How do I study for finals??? Forum

[AP-375]

I know this sounds like an obvious question, but I could use some knowledgable advice or encouragement.
I've been following the xeoh85* study plan with consistency since Day One. Outlines have been updated every week. Been taking practice tests for six weeks. Been doing hypos every day all semester. I study 60 hours a week on average.
I guess I'm a little unsure what else I could be doing, but I dare not be so foolish as to think that I'm on top of everything.
So my question is, how do I step it up from here, and should I incorporate anything else?
More practice tests, more memorizing, get faster? Rinse and repeat for more hours of the week?
Thanks in advance for any helpful thoughts.

*http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=118545

[wildhaggis]

It sounds like you've been hitting the books pretty hard already, so I'll start with this: don't burn yourself out.

Really, to boil it down to a simple formula, you have to do a couple of different things. The first is learn how to take an exam. Read Getting to Maybe, your professor's old exams, and a couple of "model answers," if any are available. Once you've got your head wrapped around how to take an exam, practice from this starting point. I can't tell you how many people I talked to during 1L year who did dozens of practice tests and still under-performed grade-wise simply because they weren't doing the practice tests correctly. Practice is meaningless unless you're practicing correctly.

The second thing to do is to boil down what you've learned and read in your classes into black letter law. Figure out what you have to apply, and apply it using what you've learned on how to take an exam. The analysis and arguments will follow (and if they don't, Getting to Maybe will teach you how to make them).

Also: type fast. Really fast.

[gdane]

This seems very flamish.

[071816]

I know this sounds like an obvious question, but I could use some knowledgable advice or encouragement.
I've been following the xeoh85* study plan with consistency since Day One. Outlines have been updated every week. Been taking practice tests for six weeks. Been doing hypos every day all semester. I study 60 hours a week on average.
I guess I'm a little unsure what else I could be doing, but I dare not be so foolish as to think that I'm on top of everything.
So my question is, how do I step it up from here, and should I incorporate anything else?
More practice tests, more memorizing, get faster? Rinse and repeat for more hours of the week?
Thanks in advance for any helpful thoughts.

*http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=118545

Why? And where are you getting all these practice tests?

[AP-375]

It sounds like you've been hitting the books pretty hard already, so I'll start with this: don't burn yourself out.

Also: type fast. Really fast.

Thanks for the advice. I've been in my don't burn out mode, and honestly it's been tough. Definitely would be good to re-read GTM.

This seems very flamish.

Does it really seem like a flame that someone would be aware and terrified of the bi-modal salary distribution and would do anything in their power to end up on the right side? To quote Latrell Sprewell: "I've got my family to feed."

Why? And where are you getting all these practice tests?

Because I've been outlining each week (and don't have the grand outlining-review/relearn the course experience) I need the practice tests to help me synthesize the material and keep everything fresh. They help me understand the material, and more importantly, point out what I don't understand.
I just get the tests off of a Google search, off of my school's archive, and off of a thread somewhere on TLS that links to other schools' test archives. (Of course I realize that my professors tests are different, so I try to tailor everything to the way that they want their answers.)

[leobowski]

60 hours a week is a lot. You're maxed out as it is. Eat well, sleep, and remain psychologically healthy. Go into the final well-rested and that will be a huge advantage.

[chup]

Calm your balls.

[dood]

I know this sounds like an obvious question, but I could use some knowledgable advice or encouragement.
I've been following the xeoh85* study plan with consistency since Day One. Outlines have been updated every week. Been taking practice tests for six weeks. Been doing hypos every day all semester. I study 60 hours a week on average.
I guess I'm a little unsure what else I could be doing, but I dare not be so foolish as to think that I'm on top of everything.
So my question is, how do I step it up from here, and should I incorporate anything else?
More practice tests, more memorizing, get faster? Rinse and repeat for more hours of the week?
Thanks in advance for any helpful thoughts.

*http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=118545

hit the gym? get laid?

[arvcondor]

Calm your balls.

It's responses like this that remind me that enjoying life and not acting like OP does not cast me as a lazy failure.

[Talon]

Relax. If your answers to practice exam questions look good (as compared to model answers or other students' answers), you're probably in fine shape, and there's not much to do except learn the remainder of the course subjects.

[FeelTheHeat]

Six weeks ago we had covered intentional torts + breach...I don't know how you could possibly take a practice exam with only that knowledge...

[BackToTheOldHouse]

It sounds like you've been hitting the books pretty hard already, so I'll start with this: don't burn yourself out.

Really, to boil it down to a simple formula, you have to do a couple of different things. The first is learn how to take an exam. Read Getting to Maybe, your professor's old exams, and a couple of "model answers," if any are available. Once you've got your head wrapped around how to take an exam, practice from this starting point. I can't tell you how many people I talked to during 1L year who did dozens of practice tests and still under-performed grade-wise simply because they weren't doing the practice tests correctly. Practice is meaningless unless you're practicing correctly.

The second thing to do is to boil down what you've learned and read in your classes into black letter law. Figure out what you have to apply, and apply it using what you've learned on how to take an exam. The analysis and arguments will follow (and if they don't, Getting to Maybe will teach you how to make them).

Also: type fast. Really fast.

I plan to do this. Thanks.