Hillbilly Elegy

were also close friends), a good friend
had begun studying before Christmas.
The alumni of elite consulting firms
gathered together to grill each other on
editorial techniques. One second-year
student helped his old Harvard
roommate (a first-year student) design a
study strategy for the final month before
the test. At every turn, people were
tapping into friendship circles and
alumni groups to learn about the most
important test of our first year.
I had no idea what was going on.
There was no Ohio State alumni group—
when I arrived, I was one of two Ohio
State graduates at the entire law school.
I suspected the Journal was important,