What kind of studier are you?

Paloma van Groll

1L Studier

Judging by the well-attended ‘Exam Prep’ seminar that the SLS hosted, the only thing on 1L’s minds in November is December. Namely, how to survive and/or do well on exams. The main takeaway from that session was this: everyone has his or her own style, and you should stick to what works for you. Nonetheless, nervousness settled in like a damp fog among 1Ls in the library sometime around Ethics Week (coincidence?). What kind of studier are you? Chances are you fit into one of the classic moulds:

1L Studier
Are you this kind of studier?
  1. The overachiever: You’re done your summaries and all your maps. In fact, you’ve done all the reading for the rest of the semester, and only go to class to affirm what you already know…and to make sure you get that 10% participation mark. Practice exams? Did them in October. Law school’s a breeze, right? You might also be clinically insane.
  2. The strategist: You know December exams are fail-safe, so you’re going to try five different studying strategies – one for each full-year class – to see which is most effective. It’s all about April.
  3. The “slacker”: You’re a few weeks behind in readings…in fact, you kind of gave up doing them a while ago and instead just make sure to “listen in class” while skimming over Keir’s notes. You hear December exams aren’t really a big deal. You got this.
  4. The actual slacker: we have December exams? *Note: this type of person might not actually exist here
  5. The hibernator: You study at home in deep solitude for hours on end. You come to the library only to consult a treatise, which is not often as you’re so deeply engaged with the material. You’ll emerge from December exams looking pale, with a thick exam beard and the painful realization that you have no friends.
  6. The team player: You have seven different study groups, one for each class and an extra one just ‘cause! You do your best work bouncing idea off others and fall asleep if you’re alone with your readings for more than an hour. If you don’t do well, at least you have lots of shoulders to cry on!
  7. The reasonable man: Man in this case meaning person, and person in this case meaning qualified persons, including women. You do most of your readings, but extra-curriculars (like pub night) keep getting in the way of being completely on top of things. You used ethics week to catch up a bit on your worst class and you’re preparing yourself for a few “B’s”…or “Passes” or whatever. December exams are fail-safe. You know or reasonably ought to know you are literally safe from failing.
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