Columbia students taking questions Forum

[Tiago Splitter]

So I would love to work in California after graduating from CLS but I have 0 ties. Would TCR be to get to a NYC biglaw firm with a CA office and then try to transfer after a year? Also, the reason I'm not considering Berkeley is that I have 90k more at CLS.

Yeah that's a tough situation. Getting a 1L summer job in California will help a little. If you are between two firms in NYC and one has a CA office while the other doesn't that might be a good tiebreaker, but don't build your entire OCI strategy around that plan. And FWIW a lack of ties won't totally handicap a job search; I know of people who got callbacks without any ties. You just have to be flexible.

[bitcheslovecake]

Does anyone have pictures of Lenfest/UAH apartment interiors? I know UAH apartments are all different but I seriously don't know what I should do. I don't want to live in an absolute shithole, but I also don't want to pay $2500 for a 400 square foot apartment. Is Lenfest all furnished, or can I get unfurnished? The Columbia housing website it a nightmare to navigate....

[Sgt Pepper]

Any 2Ls/3Ls recommend any externships/clinics? I'm wondering if applying for one for 2L fall is a good call or not.

[ph5354a]

Does anyone have pictures of Lenfest/UAH apartment interiors? I know UAH apartments are all different but I seriously don't know what I should do. I don't want to live in an absolute shithole, but I also don't want to pay $2500 for a 400 square foot apartment. Is Lenfest all furnished, or can I get unfurnished? The Columbia housing website it a nightmare to navigate....

I don't have any pictures up, someone else might, but no UAH apartment I've ever seen would be described as a shithole (you're welcome to look at mine if you'll be in NYC in the near future). They're basic apartments with hardwood floors, generally normal-sized bedrooms, and a shared living room/kitchen/bathroom with 1-2 roommates. Also, the bedrooms are priced individually, so even if you end up in the smaller bedroom, you at least know you're paying less than your roommate. I live in a 3 bedroom in a non-doorman building with laundry in the basement and pay $1000, which is far less than I ever thought I could get away with in New York. Better yet, my super is borderline aggressive about making sure everything we have is fixed, safe, working, etc. The nice thing about UAH is that the supers are Columbia employees, so even if they aren't as amazing as mine, you always have the phone number of their boss or someone else above them to harass if necessary. With regular apartments, you're usually dependent on one person and if they suck, you're SOL.

I highly recommend that you put in a housing application, there's literally no risk to doing so. You'll find out something in early June (I think) and still be able to do your own apartment search if you want. I would also highly recommend doing UAH rather than law school housing, as long as you're not going to be living with a SO, because they tend to be $100-200 cheaper/month, but if you want to be within 1-2 blocks of law school, then law school housing is the way to go.

[bitcheslovecake]

I highly recommend that you put in a housing application, there's literally no risk to doing so. You'll find out something in early June (I think) and still be able to do your own apartment search if you want. I would also highly recommend doing UAH rather than law school housing, as long as you're not going to be living with a SO, because they tend to be $100-200 cheaper/month, but if you want to be within 1-2 blocks of law school, then law school housing is the way to go.

Why shouldn't I do UAH if I want to do couple's housing? I actually live with my SO right now and they are planning on moving with me...

[ph5354a]

I highly recommend that you put in a housing application, there's literally no risk to doing so. You'll find out something in early June (I think) and still be able to do your own apartment search if you want. I would also highly recommend doing UAH rather than law school housing, as long as you're not going to be living with a SO, because they tend to be $100-200 cheaper/month, but if you want to be within 1-2 blocks of law school, then law school housing is the way to go.

Why shouldn't I do UAH if I want to do couple's housing? I actually live with my SO right now and they are planning on moving with me...

There are people on here that can speak better to this, but from what I understand, law school housing is slightly more equipped to find appropriate housing for couples/families simply because they're dealing with a smaller pool of people and can prioritize more. Although I know people that are in UAH couples housing and it worked out fine for them. Juliana Utley is the housing liaison for law school and she can help you out quite a bit and tell you which will be better for you, especially if you tell her that getting a 1 bedroom with your SO is your #1 priority.

[the_phoenix612]

I highly recommend that you put in a housing application, there's literally no risk to doing so. You'll find out something in early June (I think) and still be able to do your own apartment search if you want. I would also highly recommend doing UAH rather than law school housing, as long as you're not going to be living with a SO, because they tend to be $100-200 cheaper/month, but if you want to be within 1-2 blocks of law school, then law school housing is the way to go.

Why shouldn't I do UAH if I want to do couple's housing? I actually live with my SO right now and they are planning on moving with me...

There are people on here that can speak better to this, but from what I understand, law school housing is slightly more equipped to find appropriate housing for couples/families simply because they're dealing with a smaller pool of people and can prioritize more. Although I know people that are in UAH couples housing and it worked out fine for them. Juliana Utley is the housing liaison for law school and she can help you out quite a bit and tell you which will be better for you, especially if you tell her that getting a 1 bedroom with your SO is your #1 priority.

Juliana Utley is an angel sent from heaven. If you have tricky housing issues, she will be your best friend.

I live in Lenfest with my fiancee in a 1 bedroom apartment. You also may have seen me on some CLS Admissions webinars. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions.

[moonman157]

Career Services told us last week that 92% of students participated in EIP, and out of those who did 86% secured a job through it (if I remember the wording correctly). According to LST, only 58% of students secured a job through Fall OCI. What am I missing here?

[Tiago Splitter]

Career Services told us last week that 92% of students participated in EIP, and out of those who did 86% secured a job through it (if I remember the wording correctly). According to LST, only 58% of students secured a job through Fall OCI. What am I missing here?

LST is looking at graduate outcomes. Some of the people who get a 2L summer job through fall OCI will go on to do other things after graduation, like clerk.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Career Services told us last week that 92% of students participated in EIP, and out of those who did 86% secured a job through it (if I remember the wording correctly). According to LST, only 58% of students secured a job through Fall OCI. What am I missing here?

1. The LST data you're referencing is 2012.
2. Not every person ends up employed at where they work their 2L summer, particular the PI/Gov kids.
3. The total summation of the data comes out to only 87% of the class, so I'm guessing that 58% figure is underestimated in some way. It just sounds really low.

[StructuresAndForces]

-

[otnemem]

I highly recommend that you put in a housing application, there's literally no risk to doing so. You'll find out something in early June (I think) and still be able to do your own apartment search if you want. I would also highly recommend doing UAH rather than law school housing, as long as you're not going to be living with a SO, because they tend to be $100-200 cheaper/month, but if you want to be within 1-2 blocks of law school, then law school housing is the way to go.

Why shouldn't I do UAH if I want to do couple's housing? I actually live with my SO right now and they are planning on moving with me...

I went with couple's housing through UAH and couldn't be happier. I think on average UAH works out to be a bit cheaper than law school housing from what I've seen, the only (potential) drawback being that UAH apartments are generally a few blocks farther from the law school. We pay $1400, which is probably on the low end, I know another couple with a nicer UAH couple apartment paying $1700.

[mt2165]

Anyone know the best way of getting to CLS from JFK? I'm not too familiar with NYC so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Is the AirTran an effective way of getting into Manhattan?

[Tiago Splitter]

Anyone know the best way of getting to CLS from JFK? I'm not too familiar with NYC so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Is the AirTran an effective way of getting into Manhattan?

The Airtrain just takes you to the subway near the airport. Take the Airtrain to the A-Train and take that all the way into Manhattan. Takes a while but you can stay on the A all the way to Columbus Circle/59th St, at which point you'll want to switch to the 1 train to get to Columbia which is at 116th St.

Or just take a cab for $52.

[buffalo_]

Anyone know the best way of getting to CLS from JFK? I'm not too familiar with NYC so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Is the AirTran an effective way of getting into Manhattan?

The Airtrain just takes you to the subway near the airport. Take the Airtrain to the A-Train and take that all the way into Manhattan. Takes a while but you can stay on the A all the way to Columbus Circle/59th St, at which point you'll want to switch to the 1 train to get to Columbia which is at 116th St.

Or just take a cab for $52.

Airtrain is really easy. Take it to Jamaica station. Then take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Stations. You can go from JFK to Midtown in about an hour if the timing works out right. From Penn you can take the 1 train (subway) right to Columbia.

ETA: I really think that LIRR from Jamaica is much faster than an A subway to Columbus Circle.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

From Penn you can take the 1 train (subway) right to Columbia.

Worth noting that taking the 2/3 to 96th and then switching to the 1 is faster most of the time (always at least as fast) from anywhere below the Park. If you come from a place like I did where the notion of an express train was foreign, this could take you a couple weeks to figure out if no one pointed it out to you.

[FOM]

If I'm not sure if I'm attending Columbia ye, should I fill it out the housing form now or once I decide? Is it first come first serve?

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

If I'm not sure if I'm attending Columbia ye, should I fill it out the housing form now or once I decide? Is it first come first serve?

It all processes at once on May 1, I believe. You should do all the consequence-free stuff, basically everything up to the deposit. If you decide to go somewhere else, no harm no foul.

[Stubbazubba]

Sorry if some of these have been answered already. I'm up against a summer-start deadline at Duke and would like to have as much information as possible about CLS. Most of these are pretty general, though the first might only be for me:

1) I'm interested in going into government service, and possibly even JAG. Do you know of anyone who has done JAG from Columbia? Do you know what sort of resources Columbia has for this?

2) How do you feel your relationship is with your professors? Can you talk to most of them individually, do they know who you are? How involved are they in your law school experience outside of the classroom?

3) Is there a strong competitive feeling in your classes? What are your relationships with other students at CLS like? Can you get notes and help from others?

4) How many hours per week would you say you are studying/in class? Would you say you had enough free time to keep your sanity your 1L year?

5) How helpful have you felt CLS' career services to be? If you know anyone with PI experience, do they feel the office was helpful, or do most have to rely on other sources?

6) What have your experiences been with CLS alumni? Are most willing or eager to help out students?

7) What's the greatest thing about going to CLS? What's the worst?

TIA!

[smaug_]

Sorry if some of these have been answered already. I'm up against a summer-start deadline at Duke and would like to have as much information as possible about CLS. Most of these are pretty general, though the first might only be for me:

1) I'm interested in going into government service, and possibly even JAG. Do you know of anyone who has done JAG from Columbia? Do you know what sort of resources Columbia has for this?

I don't know, but I know we have a number of veterans both as JDs and as LLMs. I'd reach out to Admissions and say you want to talk to a vet.

2) How do you feel your relationship is with your professors? Can you talk to most of them individually, do they know who you are? How involved are they in your law school experience outside of the classroom?

Depends on the professor, but most know who you are, I think. It's a bit of a "it's what you make of it" situation. I found it easy to find a professor to supervise my (terrible) note.

3) Is there a strong competitive feeling in your classes? What are your relationships with other students at CLS like? Can you get notes and help from others?

Not competitive/it's very easy to get notes. I'd say most 1L students are blithely happy and assume they'll get jobs. Luckily, most of them are right.

4) How many hours per week would you say you are studying/in class? Would you say you had enough free time to keep your sanity your 1L year?

I don't know but 1L wasn't that busy, especially compared to working. The curve is the only thing that makes law school hard and banging your head against books for hours on end won't help you much there.

5) How helpful have you felt CLS' career services to be? If you know anyone with PI experience, do they feel the office was helpful, or do most have to rely on other sources?

The PI office is far far more helpful than OCS. OCS isn't very helpful. I was put in contact with someone who helped me get an interview for my 1L summer PI job. PI stuff is still very competitive, though.

6) What have your experiences been with CLS alumni? Are most willing or eager to help out students?

I think some are? I think relatively few people are in the situation where they need a helping hand. I think people who do need help generally get help (e.g. alumni interviews, interview coaching, &c.) but it's a question of how much some people can be helped.

7) What's the greatest thing about going to CLS? What's the worst?

I really like (some) of my classmates here. Most days I'm having fun and am happy. I think facilities problems (the WiFi is spotty sometimes, ugly furniture, general lack of space) are my biggest complaint.

[Loubies]

I did the Columbia housing tour today, and heard that Lionsgate has 2 bedroom 2 bath apartments at about $1500 a person? Any truth to that?

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

I did the Columbia housing tour today, and heard that Lionsgate has 2 bedroom 2 bath apartments at about $1500 a person? Any truth to that?

If that. Usually closer to $1300 apiece.

[Tiago Splitter]

I co-sign Smaug's answers above

Definitely agree that people are not competitive in any way, and as Smaug said, for better or worse people are sure they'll end up with great jobs so there's no reason to push to the front of the line.

I found 1L to be less work than a full time job. Even people who say they study all the time are spending half of it on gchat. For most of the semester you just don't have that much to do. At the end you'll be a little bit stressed and have to put in some extra time but then you get six weeks off. Pretty sweet gig IMO. CLS makes it especially easy first semester by only putting you in three classes.

Career Services and alumni help are certainly available but if you're going for firm work everything is handed to you on a silver platter so you don't have to put much effort into really nurturing those networks. Many of your interviewers at OCI and on callbacks will be Columbia grads and if nothing else it makes for a smoother conversation. I do know one person who got an offer in his hometown secondary market by seeking out alumni and everyone says alumni are really eager to help, but I have yet to take advantage.

Agree again with smaug that the place isn't going to win any beauty contests, although I really like walking across the undergrad campus. My more serious complaint is that it's really expensive, both in terms of tuition and just because NYC. And yeah on those rare occasions when I can't get an internet connection during my 3 hour pass/fail class on financial statement analysis I just want to flip.

[buffalo_]

Does anyone have experience with I-House? Is this a viable option (even for US students)?

[FOM]

Hey guys, filling out the housing application now. Without consideration of price, how would you rate Lenfest vs the 400 block? Is there a certain building on the 400 block you would recommend? Thanks in advance

Also, what would you recommend for moving in dates?