Blog
WHAT I LEARNT WHILE PREPARING FOR CLAT- A SHORT NOTE ON MY JOURNEY BY ADITYA MEHRA CLAT AIR 46, AILET AIR 2
Preparing for CLAT for a year has been one of the most fruitful and memorable experiences I have had in my life. But it is the journey itself that I cherish more as I look back fondly today, rather than the end result. I will, for the benefit of the readers of CLAT Possible, proceed to list down a few things I have learned, share a few tips and humble opinions, in the hope that it will help you get a clear picture of things, put aside the mental blocks and doubts that are keeping you from working towards your goal with absolute focus and an unrelenting desire.
Do not underestimate yourself. Every aspirant has bouts of depression or under-confidence. It can get aggravated if you feel you are not doing well in your mocks or if your peers are scoring more. Even small things like them answering more frequently in class or having more ‘achievements’ in their school life can make you doubt your own abilities. But remember this; it is your effort that will decide where you spend the next five years. It is your hard work and determination that will reflect once the results are out. Everyone is equal and starts on a level footing for those two hours. Everyone has a fair chance to prove themselves. Believe in yourself and set high aims, this is your career and you want to give it the best possible foundation.
At the same time, a few words of caution. It is pertinent to repeat this fact, although you may have already heard it scores of times. There are a lot of aspirants, and not nearly enough seats to accommodate them all. In my experience, it will help you a lot if you remember that what decides everything is you and your paper. The scores and ranks will take care of themselves. Take this as a chance to make your friends and family proud, and give yourself a shot at a wonderful future. I can assure you that the students at the very best law schools are not extraordinarily intelligent; they have merely worked hard to improve their strengths and weaknesses.
While preparing for the exam, it is a doubt in everyone’s minds as to how much preparation is enough. There are those who have slogged for two years and have made it, and then there are those who have studied hard for a month and have made it. Remember this, the goal of all your coaching and mock solving is to absolutely familiarize you for the actual exam in all respects. It is to make you well versed with what has been coming for the exams all these years, and to be prepared for any googlies they may throw at you. It is not the number of mocks you take, but how well you get acclimatized to the nitty-gritty’s of the exam. While there is no one formula to crack CLAT, it is important for you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and be constantly in touch with your teachers or seniors at law schools to improve them. Timing yourself is the most important aspect of the exam. Make sure you have a tried and tested strategy according to which you will attempt the sections of the exam. To improve your speed and your preparedness in general, it is imperative that you solve all the past year papers, including the pre-CLAT era papers of the top three law schools.
Please do not be lazy! It goes without saying that facing your Board exams coupled with CLAT will make for a challenging few months, but you must keep your chin up and work through it with determination. It will be well worth it at the end. Don’t find excuses for not doing GK, or for not liking Math or for finding a few types of questions in logic too tough. While you find excuses, someone out there who has similar problems will work towards solving them, strengthening his abilities and gaining confidence – and will ultimately take your seat. Don’t let crazy schedules of your peers faze you, and don’t set unrealistic goals. Cover all aspects of the five sections.
The last bit is on what determines the best among equals. Coping with the tension (yes, you will be tensed, 11 out of 10 people will be tensed. You have to cope with it during your preparation and of course during the exam), battling bouts of depression and consistently motivating yourself, dreaming about your goals – basically, you have to be ‘in the zone’ when you sit for the exam. You know you will be on the right track if you thoroughly enjoy what you are doing during your preparation.
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” – Amelia Earhart.
Though there are a hundred other tips which I may give you, at the end of the day they will all be repetitive. I do hope and pray that this journey will be as memorable for you as it has been for me. Remember, the only person who can give you the gift of five years at your dream University, is you.
-Aditya Mehra.
CLAT AIR 46, AILET AIR 2.
The WBNUJS, Kolkata.
Can u please tell me what should we do in last 10 days to keep momentum going?