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I'm only 5 weeks into bar prep, with four weeks left to go (the next 4 being the most intense). I feel my motivation/drive going already. I haven't taken a day off since I started, but I fell out of my routine earlier this week and now I'm barely scraping by doing only what I've been assigned to do (by Barbri).

The fact that the bar is only 4 weeks away should be scaring me into action, but I'm just so out of energy right now. Sorry to sound whiny, but any thoughts on getting back into gear?

Take a day off and get at it tomorrow
Take time everyday to exercise or go for a walk
Get enough sleep

Take a full day off (but don't get wasted or do anything similar).

lawstoodent wrote:I'm only 5 weeks into bar prep, with four weeks left to go (the next 4 being the most intense). I feel my motivation/drive going already. I haven't taken a day off since I started, but I fell out of my routine earlier this week and now I'm barely scraping by doing only what I've been assigned to do (by Barbri).

The fact that the bar is only 4 weeks away should be scaring me into action, but I'm just so out of energy right now. Sorry to sound whiny, but any thoughts on getting back into gear?

I agree with everyone else....take a day off. Consider taking off two days. Go to the beach, go get a massage at a spa, find someone willing to hump (I find that relaxing)

If you have a friend that makes you laugh and relax, try to meet up with them for lunch. But, make sure you warn them not to discuss the bar exam with you. I sort of went into a hole when I studied, and when someone could finally drag me out I would feel so refreshed and relaxed after I came home.

How you are feeling is totally normal. But I think its almost always comes from students that have been studying super hard. But you will continue to fall out of your routine until you rest and recharge.

I hear you. Something about it being in 4 weeks is scary to me, mentally. I've been doing my work, but I don't feel good at it. I have nothing memorized. I feel quite low Gotta keep on trucking though, and just anticipate the work is adding up to something and this is just a feeling that will pass in time.

cleanhustle wrote:I hear you. Something about it being in 4 weeks is scary to me, mentally. I've been doing my work, but I don't feel good at it. I have nothing memorized. I feel quite low Gotta keep on trucking though, and just anticipate the work is adding up to something and this is just a feeling that will pass in time.

I sort of felt that way too, but when the exam hits, so does your adrenaline and stuff will come back to you. You just have to work on getting it in your head.

Just keep writing, keep practicing. Even if you're doing your essays open book, you're getting information in your head.

Was going to ask the same thing as I'm losing another night of sleep. I've only covered 5 MBE topics and have not wrote out nor outlined any essays.

I'm considering taking a day off but worried about falling more behind. What would you guys suggest narrowing our studies down on during the next 4 weeks for the sake of managing the limited time efficiently.

Zebra wrote:Was going to ask the same thing as I'm losing another night of sleep. I've only covered 5 MBE topics and have not wrote out nor outlined any essays.

I'm considering taking a day off but worried about falling more behind. What would you guys suggest narrowing our studies down on during the next 4 weeks for the sake of managing the limited time efficiently.

What I know from experience....if you're falling behind......if your body is shutting down and you are feeling fatigued -- you must take some time off. Your body will continue to act out, you will continue to fall behind until you do. The body will get what it wants, and if your mind needs some rest, it will get it no matter what you do.

Take a day, do whatever refreshes you, and come back to it the next day.

I bet that with your mind rested you'll be able to come up with a game plan for the next 4 weeks and be able to work on it.

Personally, I think you should plan to take another day off in the last 4 weeks because you'll be working SO hard that it will be even easier to burn out.

mvp99 wrote:Take a full day off (but don't get wasted or do anything similar).

Why do you recommend not getting wasted?

kellyfrost wrote:

mvp99 wrote:Take a full day off (but don't get wasted or do anything similar).

Why do you recommend not getting wasted?

Edit: Sounded too mean... you don't want to lose another day hungover. But if that helps you, then go for it.

Thanks for all the advice.

I think I will take a day or two off.

FWIW I got -very- wasted last night.

LionelHutzJD wrote:FWIW I got -very- wasted last night.

+1

just absolutely bombed an MPT that i felt great about when I submitted it for grading. was counting on the MPT to carry me...full out breakdown mode has begun.

ellewoods123 wrote:just absolutely bombed an MPT that i felt great about when I submitted it for grading. was counting on the MPT to carry me...full out breakdown mode has begun.

No tea, no shade -- but you shouldn't put all your trust in Barbri/Kaplan graders. There has always been complaints that they don't always know exactly what they are doing. See if you can find the model answer/Barbri/Kaplan written answer and see how it compares.

If you or a friend has BarEssays.com -- see if you can find the MPT and read over it.

I know I'm a broken record on the point -- but this was a big part of the reason that I got a former bar grader as a tutor. I wanted feedback from someone who had actually read the PT (California)

rcharter1978 wrote:

ellewoods123 wrote:just absolutely bombed an MPT that i felt great about when I submitted it for grading. was counting on the MPT to carry me...full out breakdown mode has begun.

No tea, no shade -- but you shouldn't put all your trust in Barbri/Kaplan graders. There has always been complaints that they don't always know exactly what they are doing. See if you can find the model answer/Barbri/Kaplan written answer and see how it compares.

If you or a friend has BarEssays.com -- see if you can find the MPT and read over it.

I know I'm a broken record on the point -- but this was a big part of the reason that I got a former bar grader as a tutor. I wanted feedback from someone who had actually read the PT (California)

thanks, I'm doing Barbri so I have the model answer and I will fully admit that I definitely didn't include as many facts as I should have (the time crunch is brutal) but I just felt like since I followed directions, followed the format, and analyzed the issues and came to the same result as the model answer i at LEAST could have gotten a 3. A 2 on the real thing would sink you with mediocre performance in everything else, just seemed brutal. end rant.

ellewoods123 wrote:

rcharter1978 wrote:

ellewoods123 wrote:just absolutely bombed an MPT that i felt great about when I submitted it for grading. was counting on the MPT to carry me...full out breakdown mode has begun.

No tea, no shade -- but you shouldn't put all your trust in Barbri/Kaplan graders. There has always been complaints that they don't always know exactly what they are doing. See if you can find the model answer/Barbri/Kaplan written answer and see how it compares.

If you or a friend has BarEssays.com -- see if you can find the MPT and read over it.

I know I'm a broken record on the point -- but this was a big part of the reason that I got a former bar grader as a tutor. I wanted feedback from someone who had actually read the PT (California)

thanks, I'm doing Barbri so I have the model answer and I will fully admit that I definitely didn't include as many facts as I should have (the time crunch is brutal) but I just felt like since I followed directions, followed the format, and analyzed the issues and came to the same result as the model answer i at LEAST could have gotten a 3. A 2 on the real thing would sink you with mediocre performance in everything else, just seemed brutal. end rant.

I think it just goes to show how much grading can be subjective. One person who was actually reading a bunch of mpt's might have given it a 3. Your reader gave it a 2. But then again things can even out in actual exam grading conditions....maybe you get a subjective 2 on one MPT, but your grader gives you higher than average marks on everything else.

But a) you're learning, and b) it was one grade....a grade given by someone who probably hasn't read an MPT for the bar exam.

Even with my tutor -- sometimes he had to think a little before giving me a grade, because there is so much subjectivity....and sometimes its going to work for you, and sometimes it might work against you. But in all likelihood it'll even out.

It might be helpful, if you can find it, and you're freaking out to see if you can get the bar released answer to see if there were issues that even the person who got a great grade missed out on.

Take a day off. You can still afford to do this now and you'll be wishing you did in July, if you don't now.

My turn. Feeling miserable.