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tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:31 pm
by OutoftheWoods
I'm faced with the horrific news i will be handwriting my fall exams because i accidentally missed the exam software registration deadline, and apparently this is such a travesty that instead of letting me register for 10 seconds i am being punished by being forced to handwrite. anyone have any tips compared to typed exams? my handwriting sucks and im afraid im at a great disadvantage due to slowness with that compared to typing. i know it sounds stupid but im really anxious about this.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:52 pm
by kalvano
Yeah, go see the Dean of Students or all the way to the President if necessary, because that's utter bullshit. Don't let the registrar's offce pull that crap. That could cost you tons of points.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:55 pm
by lawhopeful10
Yea, you really need to fight this. Worst case maybe even explain the situation to each one of your professor's and see if they will allow you to take it on Microsoft Word or something. You will almost definitely be at a disadvantage not typing your exam.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:24 pm
by OutoftheWoods
I'm trying to get through dean of students at the moment. However I found out right before T-giving break. sent in an explanation this morning but didnt hear back today; if i dont hear back on monday im gonna message again. next step if that doesnt work is the law school dean i guess? this dean does not seem receptive at all so im not hopeful.

i would love to go to my professors but i know that i can't do - destroys anomity of law school exams. chances are i could be the only handwritten exams in one of my classes, so yeah.

i'm glad im not overreacting though. i wasn't sure if i was just being a big baby.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:32 pm
by kalvano
You should absolutely go to your professors and bitch about it. Do whatever is necessary to be able to type your exam like a normal student.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:23 am
by BVest
lawhopeful10 wrote:Yea, you really need to fight this. Worst case maybe even explain the situation to each one of your professor's and see if they will allow you to take it on Microsoft Word or something. You will almost definitely be at a disadvantage not typing your exam.
Except that you're generally prohibited from doing something like this because they don't want to spoil the anonymity of the exams. Start with the dean of students first.

I never understood why some schools had such early deadlines for affirmatively registering the software. UT does it right, giving you a deadline by which you must opt out of using the software, otherwise you're automatically charged the registration fee and signed up to use it. When that happens, if you really want to write your exams you still can, but you'll have paid for the software too.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:34 am
by fats provolone
i would immolate myself on the white house lawn before handwriting an exam

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:56 am
by Kimikho
BVest wrote:
lawhopeful10 wrote:Yea, you really need to fight this. Worst case maybe even explain the situation to each one of your professor's and see if they will allow you to take it on Microsoft Word or something. You will almost definitely be at a disadvantage not typing your exam.
Except that you're generally prohibited from doing something like this because they don't want to spoil the anonymity of the exams. Start with the dean of students first.

I never understood why some schools had such early deadlines for affirmatively registering the software. UT does it right, giving you a deadline by which you must opt out of using the software, otherwise you're automatically charged the registration fee and signed up to use it. When that happens, if you really want to write your exams you still can, but you'll have paid for the software too.
Wouldn't being the only one handwriting spoil anonymity already?

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:59 am
by BVest
Not to the prof. He doesn't know who's signed up to handwrite vs type

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:18 am
by kalvano
So go talk to the prof and if the school pitches a fit, pitch one right back, all the way to Above The Law. It's total mindless academic asshattery, and OP shouldn't put up with it. It's not the school's problem if OP screws up the exams because he hand-wrote and then can't get a job, but it's damn sure OP's problem.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:20 am
by chuckbass
I have no better advice than the above posters, but good luck OP.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 2:26 am
by OutoftheWoods
oh man getting on above the law, not sure if that's a dream of mine or not. lol.

but yeah i know about not talking to professors. hope the dean gives me an exception. my exams are in less than 2 weeks. so much unneeded stress.

and speaking about a job, part of the reason why it is pissing me off is i am a 2L and currently jobless. i feel like my school is just not helping me out at all and wants me to fail.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 11:09 am
by BmoreOrLess
BVest wrote:Not to the prof. He doesn't know who's signed up to handwrite vs type
This is a good reason to not go to your profs. You definitely don't want to violate your honor code.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:53 pm
by unodostres
Not a law student but a guy at minnesota had the same thing happen to him (huge thread). It affected him really badly. Just FYI.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:58 pm
by sublime
..

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:23 pm
by OutoftheWoods
petition denied. it's just one person in particular so i'm not going to out my school just because of one person, but my god i want to so bad. going to official dean next.. but its thanksgiving break so ill have to wait until monday. i am fuming.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:38 pm
by sublime
..

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:47 pm
by OutoftheWoods
sublime wrote:
OutoftheWoods wrote:petition denied. it's just one person in particular so i'm not going to out my school just because of one person, but my god i want to so bad. going to official dean next.. but its thanksgiving break so ill have to wait until monday. i am fuming.

Try not to worry about it ad just study or whatever.

Deal with it on monday
trying to study, but its hard. i have underlying anxiety already. oh, and apparently that isn't good enough to get past this. i have to either register as disabled with the school (like anyone facing character and fitness wants to do that) or get a special doctor's note. so i have to run and get a doctor to write me a note with finals 1 week to spare. i've been able to manage this relatively ok all my life but now im being sent over the edge that now i have to actually see a doctor for this again for the first time in a few years. i hate my school.

end my rant. feels good to get that out man.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:03 am
by Kimikho
So...did this ever get resolved or can you out the school yet?

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:37 pm
by OutoftheWoods
Yeah, I was able to type them out. I still won't name the school but if you want more of a gander at the insane policies, if you arrive later than half hour before the exam you need to handwrite (which is based on an arbitrary time in the classroom clock). About 6 students had to handwrite at one of my tests because they arrived after that time but a minute before in "iphone time"

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:15 pm
by hailcaesar34
OutoftheWoods wrote:Yeah, I was able to type them out. I still won't name the school but if you want more of a gander at the insane policies, if you arrive later than half hour before the exam you need to handwrite (which is based on an arbitrary time in the classroom clock). About 6 students had to handwrite at one of my tests because they arrived after that time but a minute before in "iphone time"
Fuck that noise, I showed up like 10mins before all my tests.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:36 pm
by Kimikho
OutoftheWoods wrote:Yeah, I was able to type them out. I still won't name the school but if you want more of a gander at the insane policies, if you arrive later than half hour before the exam you need to handwrite (which is based on an arbitrary time in the classroom clock). About 6 students had to handwrite at one of my tests because they arrived after that time but a minute before in "iphone time"
Holy shit.

I'm glad it worked out for you though!

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:51 pm
by North
Edit: Nevermind, OP didn't want to out the LS. But fuck that school and go Terriers.

Re: tips for handwriting exams?

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:32 am
by History_Buff
hailcaesar34 wrote:
OutoftheWoods wrote:Yeah, I was able to type them out. I still won't name the school but if you want more of a gander at the insane policies, if you arrive later than half hour before the exam you need to handwrite (which is based on an arbitrary time in the classroom clock). About 6 students had to handwrite at one of my tests because they arrived after that time but a minute before in "iphone time"
Fuck that noise, I showed up like 10mins before all my tests.
Heh I showed up two minutes before one of mine due to the gate at my apartment refusing to open.