PennBull wrote:
And, if that's not enough, you cannot simply "work hard and know the material and do well because I'm really smart." It does not matter how well you do on an exam, it matters how well you do compared to everyone else.
You can't simply work harder, you have to work better.
You could get a 99 on a test, but if everyone else gets a 100, you get a C.
You could get a 50 on a test, but if everyone else gets a 49, you get an A.
Engineering classes FTW!
So at 8PM on a Tuesday, when you've finished all your work or whatever for the next day, you always know that there's some guy in the top floor of the library who will be there till midnight every damn day of the week. And that guy isn't alone. There is always pressure that somebody everybody is working harder than you.
But working harder isn't always better. A lot of people psych themselves out. I have a lot less time to study than many others because of work and kids. Honestly I hope I had a lot more time, but I don't know it would have made any difference in grades, judging from the sample answers lol
Although it's FAR from necessary to gun the shit out of the semester in order to do well, the curved grading system just gives a lot more pressure to a standard studying routine.
On the other hand, if you just spend the last 4 weeks preparing how to write the exam, and do it well/on point, you wouldn't even need to show up for class the first two months.
tl;dr: The material isn't harder than anything you've probably done, even though it can be very difficult at times. But the legal hiring schedule and the curved grading system add all sorts of pressure to 1L year.
I agree, the material is pretty straight forward and common sense. The tough part is how they grade and what they want you to write on the exam. I have looked at all our sample answers and went like what? I doubt extra month of studying is going to steer me that way. The professor expects a certain way to solve an issue, where as in real life there could be 50 or more ways. Learning the law will ensure you won't get the worst grade, but to get better, you need to study smart.