I Haven't Started and I'm Already Annoyed

[Huntsman]

Ok, so I'm a 1L, part time, starting tomorrow. We were assigned assignments and quite a lot of reading before the first class thanks to Blackboard. This really rubs me the wrong way. Class/the semester starts Monday. You do not get a lease on my time until Monday, preferably after the first class of the day -- especially in a program such as the one I am in, for working professionals. I mean seriously, is this not strange? Worse, one assignment was posted last Monday, one Friday. I've been on vacation since Tuesday. The level of presumption here seems a little high -- when I accepted, I looked at the first day of class and I planned around it. Not around two assignments and a lot of reading!

Really not feeling the love. I know it's going to be hard, but I;m not liking starting out this way.

~ H

 

[DNW]

That's law school for you. You're supposed to read before class, even on your first day. And you really don't want to be behind, because it'll just pile on from day 1.

Planning? What for? The profs decide your schedule, not you. Just suck it up and enjoy the pain.

 

[AR_Six]

Uh... are you actually serious? Because get used to it. I do work whether classes are on or not and when they are on it just means more hours out of the day. Don't know what school you're going to but if it's anything like mine, if you're not prepared to give them a lease on your time, 24/7/365, then do be prepared to not compete.

 

[dfagdfsh]

suck it up. I would sympathize, but I've had that happen in courses.. forever. also you should be checking blackboard even on vacation!

 

[Piobaire]

Yup, get used to it bud. I'll never forget when I started my MBA, on an August 28th. On the 26th, I got an email telling me about a test on the 28th, and how to prepare for it!

 

[greekonomist]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Ok, so I'm a 1L, part time, starting tomorrow. We were assigned assignments and quite a lot of reading before the first class thanks to Blackboard. This really rubs me the wrong way. Class/the semester starts Monday. You do not get a lease on my time until Monday, preferably after the first class of the day -- especially in a program such as the one I am in, for working professionals. I mean seriously, is this not strange? Worse, one assignment was posted last Monday, one Friday. I've been on vacation since Tuesday. The level of presumption here seems a little high -- when I accepted, I looked at the first day of class and I planned around it. Not around two assignments and a lot of reading!

Really not feeling the love. I know it's going to be hard, but I;m not liking starting out this way.

~ H

Ah, Blackboard. Good luck. I don't know much about how law school operates, but I assume this kind of thing is common. One of the reasons I like math/econ.

 

[ms244]

Is it really any worse then engineering school?

I bet you'll have pretty girls in your classes.

 

[Pennglock]

Law school, Huntsman?? Get out while you can! You can probably still salvage 1/2-3/4 of your Fall tuition at this point...

 

[oman]

i was actually just watching "the paper chase," a 1973 movie about harvard, in which a professor chews out a student for coming to class without doing the first-day readings

i will be following this thread very closely. keep us informed, and good luck huntsman!

 

[yerfdog]

Was it really a lot of reading in pages? Because I remember the first few assignments looking like nothing (like 10-15 pages) and then it turned out they took like an hour because they were cases that were hard to understand, and we'd never seen stuff like that before.

Regardless, I would get used to doing the reading before class, since every class will be structured around that day's readings if it's anything like my law school experience, not like some classes from college where you listen to the lecture and then do the reading.

But if you come to class the first day and don't do the reading, it's not really a big deal even if you get chewed out by the prof (won't affect your grade), just means you have to catch up 2 days of reading at once.

Don't get behind on the reading. Everyone does get a little behind at least occasionally, but it's really hard to catch up.

 

[RedLantern]

IMO the worst is when when the prof cancels class for whatever reason, and you have to make up the class. At first I was like "wtf?, can I not come to class then expect you to drag your ass back here at my convenience?"

Good luck! There's going to be the potential for a lot of drama and contagious stress over things beyond your control this year - just keep your head down and do your own thing. I'm sure you will!

 

[MetroStyles]

Welcome to the rest of your life in the wildly stimulating and spirit-rousing world of law.

 

[Sherman90]

There will be no consequence to not doing those readings except feeling socially segregated from your hyper-enthusiastic peers. And that can be a good thing.

Believe me, it's possible to bust balls in law school as a maverick. Most 1L's overread anyway.

 

[alliswell]

Also, law firm partners and clients are much more understanding and respectful of your time. You've chosen a degree that will most likely lead to a lifetime of professional service. Be certain of this - you may or may not get paid like a professional, but you will serve. Now quit your bitching and prep for court.

 

[dexterhaven]

Originally Posted by Sherman90

There will be no consequence to not doing those readings except feeling socially segregated from your hyper-enthusiastic peers. And that can be a good thing.

Believe me, it's possible to bust balls in law school as a maverick. Most 1L's overread anyway.
Truth. Don't do it if you don't like it. They're not going to slap your hand with a ruler. I rarely read and I do alright. Keep in mind, though, I go to a bad school.

Originally Posted by Pennglock

Law school, Huntsman?? Get out while you can! You can probably still salvage 1/2-3/4 of your Fall tuition at this point...
Seriously consider what this man has to say.