12-13-2007
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
| Studying BarBri Bar Exam lectures on IPod
This is one persons account to studying via the IPod option versus actual classroom study. I really like the idea!!!
Has anyone here used the IPod lectures? Quote:
I just took the New York bar and used the ipod rather than going to the classes. While I don't know that I passed yet, I thought I'd put up my experiences using the ipod in case it's helpful to anyone:
Harder to stay on track if you aren't self-motivated: It was hard to stay on schedule because you don't actually have to get up every day to go to class, and it's hard to sit still for 3-4 hours and take notes while you listen to an ipod. It would likely be equally boring in a classroom, but at least there, other people are bored with you, and the shared misery probably keeps you from getting up and walking out most of the time. With the ipod, it was easy to pause it at any time, which on the plus side meant that I could listen when I was really focused and paying attention but on the con side meant that I often had a hard time getting through the scheduled lectures. Also, my ipod, for whatever reason, did not have the ability to play at hyper-speed, so I didn't have the option of listening to the lectures at a faster speed.
Flexibility to study anywhere: For me, the best part about having the ipod, and the reason I'd probably study this way if I had it to do over again, was the flexibility. I could listen to the lectures while running, while driving, cleaning the house, cooking, walking to a coffee shop or through the grocery store--basically everywhere. I listened to it on the entire plane ride to the bar exam, and the repetition helped me with trickier topics. After using the StudySmart software to figure out where I was scoring lowest in MBE topics, I started re-listening to lectures in my weakest areas. I loved that I was able to take a few mini-vacations and just bring the ipod with me and also that I was able to study outside and doing things.
Other things to consider: The ipod version is a lot more expensive (probably about $500-$1000 if you succeed in getting all your deposits back), which I didn't realize at the time I signed up. You don't have to drive anywhere or pay for parking at the live lecture centers, which might offset some of this cost, but no matter what, it is probably the more expensive option. Finally, even though I had the ipod, my personal opinion is that the lectures weren't nearly as helpful as I thought they would be. The lectures on the ipod are taped from the live lectures, and some of them are a year old (though presumably the law hasn't changed). In the live classes, you either have a live teacher or, more often, you have a TV playing a video recording of the live lecture (though often a newer version than what is on the ipod). Apparently, those at the live classes have the option--at least at some centers--to watch lectures they miss by checking out the tape, adding a little flexibility into the live class option (but I'd check to make sure this availability is at your test center). Regardless of whether it's on a video or an ipod, the lectures basically just go over the material in the test books. It probably depends on whether you're a visual or auditory learner, but for me the most helpful things were the practice MBE and essay questions and the StudySmart software (since I prefer doing the questions on my computer rather than in a book). I think I would have learned just as much without listening to any lectures at all, especially since the lectures take SO LONG (much longer than just reading the information). If Barbri allows you to just buy its books, I would probably do that and save myself a lot of money. If you have a firm paying for you, then do the ipod (a few friends of mine were able to get their firms to pay for the more expensive ipod option, so you might consider asking). If you're funding yourself and find it relatively easy to learn from reading about a topic, you might think about just buying the Barbri written materials and preparing that way.
| Category: Bar Exam - General |
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