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I have a choice between two tracks for my third (and final) semester. I thought it was an easy decision...but the schedule just came out and the dates aren't what we thought they would be for one of the tracks (the one I wanted to take).

I think I know what I'm going to do, but I'm curious what others would pick (and really curious to see where my classmates will all end up)

Track 1
May 28 through August 22 (13 weeks)
Tuesdays 6p-10p (classes A & B)
Thursdays 6p-10p (classes C & D)

The classes are all hard, very writing intensive, homework heavy. Harder than I'm taking now. At least one of the professors is known for being extremely nitpicky over dumb stuff, and gives lengthy writing assignments every week.

The classes are interesting looking (and apply to my current job that I'm trying to leave) and more "general" in nature, but theoretical/concept based.

Track 2
July 12-Aug 10 (5 weeks)
Fridays 6p-10p (class X)
Saturdays 9a-5p (class Y)

August 5-23 (3 weeks)
Mondays 6p-9p (class Z)
Wednesdays 6p-9p (class Z)
Fridays 6p-10p (class X)

August 27-Sept 9 (2 weeks)
Mondays 6p-9p (class Z)
Wednesdays 6p-9p (class Z)

The classes supposedly have very little homework, lots of group work in class.

The content is much more specialised, hands on, concrete. It's a skill-based track. The chances of me actually using the skill is slim though, because they apply to a very specialised field (ediscovery).

Arguments for or against either?

[This message edited by Amazonia at 6:32 PM, March 12th (Tuesday)]

I would opt for track 2 mostly because I think group and hand on work is better for learning and keeping the info you learned then homework heavy writing intensive which feels like you're just tossing out papers because you have to and not actually holding on to the info you're learning.

Skill based and specialized learning also seems more interesting and would hold my attention better. The only issue I would have is the amount of hours for one class and how the timing is cut up but I would deal with it for the pros. Just my opinion.

I'd also opt for Track 2 based on skills based, hands on learning. This is the way that I learn best and retain the most.

Track 2 has always been offered as a 6 week intensive (3 week nights + all day Saturday), and we all thought we'd be done by mid July. I'm really annoyed they changed the dates!

I vote track 2 for a couple reasons:

1. hands on always trumps theoretical for employers. I spent several years as a legal assistant and the firms I worked for wanted skills that you had actually used.

2. ediscovery is booming. With the continued advances in technology, and the trend for the courts at all levels moving more and more toward efiling it just makes sense.
And while it is specific to discovery- ie: litigation- it is transferable in the sense that it is a technological skill that may/probably will bleed into other areas.

that being said- if track one is where your passion is then ignore me!

sadcat, I actually want to do Track 2

Track 1 is corporate law, admin law, securities, IP ... all stuff I use. It's going to be sooooooo much homework though.

So I think I'm going to do Track 2. As are the people I hang out with in class. But that's only a little bit of my reasoning...

It would really depend on what type of learner you are. Example: I DESPISE group work b/c I am usually the only one in the group who actually does the work. I don't mind writing papers, even if it's an intense 13 weeks (I just finished that in one of my classes). Knowing the program was originally supposed to be done in July and Track 2 would drag it out to Sept, in addition to the crazy flip flop of schedule, would be hard for me. So, *I* would probably choose Track 1. However, if you like group work and wouldn't care about having to go for an extra month, Track 2 might be a better option for you.

[This message edited by Mama_of_3_Kids at 9:53 PM, March 12th (Tuesday)]

Ama, I would think twice about the Group work. I have written responses to you because my husbands school situation is somewhat similar to some of the issues you posted but it always turns into a diatribe all about our situation so I erase them

Group work is stellar if your group is as focused and determined as you. My husband is nearing the end of the 3 year program he is in. It is a HEAVY engineering based load and he is getting 90's because he wants it so bad he can taste it.
Being teamed up with a group of slackers this year nearly did him in on one big project. And we aren't talking slackers in the usual sense. We're talking younger students who are having their education funded by mom and dad and could care less. He ended up doing it all. All of it. Rewrote it all. They got a 94 on his back on this project.
He has wondered over and over how they are passing and found out they are BUYING the tests and projects of the students in the 2 years past them. Yep buying them. He's a bright man and it has taken everything we have as a family to get him through these 3 years and it drives him nuts. Not everyone is like this and when they can choose their partners he has a great group of guys who want this as bad as he does and they turn it out. But he drew the short straw and got the frat boy asshats in this one course and it almost killed him.

So in summary (yeah I told you it turns into a diatribe ) , I think it really depends on the discipline and the types of projects. If you are relatively sure that everyone will give the effort you would expect and it won't all fall on you it can be a great thing.
If you get stuck with Miss Homework Borrower Excuse Pants or Mister I Still Smell Like Beer From Last Nights Kegger then go for the first track and turn it out like I know you can

T/J

He has wondered over and over how they are passing and found out they are BUYING the tests and projects of the students in the 2 years past them. Yep buying them.

This is actually quite common in college. As our technology has improved, means of getting pre-done tests, papers, projects, etc. have made it even easier to cheat and skate by in college; all you need is a credit card, in most cases. One of my classes from the last eight weeks devoted a week of discussion on the subject. It's sad that they don't realize how much they're cheating themselves, their classmates, families, and future employers when they do this.

End T/J

Yep Mama. I asked my husband why he didn't tell someone and he said "Honestly I just need to concentrate on my actions.. it will all come out in the wash". Which is a lovely and mature statement until you consider these are the people who will be designing your highways and transportation systems

I'm going against the grain and opting for group 1. Any classes I have taken that were short in length (weeks) and long classroom hours did not work well with me. I probably have ADHD though, and that could be the reason.

Put me down for Track 1. I hate Active Learning and group projects always suck for me. The last group project we had in Advanced Writing, the first guy who posted to the group hadn't researched the author and based his answers on his personal prejudices. As an example, he said that the author was male and since the last name was "foreign," deduced that they must be an immigrant since it was an article on immigration when she was 3rd generation Chinese and her predecessors probably started speaking English in this country the same time his and mine did (my parents grew up speaking native Louisianian French at home, but had it beaten out of them and my great-grandparents didn't speak English at all, despite having been in this country for several generations). Needless to say, my follow-up article blasted his back to the Stone Ages and we didn't get any responses from our other group members.

But then again, I speak in paragraphs and don't do small talk, and ferreting out lightweights makes me resentful. I find that the act of learning enriches me more than knowledge because if I am interested in something, I will research it anyway, regardless of whether it's something we discussed in class or not.

*probably add*

[This message edited by veritas at 11:26 PM, March 12th (Tuesday)]

They changed Track 2 so that now it's five weeks of class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, plus all day Saturday - and then two weeks of just the Friday night class.

I think I'm going to do it. It's going to be insane. Goodbye July...

July is hot and sticky anyway. This just gives you a really good excuse for hanging out in the air conditioning.

Go, Ama, Go!