... just go back and look at the corresponding post for the July exam. That is, it's 38 days until the exam and I'm on a similar track.
The only difference is my state of mind. Instead of being anxious, I'm angry. Mostly at myself. And I'm more determined.
I don't like to repeat myself (much) and there's not much to say this time that I didn't say last time. I'm at about 85% on the MBEs so far (which translated to a 64% on the actual exam), so I'm not taking any comfort at all in that number. I know it doesn't correlate.
I'm doing better on the PTs, which is encouraging but expected because I neglected them last time. And I'm developing my skeleton approaches for the essays so I can outline quickly and thoroughly.
So, really, there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. I'm ignoring the news and I don't watch much TV. But it's tough ignoring the Lakers right now!
I've enlisted the aid of a different prep program but I'm not going to talk about it because I haven't yet figured out if it's going to be any different than anyone else's program. To get through this exam, one has to be self-motivated. And if you are, then one program is as good as the next. You just have to commit to it, put on the blinders, and slavishly follow the schedule.
To be sure, the programs that have survived in this marketplace for the longest have been thoroughly vetted and will serve you well if you commit to them. A big challenge for me last time was trusting my future to one way of thinking. But I realize that now, and my results should reflect that in May (knocking ...)
5 comments:
Wow- you're at 85 % on the MBES and it translated to 64 on the bar? It was totally opposite for me. I was averaging 60-65 on the MBEs for practice in July and scored a 130 on the MBE, which is dead on. I think I did slightly better on the bar than I did in practice. This time around my scores are a bit higher but I recognize a lot of the practice questions. I am focusing on the essays- which is what tanked me, but it is so hard to force myself to write them. I find your posts inspirational since I have had so much trouble staying focused this time around. We only need to hang in there for a few more weeks.
Hey Jen: I worry about my scores on the MBEs because, as you mentioned, I've seen many of them before. And even if I haven't seen the actual fact pattern, because I've easily done more than 4,000 over the last 12 months, I can almost guess the answer before I get there.
However, having said that, I did recently do a 100 question practice MBE in which most of the questions were unfamiliar and I only got 68% correct. But then, at the time, I hadn't looked at Corporations, Real Property, Evidence, Criminal Law or Criminal Procedure since July.
So as you can tell, I'm real conflicted on MBEs. I feel like I've hurt myself by doing them since my first year in school. There are only so many out there.
Blah.
Brian:
Get past the anger. You're only angry with yourself, and that's a no-winner.
Relish in the knowledge that you know what you're facing now.
As so many say, it's a marathon, not a sprint. I think everyone tries to sprint the first time.
jlk
Hi GP, Jonathan is dead-on right, the Cal bar is definitely a marathon for the majority of bar applicants, not a sprint. I tried to sprint - that was not the right approach. Stay with the program and be patient. Good results will happen for you and everyone who believe in themselves.
I am treating it as a marathon this time and building the blocks that will sustain me to the end run. Just plugging along systematically, making sure my base is solid.
I am putting in 210 % this time, focussing on internalizing the material so that it becomes second nature to me and keeping my fingers crossed that it pays at the end, whenever that end is.
I have a study buddy this round and we meet twice a week in January. We do essays on one day and the other day, we alternate between PT and MBE. On the final week of January, we plan to do a mock three day exam.
Jonathan: I think the anger is a good thing at this point. It's helping me stay focused. Okay, maybe it's more like irritation. Or perhaps a bad rash. But whatever it is, I'm using it to motivate myself. (;-)>
Cat: Sounds like a good plan. I have a little study group too. Being accountable to someone helps me stay on track.
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