Installing ExamSoft on a Mac is a big headache. Would I be at a disadvantage handwriting my exam while my classmates are churning out thousands of words more than me?

I typed all my exams last semester.

you will probably be at a disadvantage.

If you write slow or have less than sterling, perfect penmanship, then yes, you will be taking a big disadvantage. Getting another 10, 50, 100, or 1,000 words out is that many more points, assuming that you're not just babbling. If handwriting slows you down, then it will cost you -- possibly quite a lot.

I typed all of my exams last semester. This semester as I was getting ready to start my first exam, my computer crashed, so I had to write the exam...it SUCKED. Big pain in the ass.

I handwrote and wasn't at a disadvantage. I did fine.

Really? I type pretty fast, but some people in my section type incredibly, incredibly fast and I can't help but think they must be getting a lot more points.

If you're likely to take the bar exam handwritten (some states still don't allow laptops or limit the number of spots), you might want to handwrite exams now and get used to it.

Most law school exams are not pass-fail. Hand writing the bar might be rough, but getting used to it doesn't seem like a good basis for taking an unneeded hit on your grades for three years.

except that the bar exam is P/F...and from most schools the pass rate is > 90-95%

You don't want to sacrifice 1L grades because you're 'practicing' for the bar.

JINX!

You're probably right. I'm just projecting b/c I used my laptop all thru LS and am now worried about handwriting the bar. Laptop lottery registration starts tonight! But, I do know plenty of people who've done well handwriting all their exams, so I don't think it's crazy to do so.

If the exam is a huge issue-spotter, handwriting will put you at a disadvantage. However, if your exam has a line-limit, then I don't think it matters whether you hand-write or type (unless you have terrible handwriting).

Handwriting exams sucks donkey dick. Just got threw a civ pro final where the guy limited writing to lines provided in the exam. One question towards the end I realized I missed an important fact. If it were typed I could've gone back and just simply edited it to be correct, but instead I had lines drawn through stuff and draw lines to where that part of the essay was, then then lines to the conclusion that I already wrote. Just imagine if that happens to you half way through an exam in a bluebook. How do you add a paragraph?... You'd be screwed. Type your exam.

Just to point out, even the fastest handwriters only write max 25 words a min. Slowest ypest probably hit at least 35.

I think handwriting will cost you at least a half-letter grade. I have no idea why anyone would voluntarily drastically reduce their WPM on ANY timed essay exam.

I wrote my exams last semester because I have a Mac, and deeply regretted it. My hand hurt the entire time, I couldn't write fast enough, and the profs probably couldn't read some of my writing towards the end. Immediately afterwards last semester, I installed bootcamp, and it was the smartest decision I ever made in law school. I had more time to think, gather and organize my thoughts, and still wrote more than I did last semester on my exams (so far) this semester. Trust me, just figure out a way to type it. You will thank yourself.

It depends on how the prof grades. If they want a really succinct quality argument, then I would guess hand writing may not put you at a disadvantage. Be careful though, some profs say that they want a succinct argument, but then they give points for any bullshit argument good or bad that is spewed onto the page. In that case, you'll need to type and type fast.

I overheard a conversation about handwritten versus typed exams. A classmate said that a study showed handwritten exams were on average better, but despite the averages, typed exams dominated the top end of the curve. I never saw the study myself, but it seems reasonable.

Even on exams with a word count limit, etc., I would think that people that type would still do better just because you have so much more time to think about those arguments your going to make since your not wasting as much time physically putting it into words.

I'd never do it myself. I type faster, and I realize that I want to reorder things after I re-read through them. The sheer pain of trying to smooth out a rough sentence on a computer is enough incentive more me. I have to edit handwriting so thoroughly that it looks like mud when I'm done.

I did have a gunner (who doesn't have top 10 grades) tell me that he only handwrites exams. I didn't bother to ask him why. So I guess some people feel like it gives them an edge, but I'd only do it if your computer hopelessly crashes.

No edge, just about being comfortable writing. Only about 10 of us handwrite in my section.

This is a HUGE point. If you're not used to writing stuff by hand, don't choose exams as the time to start for the first time all year. Your muscles aren't used to it and that will probably harm the quality of your response.

Bootcamp is also good if you have an old full version of windows floating around (sadly, I have an OEM version of XP Pro, and bootcamp doesn't like OEMs )

I wish I could write fast.
I was so unused to typing my answers on the first exam. I felt as if my thoughts were isolated from me ...

can't believe that so many people handwrote their answers today, due to some technical glitch.
there were only 3-4 who planned to handwrite, but due to technical issues, there were some 10-15 (??)

I'm still on official leave (found 12 cases for my long memo, annotated them, and outlined the damn thing), but I'm bumping this topic, because it's been bothering me. My school just announced the Exam-4 registration period, and I'm having doubts about registering. Before your write me off as out of my mind, hear me out:

I've been hand writing all my notes, and I'm a very fast hand writer. I probably hand write faster than I type, and I am legible, though I'm no calligrapher. At this point my outlines are hand written, though I intend to type them up to review and organize them before finals. In fact, I hand write outlines for every paper and memo requiring organization.

Assuming my hand written test is of the same length and substantive merit as it would be if typed, will the "harder to read" factor weigh heavily against me? Again, assume the thing will be legible. I genuinely love writing by hand, but when I told my classmates I was considering hand writing my finals, and they were horrified. They would not have been more horrified if I'd told them I planned to cheat, or transfer. (FTR, not considering either of those things.)

For those of you who wavered on the typing/hand writing issue, did you take practice exams both ways?

Did your school allow you to hand write an outline, then type your answer?

Would it be absolutely insane for me not to register for Exam-4, and if I do register, do I have to use it?

Relevant consideration: I have a Mac. I haven't tried installing exam software in the past, so I don't know how much of a pain it's going to be.

I would never do this, however, I must add the disclaimer that I type all of my notes and my handwriting is boarder line illegible. I mean, I managed to get As in college handwriting exams (somehow), but, I am loathe to do it in LS.

That wasn't very helpful, sorry.

It was salubrious for me to take my mind of outlining and running over hypos, though!