What is the appropriate amount of preparation
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:26 pm
Thanks
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What is the appropriate amount of preparation Forum
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Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:28 pm
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Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:43 pm
There are people who try literally as hard as they can and still don't make it in the top 20%.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:47 pm
More than whatever 80% of your classmates are doing.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:51 pm
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Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:18 am
Preparation is a really subjective thing so I don't think there is a "correct" answer. If you want to be in the top 20%, you need to do enough preparation so that you perform better than 80% of your classmates.
Since I have no idea how to quantify that, I'd just focus on doing the best job you can, that's what everybody else will be doing. The key is to do efficient/relevant studying, since you can do a ton of prep that is completely worthless
Since I have no idea how to quantify that, I'd just focus on doing the best job you can, that's what everybody else will be doing. The key is to do efficient/relevant studying, since you can do a ton of prep that is completely worthless
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:26 am
Yeah. Happens all the time.Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:There are people who try literally as hard as they can and still don't make it in the top 20%.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:28 pm
There's no definitive answer. Some people have a knack for law school some don't. You can still do pretty well if you don't have a natural talent (in my opinion at least). Not everyone in the class will work hard. For most of them, this will come back to bite them. The differing levels of intellect in an average law school class are not so dispersed as to allow students to dick around all semester and then make stellar grades (in my experience). I think the correct answer is to not put a quantitative measurement on it and rather look at your work in terms of quality. You need to read the advice on this forum and hit the ground running form day one. Just put in 100% and that way you can look at yourself in the mirror everyday and know that no matter what you did all that you could.
I recommend supplements (especially those favored by your teacher) as well as progressive outlining throughout the semester, although some will tell you to start a month out of exams. Go to class everyday and get a feel for how important vigorous note taking is. In some lecture classes, I write down literally everything the prof says. In more socratic classes, I tend to note sparingly and become more involved in class participation. For the record I was top 5% at a TTT, but am in top third at UT as a transfer student, so I am not quite to your desired outcome.
I recommend supplements (especially those favored by your teacher) as well as progressive outlining throughout the semester, although some will tell you to start a month out of exams. Go to class everyday and get a feel for how important vigorous note taking is. In some lecture classes, I write down literally everything the prof says. In more socratic classes, I tend to note sparingly and become more involved in class participation. For the record I was top 5% at a TTT, but am in top third at UT as a transfer student, so I am not quite to your desired outcome.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:33 pm
Let us consult...the bones.
*throws bones on desk*
The bones say..."out to lunch. Try again later."
Yeah, I have no idea. Study hard? *shrugs*
*throws bones on desk*
The bones say..."out to lunch. Try again later."
Yeah, I have no idea. Study hard? *shrugs*
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:36 pm
if your goal is to transfer from the school you matriculate into to your target school, then the credited response is to retake. Im not trolling you, but I can tell you it is significantly easier ( and less costly) to take a year off- study for the October exam, take it and apply and go in the fall of 2015 than to place well enough in your class to transfer ( if its possible depending on your target school- some schools will not look at anyone below the TOP 1 or 2 students in the class if at all).
as others said, its hard to say. However, I would think you need to know how your professors write exams, read exams, and grade exams ( which may be accomplished by doing their od exam and then meeting with them for review) to better help yourself do well on exam day. (plus not get the flu the night before)
as others said, its hard to say. However, I would think you need to know how your professors write exams, read exams, and grade exams ( which may be accomplished by doing their od exam and then meeting with them for review) to better help yourself do well on exam day. (plus not get the flu the night before)
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:38 pm
Read Getting to Maybe, keep up with your reading throughout the semester, start outling 4-6 weeks before finals, do a bunch of practice tests right before exams, maybe mix in some supplement reading, cross your fingers, and pray.
IMO
IMO
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:48 pm
brotherdarkness wrote:As for preparation before law school, it's completely unnecessary. Enjoy your last summer of freedom. Seriously.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:59 pm
IMO, GTM won't help you until after your first round of exams. Then it will become incredibly valuable.
I would suggest outlining early and starting to take practice exams as early as possible as well. For every bit (assuming you can spot the issues) of a long problem, think about every possible way you can argue it and every pro and con and counter argument to each one of those arguments. In short, that is how to succeed on an exam.
Being able to spot the issues comes from knowing the material backwards and forwards, and knowing how to argue it all out comes from being smart/naturally good at the exams/something like that, IMO. In other words, much of that "argument" part kind of has to come innately IMO, but being able to see every "issue" is a significant part of the battle and can be studied for.
I would suggest outlining early and starting to take practice exams as early as possible as well. For every bit (assuming you can spot the issues) of a long problem, think about every possible way you can argue it and every pro and con and counter argument to each one of those arguments. In short, that is how to succeed on an exam.
Being able to spot the issues comes from knowing the material backwards and forwards, and knowing how to argue it all out comes from being smart/naturally good at the exams/something like that, IMO. In other words, much of that "argument" part kind of has to come innately IMO, but being able to see every "issue" is a significant part of the battle and can be studied for.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:00 pm
I'd switch that our for more reading, personally.BigZuck wrote:Read Getting to Maybe, keep up with your reading throughout the semester, start outling 4-6 weeks before finals, do a bunch of practice tests right before exams, maybe mix in some supplement reading, cross your fingers, and pray.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:08 pm
Do you mind going into more detail on this, mainly why it won't help you before fall 1L exams?objctnyrhnr wrote:IMO, GTM won't help you until after your first round of exams. Then it will become incredibly valuable.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:16 pm
But still spend some time just sitting around with your fingers crossed. Lets make sure to do the important things.Will_McAvoy wrote:I'd switch that our for more reading, personally.BigZuck wrote:Read Getting to Maybe, keep up with your reading throughout the semester, start outling 4-6 weeks before finals, do a bunch of practice tests right before exams, maybe mix in some supplement reading, cross your fingers, and pray.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:21 pm
Sources say it is 10% less than what is required to be in the top 10%. As you know, there are perfect corollaries between input and output.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:22 pm
I read GTM before law school started and thought it helped a lot (I was top 20% of top 5). It helps you understand how you should think about the law that you're learning, which will help you read better, listen better and outline better.
I agree with the above post: keep up with readings, start outlining early (I would say at least 6 weeks in advance) and I would also figure out whether you learn better making your own outlines or adding to others. Supplements can be helpful if used sparingly.
I agree with the above post: keep up with readings, start outlining early (I would say at least 6 weeks in advance) and I would also figure out whether you learn better making your own outlines or adding to others. Supplements can be helpful if used sparingly.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:43 pm
If I sit you down and tell you how to...i dunno...surf, it won't really help you much once you get in the water (see, e.g., that hilarious scene in forgetting sarah marshall that is actually kind of accurate), mainly because you won't really know what it MEANS [in practice] to lean forward to stay in the front of the wave, and steer with your back foot and all that shit. You'll say yep yep mmhmmm i get it, and then you'll get in the water, you'll suck at surfing like most other beginners do. But once you see what it's like to stand on a moving wave, fall on your face a few times, my verbal/written instruction will be of a lot more use.chargers wrote:Do you mind going into more detail on this, mainly why it won't help you before fall 1L exams?objctnyrhnr wrote:IMO, GTM won't help you until after your first round of exams. Then it will become incredibly valuable.
I am not saying it won't help at all, but I believe that for the first round of exams, the time that u could spend reading the book will be way better spent practicing exams and learning to spot issues.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:48 pm
It's helpful before your first round of exams.objctnyrhnr wrote:If I sit you down and tell you how to...i dunno...surf, it won't really help you much once you get in the water (see, e.g., that hilarious scene in forgetting sarah marshall that is actually kind of accurate), mainly because you won't really know what it MEANS [in practice] to lean forward to stay in the front of the wave, and steer with your back foot and all that shit. You'll say yep yep mmhmmm i get it, and then you'll get in the water, you'll suck at surfing like most other beginners do. But once you see what it's like to stand on a moving wave, fall on your face a few times, my verbal/written instruction will be of a lot more use.chargers wrote:Do you mind going into more detail on this, mainly why it won't help you before fall 1L exams?objctnyrhnr wrote:IMO, GTM won't help you until after your first round of exams. Then it will become incredibly valuable.
I am not saying it won't help at all, but I believe that for the first round of exams, the time that u could spend reading the book will be way better spent practicing exams and learning to spot issues.
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:22 pm
tagged
Re: What is the appropriate amount of preparation to be top 20%
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:22 am
The appropriate amount of preparation to be 20% is the amount of preparation that is required for you to be 20%. Which you will never know because of that whole, you know, not being able to predict the future with 100% certainty thing.