WUSTL Recent Grad (and others) Taking Questions Forum

[acr]

So how boned am I after a bad grade on the first memo?

Not boned. The first memo is worth a fraction of the grade (40%?), and the second memo is worth the majority of the grade (60%?). Even then, the entire class itself is worth half as much as one of your doctrinals. It's nice to do well in LP, and it can marginally impact your GPA, but it won't kill you.

[WUST1L]

So how boned am I after a bad grade on the first memo?

do you know why you got a bad grade? and how bad is bad?

Below median.

[RareExports]

So how boned am I after a bad grade on the first memo?

do you know why you got a bad grade? and how bad is bad?

Below median.

You're only "boned" if you don't learn from your mistakes on the first memo. My LP grades were pretty consistent across the four major assignments (closed + open memos and closed + open briefs).

Also worth knowing that the LP curves are typically pretty tight, so if you're just below median, you're not that far from the top.

[WUST1L]

Does our school distinguish between grades in the same letter grade in determining GPAs? Is that standard practice everywhere?

[sublime]

Does our school distinguish between grades in the same letter grade in determining GPAs? Is that standard practice everywhere?

Yes. Idk but it's not uncommon.

An explanation of the system is on the registrars website.

[20170322]

Can someone describe what outcomes look like to the top 1/4 or 1/3 at WUSTL? Like, what's on the table and what's not?

[20170322]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

[RareExports]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

Going to answer this question and also the one in your previous post.

Research assistant pay is $8/hour (yes, really), but there may be some exceptions, I'm not sure.

As far as job outcomes, it depends dramatically on how good of an interviewer/not socially awkward person you are. Top third can absolutely get a large firm job, and top 25% in many cases won't. Will also depend on what markets you are targeting (NYC and area you are from are typically easiest) and if you have any useful work experience. After that, many mid-sized firms are available, as are some government jobs. I don't know anything about the PI market so I can't speak to that. For NYC big firm jobs, I really do think that WUSTL places as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy/Georgetown, but WUSTL suffers from not having a true home market.

[sublime]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

Going to answer this question and also the one in your previous post.

Research assistant pay is $8/hour (yes, really), but there may be some exceptions, I'm not sure.

As far as job outcomes, it depends dramatically on how good of an interviewer/not socially awkward person you are. Top third can absolutely get a large firm job, and top 25% in many cases won't. Will also depend on what markets you are targeting (NYC and area you are from are typically easiest) and if you have any useful work experience. After that, many mid-sized firms are available, as are some government jobs. I don't know anything about the PI market so I can't speak to that. For NYC big firm jobs, I really do think that WUSTL places as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy/Georgetown, but WUSTL suffers from not having a true home market.

WUSTL definitely doesn't place as well as any of those 4 schools in NYC biglaw, especially GULC. Many students of those schools may self select out of NYC big law, but that isn't the same.

[20170322]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

Going to answer this question and also the one in your previous post.

Research assistant pay is $8/hour (yes, really), but there may be some exceptions, I'm not sure.

As far as job outcomes, it depends dramatically on how good of an interviewer/not socially awkward person you are. Top third can absolutely get a large firm job, and top 25% in many cases won't. Will also depend on what markets you are targeting (NYC and area you are from are typically easiest) and if you have any useful work experience. After that, many mid-sized firms are available, as are some government jobs. I don't know anything about the PI market so I can't speak to that. For NYC big firm jobs, I really do think that WUSTL places as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy/Georgetown, but WUSTL suffers from not having a true home market.

Thanks for the answer!

Damn, 8 bucks an hour...tho I guess it'd be dope to establish a close connection with a professor.

[acr]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

Going to answer this question and also the one in your previous post.

Research assistant pay is $8/hour (yes, really), but there may be some exceptions, I'm not sure.

As far as job outcomes, it depends dramatically on how good of an interviewer/not socially awkward person you are. Top third can absolutely get a large firm job, and top 25% in many cases won't. Will also depend on what markets you are targeting (NYC and area you are from are typically easiest) and if you have any useful work experience. After that, many mid-sized firms are available, as are some government jobs. I don't know anything about the PI market so I can't speak to that. For NYC big firm jobs, I really do think that WUSTL places as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy/Georgetown, but WUSTL suffers from not having a true home market.

Wait, research really only pays $8/hour? That sucks. I was hoping to supplement my income next semester, but I can make way more doing practically anything else lol.

[futago]

Also, does anyone know the standard pay for being a research assistant?

Going to answer this question and also the one in your previous post.

Research assistant pay is $8/hour (yes, really), but there may be some exceptions, I'm not sure.

As far as job outcomes, it depends dramatically on how good of an interviewer/not socially awkward person you are. Top third can absolutely get a large firm job, and top 25% in many cases won't. Will also depend on what markets you are targeting (NYC and area you are from are typically easiest) and if you have any useful work experience. After that, many mid-sized firms are available, as are some government jobs. I don't know anything about the PI market so I can't speak to that. For NYC big firm jobs, I really do think that WUSTL places as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy/Georgetown, but WUSTL suffers from not having a true home market.

WUSTL definitely doesn't place as well as any of those 4 schools in NYC biglaw, especially GULC. Many students of those schools may self select out of NYC big law, but that isn't the same.

Why do you say definitely? I'm not sure about GULC, but I think WUSTL probably does as well as UT/UCLA/Vandy. Just looking at students going to NY from class 2015 data: (31/228 (13.5%) class of from WUSTL versus, 21/185 (11.3%) students from Vandy, 11/385 (3%) from UT, and 11/335 (3%) from UCLA.

UT might select out to Texas and UCLA's low number may be from being on the opposite coast, but they are much lower. I think Vandy grads probably self-select out of NY at a similar rate as WUSTL grads and the %'s are similar with slightly more going from WUSTL.

[Jmart082]

So how boned am I after a bad grade on the first memo?

do you know why you got a bad grade? and how bad is bad?

If you can pick up on why it is that it happened and make corrections where necessary, it's possible to recover. A bad first memo grade only really puts you out of contention for a solid A, depending on how badly you did, but not necessarily for passing with a grade that will do too much damage to your GPA.

[Dolphine]

Anyone take Corporate and White Collar Crime? Again, looking for an easy class to finish up the hours.

[LET'S GET IT]

Anyone take Corporate and White Collar Crime? Again, looking for an easy class to finish up the hours.

It's okay. Two of the three profs kind of suck (one is terrible--I'm assuming it's still the same trio teaching). The other thing is that they each write one exam question and one of them wrote an exam question that was about something he mentioned in passing for like 3 minutes in one of the first classes. Luckily, I just happened to remember it somehow in the recesses of my brain, but if you weren't there that day or forgot then you were probably screwed on 1/3 of the exam. But if you don't care about the grade you get in there and are just looking for easy credit hours I'd say go for it.

[RareExports]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

[Jmart082]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

Block is good if you're OK with a long multiple choice exam under serious time constraints, like less than 2 minutes per question serious.

[RareExports]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

Block is good if you're OK with a long multiple choice exam under serious time constraints, like less than 2 minutes per question serious.

Is the exam entirely MC?

[MoonSugar]

I only have room for either Evidence (Rosen) or Corporations (Baker) this semester. Do any of you have advice on which to take? I will be doing government/administrative work next summer. I've heard it's a good idea to take Evidence while taking Pre-trial so I'm leaning toward that, but I'm wondering if Corporations would be more helpful since I'm not going the litigation route right now.

[LET'S GET IT]

I only have room for either Evidence (Rosen) or Corporations (Baker) this semester. Do any of you have advice on which to take? I will be doing government/administrative work next summer. I've heard it's a good idea to take Evidence while taking Pre-trial so I'm leaning toward that, but I'm wondering if Corporations would be more helpful since I'm not going the litigation route right now.

You need them both eventually so I'm not sure it matters much. Since you are doing litigation, evidence is more practical knowledge IMO. I'd take Evidence now and try to take corps with Badawi next year, but that's me.

[Jmart082]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

Block is good if you're OK with a long multiple choice exam under serious time constraints, like less than 2 minutes per question serious.

Is the exam entirely MC?

Same format as commercial law, so yes.

[WheatThins]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

Block is good if you're OK with a long multiple choice exam under serious time constraints, like less than 2 minutes per question serious.

Is the exam entirely MC?

Same format as commercial law, so yes.

Definitely not the case for block's exam a couple years ago. Was maybe 1/3 MC, 1/3 short answer, and 1/3 essay. She could have gotten lazy and does all MC now I suppose. Also - she's great. Super straightforward. If anything, you'll be shaking your head at how slowly she explains everything.

[MKC]

How is Block for Fed Income Tax? Worth waiting til next fall for Wiedenbeck?

Block is good if you're OK with a long multiple choice exam under serious time constraints, like less than 2 minutes per question serious.

Is the exam entirely MC?

Same format as commercial law, so yes.

Definitely not the case for block's exam a couple years ago. Was maybe 1/3 MC, 1/3 short answer, and 1/3 essay. She could have gotten lazy and does all MC now I suppose. Also - she's great. Super straightforward. If anything, you'll be shaking your head at how slowly she explains everything.

Having had Block for Fedtax and Wiedenback for Corp. Tax, I would rather have Block any day. I don't know shit about the multiple choice exam though. That's new.

[theycallmefoes]

Anyone have an attack outline and/or checklist for Land Use Law (Mandelker) or Speech, Press, & the Constitution (Magarian, though materials from one of the other professors who previously taught the course would also be helpful)?

Also, does anyone have any advice/strategies for the Land Use exam? It's an 8-hour take-home, but it's a lot longer than his Property final, and it's structured differently. Looking at the practice exam gives me panic attacks.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[WUST1L]

There's a rumor going around that there were several paragraphs missing from several people's fact pattern in a Torts exam today. How would the administration typically deal with something like that?