WUSTL Class of 2013 Forum

[fl0w]

I know I'm fooling myself but after looking at my actual daily schedule and comparing it to what I've been used to for 5 years of consulting... it doesn't seem like it could possibly be THAT bad. I know there is a lot of reading and stuff, but never starting before 9am and never ending after 2pm seems like the ultimate vacation.

It's got to be a trap.

[Total Litigator]

Although class is very important, the amount of time you'll actually spend in class is substantially lower than the time spent you'll spend studying. Although you have classes from 9am until 2pm, your day will mostly likely end around 7pm or later... of course it's all up to you and how much time you decide to spend studying.... For some people that I've talked to who've made to the top of the class (at other schools, but I don't think that makes too big of a difference), the studying is constant, and they put in 70+ hours a week, including 4 to 6 hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

[HAMBONE]

Norwood: Exam was one standard issue spotter essay question and a hilarious multiple choice section with about 60 questions

What was hilarious about it? Easy?

I thought it was pretty easy but others thought different. The funny part was that she uses the names of the people in the class for her questions in the mc section. It was hilarious to see the gunners die a random gruesome death due to negligence or some other tort. You could hear people burst out laughing throughout the exam

[najumobi]

Although class is very important, the amount of time you'll actually spend in class is substantially lower than the time spent you'll spend studying. Although you have classes from 9am until 2pm, your day will mostly likely end around 7pm or later... of course it's all up to you and how much time you decide to spend studying.... For some people that I've talked to who've made to the top of the class (at other schools, but I don't think that makes too big of a difference), the studying is constant, and they put in 70+ hours a week, including 4 to 6 hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

holy shmokies..... is that 70 hours including class time? i was thinking 40 hours a week not including class time would be enough....
EDIT: woops...i guess that means 70 hours/week including class time since only 4 to 6 hours on both saturday and sunday

[fl0w]

Although class is very important, the amount of time you'll actually spend in class is substantially lower than the time spent you'll spend studying. Although you have classes from 9am until 2pm, your day will mostly likely end around 7pm or later... of course it's all up to you and how much time you decide to spend studying.... For some people that I've talked to who've made to the top of the class (at other schools, but I don't think that makes too big of a difference), the studying is constant, and they put in 70+ hours a week, including 4 to 6 hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

that's cool. i do actually plan to have somewhat of a life while going to law school as well. It really does depend on the person.

Even so, 9am-7pm is basically a work day. If you can't tell, I plan to treat this very much like a job.

[Total Litigator]

Yes, that is it, about 70 hours including class time, although I'm sure you'd be able to find somebody who studies 70 hours + class time, lol. I personally was slightly above my school's median GPA right and right at the median LSAT, and for the most part (except before a paper was due or during finals) I treated law school like an 8am to 8pm, meaning I woke up at 8am, had my first class at 9am, took an hour for lunch, and finished studying around at 8 at night, and wound up top 33%. I have a friend who was slightly below the median GPA and LSAT, and he studied about 80+ hours a week (including class time) and wound up in the top 5%. And of course there are the anomalies who spend 40 hours a week or so on law school and end up in the top 15%, but these people are by far the exception to the rule.

40 hours a week + class time is probably fine. If you do that plus study smart (use supplements, outline, learn how to take a law school exam) I think one should end up above median.

Disclaimer: My 1L was not at Wash U, (it was at a 50-60th ranked school). However, I got the impression that flow thought law school was a 9am to 2pm thing and I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents before he walked right into a trap.

[Total Litigator]

that's cool. i do actually plan to have somewhat of a life while going to law school as well. It really does depend on the person.

Even so, 9am-7pm is basically a work day. If you can't tell, I plan to treat this very much like a job.

Lol, I just wanted to make sure you weren't serious. And yes, I think studying hard works better when you let yourself blow off some steam on friday or saturday. Maaaybbbeeee a game of golf during the week.

That's just me though. My impression was that the large majority of the people in the illustrious top 10% studied a lot, but I know for a fact there were a few people in there who managed to balance studying and being social pretty well.

[HAMBONE]

hours/week tend to fluctuate a lot depending on the work load. Only thing I will add to the above discussion is that weeks when the memos are due are absolutely brutal. Those things take forever because its graded and you feel like its something that has to be perfect. just work on the memo diligently and try to do your reading for the week early since you will be panicking about the memo later

[romothesavior]

Disclaimer: My 1L was not at Wash U, (it was at a 50-60th ranked school). However, I got the impression that flow thought law school was a 9am to 2pm thing and I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents before he walked right into a trap.

--ImageRemoved--

[camstant]

Disclaimer: My 1L was not at Wash U, (it was at a 50-60th ranked school). However, I got the impression that flow thought law school was a 9am to 2pm thing and I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents before he walked right into a trap.

--ImageRemoved--

Did Ole Miss' ever go through with that mascot?

[romothesavior]

Did Ole Miss' ever go through with that mascot?

Also, one more PSA: I still have one ticket left for the game if anybody wants to go (or if anybody has an SO who wants to tag along). Or if anybody knows someone that you've met (thru Sonnenschein sp??) or the coffee thing, ask them.

[Total Litigator]

Disclaimer: My 1L was not at Wash U, (it was at a 50-60th ranked school). However, I got the impression that flow thought law school was a 9am to 2pm thing and I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents before he walked right into a trap.

--ImageRemoved--

Ahhh, I almost included this in my original response but I didn't. Way to go the extra mile lol

[Harry Ballsogna]

For you guys and gals that are already in STL - how is the gym? I don't care about new fancy machines, etc... Is it a good place to actually lift weights? Plenty of benches, squat racks and all that?

[Oban]

m

[mrgth51453]

For what it's worth, I never worked 70 hour weeks at WashU, Probably not even 40 hour weeks, including the class time... little busier toward finals and around memos, but it's entirely possible to have a normal life, take weekends off, etc. and do well in 1L... I knew people that worked 70+ hours and excelled and 70+ hours and were dead median... Don't feel like you have to outwork to do well or that you need to keep biglaw hours.

[mountaintime]

what kind of battery life do we need for our laptops? are we able to plug them in during exams? i am having trouble finding this info on the schools website.

[mrgth51453]

Finals are 3 or 4 hours usually, but you can plug it in during them (plug next to just about every seat in most classrooms)

[publiuspublicola]

D 3.
You sunk my battleship.

[najumobi]

D 3.
You sunk my battleship.

ha

[motedust]

So I just did the Orientation Service Project sign-up,
Choices:
Animal Protective Association (APA) of Missouri: 3
Covenant House St. Louis: 5
Forest Park Forever: 1
Gateway Greening: 2
The Green Center: 4

And did someone say 40s?? Cause uh yeah I'ma have to get in on that shit.

[llfurby]

Two things:

B8 anybody?

Also, anyone else see the assigned readings for orientation? If not, its on mylaw( use your webstac login info)
https://law.wustl.edu/orientation/pages.aspx?id=8182

[publiuspublicola]

Help! I bought some furniture today and there is 1 box I can't get into my place by myself (and is probably too heavy for my wife to help). Anyone already around or not mind coming to DeMun to help me move it in?

Here's the deal:
1) Only 1 box. Super quick and easy.
2) We can go grab a beer at Katie's Pizza after (or coffee at Kaldi's if you prefer)
3) Needs to be between 2-4:00 pm
4) No judging the current state of my apt, which still has boxes and stuff everywhere

PM me if interested w/ your phone#. FYI, I'll be away from the computer until about 1:30 so expect to hear from me around then...

[welkyn]

just picked up my books, so thick and heavy!

[publiuspublicola]

Help! I bought some furniture today and there is 1 box I can't get into my place by myself (and is probably too heavy for my wife to help). Anyone already around or not mind coming to DeMun to help me move it in?

Here's the deal:
1) Only 1 box. Super quick and easy.
2) We can go grab a beer at Katie's Pizza after (or coffee at Kaldi's if you prefer)
3) Needs to be between 2-4:00 pm
4) No judging the current state of my apt, which still has boxes and stuff everywhere

PM me if interested w/ your phone#. FYI, I'll be away from the computer until about 1:30 so expect to hear from me around then...

Bummer. No takers?

[folgers]

I'd help ya move the box if I didn't have to go home and shower and stuff to get ready to go to the game tonight. If you still need to move it tomorrow just let me know and I'll help out. I'll pm ya.