Taking the UP Law Aptitude Exam -- a quick revisit by the jester-in-exile, for Brawler159

A pity it's much much too late, but I suppose the advice I've given out here just might be useful for those who will be taking college entrance examinations or qualifying exams for government scholarships.

(Yes, yes, I know that most of those have been over and done with weeks ago -- but hey, better late than never. Besides, I've already answered this question oberdabakod. It's a rehash -- don't expect too much, hey?)

This one is for Brawler159, who asked stuff about the University of the Philippines Law Aptitude Examination and the UP College of Law.

This is how I paraphrased his email:

Hi Jester,

I'm a graduating student of Philosophy, and I intend to take the UP Law Aptitude Exam. Do you have any tips for that?

Also, can you tell me what organizations and fraternities should I join once I'm in Law?

Thanks, Brawler159

Let's take bit more time to answer this email; again, the information might prove useful for other people, maybe even for other reasons.

***
Assuming the examiners won't be changing the format of the LAE, these are what one should expect to find on exam day (which is usually held in November):

- For the math part, high-school word problems. Fairly easy stuff, but you'll have about sixty seconds per math problem, and that's where the pressure will lie.

- For the critical thinking/ reading comprehension portions, expect standard grammar and vocabulary tests, plus a section on logic (deduction, syllogisms, fallacies and other such stuff). Brawler159 surely had an easier time of it, being a Philo major and therefore someone who's had logic as a subject. (On the other hand, I hope the kid takes no offense, but his written English needs a bit of work.)

- There's an abstract reasoning part that probably everyone who's been in school has had at least once. I'm told that not only does the abstract reasoning part is not only for IQ approximation, but has applications in determining personality, EQ, and all those psych stuff... which begs the question: do the examiners also look at the examinee's temperament and how law school might affect that? I don't know, but that's something I sure would like to find out.

- Finally, the essay. It's an essay. 'Nuff said.

It's not as daunting as it looks, but neither is it something one should elicit a panic attack.

***
So, can, how should one prepare for the LAE?

First, and probably most importantly, don't change your lifestyle and study approach too much. If one survived college playing Ran Online from dusk till dawn every day, then there's really no point in going into cramming mode to prepare for the LAE. Like our favorite Prof M. likes to say, "It's something you already know, the trick is remembering it." Plus, you'll be doing that lifestyle change if you get into Malcolm Hall, so there's really no point in killing yourself before then.

Second, get a copy of any of those nifty UPCAT/ ACET/ DLSEE reviewers. The questions that will be asked during the multiple-choice part of the exam will be no different from those you will find in these reviewers -- which necessarily means that one has to actually at least look through them after the purchase.

Third, read the papers, watch the news, listen to AM radio. At least one of the myriad issues and events of the year before will appear as the theme of the essay.

Fourth, consider brushing up on one's writing and thought-organization skills. Maintaining a blog might be one way of making sure one is prepared to write

Fifth, make sure to get The Jester-in-Exile's Secret Super Smartening Formula, at least two doses, at least once a week. For my friends who don't yet know it, it's one part Stolichnaya vodka, one part Jose Cuervo tequila (silver), one part Tanduay 5-years rhum, one part Gilbey's Gin, one part Cointreau triple sec, 1 part Del Monte sweetened pinapple juice, 1/2 part lime cordial, squeeze of lemon, splash of regular Coca-Cola, poured into ice, shaken twice, and poured into a tall glass and served while the drink is still fizzing with a lemon slice garnish. Note, however, that the formula has ill-effects if taken the night before the LAE. Note, too, that the formula should NEVER be taken unless one is at home or has a designated driver.

***
Now, how to take the LAE?

(Sheesh. If one has to ask this, one probably needs a refresher course -- in kindergarten.)

The usual way one would take an entrance exam, I suppose. Bring a set of several Mongol No. 1's (don't sharpen them too much as you'll be using them to shade little ovals anyway; plus, they break easily if they're too sharp), a couple of spare ballpens (just in case), and the little slips of paper that are proof one is allowed to take the LAE. Be early at the testing center. Budget your time (if you can't, maybe you can do guesswork and shade in the boxes of the questions you failed to answer in the preceding exam if you finish up the next exam earlier than anticipated; I know a couple or more who did something like this). Take half a minute or so to collect your thoughts on the essay's theme before starting out to write about it.

Simple enough, I think -- and I think that which messes people up during the LAE is if they fall into the panic attack trap. Without that, it's not so bad.

Or, as I witnessed during my time, a bad case of writer's block -- in that case, you're screwed. Don't worry, one can fail the LAE twice; fail the third, and you won't get a chance to be welcomed to hell -- Malcolm Hall, I mean.

***
Some, if not all, of those who will have passed the written portion of the LAE will be asked to undergo an interview, which will be held sometime during the summer.

Those who've successfully hurdled job interviews will have less to worry about; the interview sessions are no different from those one would expect from an HR manager -- only that for LAE examinees, the panel of interviewers will consist of UP College of Law professors.

Yup, that isn't anything to sneeze at. Remember, these professors are by far more discerning, more intuitive, and far, far smarter than the average HR representative.

That said, one shouldn't worry so much; an interview is an interview is an interview. Be pleasant, polite, calm, clear, and concise; be comfortable, but not cocky -- be confident without being disrespectful. Above all, be honest -- law professors have very very well developed bullshit detectors.

Here are a few commonly-used "killer phrases", speech defects, and "killing attitudes" that some professors frown upon hearing and seeing (avoid at all costs):

"Actually", "honestly", and other such similar -- they beg the questions "so virtually what?" or "so you were previously not being honest?"

Meandering -- I learned somewhere that in general people get bored if despite two minutes of talk one has not yet made one's point.

Stuttering, "ums" and "ahs" -- this would make the professors wonder how one can perform acceptably during a recit if during the interview one cannot string two words together with confidence and poise, let alone appearing before a court.

Slouching on the chair, one leg crossed over the other in the "de cuatro" -- young man, that is a formal interview, not a cocktail party.

Inappropriate attire -- wear something that looks apt for a meeting, not for a cruising. Smart casual is good; business attire may give a better impression.

Well, Brawler159, let's cross our fingers and hope you make it.

***
Now, as to what organizations or fraternities one should join when you enter UP Law, it all boils down to personal choice. Weigh the pros and cons; ask yourself if what they offer you is worth what you're expected to render in return. (On my end, well -- I'm of an age and career level where there's precious little some organizations can tempt me with.)

To be clearer, however, I'd suggest that you survey the field in your freshman year. There are a lot of organizations that I think would probably do you good, if you try out for them and qualify. I can't say I've much authority on this subject, however; I'm a working student -- my time for anything beyond schoolwork and my job is extremely limited.

Nonetheless, I can think of a number of organizations that would do good for those who qualify and join up. For instance, the Philippine Law Journal. This publication would be right up your alley if one has good writing skills -- what's more, working and writing for the PLJ would get one interacting with the brilliant legal minds. Since the PLJ publishes articles by arguably the best legal scholars of the country, one would find opportunities to broaden one's perspective on the law and the practice of it.

For those with good speaking and debating skills, I would suppose that trying out for the moot court team and the Jessup team. Not only will one get to hone one's skills in debate, but the with the requisite research and readings one must do to prepare for these debates one will have the opportunity to learn a lot about, say, international humanitarian law.

(Let me just say at this point that I've a blockmate or several who'd be brilliant in any of those three organizations.)

At any rate, Brawler159, I'd recommend that once you become a part of Malcolm Hall, use your first year to survey the field first (given that freshman year in law school is a killer, I kid you not), and find out where you think you'll fit in best. There just might be a chance that the organization that will be best for you would not be a law school organization or fraternity, but some group or other on campus or even off campus that would best develop your talents and skills.

Plus, you gotta worry about passing the LAE first, before worrying about them orgs, right?

Again, best of luck, kiddo.

***
Next on deck for Ask The Jester-in-Exile will be a rehash and a bit of amplification of our previous answer to our visitor kimi2hotty.

(Let me just say that I've because of Smart Broadband I've been saying "sonovabitch!" every two minutes or so.)

(Everyone, repeat after me: "SMART COMMUNICATIONS IS UNRELIABLE." I am rather tempted to create a blog damning Smart Broadband's unreliability, detailing every time and instance and location where the system suddenly cuts the connection.)

Later, all. Gotta get some food in me first.

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