My recommendations for incoming first year students:
- Decide what is important to you: Is it grades? (If so, move a small personal cot, your toothbrush, and a change of clothes into your carrel, because you probably won't leave the law school. Ever.) Is it sanity? (If so, plan on not getting A's in all of your classes. However, you will have time to go to ward activities and have personal time to yourself to exercise, watch a TV show, etc. You also might have time to sleep.)
- Have a study buddy (or two, or three). I personally struggled focusing in a study group that was larger than 4-5 people, so I would limit it. (Although you can be friends with lots more people, just don't study with them).
- For effective studying at your carrel, bring ear plugs and snacks.
- Be friends with 2Ls and 3Ls. It's nice to know someone who's already survived their 1st year and can give you advice and support.
- Join a club! (or two, or three). But no more than that. You won't have that much time outside of studying, although you should consider joining all the clubs who do lunches.
- If you don't mind used books, get them from Amazon. It possibly save you hundreds of dollars. I even bought a used book that was in a three ring binder. (Which turned out to be super useful because then I could just take out the pages I had to read, instead of hauling the whole book home.)
- Get a good externship. This usually requires taking the optional Career Services classes, but it is totally worth it. The Lecture Series was my favorite class.
- Know that some things you just have to live through. Even though I received a lot of advice as a 1L, which would have benefitted me if I actually acted on it, some things you just have to experience before you understand.
Rebekah
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