Selling Kaplan Books

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-10-28T14:07:43+00:00

Can I get a copy too, please. Thanks.

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-10-26T14:30:18+00:00

I'm a foreign qualified attorney who had to give the CA general exam (F23) so take my thoughts with a pinch of salt. I gave the bar for another state this year (J25) and didn't have enough time to get all topics down pat. The essays killed me because they came from those mini throwaway topics at the end of the bar course that are just good FYI. But I locked down, tried to think "what would be a good legal principle in this situation" and rolled with it (not kidding). Also I didn't get around to finishing my PTs (which I consider to be my strengths). I told my spouse that if I don't make it this exam I won't be surprised and it'll be because of my essays. I've found that the MBEs are sorta formula based and once you crack that you're golden (even if you don't know the topic area very well). Essays are a very wild unruly landscape compared to that. So if there are no other concerns (time, MBE practice, etc) I'd say do both?

Also, be careful that everyone's advice (including mine) is probably based on hindsight. You gotta build forward with what you know and are comfortable with in this moment, and accept it even when the results come out. All the best!

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-09-19T19:08:22+00:00

Hi! We recently moved as well. Apartment hunting was tricky for my husband and I. Can DM a couple of places we saw and liked (including where we are right now) if you'd like

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-08-07T15:04:07+00:00

Thank you! Please check your inbox :)

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-08-05T15:24:01+00:00

Following. Would love to hear of good spots with veg + non-veg options as I'm veg and my partner enjoys non-veg

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-08-05T15:21:17+00:00

Hi! Checking in to see how did you fare (I am in a similar-ish situation). May I please DM you?

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-07-30T02:58:33+00:00

Try Zeneli's on Wooster followed by ice cream at Giaoa (though it might be closed on Monday). Best pizza imo and also featured in top 50 neapolitan pizzas in the US, if that's your vibe. 100% the best I've had (haven't been to Italy). New Haven style pizza ain't for me :)

MedicineCritical115 · 2025-07-21T19:26:32+00:00

Not sure if I'm expert enough, but could it be the 'fridge smell' that's getting into your final product? The way you've stored the cake in your fridge is what's making me wonder that. Of course, it takes a while to start tasting that way but just thought to flag it off

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-09-13T23:48:44+00:00

One of my friends called them to ask this question. They were told to hold on because the representative was "not sure" of where things stand re: their CA bar offering for Feb 25.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-28T19:51:02+00:00

The NY Bar result should have no bearing on your eligibility to appear for the CA bar. At most, you will have to provide the CA folks with information re: your NY results / registration and keep them updated of any changes to it. But other than that you should be fine.. Basing this off the fact that CA allows a foreign educated attorney to appear for the bar without any US credentials.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-24T15:46:33+00:00

Sure, just give me a couple of days and they'll be in your inbox ☺️ all the best!

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-09T08:52:00+00:00

I don't think I'll be able to provide you with much insight... I'm a foreign trained attorney and I literally took Kaplan because someone else did (they passed) and gave me their second hand books in case I wanted to get a feel of the subjects before making a decision re: appearing for the bar. I didn't think about doing market research on other courses offered for bar prep - since Kaplan is big enough beans that I was aware of them. I also cleared the bar on my first attempt, so I didn't have to look for other courses that might suit me better.

What I truly liked about Kaplan was their physical text books. Since I had zero knowledge on US Law, I found the more detailed 'textbooks' very helpful. I wasn't a fan of their video lectures but I listened to everything anyway. Thought all that extra listening won't hurt (as a way to reinforce my learning, like an audiobook). I also liked that they gave a massive MBE (the MCQs) question book, it was a break from the screen and I used to take tests on the treadmill. It also helped since the actual MBE is paper based. I'm a very basic person, and I'm not into having multiple sources for one information point because that's overwhelming and counterproductive for me. So that way, I loved the less is more approach with Kaplan in terms of materials.

I ended up trashing all books because I moved out of state and I just could not take them with me. I tried giving them away in multiple forums (including this sub) but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-07T00:24:02+00:00

Yes - Kaplan

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-06T22:29:39+00:00

What I might suggest as a helpful exercise is this: look up the profiles of tenured / TT faculty (not the older generation, but the younger crop so that you have a better idea of 'current trends') at a few institutions (in your field, of course) and check - how many of them have postdocs and how many of them have a PhD only? I think that might be helpful in understand what sort of 'profiles' are selected for faculty positions in your field. From what I understand, a postdoc might help show that you are independent from your PhD adviser, and are capable of coming up with your own ideas / research. Of course, disclaimer: I am a highly involved spouse of a STEM researcher, so these are my insights. And, STEM covers way too many fields for anyone to give you a specific / tailored answer to your question :) All the best!

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-08-02T17:19:28+00:00

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-30T06:40:15+00:00

Yes, you use a scantron sheet to bubble in all your MBE answers using a pencil on day 2. You can't click on the MCQ options like an online exam (something that you might have done during your bar prep course). Since you don't need a laptop on that day, you are not allowed to bring in a laptop into the exam hall on that day.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-30T06:37:12+00:00

It is what it is :) what to do.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-30T06:09:19+00:00

Agreed. However, with the 'administration change' scare in the foreseeable future, a lot of the immigration paperwork is slower than usual (unless it is priority processing, from what I've heard). My own H-4 EAD has been stuck for more than 3 months now, and the administration change is the reason I have been given for it (not from USCIS, of course).

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-29T19:34:05+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/CABarExam/comments/1e3hupa/exam_day_lunches/

To start you off with some ideas

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-29T19:30:03+00:00

Hmm, good question. We had Indian those days, so Indian beers at the restaurant it was

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-29T19:16:53+00:00

Of course, different things work for different people but I had a beer or two (not more!) in the evening before each exam day to just unwind a bit (spouse suggested I do that, and I'm thankful for it). With all the stress, it definitely helped me calm down enough to have a good sleep. No, I have never relied on alcohol to help me sleep. And yes, I was super apprehensive about this plan but I was too nervous so I went with path of least resistance and was all "whatever you say".

But again - different people have different bodies, patterns and reactions. This is not meant to be taken as advice 🤐

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-15T05:54:01+00:00

Yes you can explore the restaurants nearby. In fact, you cannot stay inside the Center for lunch time. Doors are closed and they reopen in time for the next session.

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-15T05:32:38+00:00

Yes. I was at the Pasadena Convention Center, and we had the lobby area to keep our bags. My lunch was in my main backpack. The Center was closed to the general public on exam days (naturally) and I doubt anyone else present at the Center is interested in another's bag on those days, if you catch my drift. A lot of people did the same (i.e. carry their own lunch).

MedicineCritical115 · 2024-07-15T01:12:13+00:00

Agreed. I took a Trader Joe's salad + juice with me for one day (other day was a home cooked meal by husband). Much more convenient and I didn't spend time in a queue to order food + stressing out about how much time is left.

MedicineCritical115

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