UChi Students & Alumni Taking Questions Forum

[ellewoods110]

I just want to confirm before I run off and sign a lease, cars are NOT required right?

You should be able to get most places you want to get without one. Are you getting a lease in Hyde Park? I live in Regents and only miss my car when I'm carrying groceries home.

[TaipeiMort]

I just want to confirm before I run off and sign a lease, cars are NOT required right?

I live at Regents, have a car, and park on the street. This has worked well for me. I think I might break even or make a little by not having to pay for the train and being able to shop at the CHEAP target store on highway 55 (prices are 50-60% of what they are in Hyde Park).

However, having a car in Chicago is extremely expensive and difficult if you don't do it right-- you have to pay for a 100-buck city tag, get ticketed all the time, really have trouble finding parking outside of regents, and have to pay very expensive parking downtown, in the north side, and in south loop.

To survive with a car, I brought an out of state license plate (didn't have to pay for the city tag), appealed every single ticket I got (they will always overturn them if you argue it forceably enough), learned the art of being aggressive and reckless in taking open parking spots (and sizing up the person you are battling for a spot-- never mess with Southsiders), tapping without shame (fitting into spots with one inch on each side), and have found several secret free parking spots downtown, in South Loop, by sports venues, and in Wrigleyville. Driving in Chicago is actually a great way to let off some of the stress and frustration from 1L year.

To answer your actual question, you do not need a car for anything. Professor Baird (former dean) has been teaching at Chicago for like 20 years and lives in Hyde Park. He mentioned that he has never had a car or drivers license and just takes cabs or public transportation everywhere.

[onwisconsin25]

Hi everyone! I'm a Chicago 1L as well and also happy to answer questions...i kind of forgot TLS existed until today...whoops

[onwisconsin25]

I just want to confirm before I run off and sign a lease, cars are NOT required right?

I have a car and I love having it, but I had one in undergrad so I'm spoiled with it. You can easily, easily do Chicago w/o a car but I have one and have never had a problem. I park in Regents and have no problems there, and I prefer driving to class instead of taking the bus. It's really a matter of personal preference and how much you use your car. I also go to the suburbs a lot to see friends/family so a car is useful for me in that respect.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

How hard is it to get a 182+? Do the top 1 or 2 exams in a class get 182+ or is it next to unheard of to get that high? How about 180?

[trudat15]

how cold is it right now? Do i need to bring a parka to asw?

[Emma.]

How hard is it to get a 182+? Do the top 1 or 2 exams in a class get 182+ or is it next to unheard of to get that high? How about 180?

It is very hard to score in the 180s, but definitely not unheard of. I think the top grade in a class is often a 183 (and theoretically could be as high as a 186 but those are pretty much mythological) so in a large 1L class of ≈100 I'd guess there are maybe 4-5 grades of 182 and above?

[Emma.]

how cold is it right now? Do i need to bring a parka to asw?

Weather.com's 10 day forecast hits ASW now! This forecast can obviously change between now and then so I'd check back early next week. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/60615

[le_taon]

How hard is it to get a 182+? Do the top 1 or 2 exams in a class get 182+ or is it next to unheard of to get that high? How about 180?

It is very hard to score in the 180s, but definitely not unheard of. I think the top grade in a class is often a 183 (and theoretically could be as high as a 186 but those are pretty much mythological) so in a large 1L class of ≈100 I'd guess there are maybe 4-5 grades of 182 and above?

I don't actually know, and I don't think anyone does. It does depends on the professor.

There's no mandate that professors give a certain number of A's, as I understand it, and even to the extent there is, there's no requirement that they give a number of A's above a certain number.

The only requirements, as I understand them, are: (a) a median of 177 (middle B), and (b) the number of A's are roughly equal to C's.

Anyway, I know for a fact that in a number of classes the highest grade was 184 or 183, and, very rarely, 185. But I've also heard a rumor that in one class the highest was 181.

[marburger06]

How hard is it to get a 182+? Do the top 1 or 2 exams in a class get 182+ or is it next to unheard of to get that high? How about 180?

It is very hard to score in the 180s, but definitely not unheard of. I think the top grade in a class is often a 183 (and theoretically could be as high as a 186 but those are pretty much mythological) so in a large 1L class of ≈100 I'd guess there are maybe 4-5 grades of 182 and above?

I don't actually know, and I don't think anyone does. It does depends on the professor.

There's no mandate that professors give a certain number of A's, as I understand it, and even to the extent there is, there's no requirement that they give a number of A's above a certain number.

The only requirements, as I understand them, are: (a) a median of 177 (middle B), and (b) the number of A's are roughly equal to C's.

Anyway, I know for a fact that in a number of classes the highest grade was 184 or 183, and, very rarely, 185. But I've also heard a rumor that in one class the highest was 181.

Definitely depends on the prof. If you have Helmholz for property, (in his words)....WATCH OUT. He gives very low Cs.

Also, I do know someone who got a 186 in a 1L class (yes, I saw it. was a unique circumstance though - students don't usually talk about grades). But those are very, very rare. Usually about 10% of the class gets As, and from various rumors (though by no means confirmed) the highest grades are typically around 184, while the lowest are 171-73.

[ellewoods110]

how cold is it right now? Do i need to bring a parka to asw?

Weather.com's 10 day forecast hits ASW now! This forecast can obviously change between now and then so I'd check back early next week. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/60615

So I may be biased because I grew up watching his weather forecasts, but I only trust Tom Skilling, the greatest weatherman in the entire world (and whenever I rely on weather.com they get it wrong). His forecast doesn't quite reach ASW yet, but just keep checking it. Here's a handy link!
http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/#& ... r&lpos=Sub

[trudat15]

how cold is it right now? Do i need to bring a parka to asw?

Weather.com's 10 day forecast hits ASW now! This forecast can obviously change between now and then so I'd check back early next week. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/60615

So I may be biased because I grew up watching his weather forecasts, but I only trust Tom Skilling, the greatest weatherman in the entire world (and whenever I rely on weather.com they get it wrong). His forecast doesn't quite reach ASW yet, but just keep checking it. Here's a handy link!
http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/#& ... r&lpos=Sub

It's 85 where I am right now, and 40s in Chicago. What have I gotten myself into??

[ellewoods110]

how cold is it right now? Do i need to bring a parka to asw?

Weather.com's 10 day forecast hits ASW now! This forecast can obviously change between now and then so I'd check back early next week. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/60615

So I may be biased because I grew up watching his weather forecasts, but I only trust Tom Skilling, the greatest weatherman in the entire world (and whenever I rely on weather.com they get it wrong). His forecast doesn't quite reach ASW yet, but just keep checking it. Here's a handy link!
http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/#& ... r&lpos=Sub

It's 85 where I am right now, and 40s in Chicago. What have I gotten myself into??

It's a very warm 40!!

[trudat15]

It's a very warm 40!!

I was unaware that there was such a thing.

[Sentry]

It's a very warm 40!!

I was unaware that there was such a thing.

If it's 40 in chicago in January it'll feel like 75.

[trudat15]

It's a very warm 40!!

I was unaware that there was such a thing.

If it's 40 in chicago in January it'll feel like 75.

If it's 40 in Jan, wont it feel like -10 because of the wind?

[JollyGreenGiant]

How hard is it to get a 182+? Do the top 1 or 2 exams in a class get 182+ or is it next to unheard of to get that high? How about 180?

It is very hard to score in the 180s, but definitely not unheard of. I think the top grade in a class is often a 183 (and theoretically could be as high as a 186 but those are pretty much mythological) so in a large 1L class of ≈100 I'd guess there are maybe 4-5 grades of 182 and above?

I don't actually know, and I don't think anyone does. It does depends on the professor.

There's no mandate that professors give a certain number of A's, as I understand it, and even to the extent there is, there's no requirement that they give a number of A's above a certain number.

The only requirements, as I understand them, are: (a) a median of 177 (middle B), and (b) the number of A's are roughly equal to C's.

Anyway, I know for a fact that in a number of classes the highest grade was 184 or 183, and, very rarely, 185. But I've also heard a rumor that in one class the highest was 181.

Definitely depends on the prof. If you have Helmholz for property, (in his words)....WATCH OUT. He gives very low Cs.

Also, I do know someone who got a 186 in a 1L class (yes, I saw it. was a unique circumstance though - students don't usually talk about grades). But those are very, very rare. Usually about 10% of the class gets As, and from various rumors (though by no means confirmed) the highest grades are typically around 184, while the lowest are 171-73.

My biggest issue is that some employers don't know how to deal with the grades so they automatically follow the letter-grading scale on the transcript. A 179 is much different than a 174 and some employers treat it the same. (aka a "B")

[Emma.]

My biggest issue is that some employers don't know how to deal with the grades so they automatically follow the letter-grading scale on the transcript. A 179 is much different than a 174 and some employers treat it the same. (aka a "B")

This is a good point, but hopefully there are also employers who look at a 174 and don't understand the grading system/assume it is like the LSAT and think it is an awesome grade.

[Dany]

My biggest issue is that some employers don't know how to deal with the grades so they automatically follow the letter-grading scale on the transcript. A 179 is much different than a 174 and some employers treat it the same. (aka a "B")

This is a good point, but hopefully there are also employers who look at a 174 and don't understand the grading system/assume it is like the LSAT and think it is an awesome grade.

Lior said this verbatim the other day.

[Sentry]

My biggest issue is that some employers don't know how to deal with the grades so they automatically follow the letter-grading scale on the transcript. A 179 is much different than a 174 and some employers treat it the same. (aka a "B")

This is a good point, but hopefully there are also employers who look at a 174 and don't understand the grading system/assume it is like the LSAT and think it is an awesome grade.

Lior said this verbatim the other day.

That's my plan for getting a job.

[le_taon]

My biggest issue is that some employers don't know how to deal with the grades so they automatically follow the letter-grading scale on the transcript. A 179 is much different than a 174 and some employers treat it the same. (aka a "B")

This is possible, but I don't know why any employer who goes through the trouble of looking to see the ranges would assume that a high B is the same as a low one.

[gbpackerbacker]

I read on the website (http://www.law.uchicago.edu/studentorgs/winemess) that Wine Mess cost money. What kind of prices are we talking here?

[Ghost]

.

[Dany]

I read on the website (http://www.law.uchicago.edu/studentorgs/winemess) that Wine Mess cost money. What kind of prices are we talking here?

I know it's heavily subsidized. I forgot what the 1L's said it costs, though.

Man, I just site-searched "heavily subsidized wine mess" before you posted that because that's all I could remember as well.

[gbpackerbacker]

I read on the website (http://www.law.uchicago.edu/studentorgs/winemess) that Wine Mess cost money. What kind of prices are we talking here?

I know it's heavily subsidized. I forgot what the 1L's said it costs, though.

Man, I just site-searched "heavily subsidized wine mess" before you posted that because that's all I could remember as well.

Haha of course this is a primary consideration, an urgent matter really

Haha and I cant believe two people responded at 2:30 in the morning!