Hello Second Semester, First-Year Students. On Tuesday, I talked about a few things to consider that will help you when you review first-year grades with your respective law professors. Now that you have a grade in the subjects you mastered during the first semester, let me tell you a few things you can do in order to get even a better grade this spring, and end the year on top.
1. Talk To 2Ls In The Top of Their Class, Or 2Ls Who Earned An "A" In A First-Year Course. Seeing is believing, and seeing an exam booklet where someone earned a 93 or better in a course indicates that it can be done, and you are in touch with someone who has done it. That makes you think that you are one (1) person away from earning an "A" grade, as well.
What is more compelling than holding the booklet in your hand, is that if you are lucky (and, nice), you will get to see the writing inside of the booklet. Yes, I suggest that you locate a 2L or 3L, someone who received an "A" in a course and ask him or her to request a prior examination from first year, so that you can read that exam and feel what a "A" grade sounds & looks like. Sometimes there are "C" students that can be slightly careless about speaking to how hard they worked for their grades. I decided to use the word, careless because all students want to believe that they hit the books so hard that they cannot lose. I chose the letter "C" because it is a middle of the road grade; no more - no less.
Please remember, that just because you walk tall (read, re-read and memorized your notes before the exam) and stand tall (you can state 8 single causes of action in less than 15 seconds), doesn't mean that you are "tall," as in you received an A grade.
Now, find someone who is willing to let you see what a grade of "A" looks like.
2. Suppose You Don't Know Anyone That Received An A in any of your classes, then what do you do? The next best thing would be to get together with a few Bs and Cs and create the "A" answer from the fall 2010 exam, or a spring 2011 exam. Yes, the entire answer. Of course you can do it. Take some of the heavy hitters from the first-year class, and go through the exam outline word for for word.
3. Hire a Grade Consultant: Get together with four or five students if you have decided that because you don't always "get" the subject(s) as quickly as others that a thrice monthly helper is good for you. A consultant is a person that provides you with a mini-T.A., session, except that it is really specialized and catered particularly to your needs. You can meet as a group with this person once every 10 days - the consultant can prepare problem sets for you, give you quizzes, explain the material to you (especially, difficult concepts) and how that material relates to the entire subject as a whole.
Let's get those spring 2011 grades into gear. Go to someone (a grade higher than you) for help.
Next. Practice Makes Perfect!
Prof. Smith
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