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I missed the laptop registration for DC by one day. I've email the COA to see if they're merciful and will allow me to sign up still. Has anyone had this experience? Was the COA responsive?

Any hand writers have any tips?

I'm so mad at myself for not reading the rest of their email! I just saw the notary date for the date of the bar exam, starred the email for later, and let it sit thinking I'd sign up when I get my next paycheck.

Honestly this is not a big deal at all. I am writing my bar exam.

1) Yes, you write slower than you type. However, you type faster than you think. Therefore, writing allows you to more thoroughly think about what you're writing and, at least for me, makes me more articulate.

2) Have you every worked with ExamSoft? That piece of shit software is horrible. The characters are slow and don't appear on your screen in real-time as they do in Office/Word. There's a good 1/2 sec to 1 sec delay. It may not seem like much, but it is, especially if you mistype a word and need to quickly go back and change it.

3) Writing gives you way more flexibility. Can't recall an element? leave a few inches of room and come back later. With a laptop, you have to go back and discern where you need to edit.

4) You don't accidentally misspell when you write because you are consciously choose to write each letter, versus a keyboard where you can accidentally hit keys.

There's plenty more reasons why writing is better. I think this is a blessing in disguise.

As for what COA might say, I doubt they'll let you register. Their rules are categorical.

brittanyspup wrote:I missed the laptop registration for DC by one day. I've email the COA to see if they're merciful and will allow me to sign up still. Has anyone had this experience? Was the COA responsive?

Any hand writers have any tips?

I'm so mad at myself for not reading the rest of their email! I just saw the notary date for the date of the bar exam, starred the email for later, and let it sit thinking I'd sign up when I get my next paycheck.

I thought the email said you can still sign up by paying a penalty fee on top of registration.

estefanchanning wrote:2) Have you every worked with ExamSoft? That piece of shit software is horrible. The characters are slow and don't appear on your screen in real-time as they do in Office/Word. There's a good 1/2 sec to 1 sec delay. It may not seem like much, but it is, especially if you mistype a word and need to quickly go back and change it.

I used examsoft for all 3 years of law school and the bar exam and never had this issue.

Nicolena. wrote:

brittanyspup wrote:I missed the laptop registration for DC by one day. I've email the COA to see if they're merciful and will allow me to sign up still. Has anyone had this experience? Was the COA responsive?

Any hand writers have any tips?

I'm so mad at myself for not reading the rest of their email! I just saw the notary date for the date of the bar exam, starred the email for later, and let it sit thinking I'd sign up when I get my next paycheck.

I thought the email said you can still sign up by paying a penalty fee on top of registration.

Nevermind, i just reread the email. It said June 28th and 29th only.

I’d start practicing writing by hand now though. That’s a lot of writing in one day if you’re not used to it.

Nicolena. wrote:

Nicolena. wrote:

brittanyspup wrote:I missed the laptop registration for DC by one day. I've email the COA to see if they're merciful and will allow me to sign up still. Has anyone had this experience? Was the COA responsive?

Any hand writers have any tips?

I'm so mad at myself for not reading the rest of their email! I just saw the notary date for the date of the bar exam, starred the email for later, and let it sit thinking I'd sign up when I get my next paycheck.

I thought the email said you can still sign up by paying a penalty fee on top of registration.

Nevermind, i just reread the email. It said June 28th and 29th only.

I’d start practicing writing by hand now though. That’s a lot of writing in one day if you’re not used to it.

Yeah, I'm practicing now and building up that finger callus. Hoping when I call the COA tomorrow or if they respond to my email they'll be nice. I doubt it though since exam4 said this when I contacted their support: "Registration to use Exam4 for the July 2018 DC Bar Exam has closed, by request of the DCCA. We are not allowed to authorize any exceptions in DC; this too is a policy not of our making."

estefanchanning wrote:Honestly this is not a big deal at all. I am writing my bar exam.

1) Yes, you write slower than you type. However, you type faster than you think. Therefore, writing allows you to more thoroughly think about what you're writing and, at least for me, makes me more articulate.

2) Have you every worked with ExamSoft? That piece of shit software is horrible. The characters are slow and don't appear on your screen in real-time as they do in Office/Word. There's a good 1/2 sec to 1 sec delay. It may not seem like much, but it is, especially if you mistype a word and need to quickly go back and change it.

3) Writing gives you way more flexibility. Can't recall an element? leave a few inches of room and come back later. With a laptop, you have to go back and discern where you need to edit.

4) You don't accidentally misspell when you write because you are consciously choose to write each letter, versus a keyboard where you can accidentally hit keys.

There's plenty more reasons why writing is better. I think this is a blessing in disguise.

As for what COA might say, I doubt they'll let you register. Their rules are categorical.

Thanks for your insights. The ability to underline and numbering could be a little faster to do with a pen vs moving the mouse about.
The lefty me is terrified to think about how blue and black my hand will be from smudged ink. Getting my pen-game prepped now.

brittanyspup wrote: The lefty me is terrified to think about how blue and black my hand will be from smudged ink. Getting my pen-game prepped now.

https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-EnerGel-D ... nergel+0.5

These are the best pens I found for keeping ink off my hands. It's a quick drying ink. I usually do the 0.5mm version because it helps dry even faster, but there is a 0.7mm version as well.

the same thing happened to me when I took the exam in a different state. don't worry, you will be fine. I did take advil before he exam because several people told me they were in pain by the end. I also tried writing with different types of pens. For me, what worked best was something a little bit thicker that didnt require a tight grip, had a soft grip area and had ink that did not run or smudge. I did not write out every practice exam by hand however, I only did a couple to see how it felt and whether I could still organize my thoughts / how I would work something in if I thought of it later on. Where I took it, they would only give you one booklet at a time per question so it was a little annoying that when one was filled I had to wait for the protector to walk over and give me another. I don't know how every place does it though. Don't worry too much about having to handwrite. Study hard and you will be fine. And remember, you still have the multiple choice portion so make sure you are making progress in that area. dont' let having to hand write through you off.