Harvard Student(s) Answering Your Questions Forum

[Searchparty]

Why in God's name would you want to?

For the record, I'm pretty sure you cannot do that in 1L spring (although I'm absolutely sure you should not want to)

I'm currently registered for two courses, in fact I didn't even realize I was in both of them until I got an email today (the other course was a by-application course that I never realized I had actually gotten into). I'm not planning on doing it (In fact I just removed the other class so I wasn't holding up the wait-list), but it seems like it would be a weird way of accumulating more grades than your classmates, which is why I asked if it was even possible.

"More" isn't helpful unless you were to happen to get Hs in both classes. (Which would be less likely since you'd have a bigger credit load.)

It's also by credit, so you wouldn't have any more than someone taking a 4 credit class (also not advisable). Also, taking more credits 1L year does not mean you can take less credits next two years because those requirements are independent of 1L. As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

[wwwcol]

Why in God's name would you want to?

For the record, I'm pretty sure you cannot do that in 1L spring (although I'm absolutely sure you should not want to)

I'm currently registered for two courses, in fact I didn't even realize I was in both of them until I got an email today (the other course was a by-application course that I never realized I had actually gotten into). I'm not planning on doing it (In fact I just removed the other class so I wasn't holding up the wait-list), but it seems like it would be a weird way of accumulating more grades than your classmates, which is why I asked if it was even possible.

"More" isn't helpful unless you were to happen to get Hs in both classes. (Which would be less likely since you'd have a bigger credit load.)

It's also by credit, so you wouldn't have any more than someone taking a 4 credit class (also not advisable). Also, taking more credits 1L year does not mean you can take less credits next two years because those requirements are independent of 1L. As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

To offer another viewpoint, I'm somewhat skeptical about claims that "you'll have 4 more semesters to take it!" Some of the best courses I've taken here were taught by visiting professors who were only teaching for a semester or two, and even among permanent faculty, you'll often see a professor teach a one-off class on a random subject. I think the only classes you can really count on being offered in the future are foundationals like Corps, Tax, Evidence, etc and classes that have been taught by the same prof. since 1980. Point of this being: IMO if you see a class that sounds good, be careful about postponing.

[BlakcMajikc]

To offer another viewpoint, I'm somewhat skeptical about claims that "you'll have 4 more semesters to take it!" Some of the best courses I've taken here were taught by visiting professors who were only teaching for a semester or two, and even among permanent faculty, you'll often see a professor teach a one-off class on a random subject. I think the only classes you can really count on being offered in the future are foundationals like Corps, Tax, Evidence, etc and classes that have been taught by the same prof. since 1980. Point of this being: IMO if you see a class that sounds good, be careful about postponing.

In the same vein, you have to be alert abt professors taking sabbaticals.

[despina]

you have to be alert abt professors taking sabbaticals.

Too real.

Does anyone know if there's a way to check who is up for sabbatical when? Or do you just have to ask each prof, "hey, you've taught this every spring for the last few years, think you'll be around in spring 2016 and 2017?"

[fred013]

is there an appeals process for grades? (not talking about P/H squabbles but serious ones)

[wtrc]

is there an appeals process for grades? (not talking about P/H squabbles but serious ones)

Fellow 1L here, but from what I understand it's very, very difficult. To change a grade, the faculty needs to vote...

[wtrc]

Decision time. 1L here.

Course 1: It's a large course. Moderately interesting subject. With a prof I had last semester, and I hope they will be writing me a recommendation if need be in the future. Meets at a terrible time, has an exam, seems to have a lot of work.

Course 2: Seminar. Very little work. Much better timing. No exam.

My brain is telling me I should go with #1 -- keep that relationship with a prof. My heart is saying #2, relax a bit more this semester...

[Mista Bojangles]

My brain and heart are both voting for #2

[Doorkeeper]

Decision time. 1L here.

Course 1: It's a large course. Moderately interesting subject. With a prof I had last semester, and I hope they will be writing me a recommendation if need be in the future. Meets at a terrible time, has an exam, seems to have a lot of work.

Course 2: Seminar. Very little work. Much better timing. No exam.

My brain is telling me I should go with #1 -- keep that relationship with a prof. My heart is saying #2, relax a bit more this semester...

For the love of god, take Course 2.

You can always drop by office hours of the professor to keep in contact. Plus you have 2 more years to take more classes with that professor. Give yourself a break.

[rathgra]

As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

Just noting that a lot of seminars have a paper as their final grade. If you were one of those people who hated papers and would rather take an exam in undergrad, it is quite likely you will still be that type of person in law school.

I am one of those people, papers just feel like more work and stress me out more than exams. So, I took a 4 credit black letter with a professor I knew I liked for my elective, had a fantastic experience, absolutely no regrets. Especially as that professor is now on sabbatical...

[Single-Malt-Liquor]

As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

Just noting that a lot of seminars have a paper as their final grade. If you were one of those people who hated papers and would rather take an exam in undergrad, it is quite likely you will still be that type of person in law school.

I am one of those people, papers just feel like more work and stress me out more than exams. So, I took a 4 credit black letter with a professor I knew I liked for my elective, had a fantastic experience, absolutely no regrets. Especially as that professor is now on sabbatical...

Hating papers is probably the best reason to take a black letter course. I hate papers with a passion. The thing I hate most about 8 hour exams is that it starts to feel like I'm writing a paper.

[fred013]

is there an appeals process for grades? (not talking about P/H squabbles but serious ones)

Fellow 1L here, but from what I understand it's very, very difficult. To change a grade, the faculty needs to vote...

Thanks. do you have any more color on the appeals process? will I have an opportunity to present my case? I don't think I am getting the grade I deserve in my J-term class.

[wwwcol]

is there an appeals process for grades? (not talking about P/H squabbles but serious ones)

Fellow 1L here, but from what I understand it's very, very difficult. To change a grade, the faculty needs to vote...

Thanks. do you have any more color on the appeals process? will I have an opportunity to present my case? I don't think I am getting the grade I deserve in my J-term class.

Your trolling game has really taken a hit lately, son. Step up your game.

[rabbit5000]

I got a P on my Closed Memo and an H on my Open Memo. So should my final grade be an H?

[nerd1]

.

[rabbit5000]

I got a P on my Closed Memo and an H on my Open Memo. So should my final grade be an H?

Assuming P = 80, H = 90, you got 100 on bb quizzes/research exercises etc and 100 on participation,
if you put the weights to those numbers, you would get 90. So you are likely to get an H so long as you attended all classes and did everything HLS students would normally do.

The Open was worth a bit more than the Closed in our class. And I got a few questions wrong on the BB quizzes, if that matters at all. I was asking more out of personal experience, since I imagine none of the percentages matter too much given that the class is curved. It would definitely suck, though, to put in all that time on the Open and not come out with an H in the class!

[TripTrip]

.

[Single-Malt-Liquor]

Thanks. do you have any more color on the appeals process? will I have an opportunity to present my case? I don't think I am getting the grade I deserve in my J-term class.

Your trolling game has really taken a hit lately, son. Step up your game.

But really, I did such a good job at PSW that instead of "CR" I got "XCR."

...Extra-Credit.

Hmmmm

[TripTrip]

.

[Harvette]

As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

Just noting that a lot of seminars have a paper as their final grade. If you were one of those people who hated papers and would rather take an exam in undergrad, it is quite likely you will still be that type of person in law school.

I am one of those people, papers just feel like more work and stress me out more than exams. So, I took a 4 credit black letter with a professor I knew I liked for my elective, had a fantastic experience, absolutely no regrets. Especially as that professor is now on sabbatical...

Hating papers is probably the best reason to take a black letter course. I hate papers with a passion. The thing I hate most about 8 hour exams is that it starts to feel like I'm writing a paper.

Just curious, is it possible to go through the while curriculum without ever taking an exam and just writing papers?

[HorseThief]

As people have advised on this board before... take a 2 credit seminar! Usually less work during the semester because it's less credits than everything else. If you do not have an exam that means you have to study for less exams than your peers that have courses with exams. If there is a 4 credit course you are interested in, you have four more semesters to do so. Save it for then!

Just noting that a lot of seminars have a paper as their final grade. If you were one of those people who hated papers and would rather take an exam in undergrad, it is quite likely you will still be that type of person in law school.

I am one of those people, papers just feel like more work and stress me out more than exams. So, I took a 4 credit black letter with a professor I knew I liked for my elective, had a fantastic experience, absolutely no regrets. Especially as that professor is now on sabbatical...

Hating papers is probably the best reason to take a black letter course. I hate papers with a passion. The thing I hate most about 8 hour exams is that it starts to feel like I'm writing a paper.

Just curious, is it possible to go through the while curriculum without ever taking an exam and just writing papers?

Probably not. You don't get any choice with the core 1L courses, and they'll probably all be exams (at least mine were).

[despina]

Just curious, is it possible to go through the while curriculum without ever taking an exam and just writing papers?

No, because almost all 1L classes require exams.

You could probably set it up to never have an exam after 1L, because there are no specifically required classes. However, the large black letter classes that are traditionally considered the "core" of law school curriculum will mostly have exams -- 1st amendment, 14th amendment, evidence, corporations, tax, administrative law, criminal procedure, etc. You don't have to take any of these classes if you don't actually want to practice law, but almost everybody takes at least several of them.

It's fairly common to have only 1 or 2 exams each semester for 2L and 3L. You might take 1-2 black letter classes plus a seminar or clinic.

[nothingtosee]

[Fred014 sounding question]
Do judges care if I got a P in LRW?

[Single-Malt-Liquor]

Hmmmm

It was a great joke. Come on. You chuckled.

No?

Fine. I'll take my funny elsewhere.

I did in fact chuckle.

[fred013]

[Fred014 sounding question]
Do judges care if I got a P in LRW?

whoa whoa whoa, i only ask about the repercussions of my pSW grade...

(but i think so yes)