BarBri typically has 3 options for classes each day. You can take the live version in the morning, the afternoon class where they play a tape of that mornings recording or the night class which is taped and may be on a different schedule than the earlier classes.
Nearly everyone attends the morning class. Parking is never an issue, but leaving the parking lot is a real problem. Imagine 500 people trying to leave at the same time. You end up treating BarBri like a baseball game. You either leave in the 7th inning to beat the traffic, or you stay for the whole ballgame and get a drink afterwards. I kid you not, at the Los Angeles BarBri location, getting out of the parking lot has taken over an hour. The first week is particularly bad since there are no afternoon or evening classes. Here are some tips to avoid stress.
1. If you're going to drive, try to carpool. BarBri understands that the parking lot situation is a mess. The two times I've taken BarBri, they've arranged for a carpool lot. This is a huge time saver. Ask about this on the first day of class.
2. If you can bike, get there early. BarBri seems to pick locations with law schools near by. That means there are several hundred students within biking distance and bike parking is at a premium.
3. If you can walk, walk. With only one book to carry to class, this is your best choice if you live close to your BarBri location. You don't have to worry about finding a spot for your bike or trying to get out of the parking lot. If you have to drive, consider parking further out and walking in to avoid the rush out of the parking lot.
4. Eat lunch. Use this time to go get lunch with a friend or eat the lunch you packed. This is a perfect time to relax and enjoy a meal. If your a person that needs to unwind after a 4 hour lecture, sitting in a crowded parking lot will only make you more tense.
5. Stay and study. BarBri typically ends early, so you will have approximately an hour before the next class begins. Go over your notes or re-examine the parts of the lecture you didn't understand. This time will be better spent studying than sniffing car fumes in the parking lot.
