It’s Summertime And I’m Giving Up My Last Summer Of Freedom Studying For The Bar Exam
Posted June 9, 2017 by adminEstimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Finally, it’s summertime! It’s that time of year when we receive invitations to graduation parties, weddings, family reunions, and BBQs. Your family may even head to the beach, lake, or mountains every weekend. But technically, school is not out for you. Bar Review has begun and now controls your life. Or does it? Does that mean you need to lock yourself up in the library to study for the bar exam until the end of July?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Life does not stop while you are studying for the bar exam. Studying for the bar exam is all about balance. And yes, a little sacrifice.
Can you still go to the beach? Yes!
Can you still go to your best friend’s wedding? Yes!
At the beginning of bar review sit down and make a list of your summer commitments. Place those commitments into three categories: (1) those activities you must attend, (2) those activities you want to attend, and (3) those activities you must decline. When categorizing your summer commitments consider the following:
#1: RECOGNIZE YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES. Your priority this summer is to pass the bar exam. Do not spread yourself too thin. By over-committing, students add additional stress and anxiety to an already stressful situation. You’ve made the choice to take the bar exam, so commit 110% to passing.
#2: SCHEDULE THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES YOU ARE GOING TO ATTEND DIRECTLY INTO YOUR SCHEDULE. Take a look your entire bar review schedule up to the bar exam. Depending on how many commitments you have identified based on the three categories above, schedule in those activities you must attend, make tentative arrangements for those you want to attend and then schedule in a few unexpected days off. Once you can see the entire calendar of bar review, reconsider whether all those social activities are even feasible. When in doubt, just remember, July 25, 26, and 27 will be here before you know it.
#3: WORK HARD TO STAY ON SCHEDULE. Planning time off to spend with friends and family is an important motivator! These social activities give you something to look forward to when you are in the trenches studying. This is why it is imperative that you stay on track with your study schedule. Do not procrastinate and if possible, try to get ahead! If you fall behind, you are going to have to reevaluate your social commitments. Are you going to be any fun at a wedding when all you are thinking about is how you should be studying? Probably not! But if you can finish everything on your study schedule, you can attend the social activity guilt free!
#4: YOUR DAILY BAR REVIEW SCHEDULE SHOULD BE A BALANCED SCHEDULE. In #3 we alluded to the fact that schedule completion yields guilt free students. Well, you’ll never feel guilt free when studying for the bar exam. Students always feel that they should be doing more. More substantive review, more multiple choice questions, more essays, etc. Remember quality is always better than quantity! Even if you can only do 10 questions – that is better than doing no questions that day or pushing so hard that you fail to complete other items on your schedule. The schedule should be balanced. Remember, some practice is better than no practice!
#5, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Summer colds/allergies, mental health days, and emergencies are all things that could occur when you are studying for the bar exam. Anticipate that they are going to happen and give yourself some flexibility in your schedule by planning for them. Worst case scenario you never need the time off, and you have more time for unscheduled studying. Best case scenario, you’ve built it up over time and will not stress if you need it.
Ultimately, after the bar exam your life will continue. You will have time to go to the beach, the movies, and family BBQs. Your friends and family, who know how important this milestone is for you, will understand if you are MIA for the next two months. Sacrifice a little now, so you do not have to sacrifice in December, January and February by studying for the bar again! We at Fortnight Bar Prep are here if you need help! Good Luck!