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top 25% is pretty goodManoftheHour wrote:Didn't work. Only ended up top 25%.thatguy12 wrote:So all you guinea pigs from last year that bookmarked this thread...
Results? I hope celebrations are in order, for I also wish to partake in the (quasi)Lazy method.
edit: nvm, it is 5am and I haven't slept and I just realized I read over 2 years of responses. SUMMER BEFORE LAW SCHOOL
Solid guide though.
Caveat: I was too lazy to do everything on the list, like read (although I used lots of supplements). I don't think that affected me as much as my burnout on over prepping for my first exam and leading to my under prepping on the remaining ones.
Yeah I think that stress is a huge factor. I generally handle stress well, especially in an exam taking type of situation, and in my first exam I just froze up at the beginning and literally stared at the problem for 30 minutes (of a three hour exam). Ultimately didn't do awful on the exam but it definitely hurt me, and it's something that hasn't been a problem after the first one and I'm not gonna let that happen with round two.Lazy wrote:I agree with both Kratos and Johann.
Beyond that, though, I have to say - I was not top 15% by the end of first semester. I was solidly around 25%, like you are. That first exam period was a hell of a learning opportunity, though. There's no substitute for learning what the exam period feels like, the type of stress you'll feel, and how to pace yourself through it. You can use that moving on when you prep for the next round.
Good luck with your spring exams!
I'd even recommend taking practice exams while wearing them so you get used to the dead silence (it was a little jarring for me at first)scottidsntknow wrote:Yeah I think that stress is a huge factor. I generally handle stress well, especially in an exam taking type of situation, and in my first exam I just froze up at the beginning and literally stared at the problem for 30 minutes (of a three hour exam). Ultimately didn't do awful on the exam but it definitely hurt me, and it's something that hasn't been a problem after the first one and I'm not gonna let that happen with round two.Lazy wrote:I agree with both Kratos and Johann.
Beyond that, though, I have to say - I was not top 15% by the end of first semester. I was solidly around 25%, like you are. That first exam period was a hell of a learning opportunity, though. There's no substitute for learning what the exam period feels like, the type of stress you'll feel, and how to pace yourself through it. You can use that moving on when you prep for the next round.
Good luck with your spring exams!
One thing I would advise 0Ls is to use ear plugs during the exam. WUSTL passes them out like candy before each exam and at first I just laughed it off and was like this is dumb, but it can be really intimidating in an exam when everyone is clacking away on their keyboard and it can really help you ignore everyone around you and just focus on yourself and the exam.
TasmanianToucan wrote:Tag
fishbulb wrote:tag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKIpCPS-oZcm27 wrote:0L tagging!
Most of the information on this topic is consistent (except the debate over whether supplemental materials are necessary) but I still have a few questions:
1) When is the best time to begin writing an outline?
- Most guides suggest writing a course outline mid-way through the semester while others claim that reading the material over the summer to make a "sample outline" before classes is best. If the latter, would it be best to begin reading all the available material, including the casebook, hornbook, and relevant E&E?
2) When is the best time to begin taking a practice exam?
- It seems to be unanimously agreed upon that at least looking/reading a law school exam before classes start is beneficial; but should a 0L actually take one over the summer (assuming that he/she already did readings and a sample outline for the course)?
In sum would reading/outlining/looking at exams before classes begin be a complete waste of time or beneficial experience? Any additional info or suggestions would be appreciated
I'm a huge believer in practice exams, but don't look at/take one over the summer. Don't do any readings over the summer. Complete waste of time.m27 wrote:2) When is the best time to begin taking a practice exam?
- It seems to be unanimously agreed upon that at least looking/reading a law school exam before classes start is beneficial; but should a 0L actually take one over the summer (assuming that he/she already did readings and a sample outline for the course)?
In sum would reading/outlining/looking at exams before classes begin be a complete waste of time or beneficial experience? Any additional info or suggestions would be appreciated
Also you shouldn't look at an exam before classes begin or even at the beginning. You also don't want to waste your professors exams before the end of the semester.twenty wrote:I'm a huge believer in practice exams, but don't look at/take one over the summer. Don't do any readings over the summer. Complete waste of time.m27 wrote:2) When is the best time to begin taking a practice exam?
- It seems to be unanimously agreed upon that at least looking/reading a law school exam before classes start is beneficial; but should a 0L actually take one over the summer (assuming that he/she already did readings and a sample outline for the course)?
In sum would reading/outlining/looking at exams before classes begin be a complete waste of time or beneficial experience? Any additional info or suggestions would be appreciated
Very true. What about third-party exams from 7Sage?scottidsntknow wrote: Also you shouldn't look at an exam before classes begin or even at the beginning. You also don't want to waste your professors exams before the end of the semester.
Why do you think it would be a waste of time? Some advocate that doing readings gives them a feel for the course and the "big pictures."twenty wrote:Don't do any readings over the summer. Complete waste of time.
This exactly. If you try to prep otherwise I can only see it hurting you because then you start thinking that you understand things and start coming up with your own thoughts about things, when you should be focusing on the professor.twenty wrote:I promise you that you will not get a "feel for the course" by summer-reading material out of your casebook that may or may not be relevant. You won't get a feel for the course for several weeks, perhaps even a month or two. Your goal is to figure out what your particular professor likes, not what all criminal law professors in the history of ever like. Some professors will give you tons of points for writing IRAC over and over, some professors want weird policy arguments, some professors teach absolutely no law and you end up just persuasively writing clever things that make sense (ended up getting an A+ in my one class like this), some professors will give out grades by word count, some professors throw their exams up in the air and the ones that land on the bottom get As.
scottidsntknow wrote:This exactly. If you try to prep otherwise I can only see it hurting you because then you start thinking that you understand things and start coming up with your own thoughts about things, when you should be focusing on the professor.twenty wrote:I promise you that you will not get a "feel for the course" by summer-reading material out of your casebook that may or may not be relevant. You won't get a feel for the course for several weeks, perhaps even a month or two. Your goal is to figure out what your particular professor likes, not what all criminal law professors in the history of ever like. Some professors will give you tons of points for writing IRAC over and over, some professors want weird policy arguments, some professors teach absolutely no law and you end up just persuasively writing clever things that make sense (ended up getting an A+ in my one class like this), some professors will give out grades by word count, some professors throw their exams up in the air and the ones that land on the bottom get As.
First, the answers you've gotten from the others have been good. I just figured I'd toss in my two cents.m27 wrote:0L tagging!
Most of the information on this topic is consistent (except the debate over whether supplemental materials are necessary) but I still have a few questions:
1) When is the best time to begin writing an outline?
- Most guides suggest writing a course outline mid-way through the semester while others claim that reading the material over the summer to make a "sample outline" before classes is best. If the latter, would it be best to begin reading all the available material, including the casebook, hornbook, and relevant E&E?
2) When is the best time to begin taking a practice exam?
- It seems to be unanimously agreed upon that at least looking/reading a law school exam before classes start is beneficial; but should a 0L actually take one over the summer (assuming that he/she already did readings and a sample outline for the course)?
In sum would reading/outlining/looking at exams before classes begin be a complete waste of time or beneficial experience? Any additional info or suggestions would be appreciated
Glad to hear it! Congratulations on doing so well!jphiggo wrote:Just wanted to add a testimonial to Lazy's guide. I finished within the top 5% (also had one B, ha!) following Lazy's guide, while enjoying my nights and weekends. Thanks Lazy.
+1jphiggo wrote:Just wanted to add a testimonial to Lazy's guide. I finished within the top 5% (also had one B, ha!) following Lazy's guide, while enjoying my nights and weekends. Thanks Lazy.
