Indiana University - Bloomington students taking questions Forum

[kings84_wr]

Interesting, I didnt have Gjerdy so I really have no take on him.

Hoffs crim law class was really hard for me to really get a grasp on. We always were really behind, and we also got sidetracked a lot, but at the same time some of the tangents were pretty interesting.

My issue with Hoff is his exam and grading in crim law seemed to be really median based and it was hard to really separate from the rest of the pack but then again im probably just bitter cuz that was my lowest grade.

Probably an unrelated correlation, They both don't cold call.

[kings84_wr]

Gjerdingen is easily the worst (tenured) professor at the school. Would be great as the dean of admissions or some other type of student-facing administrative job (which is what he wants anyways), but not as a professor, and certainly not one in a substance heavy subject.

If you have Gjerdingen be prepared to get to know Emmanuel or Gilbert very, very well.

Its funny Gjerdy and Heidt seem to be total opposites. Hedit is so substantive heavy, really gets into torts, cold calls and has a unique social type.

[agentcom]

From what I've heard and my experience, torts seems to offer the weakest professor choices at IU. My conspiracy theory is that's why they let you choose, so that they can later say to you: you picked 'em.

[kings84_wr]

I will say from a mere teaching perspective I learned more in Heidts class then all my profs last semester combined. His class was just sooo much work and extra reading that it forced tons of learning.

That being said, I think Williams this semester is the best at teaching/explaining.

[Spoonmanners]

People either hated or loved Gjerdy. I liked him, he always kept it interesting and I wasn't fearful of going to his class. He had plenty of good advice and such that really related to a lot of other classes. I'd take another one of his classes. Actually, all my teachers except Hoffman have been some of the best teachers I've ever had. I really feel like the teaching staff is one of the best things about the school.

[Bankhead]

I will say from a mere teaching perspective I learned more in Heidts class then all my profs last semester combined. His class was just sooo much work and extra reading that it forced tons of learning.
.

+1, except I'd say it was more his teaching style and emphasis on lawyerly arguments than the extra readings. I didn't do most of the extra readings he assigned, but still learned a ton from that class. If he is teaching Torts next year, that is my sincere recommendation to you provided you get to pick your teacher again.

Also, his grading/exam is extremely fair and he's extremely willing to grade practice exams and offer you feedback.

[the_assassin]

Edit: If you are talking about the Vault ranking then yeah obvoiusly IU isnt better hten UCLA, Cornell and G-town etc

Indeed. I was talking about the vault reputation rankings. Halibut6 was trying to infer that those rankings have some sort of meaning. Not sure what.

[badwithpseudonyms]

Edit: If you are talking about the Vault ranking then yeah obvoiusly IU isnt better hten UCLA, Cornell and G-town etc

Indeed. I was talking about the vault reputation rankings. Halibut6 was trying to infer that those rankings have some sort of meaning. Not sure what.

I would infer from the Vault rankings that of the ~400 hiring partners surveyed by Vault (see below) opinion of IU graduates fared very well. Indeed, opinion of IU grads was higher than that of graduates of many schools ranked higher (by USNWR) and all of which place a larger percentages of graduates in biglaw firms. (I suppose this could account for some statistical thing within the survey.)

The people interviewed and what they are judging the graduates on: "those people who directly assess The Value of Law School graduates in the real world once they enter the workforce- those individuals responsible for evaluating and hiring law school students. The respondents--who represent over 100 law firms-- were advised to consider the following factors in their rankings: research and writing skills; knowledge of legal doctrine; possession of other relevant knowledge (e.g., science for IP lawyers); and ability to manage a calendar and work with an assistant."

While I would not try to make the argument that the results of this survey compensate for IU's lackluster showing in the c/o 2009 NLJ placement stats, I do not think you can discount them as altogether insignificant.

EDIT: I would argue that IU will give you a very good education and prepare you to succeed in the real world, but (unfortunately) the opportunity inherent in the name on one's degree does not correlate to this.

PS: I know you just threw out the link to the NLJ thread and were kind of dogpiled on, but a) the Vault survey has merit and b) people around here are getting a little defensive from all the "IU's overranked omg lolz. i knew it they should be TTT" going on lately.

[RMstratosphere]

Edit: If you are talking about the Vault ranking then yeah obvoiusly IU isnt better hten UCLA, Cornell and G-town etc

Indeed. I was talking about the vault reputation rankings. Halibut6 was trying to infer that those rankings have some sort of meaning. Not sure what.

I would infer from the Vault rankings that of the ~400 hiring partners surveyed by Vault (see below) opinion of IU graduates fared very well. Indeed, opinion of IU grads was higher than that of graduates of many schools ranked hire (by USNWR) and all of which place a larger percentages of graduates in biglaw firms. (I suppose this could account for some statistical thing within the survey.)

The people interviewed and what they are judging the graduates on: "those people who directly assess the value of law school graduates in the real world once they enter the workforce- those individuals responsible for evaluating and hiring law school students. The respondents--who represent over 100 law firms-- were advised to consider the following factors in their rankings: research and writing skills; knowledge of legal doctrine; possession of other relevant knowledge (e.g., science for IP lawyers); and ability to manage a calendar and work with an assistant."

While I would not try to make the argument that the results of this survey compensate for IU's lackluster showing in the c/o 2009 NLJ placement stats, I do not think you can discount them as altogether insignificant.

EDIT: I would argue that IU will give you a very good education and prepare you to succeed in the real world, but (unfortunately) the opportunity inherent in the name on one's degree does not correlate to this.

PS: I know you just threw out the link to the NLJ thread and were kind of dogpiled on, but a) the Vault survey has merit and b) people around here are getting a little defensive from all the "IU's overranked omg lolz. i knew it they should be TTT" going on lately.

^ what he said.

[the_assassin]

I guess my point was that the vault reputation rankings are in no way relative to ones actual chances at obtaining a market paying position or federal clerkship. I think that most would agree. Also, if the vault rankings represent the top 100 firms or whatever, wouldn't the opinion of the hiring partners only represent a small portion of IU grads since so few actually work/hired into those firms after graduation? Maybe making their ranking inflated due to the small pool its drawn from. For the record I'm not trying to bag IU. I think that its a good regional school.

[Mulliganstew]

I guess my point was that the vault reputation rankings are in no way relative to ones actual chances at obtaining a market paying position or federal clerkship. I think that most would agree. Also, if the vault rankings represent the top 100 firms or whatever, wouldn't the opinion of the hiring partners only represent a small portion of IU grads since so few actually work/hired into those firms after graduation? Maybe making their ranking inflated due to the small pool its drawn from. For the record I'm not trying to bag IU. I think that its a good regional school.

You are trying to bag it. You have no other use for being here.

[Unjust Enrichment]

I guess my point was that the vault reputation rankings are in no way relative to ones actual chances at obtaining a market paying position or federal clerkship. I think that most would agree. Also, if the vault rankings represent the top 100 firms or whatever, wouldn't the opinion of the hiring partners only represent a small portion of IU grads since so few actually work/hired into those firms after graduation? Maybe making their ranking inflated due to the small pool its drawn from. For the record I'm not trying to bag IU. I think that its a good regional school.

You are trying to bag it. You have no other use for being here.

+1. If you're going to come here to bag on it, at least be a man about it and don't pull this passive-aggressive shit where you take potshots and then hide behind insincere disclaimers.

[the_assassin]

Maybe I am just BORED due to my 6hr and counting layover at O'hare. How does point out the truth=bagging on IU? Please explain?

[the_assassin]

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[the_assassin]

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[badwithpseudonyms]

I guess my point was that the vault reputation rankings are in no way relative to ones actual chances at obtaining a market paying position or federal clerkship. I think that most would agree. Also, if the vault rankings represent the top 100 firms or whatever, wouldn't the opinion of the hiring partners only represent a small portion of IU grads since so few actually work/hired into those firms after graduation? Maybe making their ranking inflated due to the small pool its drawn from. For the record I'm not trying to bag IU. I think that its a good regional school.

I don't know that they "are in no way relative" to NLJ 250 and/or fed clerkships, but your point is taken and, in general, I agree.

And I agree with your point about a smaller portion of IU grads making the V100 firms and thus they look better because it is the top of the class that gets those jobs. (I alluded to that in my own post.) Although, what does that say about the quality of the median at some of those other - "better" - schools? You know what I mean?

Anyway, I'll throw you to the wolves now. They all seem to want a piece of you at this point.

[the_assassin]

I don't know that they "are in no way relative" to NLJ 250 and/or fed clerkships, but your point is taken and, in general, I agree.

And I agree with your point about a smaller portion of IU grads making the V100 firms and thus they look better because it is the top of the class that gets those jobs. (I alluded to that in my own post.) Although, what does that say about the quality of the median at some of those other - "better" - schools? You know what I mean?

Anyway, I'll throw you to the wolves now. They all seem to want a piece of you at this point.

Fair enough. And yes, it doesn't speak well for those at the median of those "better" schools and it prolly speaks even less for those at IU's median. Maybe?

[badwithpseudonyms]

I don't know that they "are in no way relative" to NLJ 250 and/or fed clerkships, but your point is taken and, in general, I agree.

And I agree with your point about a smaller portion of IU grads making the V100 firms and thus they look better because it is the top of the class that gets those jobs. (I alluded to that in my own post.) Although, what does that say about the quality of the median at some of those other - "better" - schools? You know what I mean?

Anyway, I'll throw you to the wolves now. They all seem to want a piece of you at this point.

Fair enough. And yes, it doesn't speak well for those at the median of those "better" schools and it prolly speaks even less for those at IU's median. Maybe?

I don't know. No one from IU's median made V100. ...Maybe they are all as highly skilled and qualified and would be as highly regarded as their top 10-15% peers??

[the_assassin]

Thats a distinct possibility. I guess we will never know

[Bankhead]

I dissent. There is nothing wrong with coming into the thread and expressing a viewpoint about the school. This isn't a private club.

[Mulliganstew]

I dissent. There is nothing wrong with coming into the thread and expressing a viewpoint about the school. This isn't a private club.

Well, whether there's something wrong with it is an opinion. Him saying he had other reasons for being here other than bagging on Indiana is outright false. Keep up, Bankhead.

[Bankhead]

I dissent. There is nothing wrong with coming into the thread and expressing a viewpoint about the school. This isn't a private club.

Well, whether there's something wrong with it is an opinion. Him saying he had other reasons for being here other than bagging on Indiana is outright false. Keep up, Bankhead.

It sounds like he's just interested in the various law school rankings, and IU's rather unique situation as related to that. He said it was a good regional school.

[Mulliganstew]

I dissent. There is nothing wrong with coming into the thread and expressing a viewpoint about the school. This isn't a private club.

Well, whether there's something wrong with it is an opinion. Him saying he had other reasons for being here other than bagging on Indiana is outright false. Keep up, Bankhead.

It sounds like he's just interested in the various law school rankings, and IU"s rather unique as related to that. He said it was a good regional school.

Okay. Step back. Now read what I posted. What you just said has absolutely nothing to do with what I said. His only reason for coming in here was to bag on the school because of the NLJ 250 reveal. I'm sure we don't mind rolling with the punches, but, as Unjust said, this passive aggressive crap has to end.

[Vincent Vega]

Wow, I missed a lot on this thread tonight.

I didn't mean to suggest that the Vault rankings should weigh any more than the NLJ ones, or the USNWR ones for that matter. I generally think rankings are nonsensical anyway. I was just saying that while IU may not have done well in one list, they did very well in another. Both rankings lists are using data from too long ago for it to matter very much to me.

[Bankhead]

I dissent. There is nothing wrong with coming into the thread and expressing a viewpoint about the school. This isn't a private club.

Well, whether there's something wrong with it is an opinion. Him saying he had other reasons for being here other than bagging on Indiana is outright false. Keep up, Bankhead.

It sounds like he's just interested in the various law school rankings, and IU"s rather unique as related to that. He said it was a good regional school.

Okay. Step back. Now read what I posted. What you just said has absolutely nothing to do with what I said. His only reason for coming in here was to bag on the school because of the NLJ 250 reveal. I'm sure we don't mind rolling with the punches, but, as Unjust said, this passive aggressive crap has to end.

No need to get snippy. You said that "he had no other reasons for being here other than bagging on Indiana is outright false" and "His only reason for coming in here was to bag on the school because of hte NLJ 250 reveal".

I gave a reason that he might have come in here other than to bag on the school... That's all. When a T25 fails to make a big list people get interested for various reasons. Simply shitting on the school seems an unproductive waste of time.