it is … you know … a high school. You might end up taking this test in a location that’s far too reminiscent of the place you took your sophomore chemistry final. But this particular high school, known colloquially as just “Serra,” has the problematically-named mascot “The Conquistador,” which — if you can ignore all the bad stuff the conquistadors did — might give you some motivation to vanquish the LSAT.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

SAN FRANCISCO

University of San Francisco (San Francisco, California)

Rating: :(

San Francisco Law School (San Francisco, California)

Rating: :)

Skyline College (San Bruno, California)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, California)

Rating: :( :( :(

Santa Rosa Junior College (Santa Rosa, California)

Rating: :)

Empire College School of Law (Santa Rosa, California)

Rating: :)

Top

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Howard University (Washington, D.C.)

Rating: :( :( :(

International Trade Center (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on the testing rooms inside the building itself, but there was some online chatter about getting to the building. The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Building is the second-largest government building in the nation, and as such is sprawling, heavily secured, and host to a ton of activity. You’ll have to pass through security to get in, and walk some distance to find the check-in point. If you’re taking the exam here, budget extra time for all of that. You can’t, of course, count on Reagan-ing your way to the center.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Marriott Washington Wardman Park (Washington, D.C.)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.)

Rating: :(

Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, D.C.)

Rating: :)

Trinity Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

Notes: Not must information on this university, and we’re not sure if any of the info we did find was TWU (sorry).

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

American University (Washington, D.C.)

Rating: :) :) :)

Marymount University (Arlington, Virginia)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, Maryland)

Notes: This is the only year-round test center in the DMV, but reports are negative. Tiny, tiny desks are chief among the complaints here, but uncomfortable chairs are often mentioned as well.

Rating: :(

Northern Virginia Community College – Springfield (Springfield, Virginia)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Northern Virginia Community College – Annandale (Annandale, Virginia)

Rating: :( :( :(

Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold, Maryland)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland)

Rating: :)

University of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland)

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of this test center. We wish people who took the LSAT at the University of Baltimore would B-More forthcoming, but what can you do?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, Maryland)

Rating: :(

Lord Fairfax Community College (Middleton, Virginia)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Towson University (Towson, Maryland)

Rating: :) :) :)

McDaniel College (Westminster, Maryland)

Rating: :( :( :(

Harford Community College (Bel Air, Maryland)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

FLORIDA

MIAMI

Miami International University of Art & Design (Miami, Florida)

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on this testing center yet …You could say that this info about MIU are MIA.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – Medical Center Campus (Miami, Florida)

Rating: :)

Talmudic College of Florida (Miami Beach, Florida)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Barry University (Miami Shores, Florida)

Notes: Details are Barry scarce for this center, which is Barry frustrating, because usually year-round testing centers have tons of Barry informative reviews.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – North Campus (Miami, Florida)

Rating: :(

Florida International University (Miami, Florida)

Rating: :) :) :)

Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Rating: :(

St. Thomas University School of Law (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Rating: :) :) :)

Miami Dade College – West Campus (Doral, Florida)

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on this testing center yet. Not even a picture of a classroom. This center may or may not exist.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Miami Dade College – Hialeah Campus (Hialeah, Florida)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Notes: We couldn’t find any information on Nova Southeastern, née “Nova.” But “Nova” literally translates to “don’t go,” so … maybe they’re trying to tell us something?

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Broward College – Central Testing (Davie, Florida)

Rating: :)

Florida Atlantic University – Davie Campus (Davie, Florida)

Notes: You should approach this one with caution. The reports regarding the main Jupitor campus of FAU are wanting, so it’s reasonable to expect more of the same at the Davie campus.

Rating: :(

Miami Dade College – Homestead Campus (Homestead, Florida)

Offered in: July and September 2018

Notes: There aren’t any online reports of this testing center that we could find. However, it’s a smaller campus that looks easily navigable.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Broward College – North (Coconut Creek, Florida)

Rating: :(

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida)

Notes: There’s not a lot of information about FAU’s main campus, but the usual caveats for large public universities apply: parking can be expensive, the campus can be sprawling, the path to your check-in point may be tough to follow, the rooms may be loud, and the desks may be small. On the other hand, I don’t want to be the one who keeps you out of Del Boca Vista.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Florida Atlantic University at Jupiter (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Rating: :( :( :(

Top

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO

John Marshall Law School (Chicago, Illinois)

Offered in: February, June, September, and December

Rating: :)

University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

Rating: :(

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (Chicago, Illinois)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

DePaul University (Chicago, Illinois)

Notes: A nice temperate environment, with long tables to work at, and the room stays pretty quiet. Some reports say the proctors can be a little shaky, but overall, a quality testing center.

Rating: :)

Kenwood Academy (Chicago, Illinois)

Rating: :)

Loyola University – Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

Rating: :(

Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois)

Rating: :)

Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, Illinois)

Rating: :)

College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

Rating: :(

College of Lake County – Southlake Campus (Vernon Hills, Illinois)

Rating: :(

Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Illinois)

Rating: :)

Top

MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON

Suffolk University Law School (Boston, Massachusetts)

Rating: :)

Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts)

Rating: :)

Boston Convention and Exhibition (Boston, Massachusetts)

Rating: :( :( :(

Boston University School of Law (Boston, Massachusetts)

Notes: The reviews for BU School of Law are mostly positive. Apparently some rooms had small fold-out desks, but most gave test takers plenty of space to work.

Rating: :)

Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)

Notes: Northeastern puts around 50 test takers into large lecture halls, which gives the test takers just enough space for a test booklet and answer sheet. If you want space for 50 additional pencils, we suppose you’re out of luck. The seats are somewhat comfortable and things are mostly kept quiet. There’s been the occasional proctor complaint, but that��s to be expected at a testing center as busy as this one. Parking will cost $5-$10.

Rating: :)

Boston College Law School (Newton, Massachusetts)

Offered in: February, June, and December

Rating: :)

Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts)

Notes: We couldn’t find anything on Brandeis University. Some would say its online … brand is … wanting.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Salem State University (Salem, Massachusetts)

Rating: :) :) :)

Middlesex Community College (Bedford, Massachusetts)

Rating: :( :( :(

Bridgewater State University (Bridgewater, Massachusetts)

Notes: The small desks and consistently slow proctors were definitely not water under the bridge to the many test takers who took to the internet to complain about these things.

Rating: :( :( :(

Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, Rhode Island)

Notes: The more recent reports suggest that this testing center features a lot of desk space and quiet rooms.

Rating: :)

Rhode Island College (Providence, Rhode Island)

Rating: :)

University of Massachusetts School of Law — Dartmouth (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of New Hampshire (Durham, New Hampshire)

Rating: :)

University of Rhode Island (Kingston, Rhode Island)

Rating: :(

Western New England College School of Law (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Rating: :) :) :)

Top

NEW YORK

BROOKLYN

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, New York)

Rating: :) :) :)

Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, New York)

Rating: :( :( :(

South Shore High School (Brooklyn, New York)

Notes: One of the few high schools utilized as an LSAT testing center. And with good reason. You might be at one of those half desks you sat at in high school, which can barely fit the answer sheet and test book. You might have flashbacks to high school. The reportedly distracting and discourteous proctors might remind you of your worst high school teacher. There will only be 20 students in the room, though, and the parking is easy.

Rating: :(

Touro College, Brooklyn Campus (Brooklyn, New York)

Notes: No info on the Touro College testing center online. Quick, guess what its mascot is. You thought it was the Bulls, right? Me too. We’re both dead wrong. They don’t have a mascot.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

City University of New York School of Law (Long Island City, New York)

Notes: Not a lot to go off of for this Queens law school. But let’s take a moment to discuss how having both CUNY schools and SUNY schools is confusing as hell, New York.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

LaGuardia Community College (Long Island City, New York)

Notes: Not many reports on this Queens testing center. Don’t worry though, it’s not so close to the airport that we’d expect plane noise to be a huge issue.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

LONG ISLAND

Touro Law Center – Long Island (Central Islip, New York)

Rating: :)

C.W. Post – Long Island University (Brookville, New York)

Rating: :) :) :)

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MANHATTAN

Pace University – New York City (New York, New York)

Rating: :( :( :(

Eleanor Roosevelt High School (New York, New York)

Rating: :)

New York Law School (New York, New York)

Rating: :) :) :)

Rutgers the State University – Newark (Newark, New Jersey)

Notes: Uniformly positive reports from the Newark, the city, campus of Rutgers, the State University. Most note the large desks, orderly process, and comfortable chairs.

Rating: :) :) :)

Hilton Newark Penn Station (Newark, New Jersey)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Wagner College (Staten Island, New York)

Rating: :) :) :)

Seton Hall University (South Orange, New Jersey)

Rating: :( :( :(

Bergen Community College (Paramus, New Jersey)

Rating: :)

Montclair State University (Montclair, New Jersey)

Rating: :)

William Paterson University (Wayne, New Jersey)

Notes: William Paterson may have signed off on the U.S. Constitution, but we cannot sign off on you taking the exam here. The desks are far too small, which sinks an otherwise solid test center.

Rating: :(

Rutgers – The State University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

Rating: :(

Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, New Jersey)

SUNY – New Paltz (New Paltz, New York)

Rating: :)

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QUEENS

St. John’s University (Jamaica, New York)

Rating: :(

Queens College (Flushing, New York)

Rating: :)

Hofstra University (Hempstead, New York)

Notes: Free parking, organized proctors, a ton of desk space to work, very little to complain about at Hofstra.

Rating: :) :) :)

Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Rating: :( :( :(

Marist College (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Rating: :)

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PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA

Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Pennsylvania Law School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Notes: UPenn’s law school gets rave reviews, with most reviewers noting the comfortable testing environment, spacious desks, and laid-back-in-a-good-way proctors.

Rating: :) :) :)

Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :(

Rutgers the State University – Camden (Camden, New Jersey)

Rating: :) :) :)

La Salle University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :(

Holy Family College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :)

Villanova University (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

Notes: Nova is literally Spanish for “Don’t go,” but reviews are mixed for this test location. Most agree you’ll be in a small room and that the proctors can be a little anal. Other than that … it seems like people have wild(cat)ly different experiences depending on the test day. Roll the dice with this one only if you’re feeling lucky.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cheyney Univeristy (Cheyney, Pennsylvania)

Notes: Reviews are a little outdated, and the old write-ups are decidedly mixed.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Penn State University – Lehigh Valley (Center Valley, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :)

The College of New Jersey (Ewing Township, New Jersey)

Rating: :(

Mercer County Community College (West Windsor, New Jersey)

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware)

Rating: :(

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (Galloway, New Jersey)

Notes: Here’s an actual quote from colonial-era jurist and Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton: “The public is generally unthankful, and I never will become a Servant of it, till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man.” Good to know that the college that shares his name honors the spirit of his DGAF attitude when it administers the LSAT. Although the reviews on record are quite old, they all state the chairs are torturous and the desks provide either just barely enough room or not enough room to work, depending on the room you’re placed in.

Rating: :(

Lehigh University (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :)

Muhlenberg College (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :)

Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

Rating: :)

Lafayette College (Easton, Pennsylvania)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware)

Rating: :)

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TEXAS

AUSTIN

Austin Community College (Austin, Texas)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Huston – Tillotson University (Austin, Texas)

Notes: Small desks, noisy conditions, stuffy rooms, overly lax proctors. Reports of people actually eating during the exam. Avoid.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)

Rating: :)

Southwestern University (Georgetown, Texas)

Rating: :) :) :)

Texas State University (San Marcos, TX)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)

Rating: :) :) :)

University of Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: Another good testing center in San Antonio. The (incarnate) word on this one is very comfortable chairs, very quiet testing conditions, ample desk space. Oh and free parking.

Rating: :) :) :)

Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, Texas)

Rating: :) :) :)

Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, Texas)

Notes: We haven’t heard anything, from the lake lady or anyone else, about this location.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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HOUSTON

South Texas College of Law (Houston, Texas)

Rating: :)

Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas)

Rating: :)

University of Houston (Houston, Texas)

Notes: There are several testing centers at the University of Houston. This is the main, year-round location (Test Center Code 12561, f.k.a. University of Houston – University Park). You should know this, because you probably want to avoid this particular location. A Hous-ton of complaints about this center: big auditorium, small desks, cramped quarters, stuffy rooms, overly lax proctors, long waits for the restroom.

Rating: :( :( :(

University of Houston – Downtown (Houston, Texas)

Rating: :(

University of Houston – Clear Lake (Houston, Texas)

Notes: We couldn’t find any reviews of the Clear Lake location of the University of Houston. But its proximity to the Houston Space Center could lead one to deduce that it is out of this world.

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Prairie View A & M University (Prairie View, Texas)

Rating: :)

Sam Houston State University (Hunstville, Texas)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Baylor University (Waco, Texas)

Notes: Positive, if a bit old, reviews for Baylor. Test takers were especially jazzed on the comfortable chairs and ample table space. The only downside is the distance from Houston.

Rating: :)

Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)

Rating: :( :( :(

Top

WASHINGTON

SEATTLE

Seattle University School of Law (Seattle, Washington)

Rating: :)

University of Washington School of Law (Seattle, Washington)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Shoreline Community College (Shoreline, Washington)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Everett Community College (Everett, Washington)

Rating: :) :) :)

Western Washington University (Bellingham, Washington)

Rating: :) :) :)

Central Washington University (Ellensburg, Washington)

Notes: The rooms are on the larger side — about 70 students per room — but the proctors manage to keep them quiet and secure, according to reports.

Rating: :)

Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington)

Rating: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Top

Blueprint’s Guide to LSAT Test Centers, Winter 2019 was originally published on LSAT Blog

#LSAT #Test Anxiety #test centers #test day #trent teti #lsat

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mariemary1 · 6 years

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How Instagram Helps Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit to Serve Over 250,000 Customers Per Year

Snap, filter, post, then eat. If you’re a millennial, Instagramming your meals is probably a guilty pleasure, and an occasional part of your mealtime routine.

Thanks to platforms like Instagram, we’re able to browse and discover cool restaurants, bars, and foods via social media.

And according to research by Zizzi, 18-35-year-olds spend five whole days a year browsing food images on Instagram, and 30 percent would avoid a restaurant if their Instagram presence was weak.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit is one of those businesses.

Callie’s now serves more than a quarter-of-a-million people at its events and eateries each year, and social media plays a big part in its growth.

Here’s how…

Embracing social media

“We had a business, so we needed an Instagram page,” Tarah Boyleston, Callie’s marketing and design lead explained to us.

“It’s a great feeling knowing you can connect to so many people with something as simple as biscuits.”

Focusing on high-quality content

Callie’s really started to go all-in on social media marketing at the beginning of 2018 as the team started to focus more on the quality of its content. Tarah especially focused on:

Sharing high-quality images

Writing fun, detailed captions

Using relevant hashtags on every post

“After making these changes, we watched our @callieshotlittlebiscuit account organically grow by the thousands per month,” Tarah told us.

Tarah Boyleston Marketing & Design, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

Spreading its message locally, and nationally

“Our social channels are truly the voice of our brand,” Tarah explained.

By thinking outside of the local areas in which it operates, Callie’s has been able to grow a brand that’s recognized by biscuit-lovers across the U.S. (and even further afield).

Working with partners and influencers

The event in Texas isn’t the only time Callie’s has worked with partners and influencers. In fact, it’s a staple part of their social media strategy.

“We love partnering with brands that share our values because it allows our followers to learn about amazing artisans and it brings new followers to us,” Tarah explained.

“Our largest events have been in partnership with amazing groups such as Create and Cultivate (500+ person event) and a seated dinner for 100 during Charleston Wine + Food week.”

And when it comes to launching new eateries, partnerships and influencer campaigns play a big role in establishing a new, local audience:

Pro tip: Run small, exclusive events for followers

Tarah Boyleston Marketing & Design, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

How your business can use social media to drive offline sales

Tarah also shared four pro-tips for businesses that are looking to use social media to drive footfall and sales offline:

1. Be consistent

“Have a consistent online presence. The more followers see you, the more you will be on their minds when they’re looking for something to do on the weekend.”

2. Share information often.

“In a world of constant scrolling and swiping, you want to make things effortless for your followers,” Tarah shared.

3. Boost with ads

4. Go behind-the-scenes

“Lastly, give your customers and followers a piece of your personal life,” Tarah recommended.

If you’re looking to learn more about how to grow your business using email, social media, and more, check out our new series: The 5-Part Small Business Marketing Playbook.

Over the course of five days, you’ll receive top tips, strategies, and best practices around making the most out of your small business marketing and social media campaigns. Proudly brought to you by the folks at Mailchimp, Square, WooCommerce, and Buffer.

Thank How Instagram Helps Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit to Serve Over 250,000 Customers Per Year for first publishing this post.

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kristencyg507-blog · 7 years

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After Great Loss, It's Generosity That Sees Us With.

Keep up to date with our newest information and also receive brand-new words updates, post, and also more. After that it is just generosity that makes sense any longer, only compassion that links your footwears and also sends you out into the day to gaze at bread, just compassion that increases its head from the group of the globe to say It is I you have been looking for, then chooses you everywhere like a good friend or a shadow. When this episode of Compassion mores than, directly over to his Spotify playlist of Senator Jimmy D's biggest hits. Self-compassion is treating yourself with the very same compassion and also care you would certainly treat a friend," says Kristin Neff, a teacher of psychology at the College of Texas at Austin and the leading scientist in the growing area of self-compassion. As well as though the impacts of generosity can not be determined, I trust that when we cross social separates to befriend each other, the power of disgust is overcome with the power of love. But when pre-schoolers at the Center for Exploring Healthy Minds at the College of Wisconsin participated in a curriculum that had them consider the advantages of compassion - and utilized re-enforcers like giving a kid a sticker in a compassion yard" poster for being nice - the anticipated shift toward selfishness as they went into kindergarten at age 5 was reduced the effects of. So, folks, whether your generosity comes naturally or it takes a little press to get it going, it doesn't matter. For many people, generosity is not component of their on a daily basis vocabulary and also ideally, this partnership could assist alter that - for individuals who deserve to be commemorated for their own acts of compassion or that are seriously seeking kindness on their own. Staff member acts of compassion consist of arbitrarily distributing bunches of blossoms, spending for individuals's acquisitions in cafes, hairdressers as well as shops, offering coffees in the high street, spending for a bus path for the day, offering muffins as well as bacon sandwiches to the neighborhood authorities and fire station, and providing cost-free snacks at the movie theater. Jaden ended up being Life Vest Inside's youngest Compassion Ambassador throughout the year-long United States tour and also he spoke with kids about just what The Compassion Trip suggested to him personally and how youngsters could motivate significant modification worldwide. For more in regards to simply click the following site have a look at the web-page. Groups, companies, federal government companies and others likewise are picking a different week of the year for their staff members to conduct generosity surges," with police officers at the neighborhood jail taking the first week. The Tranquility First Prize identifies 5 youngsters between the ages of 8-22 for their courage, capability and compassion to develop collective modification. Prior to you know what compassion really is you must shed things, feel the future liquify in a moment like salt in a damaged broth. Instead, after much gazing and also sighing, we're entrusted an instead extra undermined use guts and also kindness. Another good friend and also fellow mother, Becca Schwartz, supplied to help transform the graphic into physical indicators as well as offer them for an affordable cost to help spread out the message of compassion. Tim Coleman has operated in education and learning for 16 years and is the daddy of 2 youngsters, ages 3 as well as 5. And must you want to make the subtler and softer side of yoga method your foundation, think about Yin, Restorative, or Nidra classes. One basic method of recognizing or demonstrating compassion is to reveal appreciation to handy editors by means of the (give thanks to) button. To assist you do that, he provides 22 short phases concerning how compassion could make a long-term difference in your house, workplace, community, and also institution. With over 300 recommendations including acts of generosity, philanthropic donations and also even more, Acts of Compassion let's you post your good deeds to social networks to inspire others. Like the majority of clinical antidepressants, generosity stimulates the production of serotonin. I went to regarding 5 stores searching for the ideal coat since many were out of stock or means overpriced. As its name suggests, Kindness Hot Yoga exercise is practiced in a reasonably warmed, humidified area and also leads pupils with a detoxifying mix of reinforcing, extending as well as balancing presents that is both challenging and also relaxing. Taking part in acts of kindness generates endorphins-- the mind's all-natural pain reliever! Tiny Generosity assists whenever feasible to reconstruct your homes of targets that have actually been damaged or damaged throughout times of dispute. A timeless spiritual text from one of the best Indian teachers, Sri Ramana Maharshi, A stunning edition with wonderful pictures and quotes.

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houstonlocalus-blog · 7 years

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HoF in Austin: Review of Jack Allen’s Kitchen on SH 71

Post from HankOnFood.com Leave a comment/read the entire post here

Part of the benefits of Road Trips is the ability to try local places that you do not have in the place where you live. One of the things that Chains and Corporate Culture has done is watered down much of the road cuisine and culture you could have found off of any Interstate, US Highway or State Road. However, Social Media, the local food movement and folks wanting something different from what Canadian author Douglas Coupland called "Generica" in his Magnum Opus Generation X has led to a resurgence in good, albeit higher end local cuisine that can be found on many a road trip around the country. One show I must confess I DVR and watch regularly for good road food around Texas is Good Taste with Tanji Patton. Tanji's show focuses on the Southern Texas Triangle of Food in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, and parts inside and surrounding said Triangle. I had the pleasure of serving as a Judge at the Grand Tasting first round at Woodlands Wine and Food Week last year, which was fun--and she was a hoot let me tell you! I mention her because I first heard about Shaggy-haired Southern Texas Chef extraordinaire Jack Gilmore on her show. Jack Gilmore is well known for great food, a big grin, a lot of locally sourced ingredients and serving Texas Craft beer at his restaurant Jack Allens' Kitchen. 80% of his raw materials come from local farms in and around the Austin area. That is something that is important to me, and is part of the reason why we made sure to eat a meal at his restaurant. A little more background per his website: Signature Pimiento Cheese at Jack Allen'sAt Jack Allen’s Kitchen, you’ll find refined Southern-inspired flavors, crossed with the spice of southwestern cuisine. The bounty yielded from each season and the dedication of every farmer and purveyor chef/owner Jack Gilmore and his team come in contact with, serves as the daily inspiration and reveals the rich history and evolution of Texan cuisine. Every meal begins with a plate of the signature pimiento cheese and flatbread crackers, a “welcome to JAK” hospitable gesture that is never overlooked. A dynamic lineup of wine, beer and seasonally driven cocktails are also available to quench patrons’ thirst. Our crew at Jack Allen’s Kitchen’s is chosen for their culinary knowledge, hospitable nature and, of course, sense of humor. They are there to ensure your experience at JAK is a memorable one. Cultivating a healthy community through charity and comforting them with great food is Jack’s mantra, and now part of the culture at Jack Allen’s Kitchen. Jack and his team couldn’t do what they do without the incredible food that Texas purveyors (farmers, brewers, ranchers and more) put out each season. Whenever there is an opportunity to give back, big or small, Jack and his team are there to help those in need and pay homage to the folks that make Texas so damn tasty.Jack Gilmore reminds me a bit of a Houston area fella with the initials L.E., which already ingratiates him to me. Tanji Patton's recommendation sets good precedent as well. And as they said on their website, they have been serving Texas Craft beer since they opened in 2009. As we perused the menus, I enjoyed a Thirsty Goat Amber from Austin-based Thirsty Planet Brewing. At 30 IBU, this is a slightly hoppy, reddish-amber coloured beer--in fact I almost mistook it for a Red Ale. It was fairly rich, resinous, had a little bit of bite, was easy drinking, but had heavier gravity than a Pilsner or a Kölsch. I rated it 4 out of 5 on Untappd, meaning a very good specimen, one you should try when you get the opportunity. I will also add that this amber beer worked very well with the signature pimiento cheese and flatbread crackers served as a amuse bouche at Jack Allen's Kitchen. The pimiento is creamy yet chunky, slightly salty, has nice fresh, sweet pimiento peppers and is garnished with some chopped green onion stalks. And the flatbread crackers had a wonderful salty, savoury crunch! The family agreed this was a nice snack to start with as we checked out the menus, and it didn't take long for decisions to be made. Jason and Helena found the menu had plenty of good choices. After resisting the urge to order a full sized appetizer of the Pimiento Cheese, they each found something that appealed to their mood that afternoon. Jason wasn't too hungry, so he went with the kids menu Quesadilla, asked if they could add grilled chicken to it and they were amenable to that. He ordered it with the standard Russet fries and fresh ketchup. The portion was quite good for a kid's size and he gobbled it all up, no leftovers on the plate! He gave it two thumbs way up as he washed it all down with a Dr. Pepper. Helena, with her broader palate, went with the In The Bun section and chose a Grilled Veggie sandwich, which I would have called a Portobello mushroom cap burger! This is a whole wheat bun, stacked inside with a grilled portobella, zucchini, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, and Russian dressing. This Grilled Veggie sandwich looked good and from a distance you might think it was a loaded burger. Helena allowed me a bite and even though I am a meat lover, this Mushroom Burger works if I need to go for a few days without meat, or am just really craving Portobello caps. The Adults in the party had their own ideas about what they wanted. We'd been hoofing it around the UT-Austin Campus (HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!) and had worked up an appetite, so we ordered Jack's Green Chile Cheese Burger: 100% Texas beef patty grilled to order (medium rare here) topped with green chiles, cheese, dill pickles, and jalapeño mayonnaise, though I had them add lettuce and tomato to the burger. This is a juicy, meaty cheeseburger on a thick, fluffy bun that didn't come apart, held all the innards together quite well. The green chiles were fresh--more herbal than hot, still crunchy and the burger was prepared as ordered, so we were happy! Besides the burger, the Adults also ordered the 13 Spiced Chicken Pasta: red pepper linguini, spinach linguini, fresh jalapeños chipotle cream, and Cotija cheese. This is a spicy Tex-Mex take that departs from grilled chicken fettuccine Alfredo by a long country mile! The pasta is tomato and spinach based, giving it more colour, but the spice, the heat, the flavour kicks in hard! If you like a spicy pasta dish, you will love this for sure! And as you can see from the photo, those long sliced jalapeños are fresh, raw and are hotter than the pickled variety. Again, this was no problem for us--we love some complexly flavoured spicy food that isn't just heat! I will also add that the Oak Hill location we visited was built into a converted building whose former use wasn't apparent, but included some huge skylights bringing in A LOT of natural light and making giving the place a nice warm feel to it. The staff was very friendly and willing to accommodate special requests. And the decor was a mix of Southern classic wood furniture, reclaimed and repurposed building materials, and a lot of cool Texana-based artwork all over the walls. It felt like an abstract, cool, funky homage to the Austin area, and we liked it quite well. Overall a great meal, at an easygoing pace (y'all know how I simply LOVE a late lunch, off-peak, with a leisurely pace). I want to thank Jack Gilmore and the staff at Jack Allen's kitchen for their great food and friendly service. Without a doubt, we will be back one of the next times we are in the Austin area! Report Card for Jack Allen's Kitchen: Food/Beverage: Call ZZ Top, we gonna Party on the Patio!!! Thirsty Goat Amber: A Kids' Quesadillas: A Grilled Veggie sandwich: A+ Green Chile Burger: A+ 13 Spiced Grilled Chicken Pasta: A+ Service: Speed: A- Friendliness: A+ Cleanliness: Dining Area: A+ Restrooms: A Atmosphere: Texana Kitsch Modern: A Overall Grade: Solid A Jack Allen's Kitchen has 3 Austin area locations, with a fourth coming soon! We went to the location at: 7720 Highway 71 West Belly up to the Bar!!!Austin, TX 78735 512.852.8558 Hours Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Happy Hour Monday-Friday: 3-7 p.m. **featuring half-priced appetizers plus drink specials Eat Happy, Y'all!!! 吃得开心!!! Hank

Post from HankOnFood.com Leave a comment/read the entire post here

HoF in Austin: Review of Jack Allen’s Kitchen on SH 71 this is a repost

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dietpillswatchdog · 7 years

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Biotrust Cravefix 96

Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a new supplement on the market and designed to help prevent food cravings. According to Biotrust this advanced appetite control formula will reduce your need to snack and comfort eat. We shine the Watchdog spotlight on Biotrust Cravefix 96 to find out more about this supplement.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a very new supplement from Biotrust a well-known nutritional supplements company based in Austin, Texas. At the time of writing, this supplement did not even have a designated product page on the official Biotrust website but is nonetheless attracting plenty of interest on the customer forum.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 Pros

Unlikely to cause side effects

Contains researched ingredient

Biotrust Cravefix 96 Cons

Interacts with prescription medications

May not be effective

Very limited information available

Watchdog Rejected Diet Pills

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What You Need To Know About Biotrust Cravefix 96

Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a new Biotrust supplement that at the time of writing had not even yet made it onto the official Biotrust website. Because it is only on sale via an affiliate site it looks like a scam but customers can be reassured that this is a real Biotrust supplement and not a fake product. That said Biotrust Cravefix 96 does not look terribly impressive. Effects of this appetite control supplement are unlikely to be earth shattering and the inclusion of naringin, a chemical found in grapefruit may cause serious interactions with prescription medication.

What Are The Side Effects Of Biotrust Cravefix 96?

Side effects may include fatigue, vomiting, poor appetite, weakness or frequent urination. You should avoid this supplement if you are taking prescription medication because it may cause interactions. Speak to your doctor first.

How Much Does Biotrust Cravefix 96 Cost?

Most Biotrust supplements cost the same and Biotrust Cravefix 96 is no exception. One bottle (60 ct) costs $49.00. This is one month’s supply and recommended for those with fewer than 10 lbs of weight to lose. Three bottles of Biotrust Cravefix 96 costs $84.00. Six bottles of Biotrust Cravefix 96 costs $204.

Our Verdict On Biotrust Cravefix 96

When we first saw Biotrust Cravefix 96 on sale from an affiliate website we thought it was a scam product designed to copy the well-known Biotrust brand! . However this is not the case. Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a genuine Biotrust supplement but is very new on the market so at the time of writing comes with very little in the way of real information including customer feedback.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 is supposed to act as a mild appetite suppressant in order to help you resist giving into food cravings. In our opinion it is unlikely to work very effectively. The principle ingredient Saffatrim is derived from saffron which is supposed to help prevent snacking but lacks very much evidence that it will work as described. In addition it contains grapefruit chemical Naringin which may have health benefits but is notorious at interacting with most prescription medications.

In our opinion this supplement will only suit a small range of customers and even then is unlikely to work very well. There are better supplements on the market so although Biotrust Cravefix 96 does not look too bad, this is probably not a good enough reason for actually buying it yourself.

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Key Features

Ingredients

Side Effects

Testimonials

Guarantee

Where to Buy

Biotrust Cravefix 96 Review

Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a supplement that may help you avoid food cravings and so make your weight loss journey easier. As we all know, food cravings and snacking can be the major danger point on any weight-loss diet. After all, it can be easy enough to stick to sensible meals but it is giving into those uncontrolled moments and the temptation of a cake or a candy bar at odd times that does the damage. Something that helps you resist temptation and backs up your willpower is going to help you achieve your long-term goals.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 Facts

Each bottle contains 60 softgel capsules which is 1 month’s supply.

Comes from Biotrust, a well-known US supplements company.

This new supplement launched on the market in Spring 2017.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 contains just three ingredients and according to the product information will help you solve the problem of snacking. The principal ingredient is Saffatrim – a branded saffron extract. Saffron is the yellow spice derived from the crocus and is one of the most expensive food products in the world by weight. In cooking you need very little but clinical research has shown that taking it in supplement form as here can help prevent snacking.

The supplement also contains ZestaSorb which is a branded Naringin supplement. Naringin is a natural chemical present in grapefruit and it is this that causes the bitter taste. Naringin is a powerful natural chemical called a flavanone which has strong antioxidant effects and may help reduce cholesterol. Although it is safe for most people to take, you should definitely avoid this if you are taking any kind of medication because it will cause interactions. Tamoxifen, Warfarin and Diazepam are just a few of the medicines affected.

The final component of Biotrust Cravefix 96 is Vitamin D. Many people lack vitamin D because it is synthesised in the body by sunlight. These days with the scares of skin cancer and high protection creams as well as the fact that not everybody lives in a temperate climate, many doctors are advising that we obtain our vitamin D via supplements. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones and skin. It may also be effective for weight loss.

How to Take Biotrust Cravefix 96

Take one softgel 30 minutes before your two largest meals of the day or when cravings are strongest.

When we first saw Biotrust Cravefix 96 we assumed it was a scam! It is on sale only via a separate one-page website called CrushcravingsBurnfat. It does not show up on the official Biotrust website as one of the company’s listed products. However, it seems that the simple reason for this is that Biotrust Cravefix 96 is very new so has not yet been added to the official website.

It looks as if Biotrust have used an affiliate site called CrushcravingsBurnfat in order to initially market this product rather than using their own website. However, at the end of the day, Biotrust Cravefix 96 is a genuine Biotrust supplement and the little one page website is also genuine and safe to use.

Biotrust Cravefix 96 Concerns:

This supplement will interact with prescription medication but will customers realise?

May cause side effects.

No customer feedback available.

We have covered numerous Biotrust supplements in previous reviews. We also featured the Biotrust company in a previous investigation:

http://ift.tt/2ntoA0X

Biotrust is a reputable company. They claim to offer honest nutrition for your ultimate body. Many of the supplements have a specialised purpose that in our opinion often looks questionable and the Watchdog has received a lot of negative comments about them. That said this well-known company offers a guarantee and is unlikely to rip you off with billing scams.

What Does Biotrust Cravefix 96 Claim To Do?

Biotrust Cravefix 96 was not live on the Biotrust website at the time of writing this review although a new year’s message on their popular forum promised that the launch was imminent.

However we found out more about this supplement from the company nutrition and exercise coach, Christina Powell. She explained,

Cravefix 96 is our advanced appetite control formula, and it is a combination of 3 appetite-curbing ingredients shown to decrease snacking behaviours, sugar cravings, and hunger between meals, all of which can be frustrating, sabotage a weight-loss program, and prevent you from achieving your goals.

According to Christine when used with a healthy weight-loss program, it may help.:

Reduce snacking and compulsive eating behaviours

Decrease sugar cravings and hunger between meals

Improve mood and well-being

Support steady weight loss and promote a healthy body weight

Help you stick to your weight-loss program

Support healthy eating habits

Does Biotrust Cravefix 96 Work?

It might work. The weight-loss benefits of saffron have been examined and results look promising. A test was carried out on 60 women in France with one group receiving 88.25mg of Saffatrim each day. This is the same serving as contained in this supplement.

After 8 weeks the control group reported a 96% reduction in snacking so it is possible that Biotrust Cravefix 96 will work in a similar way for you. However one test on 30 women carried out in unknown testing conditions does not seem enough to prove it one way or another. It seems premature to base the name of a supplement on just one small test.

In addition Saffatrim is Biotrust’s own brand so can we really guarantee that this one test was carried out under proper control standards and not just to prove the efficacy of this ingredient?

In our opinion, the weight-loss benefits are probably exaggerated, but this supplement may have a slight effect.

What Are The Ingredients of Biotrust Cravefix 96?

Serving size is equal to 1 softgel capsule.

Vitamin D3 (1000 IU): Vitamin D 3 also called Cholecalciferol helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus and is important for healthy bones and skin. Some research suggests that low vitamin d levels may be associated with obesity but this could be caused by some obese people not getting outside much. Levels here are the equivalent of 250% of the recommended daily amount. Too much vitamin D can cause raised calcium levels and decrease appetite as a side effect.

Saffatrim (89 mg): This is a trademarked Biotrust supplement. According to the product information a research team led by Bernard Gout at the GSR Investigation Centre in Toulouse, France, divided 60 mildly overweight women into two groups with one group receiving 88.25mg of Saffatrim™ extract twice per day (the same amount in Cravefix 96), and the other receiving a placebo. After 8 weeks of supplementation, the Saffatrim™ group reported a 96% reduction in snacking compared to placebo. According to the study authors, Saffatrim™ ‘caused an indisputable reduction of snacking frequency over the 8-week supplementation, gradually decreasing up to 2-fold relative to baseline’. This sounds good but it is important to remember that this was just one clinical test carried out on behalf of the manufacturing company so may not be as unbiased as it appears. http://ift.tt/2oUM8ZJ

ZestaSorb Naringin (50 mg): Another Biotrust brand, ZestaSorb contains a chemical called Naringin present in grapefruit. This may have health benefits and is undoubtedly rich in antioxidants but is well-known for causing numerous interactions with all sorts of prescription medication.

Does Biotrust Cravefix 96 Have Any Side Effects?

Biotrust Cravefix 96 looks safe for most people to take. However there are a couple of issues. The vitamin D3 levels look a little high at more than the RDA.

Too much vitamin D3 can cause a build up of calcium in the blood. Side effects include:

Fatigue

Vomiting

Poor appetite

Weakness

Frequent urination

In addition we are very concerned about Naringin. Although this powerful natural chemical is safe for most people to take, it is well-known for causing interactions with many prescription medications.

Caution: Not suitable for individuals under 18. Avoid if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Avoid if you are taking prescription medication because it is likely that this supplement will cause potentially serious interactions. Speak to your doctor before taking if you are using prescription medication.

Are There Any Customer Reviews For Biotrust Cravefix 96?

There are no customer reviews for Biotrust Cravefix 96.

Does Biotrust Cravefix 96 Offer a Money-Back Guarantee?

All Biotrust supplements are covered with a full year’s money back guarantee. Just contact Biotrust if you are dissatisfied and they will refund even empty bottles for up to one year after purchase.

Where Can I Buy Biotrust Cravefix 96?

Once Biotrust Cravefix 96 is added to the official Biotrust website, you will be able to buy this supplement directly from the official website. It will probably be available via Amazon as well, in common with the other Biotrust supplements.

At the time of writing Biotrust Cravefix 96 is only available from a small website called CrushcravingsBurnfat which looks to be a Biotrust affiliate site. You can find a direct link to this via the official Biotrust forum.

The post Biotrust Cravefix 96 appeared first on Diet Pills Watchdog.

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pressography-blog1 · 8 years

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Driving With the Underdogs: Apps Fill a Void Left via Uber and Lyft

New Post has been published on https://pressography.org/driving-with-the-underdogs-apps-fill-a-void-left-via-uber-and-lyft/

Driving With the Underdogs: Apps Fill a Void Left via Uber and Lyft

AUSTIN, Tex. — When I arrived in Austin this month for the annual South by using Southwest festival, I used to be prepared to time tour to a harsh beyond a technology when people had to wave their hands on road corners, begging for curmudgeonly cab drivers to tug over and provide an experience.

Uber and Lyft

App Store

This was the image many predicted all through the tune, movie and technology festival due to the fact Uber and Lyft, the 2 most popular car-summoning apps, pulled out of Austin ultimate yr after the metropolis voted to tighten guidelines on trip-sharing services. With masses of heaps of people attending SXSW, this appeared like a recipe for disaster.

But the truth — for me and lots of attendees I spoke with — changed into that getting round Austin throughout the competition turned into smooth. Numerous smaller experience-sharing services were running on the town, consisting of Fasten and RideAustin. No matter some hiccups with those apps, they worked well over all. And, of direction, there have been taxicabs soaring if you had been lucky sufficient to get one Mexicom.

“Setting up a brand new account with Fasten or RideAustin took all of a minute,” said Sam Grobart, a government editor for CNN and a former era reporter for The New york Instances, who attended the convention. “I’m as logo unswerving to a ride service as I’m to a gas station chain — that is to mention not at all.”

Many attendees echoed that sentiment and my revel in becoming the equal. in the course of the competition, I heavily depended on car offerings due to the fact my Airbnb residence turned into Several miles from the convention. After taking 20 rides divided among Fasten, RideAustin, and taxis, only as soon as did I have an issue summoning a vehicle, with Fasten on a rainy Saturday night time. That left me to — heaven forbids — open an umbrella and stroll a mile to my subsequent assembly.

Problems like mine, BuzzFeed proclaimed, intended that apps like Fasten and RideAustin “flunked a crucial test” throughout a busy convention wherein they might have triumphed over the massive apps via preserving clean operations.

But I noticed it otherwise. If those smaller apps, that have less investment and fewer resources, controlled to move hundreds of thousands of human beings round and choke only sometimes, that supposed Austinites probable weren’t struggling with out Uber and Lyft in widespread, especially when the metropolis isn’t always overrun by a full-size convention.

Kirill Evdakov, the leader govt of Fasten, which operates in Boston and Austin, said the company had finished one hundred seventy,000 rides for the duration of SXSW, with a failure rate of less than 1/2 a percentage. The app crashed on a Saturday whilst call for surged exponentially as it become pouring outside and a competing app’s servers crashed, he stated.

Nevertheless, Mr. Evdakov said final week: “Unluckily, we permit many human beings down. We are working even tougher the relaxation of this week to regain their satisfaction and we are hoping that they may forgive us.” The competition ended Sunday.

RideAustin did no longer respond to requests for the remark.

There’s no disputing that Lyft and Uber are advanced products. Their apps are extra polished and include the choice to feature more than one drop-off points, for instance, and server crashes are uncommon. But they, too, are imperfect: Over my years using both apps, they have sometimes didn’t summon a car, drivers have gotten lost and rides had been canceled inexplicably.

Uber and Lyft aren’t giving up on Austin. The businesses ultimate week attended a hearing with the house Transportation Committee on the Texas Country Capitol, in which lawmakers discussed legislation that might alter journey-sharing services on the statewide level.

User Account

Lyft said it become focused on getting steady guidelines surpassed for all towns in Texas to make the trip more low priced and less complicated to get. Uber stated it felt “recommended” that the Texas Legislature was thinking about a statewide answer.

However until the services return to the town, people in all likelihood gained notice a lot of a distinction Using with the underdogs. at the stop of the day, the apps connect riders with drivers, who are imperfect humans, leading to imperfect reviews.

Caz Rosson, an internet fashion designer who spent nine days at SXSW, stated the alternative ride-sharing apps had been much like Uber and Lyft.

“It’s basically just all of the identical Uber and Lyft drivers working beneath an exclusive brand name,” she said, including that the most effective fundamental difference is that Fasten’s app is inexperienced — not purple or black.

How to Select Between Uber and Lyft

The trip Sharing phenomenon is changing the sector at quantum speeds, and the two quickest developing businesses are Uber and Lyft.

Curiously, at the same time as there are many similarities, there also are some differences, and those variations can closely affect passengers.

On the similarity side, both companies charge about the identical, they may be competing in spite of everything. The apps are effortlessly downloaded for your cellular telephone, payment is taken from your credit card, and rides generally arrive within 5 to ten mins.

Riders get the cars, which might be generally, But no longer continually, Prius’s, they could chat with the motive force or not, curl up inside the nook and sleep, or anything. most drivers, genuinely, don’t care approximately chatting, though it does tend to make their time go faster.

On the differences fact, there are multiple objects that affect the passenger a bit, however the driver more so.

First, the pay for Lyft is better. Left costs about the same, But they pay their drivers a better percentage. What this does is make the Lyft driver extra well mannered and being concerned. Also, Lyft allows, even encourages, tipping. Uber frowns on tipping, even telling their drivers to showdown tips. Ha! This is like telling someone in the barren region now not to drink.

The interesting issue approximately this be counted of tips is that Uber tells the public that tipping is built into their fare. But it’s no longer. now not even remotely. And specifically due to the fact that Uber has constantly driven the fee of rides down.

As a driving force for each Uber and Lyft, I’m able to inform you that these small differences make for large impact.

One, experienced drivers generally tend to gravitate to Lyft. which means that they may recognize the routes around the city better, and get the passenger there faster and smoother.

Two, tips are an incentive. I recognize one fellow who drives for each Uber and Lyft, and he places the spare bottles of water away, and the little snacks, whenever he receives a name from Uber. when he drives for Lyft he gets them out again.

Three, There is simply extra politeness At the part of the Lyft driving force. Really, he’s making a higher wage, and consequently has, a vested interest in being more polite; he is going to get suggestions if he’s polite, whereas as an Uber driver isn’t going to get guidelines, so why trouble to open the door or offer the unfastened bottle of water?

Left Drive

And this brings us to an exciting point.

Did you realize that Lyft passengers are greater well mannered than Uber passengers? There are reasons for this, Uber tells the driving force to wait and look ahead to the gradual passenger, Lyft places in a slight ethnic via beginning the meter inside Two minutes of arrival.

however the, the greater motive is that by quick changing the Uber driving force pay clever, Uber is inflicting the Uber motive force now not to care, so that you can reflect in the ‘caring’ mindset of the passenger.

In end, which trip sharing business enterprise you Pick to use is as much as you. And, if you find that neither Uber nor Lyft suits your choice, there are others obtainable. They won’t but, be as fast and green, at the least no longer inside the foreseeable destiny, as Uber or Lyft.

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healthfitnessweblog1 · 8 years

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Healthy Eating Guidelines

Healthy eating guidelines can be confusing when you are starting out to improve your eating.

I am always asked “What should I change first?”

My answer to this question is always the same: get rid of processed sugars and high fructose corn syrup. They are both highly inflammatory. Inflammation is a contributing factor to all disease! These sugars can also pack on the pounds causing significant weight gain. If you are a soda drinker, check the labels. Many sodas have up to 40 grams of sugar per 12 ounce glass which is equivalent to 8 teaspoons of sugar. Our bodies cannot handle this large amount of sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup, and turns the excess into fat.

Are you aware that sugar has lots of names other than sugar? Become a savvy shopper and read nutritional labels. Some sugar names to watch for are cane juice, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, malt, confectioner’s sugar, invert sugar, brown sugar, malt syrup and lactose.

Healthier choices are more natural but are still considered sugar. Do any of these names sound familiar? Agave, molasses, honey, maple syrup, rice syrup, yacon syrup, and date sugar. There has been some controversy lately about agave, so look for a reputable company that will back up their low glycemic claims with studies. Low glycemic foods break down and release glucose into the bloodstream slowly and gradually. Palm sugar and coconut palm sugar are relatively new to the market, but they are delicious, easy to work with in most baking recipes and are considered low glycemic. As with most new products, you may have to look a little harder, but generally you can find palm sugar in health food stores and some specialty markets as well as online.

There are a few superstars when it comes to truly natural sweeteners. They are reported not to raise insulin levels and are known to have health benefits. Look for pure zero calorie stevia. Make sure it is stevia leaf. It comes in both liquid and powder form. Some brands may leave a bitter after taste. Don’t give up. Try different brands until you find one you like. Luo han guo, from China, is another natural sweetener that is used both as a sugar substitute and a medicinal herb. Stevia and luo han guo are perfect for hot and cold beverages and some recipes.

My second recommendation when asked what foods to eliminate is always refined wheat, especially if it is bleached. If you just can’t get through a day without bread, why not try a loaf of spelt bread? It is still wheat but more digestible. If spelt isn’t in your budget or is hard to find look for whole grain breads that do not have refined sugar and artificial ingredients.

Growing up eating commercial wheat in fast foods and processed foods has caused gluten intolerance, with all its digestive distress, to reach almost epidemic proportions. What is gluten? Gluten is a protein substance that remains when starch is removed from grains. Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye grains, as well as in oats that have been cross contaminated in the fields and in processing. You can get adventurous and substitute naturally gluten free brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, or buckwheat in place of wheat.

Check out the growing number of gluten free products on the market. Organic products would generally be best. Read labels. Very often refined sugar is one of the first ingredients in gluten free products. You might have to try a few mixes or products to find one that you like. The texture can be very different, but once you adjust to the difference, you can still enjoy your baked goods.

Eating foods that satisfy your palate often prevents you from overeating. Keep in mind that proteins and healthy oils and fats tend to satisfy, while refined carbohydrates eaten alone tend to raise insulin levels and cause you to eat more. Protein with every meal and snack tends to keep blood sugar levels more stable.

Following these guidelines, even some of the time, can make a difference in how you feel. It gets easier as you learn more and discover just how many healthy and delicious products you can find or make which address these very challenges.

Get more tips on healthy eating and learn how to stock your kitchen with a natural food pantry. Then, use this info to create easy healthy recipes for you and your family.

Eating foods, such as whole grain starches, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, will lower triglycerides in the blood. Learn more about how to eat to lower triglycerides with tips from an licensed dietitian in this free video on eating healthy.

Expert: Christine Marquette Bio: Christine E. Marquette is a registered and licensed dietitian with the Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, Texas. Filmmaker: Todd Green Video Rating: / 5