But I couldn't resist responding to this comment.
First of all, thanks for the sympathy. Now let's see if we can come to some understanding of my school's GPA policy by talking it out some more.
One of the justifications for the curve is that for a period of time graduates of my school were passing the bar at a very low rate when they first took it - though most were said to have passed it the second time around. A panel was commissioned to look into it and they came up with this 2.2 - 2.4 GPA curve. Apparently there was a correlation between grades and passing the bar.
With a curve this low I see one or two things happening - tell me if there's more - 1) a certain number of people are going to have to have failing grades and/or 2) a majority of the students are going to have to have mediocore grades. Now I have no problem with failing students who deserve to fail a class but I do have a problem when students who have mostly middling grades because of the curve might be forced out of school because they have had done poorly in a class or two. And I think that's what happens when you have a curve - 2.3 - that's so close to the cutoff - 2.0. It could be happenning to a friend of mine who was at a Cum. 1.98 GPA before the final grade came in. If that were his final GPA, he would be forced out of law school because he's below the 2.0 cutoff even though he's only 0.32 - that's less than a third of a grade people! - off the curve where most SWLAW students are bunched around.
And yes, with such a curve, it makes it difficult for a majority of SWLAW students to find a decent job in the legal profession even if the school does send out a letter with our transcripts explaining the curve. That's what pisses off most students but it's those certain students who are forced out of law school - students I believe who could pass the bar - because of the curve that gets to me the most.
Now they do call it a soft curve, in that the professor can always petition to raise - or lower - the curve for a particular class but the petitions rarely, if ever they have, bumped it up significantly above the 2.4 mark.
The whole thing doesn't seem right. Can someone else make sense of it for me?
Saturday, June 26, 2004
About As Sappy As I Get
Final grade came in so I'm posting them now instead of later and giving you the same choices as before.
Let's see those grades.
Or
Let's see those educating wood figures instead.
By the way, keep in mind, my law school is on a 2.3 GPA curve. So don't think less of me than you already do if you do check out my grades.
Also, it should go without saying but I'll say it anyway. Whatever shortcomings my grades reflect are my own and not of the support I received throughout the semester without which I would have done much worse. So a thanks goes out to Brian, a lifesaver who shared more outlines than I care to recall; Annie, who helped me with Property and Civ Pro on the whiteboard; and Bunny, Rita, Sean, Arpineh, and Trini for participating and offering their insights in group study sessions - I hope you all did better than I did.
I've only refered to the last week of studying for finals, but I'd also like to thank them, and Macy, for providing me with the more enjoyable experiences - only a small portion chronicled here - of going through that first year of law school that on balance made it not only bearable but dare I say it, fun. One should only hope for more of those experiences. But with friends like you I know with certainty that many more of those experiences will come to be shared and pass into happy memories in not only the next two years but beyond our stay in law school. I love you all, take care, and I'll see you when I see you.
Let's see those grades.
Or
Let's see those educating wood figures instead.
By the way, keep in mind, my law school is on a 2.3 GPA curve. So don't think less of me than you already do if you do check out my grades.
Also, it should go without saying but I'll say it anyway. Whatever shortcomings my grades reflect are my own and not of the support I received throughout the semester without which I would have done much worse. So a thanks goes out to Brian, a lifesaver who shared more outlines than I care to recall; Annie, who helped me with Property and Civ Pro on the whiteboard; and Bunny, Rita, Sean, Arpineh, and Trini for participating and offering their insights in group study sessions - I hope you all did better than I did.
I've only refered to the last week of studying for finals, but I'd also like to thank them, and Macy, for providing me with the more enjoyable experiences - only a small portion chronicled here - of going through that first year of law school that on balance made it not only bearable but dare I say it, fun. One should only hope for more of those experiences. But with friends like you I know with certainty that many more of those experiences will come to be shared and pass into happy memories in not only the next two years but beyond our stay in law school. I love you all, take care, and I'll see you when I see you.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Next Post To Be From Cambridge
I leave Sunday evening, from now until then I have plenty to do so post #800 will have to wait until after then.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Bolt Action, Laser Sighted, Electrically Controlled
It's "the most advanced, automated, fastest loading" of it's kind. Yes, it's a gun, and yes, it uses uncut french fries as ammo, and yes, I'm going to put one up to my head if that final grade doesn't come in soon. (link via Biting Tongue)
Yet Another Reason To Love My School
The GPA's online have changed - so far everyone's has changed for the worse - but the final grade has yet to be posted. So the hope is that the school made a math error that it just corrected rather than the final GPA's having been posted ahead of the final grade. It's all completely maddening.
UPDATE: I'm being informed that the GPA's haven't changed. Apparently, they're now reporting the GPA's up to 1/1000 of a point rather than 1/100 of a point. Thanks for the scare Southwestern.
UPDATE: I'm being informed that the GPA's haven't changed. Apparently, they're now reporting the GPA's up to 1/1000 of a point rather than 1/100 of a point. Thanks for the scare Southwestern.
Just Thinking Of The Neighboring Women
I wonder if the Trader Joe's that recently opened down the street carries this. If not, a request might be made.
My Grades Explained
A German sociologist Werner Habermehl says regular sex can help university students pass exams and get better grades.Knowing this, I wonder if I could get financial aid to cover trips to the Thai massage parlor.
Habermehl from the University of Hamburg said he and his team had tested students before and after sex.
They found that regular sexual activity significantly increased mental capability, but they found celibate students found it harder to make the grade.
As well as decreasing the length of time needed to complete a course, students with a healthy sex life also received better marks, said Habermehl.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Civ Pro Grade Still Not In
Did Prof. Civ Pro II forget to turn in grades before leaving for Argentina?
Maybe Licking A Flag Pole Isn't Such A Good Idea
Favorable Dicta links to this story:
A British stripper had to quit her job because the pole she danced around gave her a rash.
Monday, June 21, 2004
Final Grade Should Be In Today
And the fate of a buddy of mine will be partially decided. The funny/sad thing about it all is that this guy is doing competent work for a lawyer this summer, which is more than what most students from Southwestern can say. It's not right at all but my buddy could be the poster boy of what's wrong with the 2.2-2.4 curve at Southwestern. Let's all hope he gets that C+.
Random AIM Conversation
Xann: i found all kinds of things
Bruin7089: What kinds of things?
Xann: lots and lots of feminine products
Xann: the strangest thing
Xann: it's like i'm some sort of tampon squirrel
Bruin7089: nice
Xann: hiding my sticks until the time of the month
Xann: they were everywhere
Xann: i have a huge pile of them
Xann: i don't think i'll need to purchase any for awhile
Six Legal Bloggers
When Justice Kennedy Visits
Southwestern to commemorate the new courtoom I'll be kissing ass for a job as a Supreme Court law clerk.
The intense annual competition to lure elite Supreme Court law clerks to top law firms is reaching record heights this year, with some firms offering jaw-dropping hiring bonuses of $150,000 or more.
These bonuses, added to base salaries in the third-year associate range, make it likely that some of the Court's 35 law clerks this term will be paid upward of $300,000 the first year they leave their justice's chambers. By contrast, Chief Justice William Rehnquist is paid $203,000 a year, and associate justices make $194,300.
Another Alternative To Match.Com
From Single Republican.Com:
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Where's Shaq Going?
First of all, I don't think Shaq is going anywhere but it's fun to think about and it gives me an excuse to take a break from my reading so here it goes.
Shaq probably has only three more good years left in him, he has a huge salary, and the Lakers are not going to take just anyone for him. Any team wanting him has to be thinking that by adding him they're going to be competing for the NBA championship next year and the two years after that. No team is going to start a rebuilding process around Shaq, he's just too old for that. That would narrow the number of teams down to most of this year's playoff teams. Now most, if not all, of those teams don't have the salary cap room to add Shaq to their rosters. But I don't know the intricacies of the salary cap so I'll just leave it at that for now. Those teams are also going to have to be able to give up enough talent for Shaq and still keep enough talent around Shaq to compete for a title. So there's no way Shaq is going to the T'wolves because the only player of worth to the Lakers on that team is Garnett and there's just no way that's going to happen.
Taking all of that into consideration, it would seem that the Mavericks, Pacers, Kings, and Grizzlies have the best shot of landing Shaq. Shaq and T-Mac have talked about meeting up in Dallas and the Mavs have an owner in Mark Cuban's who has a history of taking on salaries. The Lakers should demand Nowitzki and someone else but the rumors have it that the Mavs are not going to move him for anyone but there's still some combination of Walker, Nash, Jamison, and Finley to consider taking. The Pacers have some good young talent to part with like Harrington, Bender, and Artest. Adding Shaq to the other O'Neal would give the Wallaces a run for their money. The Kings would probably have to give up Webber or Miller along with Peja or one of their point guards. The Grizzlies, with Jerry West, could possibly get away with trading the Pau Gasol straight up for Shaq.
Anyway, enough of what I think and my procrastination.
Shaq probably has only three more good years left in him, he has a huge salary, and the Lakers are not going to take just anyone for him. Any team wanting him has to be thinking that by adding him they're going to be competing for the NBA championship next year and the two years after that. No team is going to start a rebuilding process around Shaq, he's just too old for that. That would narrow the number of teams down to most of this year's playoff teams. Now most, if not all, of those teams don't have the salary cap room to add Shaq to their rosters. But I don't know the intricacies of the salary cap so I'll just leave it at that for now. Those teams are also going to have to be able to give up enough talent for Shaq and still keep enough talent around Shaq to compete for a title. So there's no way Shaq is going to the T'wolves because the only player of worth to the Lakers on that team is Garnett and there's just no way that's going to happen.
Taking all of that into consideration, it would seem that the Mavericks, Pacers, Kings, and Grizzlies have the best shot of landing Shaq. Shaq and T-Mac have talked about meeting up in Dallas and the Mavs have an owner in Mark Cuban's who has a history of taking on salaries. The Lakers should demand Nowitzki and someone else but the rumors have it that the Mavs are not going to move him for anyone but there's still some combination of Walker, Nash, Jamison, and Finley to consider taking. The Pacers have some good young talent to part with like Harrington, Bender, and Artest. Adding Shaq to the other O'Neal would give the Wallaces a run for their money. The Kings would probably have to give up Webber or Miller along with Peja or one of their point guards. The Grizzlies, with Jerry West, could possibly get away with trading the Pau Gasol straight up for Shaq.
Anyway, enough of what I think and my procrastination.
Quote This
"That's why they have the Logic Games section on the LSATs, so you know how to play out the different possible games in choosing classes." - The Serious Law Student
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Before I Forget
Congratulations to my sister for making it a trifecta and participating in the most boring graduation ceremony I've attended. I guess you can't expect much from the mathematics department. Also, to any who happen upon this site, a happy Father's Day to you with a special thanks to those who brought hot chicks unto this world.
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