When you take the Illinois bar exam, they tell you that your results are coming sometime in the first two weeks of October. However, historically, they have arrived promptly on October 1. Uhhh. That's tomorrow. Weird.
As my friend Amie wrote last year, she received an e-mail at around 9 AM on October 1st telling her that results were in. It appeared that results went out in alphabetical order, and some of her classmates didn't find out until SEVEN HOURS LATER. The ten weeks since the exam have gone by quickly and I really haven't worried about it much, but I swear to God if people start finding out tomorrow at 9AM and I don't have my results until 5PM I will absolutely freaking LOSE IT. Luckily Amie and I both have early in the alphabet last names, so I hope I'm okay.
So, to answer the inevitable question: how do I feel? Well. Last week I was a little nervous and got a knot in my stomach every time I thought about it. This week? I'm totally fine.
The calm before the storm? I've accepted my inevitable failure? Who knows.
I've already read blog posts of people failing other states. I don't know what I'll do if I fail... but I do know that life will go on.
Do I feel confident that I passed? I'm not sure that confident is the right word.
I certainly did not study everything that I was told to. I definitely didn't do enough practice multiple choice questions. And I didn't do any practice essays. The test was really freaking hard. But did I know some stuff? Sure.
Last year 84%of people who took the July Illinois bar exam passed. And graduates from my law school had a higher passage rate. So, do I think I knew as much as 84% of my peers? There's a really good chance.
So basically - I won't be shocked either way, pass or fail. And either way, I'll be drinking (I know, you're shocked)
So, I'll be back tomorrow, with results either way. I'm going out tonight and drinking heavily with lots of friends. I have given my IBABY (Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar AND YOU!) login and password to my friend Brad and my roommate Kevin, so if I drink myself to death tonight, or get hit by a bus, or just can't bring myself to click, or forget my password, they can find out. If I am dead, I'll make sure to have someone post the results so you know what happened. Ha.
Oh, and tomorrow also happens to be my 500th blog post. So THANK YOU, my fabulous readers, for being with me through all of this! You're the best!
Hey, when my results came out, they were all up at once, by seat number. And they actually went up at about 1 a.m., only I didn't find out that they were up until I woke up that morning. I'll bet you passed, but you may want to have your roomie hide sharp objects. Just in case. Good luck hon.
ReplyDeleteI'll be excited to read your 500th post! I'm hoping it is filled with good news! (I'm sure it will be!)
ReplyDeleteI almost died last year waiting for that. We got our results at 5:01 on the Friday night before Labor Day weekend. It was the LONGEST Friday at work of my life. My supervising attorney took me to lunch where I proceeded to rock back and forth and feel sick the entire time, haha!
ReplyDeleteYou will be FINE!! Can't wait to hear the news!
Holy shit!!!! I cannot imagine the anticipation. I am sooo glad Wisconsin still has the diploma privilege- even the thought of a bar exam makes me want to die. I will have a cocktail or two tonight in honor of the fact I know you passed...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear! Fingers Crossed!!!!
ReplyDeleteI got my results 2 weeks ago and was sick to my stomach for a solid week beforehand. I took MO bar - they just post a pdf list of the candidates that passed, so after 45 minutes of trying to get the webpage to load (sweet), when it finally came up I scanned so quickly through my part of the alphabet that I missed my name (double sweet). The panic of that day and the week before it sucked. But the relief and celebratory eating/drinking afterwards made up for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll be celebrating tomorrow.. good luck getting through today!
Good LUCK getting through today!! Your post made even me nervous!! My boyfriend's (who is still in law school...great) brother gets his results tomorrow too and I think he will seriously suffer a panic attack beforehand so I know what your going through!! Im keeping my fingers crossed for you!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and enjoy going out tonight!! I'm nervous for you, but I hope you get to find out at 9am so you aren't waiting all day long.
ReplyDeleteHang in there. I failed the Ca bar exam the first time. Passed the second no trouble. It didn't ruin either my life or my career. Think positive thoughts for you!
ReplyDeleteYay so excited for you!!! Wishing you the very best!!!
ReplyDeletetomorrow will be your 500th blog post and the day you get you results...that is kinda fun!! Wishing you the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThey don't give you an exact date and time?? That would drive me insane.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!! Have fun drinking (duh) :)!
My email might have been around 10. Or it might have been around 8:30. I'm not really sure. I know I spent all morning checking to see if I could log into ibaby on my blackberry (I couldn't) and hitting refresh. I know I was at work when the email came. I know I called my husband to tell him and the fucker didn't pick up the phone so other people heard it first. But I'm not sure it really was around 9. I got into work at 9. Maybe the email came at 10:30? Who knows. I guess my point is don't lose your mind too much more than you otherwise would if you don't have the email by 9. And? Once it was mentioned that emails were going out, everybody logged into ibaby. In general, people without an email had no letter in there yet.
ReplyDeletehope it's good news :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear the good news! Will be thinking about you tomorrow! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI took the same bar exam as V, so basically just read her commentary as to when you can expect results.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I received multiple texts at 1 am, after I was asleep, so in my drowsy state, I checked. I had to re-check the next morning just to be sure.
I texted my law school bestie. She didn't text back b/c she failed. Awkward.
I'm sure you're fine.
Girl, I wish you the best. I think it's great to think of it as "I am undoubtedly smarter than 84% of my law school peers", because I'm sure you are. Knock one back for me tonight and I can't wait to hear your results.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling, which is why I wrote this. 7 Things You Must Do While Waiting for Bar Exam Results.
ReplyDeletehttp://chicagonow.com/Jsns
I love your blog, by the way :)
Here's rooting for you on the bar exam and your simply fabulous blog!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm sure you've heard results have started going out. My bf is a B and got an email at 11. I'm a T so the next 5 hours are going to SUCK! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI know you passed. But get those results and tell us anyway!!!!!
ReplyDelete