Strategies Archives | Page 3 of 17 | Make This Your Last Time

January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 - 19 Comments

Enjoying Bar Prep: 6 Ways to Make Studying for the Bar Exam More Fun and Effective (Visual Guide)

Is it possible to enjoy bar prep?

It’s one of the dryest things a person can do on this planet. But we retain more and pay more attention when things are enjoyable.

The default, typical approach to bar prep involves sitting still like a statue watching people in a suit drone on as you fantasize about throwing yourself out the window (not your computer though…you already paid the exam laptop fees).

If you’re especially masochistic, you’ll pause the video and make sure to fill in all the lecture notes because you think your Barbri books will be a fine addition to your future library.

This is all surprisingly exhausting.

As a bonus, you’ll also forget 99% of what you listened to. I’d rather watch water boil because at least I’d have something to show for it, like edible pasta.

“Just complete the course! Here’s some busy work! Play it safe and you’ll be fine!”—The National Association of Barbri (probably)

The default way of doing things feels nice because you can’t get anything wrong when you’re just absorbing information. You won’t taste defeat, but you won’t taste victory either.

January 3, 2026May 21, 2026 - No Comments

Are you finally ready to listen yet? Here’s how to get unstuck in bar prep

They say that overthinking happens when you don’t trust your gut.

You let your “perfectionism” keep you playing defense for weeks. Manually listening to every word in your course. Re-reading giant outlines (because you’ll retain the information this time). Planning your schedule down to the minute.

Meanwhile, someone dumber than you figured it out and became an attorney.

You already know what to do. The problem is that you don’t trust yourself enough to do it.

Maybe you should learn to listen to your gut a little more instead of regretting it later in your most private moments.

December 20, 2025February 22, 2026 - 18 Comments

Predictions for the Bar Exam (What to Focus On for Efficient Study)

No wonder this person posted anonymously because I see at least 3 things I could critique in this comment:

"The worst part about studying ... is that we cannot even properly use predictions."

You know what, it’s my fault for reading social media.

Before every exam, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and shamelessly ask about which subjects will appear on the upcoming bar exam.

“Does anyone know the essay predictions?”
“What do you think will be tested?”
“I don’t think ____ will appear on the exam.”
“Anyone think ____ will be tested?”
“I know we’re not supposed to listen to predictions, but…”
“What are ____’s predictions?”
“Here are my MEE predictions!”

Whose speculations are you going to listen to?

If you’re like many bar takers, or if you’re a repeater, you say: “Haha of course I’m not going to rely on the predictions. I shall adequately study all the subjects. You should too!”

And then you panic and look at the predictions anyway.

Did you want me to tell you, “Aww poor baby, don’t worry. It’s normal and happens to the best of us 🥺”?

You SHOULD worry if you’re secretly tempted to rely on predictions… because this kind of thinking is entirely predictable and avoidable. Sweating about predictions is NOT a good place to be and requires intervention.

Also, remember when subjects actually leaked for the California exam in 2019 and people got mad over it? Do you want to know the subjects ahead of time or not? Make up your minds!

Maybe you’re too young to remember ancient history. I’ve been dealing with you people for too long.

Here’s why you should look toward essay/MEE predictions for entertainment value and morbid curiosity only:

(and 3 things you can focus on instead to take control over your studies)

June 28, 2025June 28, 2025 - 5 Comments

Bar Prep Wisdom from Succulents

I went to a succulents gardening workshop the other day 🌱

I figured succulents wouldn’t wither under my care like the flowers I tried arranging before. There’s a limit to how much talent one person can have, I guess.

But there’s no limit to how much I think about bar prep because that’s what I started thinking about when I was listening to the instructor 🤦🏻‍♂️

4 relevant lessons and also photos of my bald-looking succulent bowl:

(First lesson: “You have to kill a lot of plants to be an expert.” 🤯)

June 15, 2025June 20, 2026 - No Comments

Most Bar Exam Takers Waste Time on Low-Yield Study Activities (Fix This Immediately)

You’re putting in the hours. You’re showing up every day. Your study log looks impressive.

But you still can’t answer questions correctly, let alone remember what you thought you studied. Sound familiar?

That’s because you’re spending precious hours on activities that barely move the needle toward passing. If you’ve been studying for weeks or months and still feel woefully underprepared, you’re probably caught in the trap of activities that don’t actually help you learn. Shit that Barbri and Themis encourage because they want you to look at their professors with fancy beards.

Understanding what actually works versus what just feels productive can be the difference between passing and retaking. Here are some steps that move the needle:

Cut passive habits that create the illusion of progress
Audit your study time to find your personal low-yield habits
Spend most of your time on active practice under timed conditions
Use your prep course as a supplement, not a syllabus you’re obligated to complete
Track your learning and skills, not hours, to break the habit of staying stuck in a low-yield pattern