The bar exam is right around the corner, and I’m definitely not panicking… I am taking the Michigan bar exam for the first time and suddenly my bar prep has dwindled down to the last few weeks prior to the exam. I took the month of the exam off of work (I worked after graduating while also prepping) so that I could focus on getting ready for the most important exam of my life! If you are like me and DEFINITELY not panicking, here is a day in my life while studying for the bar exam in the final month of bar prep. I hope that by giving you a look into my daily life studying it can help you in your bar prep adventure.
Last Month of Bar Prep
I can’t believe that we are down to the last month of bar prep! I am not going to lie, I am starting to get really anxious about the bar exam. It is time to get super serious and get down to business as there is not much time left. I have gotten to the point where I have finished the “course” part of bar prep and now am practicing multiple choice and essay questions and reviewing. This is the time to buckle down, get focused and get ready to ace the bar exam.
Get-up, Work-out, and Wake-up
Every day usually starts the same, I get up and get ready for the gym. I usually like to start my day with 30-40 minutes of cardio where I let myself get energized for the day. Sometimes on my way home I will treat myself to a coffee or breakfast. Once I get home, I shower, get dressed, and eat. While I am getting ready, I get my game plan together for the day. This daily routine helps me get in the mindset for a long day of studying, which allows me to be focused and ready to learn!
Practice Questions
Multiple choice has never been my strong suit. I always second guess myself and choose the distractor. This has intensified since the MBE questions are very tricky and you have to choose the best answer and not necessarily an answer with a correct statement of law. Thus, I have to practice a lot of multiple choice questions to make myself feel comfortable. I try to time myself for sets of questions and do practice tests at least once a week. Repetition is key to making myself feel prepared!
Essay Topics
In Michigan, the essay portion of the bar exam is the state-specific portion of the test. Since there are many different topics that the essays can cover, I spend a good portion of my day responding to prompts from previous years. Then, I look to the model answers to see what I did right and what I missed. Since we are getting down to the end of bar prep, I have been focusing on topics that I have been struggling with so I feel prepared.
Afternoon Break and Lunch
It’s time to take a study break and have some lunch! I usually give myself about an hour to unwind, eat, and take my mind off of studying for a little bit. Studying non-stop will not make you feel more prepared. Instead, you will cause burn-out and feel less motivated. Thus, after my little break, I feel refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day of studying.
Review, Review, Review!
After my afternoon break, I spend the rest of my day reviewing my work from the morning, looking over my notes, and spending time on areas that I am struggling with. This helps wind down the day but also allows me to figure out what I am doing well and what I still need to work on.
Time to Close Up The Books
My fiance normally gets home around dinner time and he has thankfully taken on most of the cooking responsibilities while I am studying. Once dinner is ready, I close up my books, clean-up my study area and call it a night. I try to give myself some time during the evening to relax and unwind from the long day of studying. This helps me focus better throughout the day knowing that I have time set aside for goofing off and doing things that I enjoy.
Goodnight
One of the most important things to do for yourself when studying is to get a good night’s sleep. Towards the end of bar prep there is the urge to stay up late to cram in a few more prep questions. However, it is crucial that you take care of yourself and adequately recharge your batteries by getting enough sleep. Thus, I try to go to bed at a decent time to make sure I get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I do my nightly routine of skin care, dental care, and vitamins and hop into bed. The bar exam will be here before I know it, so I am taking care of myself and getting ready for the most important test of my life.
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