Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[Georgia Avenue]

That's a major bummer. Follow-up question: is there a readily visible list that students can see as to whether a class is curved/uncurved (and if it is, whether the variance is big? ie "lots of As and Cs" v. "everyone gets a B+, two super-gunners get As, two unlucky slackers get Cs"), or is it all word of mouth? Regardless, I'm guessing there are flocks of students that fill up these uncurved classes super-quickly?

On a related note, do y'all think one should gun for these uncurved classes regardless of subject, or take a more interesting or relevant class to that student's long-term job preferences?

There was a list going around from fall/spring of '08, but I don't know of anything since.

[Georgia Avenue]

Lol. Got a D. D's get degrees, I guess. My shitty year ends in style.

out the professor please

I mean who the fuck gives a D

[Cobretti]

That's a major bummer. Follow-up question: is there a readily visible list that students can see as to whether a class is curved/uncurved (and if it is, whether the variance is big? ie "lots of As and Cs" v. "everyone gets a B+, two super-gunners get As, two unlucky slackers get Cs"), or is it all word of mouth? Regardless, I'm guessing there are flocks of students that fill up these uncurved classes super-quickly?

On a related note, do y'all think one should gun for these uncurved classes regardless of subject, or take a more interesting or relevant class to that student's long-term job preferences?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/140671611/Spr ... ribution-1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/140671617/Fal ... ribution-2

[bjsesq]

Lol. Got a D. D's get degrees, I guess. My shitty year ends in style.

out the professor please

I mean who the fuck gives a D

PM if you want it. Not giving out that here.

[basilseal]

Anyone have that list of OCI firms and their medians etc lying around?

[Georgia Avenue]

Lol. Got a D. D's get degrees, I guess. My shitty year ends in style.

out the professor please

I mean who the fuck gives a D

PM if you want it. Not giving out that here.

nah it's all good, I don't really care that much, just think giving out D's is a complete dick move. More for the 1L's.

[bjsesq]

I am a 3L. NU has my money and I have no job. Who gives a fuck anymore.

[homestyle28]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

what I really wonder is if everyone in each group got the same grade, in a class that small, he couldn't do 5 A+s right?

Nope. I can confirm that grades differed within my individual group.

Seriously? I know that one of your group was a superstar in class, but didn't he tell us day 1 that class participation didn't matter? Unless that same dude threw you all under the bus in the "compensation" section.

[homestyle28]

I am a 3L. NU has my money and I have no job. Who gives a fuck anymore.

at least you have those graduation awards, right?

[bjsesq]

I am a 3L. NU has my money and I have no job. Who gives a fuck anymore.

at least you have those graduation awards, right?

From a bunch of people who will never speak to me again. Yeah, life's swell.

[glinda]

Anyone have that list of OCI firms and their medians etc lying around?

Also looking for this.

[09042014]

That's a major bummer. Follow-up question: is there a readily visible list that students can see as to whether a class is curved/uncurved (and if it is, whether the variance is big? ie "lots of As and Cs" v. "everyone gets a B+, two super-gunners get As, two unlucky slackers get Cs"), or is it all word of mouth? Regardless, I'm guessing there are flocks of students that fill up these uncurved classes super-quickly?

On a related note, do y'all think one should gun for these uncurved classes regardless of subject, or take a more interesting or relevant class to that student's long-term job preferences?

uncurved is just any class with 40 or lower students.

How easy is a mix of word or mouth, and someone leaked a list of grades from 5 years (but it's missing a lot of new professors). The documents should be within the last 20 pages of this thread.

People differ on how much you take uncurved v. stuff you are interested in. I got lucky because the IP courses were always uncurved with very easy graders. I think you should at least do what really interests you, but mix in the drop dead easy uncurved classes. If you have a job, it matters less (maybe not at all).

If you are strategic, you can take most classes uncurved. I got admin and evidence uncurved. They weren't super easy graders, but it was still uncurved.

[Samara]

Anyone have that list of OCI firms and their medians etc lying around?

Also looking for this.

There will be an updated one posted to Symplicity soon. Might want to look at the OCI thread for more info.

[Georgia Avenue]

uncurved is just any class with 40 or lower students.

How easy is a mix of word or mouth, and someone leaked a list of grades from 5 years (but it's missing a lot of new professors). The documents should be within the last 20 pages of this thread.

People differ on how much you take uncurved v. stuff you are interested in. I got lucky because the IP courses were always uncurved with very easy graders. I think you should at least do what really interests you, but mix in the drop dead easy uncurved classes. If you have a job, it matters less (maybe not at all).

If you are strategic, you can take most classes uncurved. I got admin and evidence uncurved. They weren't super easy graders, but it was still uncurved.

Yeah, even for the core classes like BA, M&A, Evidence, etc, it's not too difficult to find them uncurved. You just have to build your schedule around them because that particular semester may be your only chance.

Then you can also pepper in things like Advanced Legal Research, Negotiation, International Transactions, and other stuff that's total cake.

[franklyscarlet]

Anyone have that list of OCI firms and their medians etc lying around?

Also looking for this.

There will be an updated one posted to Symplicity soon. Might want to look at the OCI thread for more info.

Thread link? Cant find it (my grades indicate I'm a dumb, my thread finding abilities support them...)

[Samara]

Anyone have that list of OCI firms and their medians etc lying around?

Also looking for this.

There will be an updated one posted to Symplicity soon. Might want to look at the OCI thread for more info.

Thread link? Cant find it (my grades indicate I'm a dumb, my thread finding abilities support them...)

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=210567

Don't feel bad, I don't think the search function picks it up.

[Georgia Avenue]

Sooo...who wants to break down what's going on with this curve/SecReg business to a clueless 0L like he's 5 years old?

Class had more than 40 people, requiring a forced curve.
Prof broke class into groups and gave a group final figuring he could then argue it was fewer than 40 and thus give everyone a good grade/gentleman's A-.
Admin said no dice, class is curved.

+ prof repeatedly said he wouldn't curve it, even up to the time the final was submitted.

That is the part that would infuriate me. Like, I am sure he knew he had to curve it. Like, did he expect some kind or miracle? A group final in a curved class is utter bull shit.

Last thing on this, but I think he legitimately thought it wouldn't be hard to get a class off the curve. It was pretty clear he didn't understand how the mandatory curve worked, not that it excuses him but I don't think he was actively trying to sell us bullshit the entire time.

[rinkrat19]

That's a major bummer. Follow-up question: is there a readily visible list that students can see as to whether a class is curved/uncurved (and if it is, whether the variance is big? ie "lots of As and Cs" v. "everyone gets a B+, two super-gunners get As, two unlucky slackers get Cs"), or is it all word of mouth? Regardless, I'm guessing there are flocks of students that fill up these uncurved classes super-quickly?

On a related note, do y'all think one should gun for these uncurved classes regardless of subject, or take a more interesting or relevant class to that student's long-term job preferences?

The curve is somewhere on the website. It's not just a median number; it's also a min and max of each letter grade allowed by percentage of the class. Classes are curved if they're over 40 people (or are CLR which have like 25-30), and students can see the history of how many have been in the class in the past during the bidding/enrollment process.

[D-hops]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

To be fair, Horwich is one of the only professors where I would prefer a curve in their class.

I wouldn't. His exams are graded in such a way that a couple years ago people with A's (straight A not A-) and B+'s had the same raw score on the exam. Without the curve those would have been mostly A's.

[09042014]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

To be fair, Horwich is one of the only professors where I would prefer a curve in their class.

I wouldn't. His exams are graded in such a way that a couple years ago people with A's (straight A not A-) and B+'s had the same raw score on the exam. Without the curve those would have been mostly A's.

And the GPA Data we have on him, doesn't show him minimizing the curve, just not maximizing it. I doubt any professor gives substantially lower grades than the minimum bound of the curve. Maybe they don't give as many A+'s but that's only relevant to summa/manga gunners.

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

I think a lot of the rumors of professors being harsh with the grading comes not from giving out a lot of B's and B-'s, but instead, giving out discretionary C's that really screw students. But the students getting a C probably deserved a B- really, whereas it's harder to tell whether an A- student getting a B is harsh grading or bad luck. Rumors about the former fly much faster.

[09042014]

I think a lot of the rumors of professors being harsh with the grading comes not from giving out a lot of B's and B-'s, but instead, giving out discretionary C's that really screw students. But the students getting a C probably deserved a B- really, whereas it's harder to tell whether an A- student getting a B is harsh grading or bad luck. Rumors about the former fly much faster.

Rumors in general kind of suck. Way too many people say "that professor is easy" but what they really mean is "I got a good grade in that class." I only trust advice on easy grading form a slacker who gets mediocre grades.

[Cobretti]

Is there any chance of getting an updated grade distribution like the ones linked from 07-08? Or was that just a one time leak that we're lucky to have?

[Holly Golightly]

I am a 3L. NU has my money and I have no job. Who gives a fuck anymore.

at least you have those graduation awards, right?

From a bunch of people who will never speak to me again. Yeah, life's swell.

Miss you.

[Holly Golightly]

Any grads know when they announce the latin honors?

Now it's our turn to be neurotic, woo!

And yes, I would like to know this as well. I think last year it was relatively soon after grades came out?