PSA: your bar review courses are trying to freak you out Forum

[tarheel87]

After pulling a woeful 55% on the Kaplan midterm, I really, really needed to see this thread. Thanks, all.

[rad lulz]

After pulling a woeful 55% on the Kaplan midterm, I really, really needed to see this thread. Thanks, all.

MBE midterm?

For barbri, average on out MBE midterm was 110/200

So you might be just average

If you improve but continue to be average on test day then you will pass

[blong4133]

Yeah I never understood the whole mindset that Online isn't as good. I'm doing online and I would much rather do it this way. I can sit in my office by myself, watch the lecture, pause it if I need more time to take down a note, or to go get another cup of coffee or use the bathroom.

I just don't see how this is worse than going to a room and watching the same thing with a hundred other kids and not being able to pause if you need to.

I understand they think that it serves as an accountability issue, but at the end of the day, if you can't motivate yourself to study for this while watching the lectures at home, it's not going to really do much more if you go to a designated location to watch the same video with 100 other kids. It's not like they check to make sure you're doing the work. I had so many people tell me that I should do the on site class because my chance of passing was better if I did so. Well, I live an hour and a half away from the nearest on site location, and I'd much rather live at home for free than have to blow more money that I don't have on rent so i can watch a video.

Granted, I'm taking the WV bar next month and I'm freaking out about it, I just couldn't imagine getting any more from the course if I had to go to a to a big classroom to watch the same exact thing. If I lived near a location, I'd probably do it. But I'm not going to go out of my way to take the actual on site class just because they think that I won't study as hard. I could fail the thing miserably, but it won't be because I decided to take the class online. That's for sure. (But I'm hoping and praying that won't be an issue).

[09042014]

Yeah I never understood the whole mindset that Online isn't as good. I'm doing online and I would much rather do it this way. I can sit in my office by myself, watch the lecture, pause it if I need more time to take down a note, or to go get another cup of coffee or use the bathroom.

I just don't see how this is worse than going to a room and watching the same thing with a hundred other kids and not being able to pause if you need to.

I understand they think that it serves as an accountability issue, but at the end of the day, if you can't motivate yourself to study for this while watching the lectures at home, it's not going to really do much more if you go to a designated location to watch the same video with 100 other kids. It's not like they check to make sure you're doing the work. I had so many people tell me that I should do the on site class because my chance of passing was better if I did so. Well, I live an hour and a half away from the nearest on site location, and I'd much rather live at home for free than have to blow more money that I don't have on rent so i can watch a video.

Granted, I'm taking the WV bar next month and I'm freaking out about it, I just couldn't imagine getting any more from the course if I had to go to a to a big classroom to watch the same exact thing. If I lived near a location, I'd probably do it. But I'm not going to go out of my way to take the actual on site class just because they think that I won't study as hard. I could fail the thing miserably, but it won't be because I decided to take the class online. That's for sure. (But I'm hoping and praying that won't be an issue).

Yea I don't buy it either.

But I kinda wish I followed Thesealocusts advice and just gotten bar outlines. These videos kinda suck.

[blong4133]

Yeah I never understood the whole mindset that Online isn't as good. I'm doing online and I would much rather do it this way. I can sit in my office by myself, watch the lecture, pause it if I need more time to take down a note, or to go get another cup of coffee or use the bathroom.

I just don't see how this is worse than going to a room and watching the same thing with a hundred other kids and not being able to pause if you need to.

I understand they think that it serves as an accountability issue, but at the end of the day, if you can't motivate yourself to study for this while watching the lectures at home, it's not going to really do much more if you go to a designated location to watch the same video with 100 other kids. It's not like they check to make sure you're doing the work. I had so many people tell me that I should do the on site class because my chance of passing was better if I did so. Well, I live an hour and a half away from the nearest on site location, and I'd much rather live at home for free than have to blow more money that I don't have on rent so i can watch a video.

Granted, I'm taking the WV bar next month and I'm freaking out about it, I just couldn't imagine getting any more from the course if I had to go to a to a big classroom to watch the same exact thing. If I lived near a location, I'd probably do it. But I'm not going to go out of my way to take the actual on site class just because they think that I won't study as hard. I could fail the thing miserably, but it won't be because I decided to take the class online. That's for sure. (But I'm hoping and praying that won't be an issue).

Yea I don't buy it either.

But I kinda wish I followed Thesealocusts advice and just gotten bar outlines. These videos kinda suck.

Yeah, I don't think they're all that great either. I suppose they serve their purpose of laying out the issues that are most likely to be tested, but I wonder if the time I spend watching the things could be better spent doing something else (I think I have a good handle on torts, but just pulled an 8 out of 18 on one of the property sets...so maybe I should have skipped the torts stuff to work on property). But I know that if I don't watch them and end up failing, I'm going to be blaming it on my decision to skip the lectures.

[neimanmarxist]

OK, I didn't do so well on my last graded essay and am starting to freak out a little.

[presh]

OK, I didn't do so well on my last graded essay and am starting to freak out a little.

Chill, padawan. You could literally turn in the model answer from the back of the book, and they would find some reason to mark it down. You'll be fine.

[de5igual]

OK, I didn't do so well on my last graded essay and am starting to freak out a little.

Chill, padawan. You could literally turn in the model answer from the back of the book, and they would find some reason to mark it down. You'll be fine.

+1

For the last essay, I pretty much wrote what the answer key had (read: I reworded the answer key). They still managed to ding me with a 18/25 (which is barely passing in TX).

[neimanmarxist]

fanks guys we still have six weeks, too I can learn so much law in six weeks.

[BaiAilian2013]

Somebody tell me that the number of non-graded essays they assign is excessive, please.

[presh]

Somebody tell me that the number of non-graded essays they assign is excessive, please.

Yes, I only outlined those. I think I didn't even do that for all of them.

[BaiAilian2013]

Somebody tell me that the number of non-graded essays they assign is excessive, please.

Yes, I only outlined those. I think I didn't even do that for all of them.

Right, even to just outline and then review the model answer, it seems like too many to be feasible.

[BaiAilian2013]

Bumping this important thread for this year's takers.

[sundance95]

Bumping this important thread for this year's takers.

Tyft. Oughta be a sticky.

[duskfall]

Thanks for the heads up. I assumed the "YOU WILL BE DOOMED IF YOU TAKE THE ONLINE COURSE" disclaimer falls into this category as well?

I'm sure watching it by yourself will ruin your chances compared to watching it on a TV/VCR in a room like you watching Reading Rainbow in third grade. Clearly the later is superior.

Holy crap dude i loved reading rainbow!

[shock259]

Adding this thread to my favorites. Going to reread every few days. Seriously.

[plath]

I was pissed when I kept getting 60 and 65's on my BarBri grades essays until someone told me that probably translates into 70 on the real exam. Is this true?

It's probably not that formulaic, but yes, BarBRI tries to make everyone think they're on the verge of failure (even though most non-shitacular law schools boast very high bar passage rates; never just look at statewide - those are deflated by foreign attorneys, people who went to Cooley, etc)

Not as reassuring for those of us who happen to be foreign attorneys
But hey, 40% passage isn't all that bad is it

[duskfall]

to everyone freakingout: don't sweat it too much! those who are taking barbri or kaplan, I know they intentionally make the questions a lot harder to freak you out. However, this is necessary to create a sense of urgency. I've taken two bars so far, one being California, and the actual MBE questions are no where near the same difficulty. On the practice questions sets (100) i would finish with little or no time left. However, on the actual exam, I had a comfortable 30-45 minutes.

Rest assured, the questions right now are hard, but it is intended to prepare you for the real deal, which should be easier.

Anyone have questions feel free to message or ask

[Hannibal]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

[thesealocust]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=209836

[JenDarby]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=209836

I haven't had the energy to do a practice essay yet. Maybe this week.

[amk110]

While I generally agree with the sentiment that failing the bar exam is not the end of the world...

They're adding Civil Procedure to the MBE starting in February 2015.

Which will only make the exam more difficult for first time takers, and I imagine considerably more difficult for any of us who don't pass this summer.

[nygrrrl]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=209836

Thanks, TSL.
I'm trying to remind myself of this, but wow. Just wow.

[beachbum]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=209836

I haven't had the energy to do a practice essay yet. Maybe this week.

Same here. It seems like they assign a new essay almost every day, and I have yet to hit a single one. I keep telling myself I'll circle back around to them in July.

[alicrimson]

Yeah, I just got a below passing grade on the first "practice essay" question, and I didn't think there was a lot wrong with it. Very much freaking out atm.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=209836

I haven't had the energy to do a practice essay yet. Maybe this week.

Same here. It seems like they assign a new essay almost every day, and I have yet to hit a single one. I keep telling myself I'll circle back around to them in July.

Are you doing Barbri, Kaplan, or Themis? If Barbri, are you guys getting full essays? My course has only had us write 3-4 essays out and do outlines on all of the other ones.