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InLawSchoolsGradesGoUpJustLikeThat 10 - 27 Jun 2010 - Main.MohitGourisaria
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| | I'm sure many of you have read the recent NYT Article, In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That. I have enjoyed reading the comments of the article, which span from adamant support of tossing out the old regime to total disdain for a generation often described as entitled. I must admit, the article gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach, especially as we approach the Fall recruiting season. I fantasize about the minimal, or complete lack of, anxiety students at schools with no grades must be experiencing as they head into the process. What is most striking to me is that quite a few schools with students who compete with Columbia students for employment have made the determination that eliminating traditional grades altogether, or altering the curve, is in the best interest of their students. Even our friendly neighbor to the south has made alterations to its curve. This begs the question, what are Columbia's justifications for not rolling with the tide?
This topic has obviously received great attention in this course, but I still think this article is an interesting read. I would love to hear any comments or reactions people might have. | | | My main hope is that the media coverage of repeated changes to law school grading systems eventually induces people to rely less on law school grades. Right now, many judges and employers use them as a way of ranking students against each other. If they are unstable, as they appear to be, they can no longer be relied upon to do this. Hopefully more and more people will recognize this and will consider the applicants themselves for clerkships and positions as opposed to meaningless numbers, rankings and honors.
-- DavidGoldin - 27 Jun 2010 | |
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> | I fail to understand what the real drama behind law school grade inflation is. It's like the nominal value of money -- there is little to be learned from it. As far as the issue of grades being used for hiring purposes goes, the trend does not, sadly, seem to be changing at all. Law schools that hope to better position their own students (against students from other schools) via grade inflation are stupid. Forget about the long run (for there we are all dead!). Even in the short run, grade inflation hurts schools more than it helps them. An employer that has any sense of perception will be quick to catch on to the inflation (especially since schools will inflate across the board to outdo each other) -- thus, little change on this end. On the other end of the spectrum, students (with higher alphabets to flaunt) will develop a greater sense of entitlement and false security. Basically, when we all have gold stars, it might even help to be the only person in the room without one.
-- MohitGourisaria - 27 Jun 2010 |
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