1st semester reflections, what are we changing for 2nd sem? Forum

[zeth006]

What I will change:

1. Cockiness: The exam I thought I would kill killed me because I didn't study much, if at all, for that class and I stopped typing during the exam 1/2 through. In contrast, I spent a good amount of time studying for (and freaking out about) an exam for a class I thought I would fail - but I DESTROYED that exam. Lesson: study for all classes.

2. Outlining and practice examining. Start earlier.

3. EXERCISE. Law school is no excuse for a mucky exterior.

What I won't change:

1. Study groups: Study groups are useless. However, I'm a social person, and I like my friends. I'm most likely going to change my approach to study groups (study independently in a group and bullshit around every 15 minutes or so, rather than pointless group discussions).

2. Book Briefing: The only reasons for substantial book briefing is to (a) look good when cold-called, or (b) have a fact-intensive brief in your outline. My school blind-grades, so I could really care less whether my teachers think I know the underlying normative justification for some obtuse property rule, and all my exams are closed book, so I don't need a fact-intensive brief. I think I'll stick to cases with rule-results.

3. Going out at the beginning of the semester: I wasn't burned out during finals week, and I definately am going to head to Vegas for a couple of days over spring break.

This is my plan except for the cockiness part and book-briefing. I mini-brief to get memorable facts/rules and I stutter like an idiot when called on by the prof. Oh well. The shame is always temporary.

[Holly Golightly]

Plan for second semester: Continue alcoholism for first 3/4 of semester. Start outlining earlier. Take more practice tests. Go over practice tests with classmates.

[bostonian]

1. Drop out
2. Find a job
3. Pay off loans
4. Apply to business school after 2 and 3 are complete

[bjsesq]

1. Actually do some reading throughout the semester.
2. Maybe do an outline.
3. Maybe do a complete practice test or two.
4. Collect win????

[romothesavior]

Plan for second semester: Continue alcoholism for first 3/4 of semester. Start outlining earlier. Take more practice tests. Go over practice tests with classmates.

This is pretty much TCR for me as well. May not take more practice tests, but definitely going to continue drinking, and try to start outlining earlier.

Also going to take legal practice more seriously. I did well this past semester, but a good semester could have been a great semester if I hadn't been a procrastinating lazy bum in LP.

[romothesavior]

Oh god, the batshit insane amounts of multicolor highlighting I saw in some people's casebooks. HOW IS THIS HELPFUL?

+1, I agree.

[Melkaba]

1. No briefing. At all.
2. Probably try to pay attention more in Legal Research. Yeah, I know that all the midterm exam really took was a couple days worth of cramming beforehand, but it would be somewhat nice to actually keep up to date on everything.
3. Probably don't attempt to read the cases as closely as I did before. Yeah, this could risk a kind of hazing in class if your professor is really big on the nuances, but from a time-spent perspective, it just didn't really pay off. Hell, I did the best in the class where I skimmed the cases and took out a simple rule out than I did in the other two classes where I dissected each and every word.
4. Outline earlier or at least try to outline as I go.
5. Study for your last exam first. Boy, I definitely wish I had done this.
6. Use CALI lessons and other supplements as I go instead of saving them for finals.
7. Don't goof off on the first memo. My LW grade would have been a world's difference if I had put in the time and effort into the first as I did for the second.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Ain't gonna change a damn thing. Maybe study less the first six weeks.

[romothesavior]

Hell, I did the best in the class where I skimmed the cases and took out a simple rule out than I did in the other two classes where I dissected each and every word.

Contracts? Cause that was how I approached the class too.

And I feel you on #2, not so much because I care about that grade (its just a fraction of our GPA and cramming worked well this past semester), but because I actually want to know how to do legal research for any potential summer job. Right now, I couldn't tell you a thing about LN or WL besides how to log in and do a quick search.

By the way, I sent you a PM yesterday (I know you said you never check them).

[Holly Golightly]

Plan for second semester: Continue alcoholism for first 3/4 of semester. Start outlining earlier. Take more practice tests. Go over practice tests with classmates.

This is pretty much TCR for me as well. May not take more practice tests, but definitely going to continue drinking, and try to start outlining earlier.

Also going to take legal practice more seriously. I did well this past semester, but a good semester could have been a great semester if I hadn't been a procrastinating lazy bum in LP.

Right, I should also maybe go a little harder than gunning for median in CLR.

[beach_terror]

Oh god, the batshit insane amounts of multicolor highlighting I saw in some people's casebooks. HOW IS THIS HELPFUL?

+1, I agree.

It's helpful for cold call champs, but outside of that it's just a waste of a lot of time and a lot of highlighters.

[nygrrrl]

Ain't gonna change a damn thing. Maybe study less the first six weeks.

Word.

And for YOU...

1. Actually do some reading throughout the semester.
2. Maybe do an outline.
3. Maybe do a complete practice test or two.
4. Collect win????

What are you trying to do, be top 10%? (Cuz you know that's where you'll be if you do all that stuff...)

[beach_terror]

WTB grades so I can contribute here. ffffuuuu

[bjsesq]

And for YOU...

[nygrrrl]

[traehekat]

Things I'll change...

1. Outline earlier for ALL my classes (the one class I started outlining early I ended up doing the best in).
2. No formal briefing, just book briefing.
3. Read supplements more regularly.
4. Do practice problems throughout semester and start practice exams earlier.

Things I won't change...

1. Actively reading the casebook, along with book briefing.
2. Using E&Es.
3. Meeting with classmates to go over old exams.
4. Not missing class.
5. Shooting hoops before each exam to clear mind.

[romothesavior]

One other change: drink the same amount, but do it for cheaper. I spent waaaaay too much money last semester.

[100Miles&Runnin']

One other change: drink the same amount, but do it for cheaper. I spent waaaaay too much money last semester.

It's easy to say, but once you start in on that 30 pack of Natty Light, taking out loans doesn't sound so bad...don't scrimp on you're alcohol expenses. Eat Raman Noodles if you have to, but drink the good stuff.

[100Miles&Runnin']

And on that note, I'll continue to buy a good bottle of red wine the night before the final, and start on it early so I can get to bed early and get a good night's rest.

[Grizz]

Not drink, never go out, stop TLSing, deactivate FB.

[seespotrun]

My underwear

[romothesavior]

Not drink, never go out, stop TLSing, deactivate FB.

Don't be that guy. I feel like you're being sucked in by the dark side of law school. Fight the urge.

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

Not drink, never go out, stop TLSing, deactivate FB.

Don't be that guy. I feel like you're being sucked in by the dark side of law school. Fight the urge.

I might go this route somewhat . . . even without grades back. So far my only hard commitment is to try and miss 40+ less classes than last semester, and take much much better class notes.

[Stanford4Me]

Taking notes by hand was a horrible mistake. I'm only doing it in classes where no laptop is allowed (which is only one class), and I'm immediately transferring them to my computer after class. Also going to start outlining earlier and am going to avoid interaction with others during finals (which is what I did last semester).

[SrLaw]

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