u/Such_Tap_8403

Hello sibs, how do you prepare 300 days before the bar exam? I am still in my 4th year law review but the anxiety keeps building up day by day. I hope you can share and give your honest advice as to the following matters:

1. Is it a good move to subscribe to Bar Materials (i.e. eCodal) as early as now? What subscriptions/materials were useful, and which ones ended up being a waste of money?
2. At 300 days out, how many study hours a day/week is realistically enough?
3. When should I choose a review center?
4. How do you prepare for the Bar without sacrificing fourth-year review classes?

I hope for a kind and honest response, on behalf of the other reviewee facing the same struggles. Thank you and may you receive good juju!

Can I ask for advice?

I’m currently second-guessing whether I should submit my essay because everything feels so rushed and last-minute (juggling it with my review classes). The submission is not mandatory since it’s only for a competition. Part of me thinks I might regret not submitting, but I’m also worried that cramming it will affect the quality and my other preparations.

Should I still push through and cram it? (please be kind).

Confession of a shy and "who-always-stay-in-small-comfortable-boxes" 4L student.

When I asked the people who survived 4 years in law school and those who passed the bar about surviving law school, I have been told to have the audacity. They said that while good grades is an evidence of grit in law school, what matters is the audacity to wake up in the morning and know that you are in the right place and this is the EXACT place you need to survive despite every doubt that came across your mind.

People may say it almost feels like glamorizing the struggles. As to a certain extent, I would subscribe to that. Surviving law school is hard enough without the conviction that this will all be worth it when we sign the rolls of attorneys or that efforts will show results in the bar exam. If only I have the audacity to think and perform the same way.

I entered law school as a shy achiever who wants control, predictability, and security; law school tested me like entering a battle field with zero knowledge but having the urge to press the battle wounds with the routine i thought would help me.

After countless of assessment and check-lists, I had an ego death. I allowed myself to let go of the need of control, predictability, and security and was finally leaving my comfort zone. I learned to show up in class without the need of perfection and put all the trust in my effort of reading, reading, reading, and reading a lot of times.

This confession will lead me to the conclusion, I have faith that every struggle and failure will lead me to my ego death (Thank you, G!). With all the trial and error, I had the AUDACITY to continue.

I realized when I put my 100% effort (staying up all night, not going out, staying in the room 24/7, eating one meal, all sorts of solitary activities), I expected to ace my exams, recits, and quizzes. However, it's not the case all the time. My results are okay-ish.

Contrary to the days I went out and run, be present with friends, org works, mooting, or volunteering, I always clutch my study time and therefore expected to fail the exams. BUT when I get the results back, I somehow aced it and was even part of the top students in my classes (huhu is this luck?). I am not sure if this is an isolated experience but I had a realization:

1. The more I exert effort (STUDY LOCK IN), I just get an okay-ish grades.
2. The more I exert effort not only in my studies but also going out, volunteering, mooting, and being with friends, I get good grades and ace my exams.

Trying to assess my habits, I am now immersing myself to more hobbies that can help me get better holistically instead of spiraling down (my mental space is doing a summersault right now huhu). If you have the same experience and also trying new hobbies, please do share!

Thank you for your time, Atty. and future Atty!