If I could do my first semester over again... Forum

[GodSpeed]

Talk to the profs more?

FWIW: I didn't have cable (still dont) or internet (until mid november). As good of an idea as that sounds, when you go to google-map something or look up a case on lexis real quick or check your email, you'll think twice about it.

I didn't have internet because my neighbor didn't put a password on his till mid october. Then it took over a month to get internet for some reason. Fortunately, they charged me for overnighting the modem.

[RTR10]

Well, my neighbor/3L mentor has wireless, so if I need it at home, I can have it. As for the cable, with the writer's strike, none of my shows are on, and the ones that I really care about if they ever come back on are on ABC.com. It'll save me 80/mo, and I'll have less of a distraction.

And talk to the profs more often, yes! The classes that I feel the most comfortable with are the ones that I've spent lots of time in their offices, not necessarily talking about class, but just building a relationship. Why is that such a shock?

[GodSpeed]

Because it creates a false sense of security

[OregonGirl07]

Things I Will Do Differently
1. Outline Earlier in the Term (seems like a theme)
2. Get another supp or an outline for CivPro
3. Read my supplements for Contracts more often

Things I Will Continue To Do
1. Read and Brief all cases
2. Talk in class when I have a valid point
3. Highlight Ridiculously
4. Watch the few tv shows I want to watch for a break

[06072010]

1. Read and Brief all cases
2. Talk in class when I have a valid point
3. Highlight Ridiculously

Gunner alert! Just kidding, glad to see you still posting!

[Corsair]

..

[underdawg]

Wtf is this outlining biz? I assumed it was putting class notes in an organized fashion, but apparently not...

[orangeswarm]

That's what it is......................right?

[4RE]

I will learn from your mistakes and contribute my own next year.

[OregonGirl07]

PK, I said valid point, which means actually on topic.

[underdawg]

So...um....is outlining that time consuming? If you've been typing up notes in class, it can't be that bad, can it?

[06072010]

The way you put notes together in class isn't always the best way to organize the info for the exam. It's about creating a tool for exam study, which isn't the same material as what's delivered in class. Also, I think it's the synthesis of the material that matters - the process of making the outline is most of the benefit.

[jeff2486]

For me, a lot of the material didn't make complete sense until I went back and reviewed it and created an outline from it. And, similar to what PK said you have a lot of useless material in your notes (useless for the exam) and you will likely have some holes in your notes that you will have to find through another method (hornbooks, ask a friend, go to the professor etc.).

To me although outlining took a lot of time it was very rewarding. Once I began outlining and reviewing the material everything came together for me and I began to realize that I actually learned something from law school.

[SecondTimeAround]

or me, a lot of the material didn't make complete sense until I went back and reviewed it and created an outline from it.

This was true for me too; it wasn't till I did the outlining that I saw how the pieces fit together, and committed it all to memory (as I needed to for one of the classes, torts). This semester though, I hope to get a better grip on the material as I go along -- paying more attention to the underlying concepts of the cases, less to the (often incomprehensible) fact patterns. I found it simply too draining to try to master it all at semester's end. But then the outlining made me realize, as jeff2486 also said, that I really did learn something.

[KennyinGrinnell]

If I could redo the first semester I would...
- Read the Torts E&E from the beginning
- Outlined along the way
- Spent more time having fun at the beginning of the semester, spent less time having fun at the end

[jerryike]

probably the most informational post i've read here.

good shit people, and good to see many of you doing so well.

keep it up

[Leagon91]

TV, facebook, myspace, and youtube will all be banned during the Spring of 2008

[TTT-LS]

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[kiskadee321]

Solid advice! Definitely helpful. Super psyched to be in your shoes next yr and hopefully to remember your dos and don'ts

[Corsair]

..

[orangeswarm]

^^^ That's what I plan on doing this semester. I would like to leave school at school and spend some more time relaxing.

[themillsman22]

I think what worked best for me was at the tail end of last semester I was getting my reading done while I was at school, so once I left the building I was psychologically "Free" from work until the next day.

That seems like a good plan.

[Corsair]

..

[bocifious]

Things I don't regret:

13,000+ lexis points. Everyone laughed at me, but they have some cool stuff.

[lishi]

What kind of stuff do you get?