2017 Results Thread - February Exam Forum

[happyhour1122]

I just received ANOTHER "Bar Exam Survey" email from BOLE. Are they intentionally trying to torture us? Enough already!

Thank you.................i'm not going to respond to their request.

[dionysius1]

and this one didn't even have a link to the survey they refer to...

[happyhour1122]

and this one didn't even have a link to the survey they refer to...

omg............... Bole is going to make mistakes on our grading!!!!!!!!! Just like what Georgia did last year.

[BarTaker]

Hello! I'm waiting for my UBE results!

I got 70-72% in all 4 OPE exams, it's a good predictor for the real exam? Thanks

[Estecontre]

and this one didn't even have a link to the survey they refer to...

omg............... Bole is going to make mistakes on our grading!!!!!!!!! Just like what Georgia did last year.

I thought Georgia didn't discover the mistake until a couple of years later and only found out about it until last year? That would be even worse.

[Lawyerinwaiting89]

For anyone who is nursing a failure, I feel for you. I went to a tier 2 law school and graduated in the top 25% of my class. I always worked hard and earned the respect of my classmates and professors for both academic and other reasons. I took Kaplan and did the traditional July exam (PA and NJ) right after graduating. I failed PA by 9 points and NJ by 4 points. During the bar prep course I was doing requirements for my upcoming clerkship, researching and touring new apartments, in my cousin's wedding, packing up, and moving from my apartment. My move out date was actually the day before the PA Bar. I finished the last bit of moving out the morning I traveled to the hotel in PA. All of that in play, I also felt that Kaplan was not suiting my learning style. But like so many people I ignored that feeling and told myself to trust in the system. I think that the commercial programs really do work for most people if you follow them thoroughly. But they are the way they are for a reason; they need to cover a ton of material for a wide audience of varying abilities. I really don't absorb material through professors' lectures and I just need to sit silently and take in the material. I also felt rushed and without direction because every time I thought I was catching on it was time to move onto a new topic. I felt like I only knew a tiny bit about a lot of things and the MBE made me nervous. I wasn't practicing with many past questions. I did not complete all of the course assignments or practice exams because I was trying to do a million other things and felt so overwhelmed. I hated that I had to deal with moving out of state because it wasn't something I could just ignore and there's always a million things to take care of. That said, I was still devastated when I found out that I had failed. From everything that I read it appeared that I was not in the group that statistically does not pass the bar exam on the first try. Every post from scholars emphasized how law schools are accepting sub par students and that is a main reason why graduates are failing in greater numbers. Talk about feeling shitty. You're already down on yourself and inevitably negative. You're comparing yourself to your classmates who passed (because let's face it, it's impossible not to). Then you're reading that you're a sub par type. I had never felt such feelings of inadequacy and depression. As so many of you have pointed out, only people who actually failed get it. I tend to think most people have good intentions with their uplifting statements and positive reinforcement. But the truth is you already know that in reality you're an accomplished and deserving individual. You know you're hard working and passionate. You don't actually need to be reaffirmed in those ways (although I'll adimit it's nice to hear at times). You're really just despondent because you are being estopped (law nerd alert) from moving forward, despite your desire. No one likes to not have control over his/her destiny. Everything else you've gone through so far had paths. Maybe you didn't get into X school, but you got into Y school. Maybe you didn't get an offer from X position, but you got an offer from Y position. Here, there's no "alternate" path to becoming an attorney. You have to pass and until you do, you're in waiting. It doesn't help that the exam is offered just twice a year and results take months to be released.

I took the February NJ exam. I figured that because it was now UBE maybe it was the universe's way of saying now it's more useful and thus meant to be. Haha the random things we tell ourselves. This time around I did not have the same stressors, but I was working full time and didn't really take any time off besides maybe two afternoons. I self studied and ditched Kaplan (except for some MBE questions and the big outline book for cross reference). I used Emmanuel's book (really liked it) and Rigos for the MEE. I don't know whether I truly count as a retaker for NJ because it did switch to the UBE so the MEE and MPT were entirely new for me. Results are forthcoming, but I am somewhat hopeful. I felt better walking out of this exam than I did in July. But I still found the MBE very difficult. In July I wasn't scoring much higher then 100 raw on Kaplan's exams and I got 127 scaled. This time, I was getting anywhere between 55% and 75% right on sets practice questions.

So I hope if nothing else.... If you're a person who's failed one or more times and feels so depressed and alone, just know you're not. People exclaim over social media when they pass but those who failed keep quiet and shut down. There's often a small margin between passing and failing and those who pass often don't find out their scores (depends on the state). It's the problem with a pass/fail exam. There's no gray area (pretty ironic for our profession, huh?) But remember that life is honestly quite short, your family and close friends never stop thinking the world of you, you are likely the hardest on yourself, and your clients will never ask you how many times you took the bar after they see the framed certificate on your wall. They just care that it's in the frame, not what date it says. You shouldn't have to feel so bad and question so much; it's not just. But then again, life just isn't fair and everyone is battling their individual demons. Rooting for everyone!

[santa_mcgee]

.

[PersistentAttorney]

Hey guys don't want to leave the thread hanging just because I didn't get the news I wanted. Still pushing for those waiting on those results.

Good or bad you will feel the weight start to lift once you find out.

Second-time taker here. Waiting on NY. Failed by 9 scaled points on July. I am a foreign taker (also foreign trained) so, as you probably understand, I kinda betting against the odds here. All in all, my point is that I get you. I get how you must be feeling now.

My circumstances weren't easy when preparing both times. My father was diagnosed with cancer again a year ago after 5 years in remission. It was right before I started studying for July. When my results came out on late October, I didn't get the luxury of grief because I had to wear a smile to cheer him up while he underwent therapy and was hospitalized for about a month during Oct-Nov.

I was about to start preparing for the Feb exam when in early December when my father caught a nasty bug that kept him in intensive care for additional two months and in rehab for another month. Acute pneumonia that sent him into a septic shock and multi-organ failure. Doctors in the unit said there's no chance of him making it as he was in assisted respiration for too long... Well, both my father and I thought otherwise. I coordinated all the doctors I knew from his medical history and managed to bring him back. Today, my mother is having a hard time keeping him in the house...

So I thought that all these hardships meant something = I had to make it. My whole family tried to convince me to either quit or postpone my NY admission efforts and shift my focus on my home country. "You're father is not well", "circumstances are not ideal" (as if they ever are...), "competition is very high". They even told me not to take the exam for a third time if I failed this one - not after the exam but just a couple of days before. Only one person in my family believed in me: Me.

"The odds for a foreign retaker is ~15%": I couldn't care less. "More debt for the trip and application fees": Who gives a f**k?

I watched this video every day I felt my reality was catching up with my determination:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Zjh3AirjU

It really helped. "Those who say they can't and those who say they can are usually both right..."
Although I don't yet know whether I passed, I feel optimistic. Repeated the Kaplan Prep Course I purchased in my first attempt as it was for free and trusted the system. Studied harder and more determined. Left the exam feeling more confident than the first time. In July I was thinking "it's OK to fail, considering the circumstances..."

This time failure wasn't an option. But even if I do fail, I will try again. And again, and again...
The only thing I have to say to bar exam takers: You owe this success to no one else but yourself. It is for you. No one is going to feel like you will, whether you pass or fail. It is a lonely and uphill path; and you'll either fail and tumble down alone or make it to the top and enjoy the view alone.
The only certain way to failure is quitting. No matter how many times it takes for you to pass, you never really failed unless you quit. Remember that.

I agree. Failing is like falling down but you get up and run again. I wish you the best!

I am a fifth time taker. It is tough to make a choice when times are not easy during the bar exam.

Quitting was not an option for me too. I went and took the bar exam just after my mother was diagnosed with cancer, planning to be with her afterwards, as the prognosis was hopeful. My mother sent me an encouraging text message on the first bar exam test day. She died a few days later.

I failed. I wanted to go back in time and felt guilty for having taken the exam. You can not change the past. So I decided to take the exam until I pass.

In Feb 2017 I prepared to re-sit the bar exam when my father-in-law suddenly died just days before the exam itself. To take the test worrying or grieving a loved one is not easy. Still my husband encouraged me to fly to CA and take the exam.

I am a foreign attorney and not an English native speaker. So the odds are also very much against me, particularly so as the 15% foreigner's pass rate includes people who are English native speakers.

Despite all I left the exam this time feeling for the first time encouraged as I completed both MPTs and did not miss any of the big major issues. However classically with each day my confidence gets weaker as I have no idea about the MBEs and doubts about my essays.

6 more weeks until results are out ... And so little to divert my attention from 12 May...

I feel exactly the same way as we move towards the results. Although I left the exam feeling that everything went OK, the more we move towards the release dates the more insecure I feel. But this is just and illusion. Your performance those two days has nothing to do with how you feel now, as this negativity stems from the desire to pass which in turn causes anxiety. The more you want it, the more likely is to stress you.

Regarding your guilt, don't feel this way. I was in the same dilemma this February as my father was hospitalized in my home town and my work is 500 miles away. I had to leave him behind and continue both working and preparing for the bar exam. I said my "goodbyes" and really thought I would never see him again. Felt guilty as hell, but life goes on. And both your mother and my father would never want to see us stop pursuing our dreams because of their misfortunes.

I know CA is difficult. One very close friend of mine, native speaker and excellent student, sat the exam this February for the 3rd time. The second time he failed by so little we couldn't believe it. Be patient and keep working on your skills every day relentlessly. You need to obsess over the exam and your preparation. Everything else MUST wait, otherwise you will carry this as a burden your whole life.

Finally, think of this: Most people in your position would have quit already. Not only you didn't, but you have decided to go the full distance until you reach your goal. This means that you want it more than anyone else out there. Now, imagine what kind of a badass attorney this determination will make. He who wants it the most is the most likely to get it, and by "it" I mean success, no matter how you define it.

I wish you the very best of luck in your results this May. Fingers crossed!

PersistentAttorney - very grateful for your words. Fingers crossed for end of April for you!
I will try to get a job in NY if I should pass. The green card lottery is in May too, maybe my name is being picked.

I applied for the lottery too. Let's see! One step at a time.

what happens if you are not selected for the lottery?

You just hope for an employer to like you that much that they will sponsor your visa... (which is highly unlikely)
Or you can get married to a US citizen. There are ways out there but immigration is the main hurdle to find legal employment in the US.

[PersistentAttorney]

what happens if you are not selected for the lottery?

happyhour - Then I will apply again for the next annual lottery and keep working in Europe.
I will still try to apply for US jobs, but the applicable H1B1 visa makes it virtually impossible without support from a future employer (and its a big burden for the employer, not just financially!).

You are in Euro? You took an international flight to take the bar exam?

Wow H1B sounds like a burden.
I saw a lot of people in the exam site that flew international to take the bar exam.
Imagine having to come back for the interview and the swearing in ceremony... @.@

Most states don't have interview. But it will be such a pain to adjust the time difference for the exam. I would arrive at least two days earlier prior to the exam.[/quote]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

[rebhaz]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

[InterAlia1961]

Nicely done!

[maxmartin]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

[lolabear727]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

Congratulations! Did they give you a breakdown yet?

[happyhour1122]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

omg i'm so jealous. Can you buy us dinner?

[happyhour1122]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

I hope you don't fly United for your interview.....because they could drag you out.. its possible you know...you don't want to miss your interview.

[TheJuryMustDie]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

I've had to do the same as PersistentAttorney! Only that I also took the Feb.2016 administration making my England–US trip four in the last one year. If I dwell on the amount invested on this, I'd be wailing everyday. Can't bear to tell anyone I failed again...

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

[rebhaz]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

Congratulations! Did they give you a breakdown yet?

I earned a 146.1 on the essay portion, 144 MBE. my percentiles by subject were

Civ Pro- 63.6

Con Law- 60.3

Contract- 67.5

Crim Law- 53.9

Evidence - 51.7

Real Property- 77.1

Torts- 77.6

[happyhour1122]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

Congratulations! Did they give you a breakdown yet?

I earned a 146.1 on the essay portion, 144 MBE. my percentiles by subject were

Civ Pro- 63.6

Con Law- 60.3

Contract- 67.5

Crim Law- 53.9

Evidence - 51.7

Real Property- 77.1

Torts- 77.6

i love the essay topics...

[lolabear727]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

I hope you don't fly United for your interview.....because they could drag you out.. its possible you know...you don't want to miss your interview.

Hahaha.

[blaze1306]

Passed in Missouri with a 290 scaled.

Congratulations! Did they give you a breakdown yet?

I earned a 146.1 on the essay portion, 144 MBE. my percentiles by subject were

Civ Pro- 63.6

Con Law- 60.3

Contract- 67.5

Crim Law- 53.9

Evidence - 51.7

Real Property- 77.1

Torts- 77.6

Great job!! What did you use to be so successful?

[maxmartin]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

I hope you don't fly United for your interview.....because they could drag you out.. its possible you know...you don't want to miss your interview.

The whole United thing was overblown. The guy obviously was not mentally stable. Hard to imagine he is a doctor.

[happyhour1122]

I'm based in Europe too. Already crossed the pond 3 times the past 9 months (twice for the UBE and one for the MPRE) and if I pass I will have to come back a fourth time for the interview.

Jesus, how much you spend on air tickets?

I hope you don't fly United for your interview.....because they could drag you out.. its possible you know...you don't want to miss your interview.

The whole United thing was overblown. The guy obviously was not mentally stable. Hard to imagine he is a doctor.

I'm just thankful he wasn't on his way to take the bar exam.

[maxmartin]

I'm just thankful he wasn't on his way to take the bar exam.

Wow just read the news, he is 69 years old. I thought he looks like 40 something. Asian men do look very young.

[happyhour1122]

I'm just thankful he wasn't on his way to take the bar exam.

Wow just read the news, he is 69 years old. I thought he looks like 40 something. Asian men do look very young.

Damn that asian genes

[maxmartin]

I'm just thankful he wasn't on his way to take the bar exam.

Wow just read the news, he is 69 years old. I thought he looks like 40 something. Asian men do look very young.

Damn that asian genes

Told you the guy is not normal. He is a creep. Offering drugs for sex and sexually assaulting patients.

http://www.unilad.co.uk/news/the-dark-p ... es-flight/