Really bad shape for exams, seeking advice Forum

[CordeliusX]

Hey all,

I'm screwed. I've spent all my time reading and note-taking, often not even remembering the very notes I'm taking down each evening.

I have not read any supplements.

I have been, due to my chosen "method", outlining everything I read. But I might not even understand what I've been writing down (ie it might be better to just re-read than to read my corrupted notes/outlines)

I feel like, despite all the actual reading, I've learnt nothing. I have yet to really feel comfortable with basic definitions, and all the classes bore the hell out of me to varying degrees.

I am just aiming for "OK" grades this time around. So please let me know which barebones supplements should help me, with my notes, get into "you know this shit well enough" territory? I really just want to feel comfortable with the basic ideas, and get most of the way there. MANY THANKS

[chicagolaw2013]

Hey all,

I'm screwed. I've spent all my time reading and note-taking, often not even remembering the very notes I'm taking down each evening.

I have not read any supplements.

I have been, due to my chosen "method", outlining everything I read. But I might not even understand what I've been writing down (ie it might be better to just re-read than to read my corrupted notes/outlines)

I feel like, despite all the actual reading, I've learnt nothing. I have yet to really feel comfortable with basic definitions, and all the classes bore the hell out of me to varying degrees.

I am just aiming for "OK" grades this time around. So please let me know which barebones supplements should help me, with my notes, get into "you know this shit well enough" territory? I really just want to feel comfortable with the basic ideas, and get most of the way there. MANY THANKS

Ummm, if you're a 1L, join the club. We all feel that way. Chill out, grab a coffee, and pull yourself together. You'll be fine.

[OGR3]

Hey all,

I'm screwed. I've spent all my time reading and note-taking, often not even remembering the very notes I'm taking down each evening.

I have not read any supplements.

I have been, due to my chosen "method", outlining everything I read. But I might not even understand what I've been writing down (ie it might be better to just re-read than to read my corrupted notes/outlines)

I feel like, despite all the actual reading, I've learnt nothing. I have yet to really feel comfortable with basic definitions, and all the classes bore the hell out of me to varying degrees.

I am just aiming for "OK" grades this time around. So please let me know which barebones supplements should help me, with my notes, get into "you know this shit well enough" territory? I really just want to feel comfortable with the basic ideas, and get most of the way there. MANY THANKS

Ummm, if you're a 1L, join the club. We all feel that way. Chill out, grab a coffee, and pull yourself together. You'll be fine.

+1.

It's not about how much you know, it's about how much more you know than your classmates. I'd be willing to bet there's a strong percentage of your class that is in the same boat.

[traehekat]

Woah, month before exams and you are already throwing in the towel re: good grades just because you haven't read supplements?

First of all, supplements are not necessary to get good grades. Plenty of people get good grades without touching anything other than the casebook.

Second, even if you feel you do need some clarification, there is a ton of time left to get caught up if you are diligent. Grab a solid commercial outline if you need help with what the black letter law is.

Third, have you been using hypotheticals and examples? This will help crystallize and internalize rules that you may have trouble remembering.

Point is there's no reason to panic.

[CordeliusX]

Woah, month before exams and you are already throwing in the towel re: good grades just because you haven't read supplements?

First of all, supplements are not necessary to get good grades. Plenty of people get good grades without touching anything other than the casebook.

Second, even if you feel you do need some clarification, there is a ton of time left to get caught up if you are diligent. Grab a solid commercial outline if you need help with what the black letter law is.

Third, have you been using hypotheticals and examples? This will help crystallize and internalize rules that you may have trouble remembering.

Point is there's no reason to panic.

Appreciate the chill pill from everyone, but as I see it, I have about a week to study.

I don't think I can be motivated to study ON TOP of still taking classes. It's fucked up. I am not a multi-tasker and I've chosen to return home for Thanksgiving so that burns me bad. Can't expect to do too much work then.

So that's why I'm panicking. I feel like I just don't know jack, others do, and I don't care enough about this boring crap.

I can't study for my exams in one week, so I'm hoping to choose one or two to really "try" on and try to glide through the rest. Hence, why I am asking which supplements or whatever provide the "barebones" that will at least pass me.

[OGR3]

Woah, month before exams and you are already throwing in the towel re: good grades just because you haven't read supplements?

First of all, supplements are not necessary to get good grades. Plenty of people get good grades without touching anything other than the casebook.

Second, even if you feel you do need some clarification, there is a ton of time left to get caught up if you are diligent. Grab a solid commercial outline if you need help with what the black letter law is.

Third, have you been using hypotheticals and examples? This will help crystallize and internalize rules that you may have trouble remembering.

Point is there's no reason to panic.

Appreciate the chill pill from everyone, but as I see it, I have about a week to study.

I don't think I can be motivated to study ON TOP of still taking classes. It's fucked up. I am not a multi-tasker and I've chosen to return home for Thanksgiving so that burns me bad. Can't expect to do too much work then.

So that's why I'm panicking. I feel like I just don't know jack, others do, and I don't care enough about this boring crap.

I can't study for my exams in one week, so I'm hoping to choose one or two to really "try" on and try to glide through the rest. Hence, why I am asking which supplements or whatever provide the "barebones" that will at least pass me.

If you write your name on the test, they'll pass you. There's no incentive to not pass you. A law school will give out Cs until the cows come home to keep that tuition money flowing.

[stayway]

sorry but sounds like you are not cut out to be a lawyer.

[Unitas]

Hey all,

I'm screwed. I've spent all my time reading and note-taking, often not even remembering the very notes I'm taking down each evening.

I have not read any supplements.

I have been, due to my chosen "method", outlining everything I read. But I might not even understand what I've been writing down (ie it might be better to just re-read than to read my corrupted notes/outlines)

I feel like, despite all the actual reading, I've learnt nothing. I have yet to really feel comfortable with basic definitions, and all the classes bore the hell out of me to varying degrees.

I am just aiming for "OK" grades this time around. So please let me know which barebones supplements should help me, with my notes, get into "you know this shit well enough" territory? I really just want to feel comfortable with the basic ideas, and get most of the way there. MANY THANKS

Two things

First, none of us understand this shit. Not a single person in your class does. Not me, not you, sometimes not even the professor. Just be prepared to make your best points and follow through with any arguments doing both sides. Get getting to maybe and read it (takes a few hours). Apply it. Don't ever aim for "OK" grades. Go into it planning on doing the best you can, cause that is all you can do.

Secondly, classes bore you? Get a smartphone or computer and learn to love wikipedia.... It'll keep you awake and either look up related material or random crap. I spent one of my classes today reading about mobius strips then a lot of the relevant links. I was able to pay attention plus not waste that time on crap that bores me and in the end won't matter.

[prezidentv8]

It's not about how much you know, it's about how much more you know write down than your classmates.

FTFY.

Secondly, classes bore you? Get a smartphone or computer and learn to love wikipedia.... It'll keep you awake and either look up related material or random crap. I spent one of my classes today reading about mobius strips then a lot of the relevant links. I was able to pay attention plus not waste that time on crap that bores me and in the end won't matter.

So true.

[BarbellDreams]

You're fine, I spoke with a 2L who said he picked up a Nutshell for Torts 3 days before the exam because he said he didnt understand a single thing and he got a B+. Look over the notes, apply what you can, read Getting to Maybe, pick up a Nutshell for every class you have if you're entirely lost.

[vamedic03]

Woah, month before exams and you are already throwing in the towel re: good grades just because you haven't read supplements?

First of all, supplements are not necessary to get good grades. Plenty of people get good grades without touching anything other than the casebook.

Second, even if you feel you do need some clarification, there is a ton of time left to get caught up if you are diligent. Grab a solid commercial outline if you need help with what the black letter law is.

Third, have you been using hypotheticals and examples? This will help crystallize and internalize rules that you may have trouble remembering.

Point is there's no reason to panic.

Appreciate the chill pill from everyone, but as I see it, I have about a week to study.

I don't think I can be motivated to study ON TOP of still taking classes. It's fucked up. I am not a multi-tasker and I've chosen to return home for Thanksgiving so that burns me bad. Can't expect to do too much work then.

So that's why I'm panicking. I feel like I just don't know jack, others do, and I don't care enough about this boring crap.

I can't study for my exams in one week, so I'm hoping to choose one or two to really "try" on and try to glide through the rest. Hence, why I am asking which supplements or whatever provide the "barebones" that will at least pass me.

Why do you want to be a lawyer? If you can't buck up, multitask, and get shit done for law school, how do you expect to handle being a lawyer? Do you expect to only work on "interesting" matters or get "interesting" assignments or not be pressed for time or not have to work on more than 1 project at a time?

The point is this - you need to grow up and learn some discipline. You have a job right now, and that's to learn the material. Suck it up, go to class, and then go and read your notes and synthesize this for ALL your classes.

If you're not willing to try then I don't understand why you're wasting your time in law school.

[abudaba]

Why do you want to be a lawyer? If you can't buck up, multitask, and get shit done for law school, how do you expect to handle being a lawyer? Do you expect to only work on "interesting" matters or get "interesting" assignments or not be pressed for time or not have to work on more than 1 project at a time?

The point is this - you need to grow up and learn some discipline. You have a job right now, and that's to learn the material. Suck it up, go to class, and then go and read your notes and synthesize this for ALL your classes.

If you're not willing to try then I don't understand why you're wasting your time in law school.

harsh man!

ps- ur missing a (potentially) major distinction between law school and practice:

$ OUT to read uninteresting material vs $ IN to read uninteresting material

[northwood]

if you realize that you are fighting yourself just to get to study... then maybe this isnt for you. Its better to realize this now, then after you have spent more money on school. Finish the term, and over break do some self reflection to see if this is really for you. If not, then move on to the next event in your life.
whatever you decide, you will be fine

[stayway]

$ OUT to read uninteresting material vs $ IN to read uninteresting material

It's going to be $$$$$$$ OUT x lifetime if s/he keeps this up and keep attending.

Or maybe daddy's paying

[BaiAilian2013]

FWIW, I've noticed among my classmates that sometimes the people who think they're confused/behind are actually just more self-aware and dedicated to seeing the big picture than those around them. It's like they're the only ones with the initiative to poke their heads out of the trenches and take stock of the situation, but that then gives them the false impression that they're the only ones being shot at.

Also FWIW I dunno if you need to be a multi-tasker per se to study while still taking classes. Classes+reading don't take up all your waking hours, so you still have adequate time to go back and as a separate activity review and synthesize the material. I think evenings are a great time for reviewing/outlining/whatever because you can spread out at home and be more relaxed with it. Reviewing seems to take more thought but less concentration than reading, if that makes any sense.

ps- ur missing a (potentially) major distinction between law school and practice:

$ OUT to read uninteresting material vs $ IN to read uninteresting material

Well, if you're salaried it's more like "$ keeps flowing in at the same rate as long as you read all the uninteresting material you are told to read; otherwise bad things happen."

[beach_terror]

sorry but sounds like you are not cut out to be a lawyer.

Because first semester 1Ls can say this.

lol

[traehekat]

Why do you want to be a lawyer? If you can't buck up, multitask, and get shit done for law school, how do you expect to handle being a lawyer? Do you expect to only work on "interesting" matters or get "interesting" assignments or not be pressed for time or not have to work on more than 1 project at a time?

The point is this - you need to grow up and learn some discipline. You have a job right now, and that's to learn the material. Suck it up, go to class, and then go and read your notes and synthesize this for ALL your classes.

If you're not willing to try then I don't understand why you're wasting your time in law school.

harsh man!

ps- ur missing a (potentially) major distinction between law school and practice:

$ OUT to read uninteresting material vs $ IN to read uninteresting material

please note that abudaba here fails at quoting people. i did not say this. vamedic03 did. i would not question whether someone is cut out to be a lawyer just because they are struggling a bit with their first year.

[RVP11]

It's not about how much you know, it's about how much more you know than your classmates.

No, it's about how well you perform on the exam relative to your classmates.

And how well you perform on the exam isn't that strongly related to "how much" you know. The material in any law school class is pretty much finite, and you don't get brownie points for knowing holdings of cases you were never assigned, doctrine the prof never told you about, etc.

[abudaba]

please note that abudaba here fails at quoting people. i did not say this. vamedic03 did. i would not question whether someone is cut out to be a lawyer just because they are struggling a bit with their first year.

oops sorry bout the misrepresentation I'll fix that, thanks for the notification - I'll be sure to be more careful next time

[stayway]

sorry but sounds like you are not cut out to be a lawyer.

Because first semester 1Ls can say this.

lol

Forgot to add "discretion" but I'm pretty sure I'm on point

[APimpNamedSlickback]

.

[BruceWayne]

Wow. I'm stunned at the number of non jackass, mature, realistic, yet encouraging responses that were given to the OP in this thread. It's almost like this isn't TLS or something. OP I'm right along with you. Good luck and listen to what everyone is saying; both of us need to.

[zeth006]

Doubt he's worse off than I am.

Crim-I mostly understood what was going on, but now I'm barely learning how to APPLY the concepts to the practice exams. Still have yet to take one on my own

Civ Pro-I was lost for most of the time until just recently. I'm decently confident once I relook over all my notes and go through my supps, everything will become crystal clear.

Contracts-I'm in trouble for this class. Kind of understood what was going on, was lost for probably half the class. I'm told that supplemental outlines will clear things up.

[stayway]

Doubt he's worse off than I am.

Crim-I mostly understood what was going on, but now I'm barely learning how to APPLY the concepts to the practice exams. Still have yet to take one on my own

Civ Pro-I was lost for most of the time until just recently. I'm decently confident once I relook over all my notes and go through my supps, everything will become crystal clear.

Contracts-I'm in trouble for this class. Kind of understood what was going on, was lost for probably half the class. I'm told that supplemental outlines will clear things up.

I heard Ks was a complete bitch. Not looking forward to it next semester

[soaponarope]

I'm in the same boat as the OP (at least i feel like im lost). Although, I did pretty well on my civ pro midterm, but... K's? Awful. The worst part was a friend of mine walked into the exam 15 minutes late, hand wrote his answer, and still scored 1.5 points higher than me. I was totally discouraged.

(grading system is 1-6)