Indiana University - Bloomington students taking questions Forum

[danquayle]

Who are these law students you're talking to? Because if they're giving you any advice that suggests there is one single way to approach a law exam, they're way way off.

It's called the IRAC method. I've spoken (online and in person) to probably over a hundred current students from HYS to T2, and basically all of them talk about their own professor's insistence on using this. The rest tend to fall into the Getting to Maybe camp. As far as structure and content goes, this is the first time I'm hearing about "insanely different" grading methods. Maybe they're just "insane" methods.

Of course you start with the IRAC method. But that's like asking someone how to ski and saying, "It's best to go downhill." Every single student in law school knows the IRAC method. There's a lot more nuance to it than that, and some law school classes do not really require much use of the IRAC method at all.

But really, lets not hijack this thread. It's just my opinion from having had gone to the school that the summer start was not worth it for most of the people, excluding non-trads. That's my opinion. You evidently disagree. So be it.

[Verity]

Of course you start with the IRAC method. But that's like asking someone how to ski and saying, "It's best to go downhill." Every single student in law school knows the IRAC method. There's a lot more nuance to it than that, and some law school classes do not really require much use of the IRAC method at all.

That's the weakest analogy you can make. IRAC is a fairly structured, learned method for responding to LS exam questions, not an obvious fact like skiing downhill. Of course there's nuance, but the degree to which you seem to be suggesting, well, this is the first I've heard of such a disparity amongst graders. Maybe it's an IU-B anomaly.

[Verity]

OK, so moving on:

Is the library and other school buildings air-conditioned? I ask because I went to a large state school that let it swelter in September.

[kings84_wr]

Of course you start with the IRAC method. But that's like asking someone how to ski and saying, "It's best to go downhill." Every single student in law school knows the IRAC method. There's a lot more nuance to it than that, and some law school classes do not really require much use of the IRAC method at all.

That's the weakest analogy you can make. IRAC is a fairly structured, learned method for responding to LS exam questions, not an obvious fact like skiing downhill. Of course there's nuance, but the degree to which you seem to be suggesting, well, this is the first I've heard of such a disparity amongst graders. Maybe it's an IU-B anomaly.

Its not an IU anomaly.

[danquayle]

Of course you start with the IRAC method. But that's like asking someone how to ski and saying, "It's best to go downhill." Every single student in law school knows the IRAC method. There's a lot more nuance to it than that, and some law school classes do not really require much use of the IRAC method at all.

That's the weakest analogy you can make. IRAC is a fairly structured, learned method for responding to LS exam questions, not an obvious fact like skiing downhill. Of course there's nuance, but the degree to which you seem to be suggesting, well, this is the first I've heard of such a disparity amongst graders. Maybe it's an IU-B anomaly.

You are really, really buying into all the law school hype.

Seriously though, don't get going too fast on all this stuff. Some of the people who gear themselves up too much get burned out quickly. Law school is only as hard as you make it on yourself.

[LogosEther]

I mean, I think the real source of all of this is that everyone knows IRAC, everyone is decently smart, yet not everyone can get an A. So there has to be something more than just the IRAC, common sense, and good writing, in order to get your A. For me, this was catering to the professors. But I would take Kings' word for it that it's not just an IU thing, because he's seen more than one school.

But yeah, let's keep it so that others to feel free to ask more questions about IU. If you want to discuss exam strats more, I like doing it, so feel free to PM me!

As for the library, most people say they like the temp. I personally think it's pretty hot in there sometimes, but I think that about everything...

[danquayle]

I mean, I think the real source of all of this is that everyone knows IRAC, everyone is decently smart, yet not everyone can get an A. So there has to be something more than just the IRAC, common sense, and good writing, in order to get your A. For me, this was catering to the professors. But I would take Kings' word for it that it's not just an IU thing, because he's seen more than one school.

But yeah, let's keep it so that others to feel free to ask more questions about IU. If you want to discuss exam strats more, I like doing it, so feel free to PM me!

As for the library, most people say they like the temp. I personally think it's pretty hot in there sometimes, but I think that about everything...

Yeah, I couldn't remember if it was air conditioned. Probably not. But I don't ever recall it ever being that hot inside.

[Spoonmanners]

OK, so moving on:

Is the library and other school buildings air-conditioned? I ask because I went to a large state school that let it swelter in September.

Yes. Most parts of the library will push to the extreme of the opposite outside. I keep a jacket in my locker in the summer because sometimes it is just too cold.

On the internet note, I rarely have too much trouble with the wireless. There are a few times a day when a few big classes start and people are booting up facebook where the internet will go out. I really only have trouble about once a month.

[danquayle]

OK, so moving on:

Is the library and other school buildings air-conditioned? I ask because I went to a large state school that let it swelter in September.

Yes. Most parts of the library will push to the extreme of the opposite outside. I keep a jacket in my locker in the summer because sometimes it is just too cold.

On the internet note, I rarely have too much trouble with the wireless. There are a few times a day when a few big classes start and people are booting up facebook where the internet will go out. I really only have trouble about once a month.

I'm actually quite shocked someone questioned the internet. Indiana University is known to have the best connectivity of any public university. It was ranked #3 amongst all universities for being "wired." Indiana has great great IT. It was actually brought up today in one of my part time classes when we were talking about my current school's attempts at improving its own networks. They said everyone's aspiring to be Indiana. And we're talking about a school with billions in its endowment here and one most would consider "better" than Indiana.

Any problems you're having with wireless are an aberration.

[gatorhoosier]

I've never had a problem with the internet, but I am comparing it with my terribly slow and unreliable internet at my apt.

IRAC - Only 1 prof of 4 last semester on my schedule asked for IRAC. You really need to get to know each prof and talk to former students. I am in debt to several people on this forum for sharing their thoughts. It was a lifesaver.

[kings84_wr]

The temperature of the building always made me laugh. I remember everyday in Criminal law with hoffman last year, the AC would turn on blasting cold air on me, even though it was like 5%'s and snowing outside. I was felt like an idiot wearing a huge jacket in class.

and you all should enjoy having internet access in class, its completely blocked here. I missed at least 2 giants NLCS games because of that haha.

[LogosEther]

Blocked? Really? That would drive me crazy.

[superflush]

On the internet note, I rarely have too much trouble with the wireless. There are a few times a day when a few big classes start and people are booting up facebook where the internet will go out. I really only have trouble about once a month.

Some classrooms are worse than others and time plays into it as well. In our Property class, its unbelievably slow. Speaking of overcompensating for temperatures, it is also nearly 100° in that class.
There's been a huge problem with all-class events. At all those mandatory Lexis/Westlaw trainings, the network got jammed up. At the Individual Student Assessment event for Leg Prof, the network was jammed so bad that most of the students couldn't even get any web page to load. It was a complete embarrassment.

I'm actually quite shocked someone questioned the internet. Indiana University is known to have the best connectivity of any public university. It was ranked #3 amongst all universities for being "wired." Indiana has great great IT. It was actually brought up today in one of my part time classes when we were talking about my current school's attempts at improving its own networks. They said everyone's aspiring to be Indiana. And we're talking about a school with billions in its endowment here and one most would consider "better" than Indiana.

Any problems you're having with wireless are an aberration.

When's the last time you've been in the law building when its been packed with students during the day? The law building may very well used to have had a good connection, but it doesn't right now. I've already said that other buildings on campus are just fine. They added a bunch of students this year, and have done nothing to strengthen the network.

[AboveTheLawSchool]

How far is the gym/rec center from the law school? walkable?

[LogosEther]

Less than a half-mile walk from the law school to the HPER. Less than a mile walk from the law school to the SRSC. Definitely walkable, I do it all the time.

[superflush]

How far is the gym/rec center from the law school? walkable?

The HPER is a 10 minute walk.
The SRSC is a 20/25 minute walk.

[stlisforlovers]

Is the atmosphere cutthroat? Laidback? Somewhere in between?

[LogosEther]

I think it's definitely laid-back. People do their work (most of them), but I don't really encounter any cutthroatness. That'd be really frowned-upon here.

[gatorhoosier]

I haven't encountered any cutthroatiness.
Most 1L's probably hate LRW more than fellow classmates.

[brokenwindows]

What about the age groups of people in the law school? Are there a lot of older students or students with families?

[beidoun]

Is the atmosphere cutthroat? Laidback? Somewhere in between?

I would think with most of next years class getting big scholarships, the atmosphere will probably be really laid back.

[chihuahua12]

Just booked my flight for spring law day

[cowgirl_bebop]

Just booked my flight for spring law day

+1

[danquayle]

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/gummy19vp

versus

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/gmwrestling

and

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/DCSLC

These three profiles should tell you all you need to know about what Indiana is trying to do this year.

[danquayle]

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/gummy19vp

versus

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/gmwrestling

and

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/DCSLC

These three profiles should tell you all you need to know about what Indiana is trying to do this year.

It looks like they're trying to push at a 166 median. That'll be hard to pull off.