Does anyone at NYU understand ABRA bidding? Forum

[asaunde2]

Yes, I have gone over all the stuff on the website and no, i still don't get it. Feel free to point out how dumb my questions are as long as you also give me the answers.

1. I don't get the multiple round system at all- how is it that people have so many points left over to make those huge clearing prices in rounds 2 and 3? Any advantage to strategizing by saving points for later rounds, or should you spend them all in round 1?

2. How the hell are you really supposed to bid on courses for the whole year, when the courses you get first semester blatantly affect what you will want second semester? e.g. should you bid on your preferred Evidence course in both semesters and then just drop one if you end up with both? What about spring courses whose prerequisites you may or may not satisfy depending on what you get in the fall?

that's all for now, if by some miracle i get any answers then i might ask some more...

[zanda]

what's the deal with multiple rounds? the registration schedule shows bidding ending on monday, than an add/drop period... what do rounds even mean then?

To answer question 1, you only use up as many points as the highest bid that got locked out of the class, even if you bid way more.

Question 2- I feel similarly.

[asaunde2]

I don't get that either, but there is a link on the website to last years clearing prices after each of three rounds. Here under step 2: http://www.law.nyu.edu/recordsandregist ... /index.htm

[zanda]

I don't get that either, but there is a link on the website to last years clearing prices after each of three rounds. Here under step 2: http://www.law.nyu.edu/recordsandregist ... /index.htm

Yeah I remember seeing that. They only have that 3 round data for the most recent year though... maybe it was a 1 year experiment?

[spondee]

Last year was ABRA's first year. That may explain some differences.

I assumed the 3 rounds thing = main bidding + 2 initial rounds of drop/add.

And I think 3Ls have more points to bid than 2Ls. That also may explain some of the higher clearing prices.

Dunno about question #2. I just bid on my ideal schedule. Didn't bid for the same class in two semesters at all... Might be a mistake.

[edcrane]

1. Clearing prices are lower during the first round because students generally adopt a conservative, more uniform bidding strategy when their entire schedule is up in the air. Once they have won classes during the first round and their excessively cautious bids have been refunded, they are free to devote most/all of their points to one or two classes that they decide they want. There's a better bidding strategy, but I'll leave it up to you to figure out.

2. Excellent question. I'm going to be bidding on the same course in spring and fall semesters and asked about this as well. The answer is that bid priority apparently cuts across semesters, which is why even though you use two separate pools of points you cannot bid the same amount for a class in the spring and a class in the fall. So, for example, if you bid 400 points on evidence in the spring and 410 points on evidence in the fall, and the clearing price for both is 300, abra should give you the fall evidence class and treat your bid on the spring version of evidence as though it were below the clearing price.

[NYU 3L]

1. People have points left over because they either did not get a class they bid on or a class they did get had a lower clearing price than their bid (and they were refunded their over-bid). If you really want a class, you should bid the most points for it. If the clearing price is lower, you will be refunded your over-bid, but if you do not get the class, you will have missed out.

2. Yes, you should bid on your preferred course in both semesters and then drop one if you end up with both. One reply indicated that the system will not allow you to have two courses of the same title. I don't think this is true. In any case, you can easily drop a class and have the points for the next round. Keep in mind that there's also a possibility to get a class after ABRA bidding--during Add/Drop once the semester has begun.

[asaunde2]

Thanks for the replies.

[sophie316]

Can anyone explain to me how some classes in round 2 go for 1400 points when the most anyone ever has is 1200 as far as I can tell? So even if you weren't charged for any other ones in round one...how do you get 1400 to bid in round 2? Or am I just being dumb?

[Renzo]

As far as I can tell, they call it ABRA--as in abracadabra--because you have to be a goddamn wizard to figure this shit out.

[sophie316]

As far as I can tell, they call it ABRA--as in abracadabra--because you have to be a goddamn wizard to figure this shit out.

There is just no way this is the best way of doing this.

[spondee]

Can anyone explain to me how some classes in round 2 go for 1400 points when the most anyone ever has is 1200 as far as I can tell? So even if you weren't charged for any other ones in round one...how do you get 1400 to bid in round 2? Or am I just being dumb?

Yeah, I don't think we ever do get 1400 points. Last year was ABRA's first year. Presumably, they've made changes, and I think that's one of them.

[Renzo]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

[sophie316]

What are peoples thoughts regarding how likely it is that any of the classes that closed out first round last year will go for less than the clearing price last year? Or will everyone who wants, say, con law w yoshino bid above the first round clearing price from 09?

[sophie316]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

[Renzo]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

No idea. It might also be half +1 for B and nothing for C. Or 100% for B, if the points are cumulative.

[sophie316]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

No idea. It might also be half +1 for B and nothing for C. Or 100% for B, if the points are cumulative.

WHY IS THIS SO COMPLICATED

(frustration directed at NYU/Abra, not you)

[Renzo]

I just put in a bunch of bids and figured I'll let things fall where they may. There are more classes I want to take than I'll be able to take, so I figure it's best not to spend too much worry or brainpower trying to decipher the mess.

[sophie316]

I just put in a bunch of bids and figured I'll let things fall where they may. There are more classes I want to take than I'll be able to take, so I figure it's best not to spend too much worry or brainpower trying to decipher the mess.

Ditto. My only issue is that Im going to be commuting next year so I'm more conscious of class timing/spacing. Apparently they did decrease the numbers from 1400 for 3Ls/LLMs to 1200 this year so that could alter things.

[spondee]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

This is how I understand it, too.

[Renzo]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

This is how I understand it, too.

Ok, but if you get A, and the clearing price is only one point, what's your bid for B? Half your points (the balance of your primary bid on A after B clears) or half -1 (your primary bid on B)? The latter seems more logical, but it seems like it could result in a lot of unallocated points.

[spondee]

Here's a question. Lets say I bid half +1 of my points on class A, with Class B as an alternate. Then I bid half -1 of my points on B with an alternate of C. I don't get A. What result?

I assume that the bid is processed as +1 for B and the half -1 for C right?

This is how I understand it, too.

Ok, but if you get A, and the clearing price is only one point, what's your bid for B? Half your points (the balance of your primary bid on A after B clears) or half -1 (your primary bid on B)? The latter seems more logical, but it seems like it could result in a lot of unallocated points.

I'd say this. The other just doesn't make any sense to me.

[Renzo]

I'd say this. The other just doesn't make any sense to me.

I could argue it in a way that would make it make sense, but I think your way makes more sense. The problem with that way is that it discourages people from declaring true preferences, and encourages game-playing.

[spondee]

I'd say this. The other just doesn't make any sense to me.

I could argue it in a way that would make it make sense, but I think your way makes more sense. The problem with that way is that it discourages people from declaring true preferences, and encourages game-playing.

How so? I see it as encouraging a really basic strategy: bid lots on popular classes.

[Renzo]

I'd say this. The other just doesn't make any sense to me.

I could argue it in a way that would make it make sense, but I think your way makes more sense. The problem with that way is that it discourages people from declaring true preferences, and encourages game-playing.

How so? I see it as encouraging a really basic strategy: bid lots on popular classes.

It encourages you to play chicken by bidding just barely what you think a class will clear for, instead of declaring actual preferences. If there's a class you want so bad you'd take whatever else was left to get it, you should bid almost all your points, as that would be your real preference. But because any allotted points over the clearing price are wasted, it's to your advantage to shave your bid as close as you think you safely can.