BarBri Worth Double What Kaplan Costs?

[kalvano]

Just what the title says. BarBri will run me about $3700, Kaplan will run me $1800.

I liked BarBri much better for MPRE prep. But I also like holding on to my money.

Thoughts, comments, insults?

[badaboom61]

Granted, I haven't taken either yet, but the general consensus is that BarBri is universally known to be good, whereas Kaplan (and Themis, for the matter) have mixed reviews at best. Given the importance of the bar exam, why take a risk?

[NotMyRealName09]

I took BarBri, I passed. That is all anyone can really tell you. True comparison is going to be difficult - who would have taken both to truely judge?

Worth? Yeah, using the subjective measurement of worth, I found BarBri to be worth the cost.

[howell]

Try to find people who have taken both for your state(s) and see what they have to say. I identified enough people that passed using either that I felt comfortable choosing either. I also made sure a few of my friends were taking the same course as I was. This helps with accountability and getting more info about whichever program you choose.

Law students often have a herd mentality, and this is no exception. Very few students have experience with both companies, and even fewer have experience using both companies for their first bar. Beyond that, actual differences can vary from state to state. In our state, BarBri has been around a lot longer than Kaplan. Even though there seems to be no difference in the kinds of students each company gets to pass, I often hear, "You gotta do BarBri, bro." It's especially helpful from people who took BarBri before Kaplan was even offered in our state.

Students using both companies felt misled after taking our state's bar this year. I don't know how rare of an occurrence that is, but neither seemed to have some special advantage over the other. For my state's exam, it ultimately came down to saving $500-1000 for me. I know in law school we don't treat money as real, but that's $500-1000 you could blow on a short vacation or whatever else you want to do. If neither offers a significantly different pass rate for similar students served, then go with the money. Some people want to justify spending what they did on bar prep, so you'll run into pretty strong emotions supporting a decision without conclusive reasons.

[studebaker07]

Check out AmeriBar. They have courses ranging in price from $1,200-$1,600. It's a "home study" program in that you can listen to the lectures on your own and do practice questions at your leisure. The only requirement for this program to be effective is that you be a self-starter and motivator. Do the unlimited essay critique (included in the $1,600 program) and you will get great feedback and more realistic scores than the bar bri exam trolls who only make you feel inferior.

I did AmeriBar and passed the first time and I was working at the same time I was studying. Only had to pay $900 too because I got a student rep discount. No complaints with the program. It's simple but it gets the job done.

[tstyler98]

My thought is that if you put in the work, you'll pass. If you liked Barbri better for the MPRE, you might be better off with them for the Bar. But saving money is always good. I think both have their pluses and minuses.

[ben4847]

save the money

[A12345]

If you put in the work, regardless of which course you take, you will in all likelihood pass the bar exam.

[domer22]

Getting blackletter law from a 4 hour dvd classroom lecture is not worth 3K. no way will I be sitting in a classroom when I can do it online at home. i've heard good things about the themis online program and they are the most affordable. i also heard it was created by the barbri dude and the only company that actually releases passrates.

Actually study for 2 months and you will pass with anyone.

[andythecandyman]

Getting blackletter law from a 4 hour dvd classroom lecture is not worth 3K. no way will I be sitting in a classroom when I can do it online at home. i've heard good things about the themis online program and they are the most affordable. i also heard it was created by the barbri dude and the only company that actually releases passrates.

Actually study for 2 months and you will pass with anyone.

This is absolutely correct. If you put the time in, you will pass with anyone. I took Themis for the July 2012 MA and NY exams (cost $1095 total) and felt very confident coming out of both. As long as you have the motivation to study on your own at home, it makes no sense to dish out the extra money for Barbri.

[hiima3L]

No.

I regret even taking a bar class. Complete waste of money if you don't need the schedule.

[tstyler98]

Also, check with both Kaplan and Barbri about whether they'll match Themis's price. I think I heard that Kaplan will, but I'm not sure.

[09042014]

DAT THEMIS claims a 100% bar passage rate for Northwestern Bros who took Illinois. So I'm going to take it.

[shepdawg]

Barbri is only $1200 for me if I get a CA job, but if I get a job elsewhere, I will be looking into cheaper solutions.

[20160810]

My opinion is that Barbri was kind of a sham. None of the lectures were nearly as helpful as the CMRs (their book of outlines). That and the practice essays alone probably could have gotten me through. All of the "test taking advice" stuff can probably be skipped. Then again, if I find out next month that I failed the bar, go back and punch me in the dick for giving you advice.

[20160810]

Also, Barbri's customer service is FUCKING HORRIBLE. I emailed them about 20 times this summer regarding their site going down, video lectures not working, etc. and got a total of ZERO replies. For that alone, I say fuck them, use Kaplan. For what Barbri costs they should have a hooker massage my balls while I watch those lectures, or at the very least, ya know, return emails telling them their fucking product doesn't work.

Look at the comments on the Barbri facebook page from this summer. Unless they've been scrubbed. It's a bloodbath.

[mness]

Serious question for people who took (and passed) the bar: going into bar studying, did you remember much from 1L classes? I really don't remember much at all from Property or Contracts. Do they really re-teach you everything, even if you don't remember this stuff? I feel like most people remember all this minutiae.

[hiima3L]

Serious question for people who took (and passed) the bar: going into bar studying, did you remember much from 1L classes? I really don't remember much at all from Property or Contracts. Do they really re-teach you everything, even if you don't remember this stuff? I feel like most people remember all this minutiae.

I remembered a good amount, but I don't know anyone whose 1L classes covered all the material that is fair game. This made some subjects, e.g., torts in my case, WAY more comprehensive than 1L.

[howell]

Serious question for people who took (and passed) the bar: going into bar studying, did you remember much from 1L classes? I really don't remember much at all from Property or Contracts. Do they really re-teach you everything, even if you don't remember this stuff? I feel like most people remember all this minutiae.

I really hope most people don't remember all the minutiae; that would suck to have brain cells devoted to all of that for so long.

It helps to understand how the law works in each area, but you're going to get the absolute rule for everything during prep. They essentially quickly reteach you everything you need to know. If you've had the course before, everything should fall into place really quickly. Maybe you don't currently remember what duty must be breached for a specific tort, but most people remember you need duty, breach, causation, and damages in a tort. The bar will fill in what that specific duty is, then you go and memorize it. It is also presented in a very simple manner, so you're not really learning anything difficult at all.

That is, until you get to subjects you didn't take in law school. These will have a steeper learning curve, but most students are facing that for several subject.

In short, no, you don't need to remember the minutiae. It's more likely that doing so would be confusing come bar prep time (because you won't always have learned the common law or state rule in your law school courses).