Went to the first day of the Simulated MBE review session and then left by the second break because 1) I wasn’t feeling well and 2) the advice didn’t seem to be all that more helpful for me than just reading the answers would be. The woman giving the lecture was an independent contractor and although she was nice enough, it sort of gave me the impression that even BarBri thought the sessions were optional. Her two best tips (1) ranking the difficult questions to pre-determine the order you should return to them if you have extra time and 2) using a hierarchy to handle torts questions), I either was already doing or else learned in PMBR. Plus I’m more of a visual learner anyway (probably because I reserve listening for pleasure purposes such as music).

Anyway, so although it seemed as though it would be better for me to complete my flashcards for all the MBEs, then pick out the questions in each subject I got wrong, read those sample answers, and then pull out the flashcards for extra review that pertained to those problem areas - all on my own pace - I still feel guilty about leaving because she made a comment in the beginning about how all those who didn’t show up were not going to pass. Damn her! I know she is just doing her job by making those who did show up feel better and she is an independent contractor so she needs to sell herself, but for the whole first segment I debated whether I would fail if I left. Especially since she said she had important tips to offer at the end of each day that would give us different approaches and extra options beyond BarBri (I like having options).

However, in the end, after it seemed clear I should be studying at the library and was only sitting in lecture debating with myself over whether she had said anything in the last half hour that would either cause me to pass or fail based on my knowledge or lack thereof of her words, I decided to leave. I just did what she told us to do: I looked at this part of the paced program, didn’t put any difficult checkmark by it, and then moved on.

-jd