First, thank you GOAT for getting me through the MPRE and now the bar exam.

I passed both with tons of room to spare!

I used GOAT along with Themis as a supplement and it made the topics way more digestible.

I highly recommend it!

I passed the bar on my first try with a 293 (142.3 MBE / 150.7 written), so here’s what worked FOR ME!

For context, I worked full-time throughout law school and most of bar prep. I also have issues with memory/retention, so my biggest advice is: KNOW YOURSELF AND DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!!!!

I knew reading 100-page outlines and studying 10 hours a day was NOT going to work for my brain. 😂 so I started EARLY.

I knew I couldn’t take months off work, so I planned about a year in advance and saved my leave. I worked slightly less in May/June and took July completely off.

I also started studying before traditional bar prep:

December–March:
GOAT Bar Prep. I completed the entire program + 800ish licensed MBE questions, probably studying only 4–6 hours/week.

April:
Started Themis when it opened. I skipped the long outlines, watched lectures on 2x, completed the worksheets and did the practice.

May:
My law school’s Bar Bootcamp started, which gave me additional MBE/MEE practice but I mainly did my Themis work and turned it in for credit during bootcamp so I wouldn’t burn out.

July:
I had a free Kaplan tutor through my new job for four 1-hour sessions. We mainly discussed what areas I needed to work on in the MBE realm.

MBE
Overall, I did 3,000+ questions between GOAT, Themis, UWorld and licensed NCBE questions.
BUT don’t see 3,000 and think you need to do that. I needed repetition because of my memory issues.

The most important part was reviewing WHY I got something wrong or why I got something right for the wrong reason. I kept me a notebook and wrote down every wrong rule in it or every rule guessed on.

I also used Grossman lectures when I needed somebody to explain something without all the extra bullshit. 😂 I listened to those sometimes at the gym.

My Themis simulated MBE was 119/200, and toward the end I was generally scoring 65–100% on smaller sets.

In July, I actually stopped doing huge sets. Usually 10–20 questions, sometimes up to 50. I already knew I could sit through 100 questions. I wasn’t about to burn myself out proving it every day.

MEE/MPT
PRACTICE WRITING!!!!!
I did a ton of MEEs and practiced MPTs throughout prep. Earlier, I fully wrote them; later, I outlined more so I could see more fact patterns.

I kept my rule statements SIMPLE because that’s what I could remember.

And if you don’t know the exact rule on exam day: MAKE A REASONABLE RULE, IRAC THAT SHIT AND KEEP MOVING. Just make sure you put “because” in every mf essay!!!

I walked out KNOWING I made up law on most of those MEEs but I connected my fake rule back to the facts and we prevailed!!! 😂

Please practice MPTs too. They are 20% of your UBE score and you don’t even have to memorize law for them! I was not a person that neglected this because if I can have a 20% increase in my chances of passing?? Why not take it.

I still had a life!!!!

I worked out. I stayed on social media. I talked to my friends/family. I had fun. I took breaks.
I refused to make myself miserable because Reddit told me bar prep had to consume my entire existence.

The biggest thing I learned:

Do what works for YOUR brain.
I used GOAT, Themis, UWorld, NCBE materials, Grossman, my school’s Bar Bootcamp and Kaplan tutoring. I took something useful from all of them and ignored what didn’t work for me. This was over a span of 8 months!!!

If outlines work for you, read them.
If questions work, do questions.
If you need videos, watch videos.
If you need repetition like me, REPETITION IT IS.

Don’t copy somebody else’s schedule just because they scored a 330.

The goal isn’t to win bar prep. The goal is to pass the damn bar.

I didn’t study 12 hours a day. I didn’t read every outline. I didn’t complete every assignment exactly as prescribed.

I figured out how I learn, stayed honest with myself, stayed consistent, practiced a LOT, and trusted the process.

Take what works for you and leave the rest!

After the exam? I felt like I failed. I cried for weeks because I CHANGED ANSWERS LIKE THEY TELL YOU NOT TO. However, despite that, I finally accepted the fact that I did all I could and there was literally NOTHING ELSE I COULD HAVE DONE.

Be honest with yourself. Do I know people that bullshitted and passed? Maybe. Do I know people that worked hard and failed? Maybe.

I stand by the fact mindset matters when you’re doing this exam.. the law is just about half of the battle. Prioritize your mental!

Okay, I’m deleting this app now!