PT study schedule Forum

[howardsbest]

I will be starting my first semester as a PT 1L in a couple weeks and would like any suggestions current PT's might have on study schedules. I work a 9-5 and have class from 6:30-9 Mon-Thur. If you are in a similar situation or have helpful comments they are greatly appreciated.

[Iconoclast]

I'm in the same situation and although I have a plan, I have no idea how well it's going to work out. It would be great to hear from someone who has actual experience instead of just a plan

My classes run from 6:00 - 8:45 Monday - Thursday.

I shifted my work hours (I have a boss who is very supportive of my law school adventure) so I'll be working from 7:00 till 3:30. I plan to hit the gym after work and show up on campus by 5:00. I don't know how productive an hour before class will be, but it seems like I should be able to get some reviewing done.

After class I will be getting home around 10. I plan to do reading/study until 11:30. Then it's off to be for 6 hours and back at it int he morning.

Friday is family time. No school work until it gets close enough to finals for me to be freaked out or I have a writing assignment deadline looming

Sat and Sun are where the magic happens. Planning on 9 hours each day and will adjust if necessary.

That give me 24 solid study/reading/writing hours per week, along with another 4 hours that may or may not be productive before class. Enough? I guess I'll find out.

[ViIIager]

I'm totally jealous. I've got class five days a week from 1800 to 2000 (and one day till 2100).

My plan is to
- Wake up at 5
- Read/outline until 645
- Arrive at work at 730
- Work until 1630
- Arrive on campus at 1730 or so, review a bit, then hit class
- After class, commute home, eat dinner, kiss the kids goodnight, and study until midnight.

Rinse, repeat, five days a week. Saturdays will be nine or 10 hours of study; Sundays will be around the same with a break to watch the Redskins' loss of the week. I'll finish law school right when the kids begin forming permanent memories, and my wife may even forgive me someday.

[xyzbca]

This is what I did my first year:

M-Th:

Wake up 4:45. At the gym by 5:05. Back home by 6:45. At work 7:30 - 4:30.

On campus ~5:00. Eat dinner and review reading notes for that night's lectures.

Class 6:00 - 9:00 or 7:30 - 10:00 depending on the day.

Home around 10:00 . Catch up with my wife for about 20 minutes.

10:30 - 11:45 - Review class notes/Outline.

Quick shower and sleep by midnight.

Friday:

Same gym schedule. Work 8:00 - 3:30. No law school stuff ever. Friday nights were always reserved for whatever my wife planned. Typically I'm ready to collapse by Friday night and I sleep a full 8 hours Friday night.

Saturday:

At the gym by 6:30, go out for breakfast with my wife. Study from 9:00 - 4:30. Attend Saturday evening Mass and then dinner with my wife/friends. Study for a couple of more hours that night (typically).

Sunday:

Typically study from about 9:00 - 5:00. I try to avoid leaving the house unless it is to go to the library. I try to relax Sunday evening.

Some pointers:

*I found it easiest to do my reading/legal writing assignments for the upcoming week on Saturday/Sunday (this includes any supplements/practice tests). I devoted the work week to lectures only.

*My Legal writing class stopped meeting about half way through each semester which freed up additional time for reading.

*The morning workouts were the key to having the energy to make it through the day. I skipped one workout during the first semester and I was dragging ass that night. Slightly related to this is your diet. I avoid junk food and don't drink coffee/caffeine.

*Plan your vacation around school events. My employer gives me five weeks vacation a year. I took one week in the middle of each semester to devote to the graded Legal writing assignment. I then took one week each semester just before finals.

*I'm probably not the best person to listen to when it comes to the issue of sleep. I learned how to operate well in a sleep deprived state with the military.

[howardsbest]

This has been helpful. From pointers online I have made a draft study schedule.

Mon-Thurs
Wake up 7am
Work 9am-5pm
Lunch 12 or 1pm (review for class)
Dinner 5:30pm
Class 6:20-9:00pm

Fri
Wake up 7am
Work 9am-5pm
Chill at home (no school work, except during finals or big papers)

Sat
4 hours of studying

Sun
2-3 hours of studying

This will adjust, but I plan to utilize my outlook planner on both my computer and blackberry.

Good article on succeeding in law school
http://www.top-law-schools.com/law-scho ... tml#topic3

[ViIIager]

*My Legal writing class stopped meeting about half way through each semester which freed up additional time for reading.

Is that common? I'd love for that to happen.