Bar Review

I'm taking the bar exam next July. Pretty much 99% of people take a bar review course (at least from what I've heard). I'm absolutely certain I need to take one. By the time I'll take the bar, I'll have been in law school 4 years. The most tested subjects are from year one. I barely remembered the concepts a semester after I studied them, let alone 3 years. :p

I was hoping not to think about signing up for another month, but faced with discounts expiring on certain courses and the possibility that others would fill up, I had to make my decision.

These were primarily the courses I was looking at, and some details about each -

Kaplan

• Price (w/discount): $2860
• Just started offering a complete bar review this year
• Applies down payment paid to Barbri
• Both live, taped, and online lectures
• Guarantee (if you fail on the first go, you can take the course on the second go for free)
• Includes PMBR (multiple choice review - this part has been around a long time)
• unlimited essay review
  

Barbri

• Price: $3500
• has been around a long time (and 80% of people seem to take it)
• supposed to have really good study aids/time management charts
• Both live, taped, and online lectures
• well-known lecturers
  
• takes a very long time for essays to be graded and returned
  

Themis

• Price: $1395
• online only
• $100 off if you opt for online materials (instead of books)
• phone and live chat support
  

I ultimately went with Kaplan, because (1) I liked the price; (2) it's a reputable company; (3) the guarantee is reassuring; and (4) unlimited essay review is impressive.

I had to put $200 down, and $250 was applied from the payment I already made to Barbri, so I still owe $2410. I hope that it's worth it!