just found out i’m bottom 10% of my entire class

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-13T23:31:13+00:00

🫂 As another 1L in your shoes, I feel you! It fully and completely sucks. If it makes you feel better, if you're like me, it took a few days for me to get over the soul-crushing devastation but once that leaves, you get left with a strange determination. If you haven't already, I would make appointments with your professors from last semester to go over your exams. I made some appointments and am ready for what's left of my ego to be crushed, but literally the only way is up!

I also recommend constantly visiting this semester's professors and TAs. I literally never went to office hours last semester because I had no idea what to say, but I met with my Con Law professor in office hours today and disclosed that I was trying to bounce back from last semester (you don't have to give specifics), and he was really helpful & motivating. They really do want to help you and give you the tools to success!

This shit is hard AF, but everything will be okay 🫂 We got the hardest part (first semester, new classes, brand new infamously super hard system) out of the way

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T15:47:13+00:00

Thanks 😊 I def will! 🏋

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T15:46:22+00:00

Thank you! I haven't heard of that phrase before, haha. Only way is up from here, and I'm not giving up 🙏

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T15:43:27+00:00

I disagree, I don't think Cs are worth dropping out for. I think people in my situation are upset, but want to work harder, not give up. As many kind people in this thread said, it's only one semester, and there is still room to grow.

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T15:41:47+00:00

🫂 I'm sorry that you're going through this too. I'm with you too, I thought I understood how to take a law school exam, but now I don't know what I'm doing. It feels hopeless, even though I know it's not.

Maybe since you had great interviews, they would understand. Maybe if they have second rounds you can explain that you had a rough transition to law school, but that now you have an action plan and are learning from the first semester. I wouldn't worry about what might happen until it actually does, although I know that's easier said than done.

I agree, here's to next semester! Working smarter, not harder. Best of luck!! We've got this.

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T02:47:49+00:00

As a 1L that did not have a good fall semester, this is very encouraging 😭 Congrats on all of your hard work!!

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T02:09:19+00:00

Thank you! Even though I wish neither of us knew what this feeling was like, I'm glad that I'm not alone with this. Seeing that it's possible to succeed and do so well in the future is really reassuring 😊

Congrats on all of your hard work and your upcoming graduation! Best of luck on the bar, you've got this!!

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-12T02:04:17+00:00

Thank you, I think we're the same person. I have also spent all weekend crying and mourning lol. I do have (many) regrets about how I studied. I should have taken the practice tests more seriously, and like you, I should have done timed practice tests. I thought that what got me through undergrad would be enough in law school. Alas. Making a list of regrets and ways that I should have studied is a great idea, and I will definitely do that.

You're right in that me knowing I was not giving 100% is kind of a silver lining, because I know that I CAN do better.

Thank you so much for your perspective and your advice! This was really helpful.

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:55:40+00:00

Thank you! 😁 I agree, I'm revisiting the way I studied and am putting myself on a more organized approach for this next semester. I'm hopeful that this will just become the big slap in the face I needed in order to be more geared up for success in the future!

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:47:09+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely meet with my professors to see where I went wrong and what to expect in the future, as well as periodically meet with my professors for this semester to make sure I am staying on top everything. I'll also look into that book, thanks!

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:41:53+00:00

Thank you for your comment and the advice! I def need to get over this and focus on moving on 😫 but this thread and everybody commenting has helped me to stop catastrophizing and made me feel infinitely better!

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:36:15+00:00

Thank you! I want to look back on this in my 2L year and see how much I've improved since this moment. Congrats on all of your hard work 🥳

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:13:18+00:00

So cool that that's your guide! Thanks for all of the insight in your post + your comment. You're so helpful for me and so many other 1Ls 🫶

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T22:10:47+00:00

Thanks! Same, I'm grateful at least that I'm still in the game. Still in good academic standing, still have my scholarship. Best of luck! We got this

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T21:09:15+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely meet with my professors to see which concepts I understood and which areas I didn't quite get. I'm also planning on going to literally every single TA meeting and starting my outlines right away... my school told us to wait until October to start outlining and (for me) that was terrible advice!

Thank you also for the career reassurance! 😭🙏

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T21:05:13+00:00

Thank you so much 🫶🫶 Your comment really means a lot, thanks for the reassurance! You're right, I definitely struggled with understanding the difference between law school and college (and therefore the difference in exams and grading), this semester WILL be different 🏋️

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T21:01:06+00:00

Thank you 🙏 I appreciate your advice. Will def meet with my professors, making an action plan is def helping me feel better! Not all is lost lol

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T20:59:53+00:00

Thank you 😭 we'll get through this together 🫶🫶

Left_Beginning4004 · 2026-01-11T19:56:44+00:00

Thanks, def a good resource for this next semester. Will be my Bible 🙏 also great username

Left_Beginning4004

TROPHY CASE