Yeah, There's an App For That
Perhaps because I've been griping lately about the expense of bar exam and bar prep courses, people have been sending me links like this one. The link, of course, describes the new $1,000 iPhone bar preparation application. (Other coverage here, ATL coverage here.) You can find the app here -- tread gingerly if you have enabled one click ordering!
The implication, though never expessly stated by the developer, is that this application is functionally identical to BarBri's $4,000 iPod program, but at a quarter the price. I like the idea of sticking it to BarBri at least as much as the next guy at Boalt, and I probably like the idea of a competitive market even more than the next guy at Boalt. Plus, I'm cheap. I know, I know, "the firm will pay for it" but just because I can subsidize BarBri for free doesn't mean I want to. So in short, I'm all for it.
So somebody, please. Talk me out of it.
The implication, though never expessly stated by the developer, is that this application is functionally identical to BarBri's $4,000 iPod program, but at a quarter the price. I like the idea of sticking it to BarBri at least as much as the next guy at Boalt, and I probably like the idea of a competitive market even more than the next guy at Boalt. Plus, I'm cheap. I know, I know, "the firm will pay for it" but just because I can subsidize BarBri for free doesn't mean I want to. So in short, I'm all for it.
So somebody, please. Talk me out of it.
Labels: Bar Exams
posted by Patrick Bageant at 10:43 AM
12 Comments:
You know yourself best. If you are someone who is disciplined enough to keep to the schedule without barbri classes then go ahead. But most people I know wouldn't chance it (especially if you have a firm paying for it).
I was planning to do the BarBri ipod thing. Is this really "functionally identical?" Anyone know for sure?
I think I'm going to take a pass on the whole BarBri thing. I'm confident that despite what BarBri and everyone who got free BarBri tells me, I can pass a bar exam without it.
I mean, I scored high enough on my LSAT to get here without Kaplan, in spite of what Kaplan and everyone who took Kaplan told me I was capable of.
As a BarBri taker, I agree that the classes are not needed unless you need the discipline (FWIW, I probably DID need it).
Speaking of which, is anyone thinking of doing one of the low-cost options and supplementing with a daily study group?
The iPhone thing seems like a gimmick... yeah it's nice to have it on your phone, but you're going to want to read outlines on real paper, or at least a larger screen. I say the iPhone part is a gimmick because they WILL send you electronic copies for printing/large viewing.
11:05 (if you're being serious, I can't tell, my sarcasm meter is a bit off since I've graduated from law school): For what it's worth, the LSAT and the bar are two very different tests, and the prep is different. Bar prep is many times more intense than whatever you did for the LSAT.
You can absolutely take the bar without barbri - I know people who have done it and passed. But you have to be incredibly discliplined. And to a certain extent, it just makes you feel better during study knowing that you're taking barbri and doing what they say (which works) rather than trusting yourself. Becuase as you can imagine, there is a lot of self-doubt and anxiety studying for the bar.
Echoing 11:37, no question 11:03 that you're smart enough to pass without Bar/Bri, but please, don't take it for granted.
The LSAT was challenging, but not daunting, and there were plenty of study aids at Barnes and Noble. You could replicate a Kaplan course for $100 worth of prep books.
This is 15 subjects, and it's dense. The classes aren't always helpful, and the sample graders are often inscrutable, but the essay prompts and MBE questions, as well as the outlines, are superb.
If you end up skipping Bar/Bri, at least get the books from someone who took the exam.
Or, in the alternative, think of Bar/Bri as health insurance. You're probably pretty healthy, and maybe you think, why pay $100 bucks a month when the risk of a catastrophic injury is so slight?
Well, you just invested $100,000+ in law school, and almost everyone you ever knew took Bar/Bri, investing a further $4,000 to protect that original outlay and avoid a catastrophic loss.
Shit, if you want to play with fire, go for it. Just don't underestimate the exam.
Wow, BarBri is like a religion. Don't insult it.
I did the in class because, like others, I required the structure. I also know of at least 3 people who did the i-Pod/self-study method. All three of them passed. Not an enormous sample size, but shows that it is possible if you are disciplined.
I would recommend NOT being disciplined and failing. Not becoming an attorney is the best decision you could make at this point.
Doesn't the BarBri iPod package come with video of the live lectures? I really doubt they are functionally the same. How does some guy who just passed the bar have time to make video lectures of all the subjects?
The most useful parts of BarBri for me were the practice materials, but I'm sure some other people are more verbal learners.
Barbri iPod is last year's Barbri course--you get the audio of all lectures (hence iPod), books, handouts, quizzes, and also the opportunity to send your practice essays in for grading.
So yeah, it's not comparable to a this app at all. Except that both involve Apple products.
Having used the iPod Barbri, I strongly recommend it. It's not just the opportunity to study at your own pace and to rewind after zoning out. It's also the ability to get away from all your fellow freaked-out bar takers. (Of course, these factors could also be disasterous for those inclined to loaf.)
Oh, and Patrick: your firm isn't going to pay for it. At least, not for another eighteen months.
re: payment. It depends, Carbolic. At least some firms just give you the firm credit card to use when purchasing. Others reimburse right away.
I'm using this.
http://www.aspenpublishers.com/Product.asp?catalog_name=Aspen&product_id=0735590281&cookie%5Ftest=1
Its only $300. Its got everything you need, including lectures on DVDs and practice tests. I'm not paying $4000 to have someone tell me to study. I'll just set up my own schedule on iCal.
I think BarBri is doing the same thing Kaplan and Princeton Review have done; that is panicking students into thinking that if they don't spend these absurd sums, that they won't pass.
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