Hiii this is my official peace out after the most painful three years of my life! I wanted to drop some advice, maybe you already know it or it’s generic but I figured it wouldn’t hurt for those who need to hear it.
I graduated 2023 and struggled hard throughout law school, I don’t know what IRAC was until like 2L and was on academic probation for a semester. I finally got my act together and made it out by the skin of my teeth, super young (I was a straight from college to law school no break student), and so so naive about what it takes to study for the bar.
J23: A: 123 B: 112 overall: 117.5 Themis only
F24: A: 124 B: 122 overall: 123 Themis only
J24: A: 137 B: 133 overall: 135 Themis & Ibis Fl prep
F25: B: 133 Uworld & Grossman; prac mc avg: 66%
J25: B: 135 Adaptibar & Grossman; prac mc avg: 74%
F26: B: 136 Adaptibar & Free Ibis Prep YT Videos: prac mc avg: 81%
How I passed Part A:
- I purchased the part A program from Ibis and downloaded the sample fl mcq from the bar website and no lie MEMORIZED THE ANSWERS! They are the same questions just different facts. I did the quizzes over and over until I memorized it.
- I downloaded and printed every sample essay from the bar website and made piles for each topic and every day I would pick a topic to review and I would make attack outlines for each essay topic and each possible tested subtopic and in bullets list what I needed to make sure I mentioned if I saw this issue come up on essay. Then I would practice reading the hypo and issue spot and compare my issues found with the sample answer. Next, I would write out the rule for each possible essay topic and subtopic and walk around reading it out loud to myself until I could say it by memory and write it by memory. Finally, I’d practice writing out my essay and compare mine to the sample answer and whatever I missed I would keep writing out til I memorized it.
How I passed Part B:
- Uworld and adaptibar are pretty much the same to me but I preferred adaptibars explanations, dashboard and system.
- You all know this but if you don’t understand the reasoning, don’t move on from the question. Crack open the outline, look it up on YouTube, or ask chat gpt to explain the question or the concept you don’t get before you decide to move on.
- I think Grossman vids are great to remind yourself of the basics but I really enjoyed the Ibis Bar Prep YouTube videos where the founder, Andrew, would go over practice mc and explain the reasoning process and also do short review lectures.
- The week before the final exam that I passed, I binge read the Strategies and tactics for the MBE book by Emmanuel and did all the MC for each subject. I wish I read it or knew of it a long time ago. It’s super helpful in strategy for picking questions depending on the topic and discerning what to pick when you have to guess.
The first 3 times, I took the chill bar prep route, I exercised, studied like 7 hours a day, and took one day off a week. Once I passed FL and started getting close to passing I went full on obsession mode and studied daily, no off days, 6-10 hrs a day. I destroyed my mental health and my body, I was up all night, I couldn’t eat, I don’t exercise, but I did it. I am now trying to focus on my health and I don’t recommend that you do what I did, but bro, I had to and I f-ing did it!!
I just also want to share that I grew so strong in my Catholic faith during this journey and I truly believed the power of prayer made this possible as well. Attending mass and daily rosaries truly helped me trust in whatever the Lord had planned for me and to accept whatever happened happened. Shout out to St. Cupertino🙂
This has been a crazy ride. I’m swearing in next week and I hope this was helpful for those struggling like I did. Good luck and God Bless.