UChi Students & Alumni Taking Questions Forum

[JollyGreenGiant]

Which classes do we take first quarter?

You don't find out until like, a week before orientation. This year we had Civ Pro 1, Contracts, Criminal Law, and Elements of the Law, plus LRW, but it changes so don't count on that being the case.

+1

I think you can bank on having Civ Pro I and Elements in your first quarter and then Civ Pro II and Elective in Spring (no other possible alternatives for these), but the 2 quarter-classes can be swapped around.

[Sentry]

Where are some good places to live in the south loop?

[Ghost]

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[alphamoose]

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[Name]

Hi! I just got off the wait list and i have a few questions. I read this whole thread but i am still unsure on a few points.

First, I plan on coming for a visit, but as it is almost June what can i expect to find at the school? Are any classes still running? If I call the dean of admissions can I get a student to show me around and tell me about the place?

Second, I am someone who needs downtime. I really do not want studying to be my whole life. I am from New York City, so I like the idea of being in another big city with things going on, but how much will i really have an opportunity to take advantage of living in the city? How much is UChi really a place where fun goes to die? And does the quarter system make for a more miserable life? And yes, i know all law schools are hard work and stress, but even still...

Third, how difficult will it be to find placement in NY? It seems that 80 percent of the class falls in the B range, will employers from far away be turned off by that and turn instead to Columbia and NYU? I imagine that UChi does very well in the chicago and Midwest markets, but what about NY, and how on top do you need to be?

Lastly, I plan on entering public interest or government. I am not super interested in big law, how helpful will UChi be in helping me in this field. Does it pay to go to UChi, which seems to be a hugely intense school, or can I go to Georgetown and receive the same chances in the public interest/govt market?

[marburger06]

Allright, time for procrastinating finals studying by answering questions...

Can't really answer the south loop question. Find an apartment finding service and have them help you out.

I know most people seem to dislike New Grad Housing. How are the Drexel apartments though?

Are you talking about the grad building on 60th and Drexel, or the individual university apartments scattered around Drexel? The former is meh - the rooms are small and the furniture is standard dorm fare, but it's really cheap and you're close to the law school (and unlike New Grad you get a kitchen). The other individual apartments around Drexel tend to be quite spacious and kind of cool-looking, but the buildings are old so you might have heating/cooling problems.

If current student here lives anywhere other than hyde park, could you share how you get to school each day/how long it takes?

I don't, but have made the commute from South Loop before. From the South Loop during peak times driving is 20-25 and bus is 35ish, depending on traffic and where in the South Loop you live.

Hi! I just got off the wait list and i have a few questions. I read this whole thread but i am still unsure on a few points.

First, I plan on coming for a visit, but as it is almost June what can i expect to find at the school? Are any classes still running? If I call the dean of admissions can I get a student to show me around and tell me about the place?

Second, I am someone who needs downtime. I really do not want studying to be my whole life. I am from New York City, so I like the idea of being in another big city with things going on, but how much will i really have an opportunity to take advantage of living in the city? How much is UChi really a place where fun goes to die? And does the quarter system make for a more miserable life? And yes, i know all law schools are hard work and stress, but even still...

Third, how difficult will it be to find placement in NY? It seems that 80 percent of the class falls in the B range, will employers from far away be turned off by that and turn instead to Columbia and NYU? I imagine that UChi does very well in the chicago and Midwest markets, but what about NY, and how on top do you need to be?

Lastly, I plan on entering public interest or government. I am not super interested in big law, how helpful will UChi be in helping me in this field. Does it pay to go to UChi, which seems to be a hugely intense school, or can I go to Georgetown and receive the same chances in the public interest/govt market?

1. 2L and 3L finals are this week, 1L finals are the following week. You might be able to sit in on a 1L class, but it's really not the ideal time. I'm not sure if students will be available to show you around, but if you call Dean Perry I am sure she will work something out to make sure somebody (whether it is a student or admissions staffer) to show you around.

2. Depends on your studying habits and how much effort you put into seeing the city. Plenty of people went out on a regular basis during 1L, but if your goal is to be on law review you probably won't be going out as much. In no world though will you NEVER get a chance to see the city - especially fall quarter when you only have 2 finals of 1 quarter of material. If you live in Hyde Park though it does make it harder to get out.
The "fun goes to die" thing though is primarily for the undergrads. That's definitely not true at the law school. I'd say people here probably are a little more serious about academics than students at other law schools, but going out on weekends is the norm (during non-finals time and non-LRW assignment time, at least).
Quarter system makes life easier in the fall, much worse in the spring (when you take 4 finals).

3. You don't need to have higher grades to get in the NY market. In fact, if anything it's more competitive in Chicago because there are so many people trying to get jobs here and the legal market here has been a bit slower to pick up. There are fewer employers from NY that come to OCI than at NYU or Columbia, but there are still plenty that come to have enough spots for the people that want the jobs and are otherwise qualified for any other market.

4. I don't understand then why you asked about NY "placement." Usually that word carries the connotation of biglaw; public interest is another game entirely. Your grades don't matter nearly as much as your commitment, prior experience, involvement during law school, and connections to organizations. Whether it's "worth it" to go to UChicago depends a lot on what you want to do. If you want a public defender job or work for state government - probably won't make a difference. If you want to aim for the prestigious fellowships (Skadden, Equal Justice Works, PMF), selective public interest gigs (e.g., ACLU), or high-level federal government (DOJ, SEC), you will have a better shot coming from Chicago. Not only does the ranking matter, but also the fact that you won't be competing against as many people for these positions.
UofC's public interest services are rapidly improving. Our resources aren't quite on par with NYU yet, but we have a great director of public interest who is super connected, there are more pro bono opportunities, and they're overhauling the clinic system so any student who wants to be in a clinic will be able to be in one.

[Ghost]

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[Dany]

Good luck on exams!

[Xifeng]

Good luck on exams!

[JollyGreenGiant]

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

How low we talkin here....

[California Babe]

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

How low we talkin here....

I have heard that the Hammer likes to take advantage of the full breadth of grading options from 168 all the way to 186, and isn't shy about using the ends of the spectrum. On the other hand, the Registrar tries to equalize the 1L class curves across both sections, so I'm curious as to how it all evens out.

[duckmoney]

Here's a question: how viable is parking on the street in Hyde Park instead of paying for a garage spot? Is it safe, and is parking widely available?

[marburger06]

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

How low we talkin here....

I have heard that the Hammer likes to take advantage of the full breadth of grading options from 168 all the way to 186, and isn't shy about using the ends of the spectrum. On the other hand, the Registrar tries to equalize the 1L class curves across both sections, so I'm curious as to how it all evens out.

I heard that about the registrar last year too....andddd Helm still gave out 168s and 169s (for the 0Ls...scores under 170, and really under 173 for most profs, are kind of unheard of).

Here's a question: how viable is parking on the street in Hyde Park instead of paying for a garage spot? Is it safe, and is parking widely available?

During the day and not around Uchicago (talking south of 55th, esp around Hyde Park Boulevard and the spots on South Shore), parking is very easy to come by. Hit 4 PM and you'll probably have to drive around for a while. Hit 9 PM and it's not uncommon to be searching for 15 minutes. Usually though you will find something, although it might be far from where you live (and therefore be a pain in the ass when it's cold out).
The opposite is true for parking around the school. You will almost certainly not get a spot near the law school if you arrive after 8:30. Later in the day it's easy. (but no, parking overnight around the school is not allowed - you run the risk of being towed if you car is on the midway after 2 AM).

[soupisgood]

I know UChi has lockers, but backpacks >> tote bags/messenger bags/*insert other fashionable alternative to backpacks here* for class, yes??

[Muenchen]

I'm not sure if 1Ls would know this, but maybe a 2 or 3L, but for Fall quarter when do they usually post what classes are going to be offered? I believe I remember reading that you don't register until a few weeks before classes start (which is weird to me), but do they at least give you a decent amount of time before that to see what's offered?

I know incoming 1Ls won't get their schedules/section assignments until right before orientation, but still, if I could sift through the 1L courses and teachers for the fall over the summer, it would be nice to speculate and daydream.....

[Emma.]

I know UChi has lockers, but backpacks >> tote bags/messenger bags/*insert other fashionable alternative to backpacks here* for class, yes??

Plenty of people use tote bags, but I'd say the majority of people carry a backpack. The lockers are really convenient though so you often shouldn't have to carry more than one casebook and your computer at any one time.

I'm not sure if 1Ls would know this, but maybe a 2 or 3L, but for Fall quarter when do they usually post what classes are going to be offered? I believe I remember reading that you don't register until a few weeks before classes start (which is weird to me), but do they at least give you a decent amount of time before that to see what's offered?

I know incoming 1Ls won't get their schedules/section assignments until right before orientation, but still, if I could sift through the 1L courses and teachers for the fall over the summer, it would be nice to speculate and daydream.....

I don't know if any of the 1L classes get posted before you get your schedules....

[ellewoods110]

I'm not sure if 1Ls would know this, but maybe a 2 or 3L, but for Fall quarter when do they usually post what classes are going to be offered? I believe I remember reading that you don't register until a few weeks before classes start (which is weird to me), but do they at least give you a decent amount of time before that to see what's offered?

I know incoming 1Ls won't get their schedules/section assignments until right before orientation, but still, if I could sift through the 1L courses and teachers for the fall over the summer, it would be nice to speculate and daydream.....

Last year I remember that the book list got published before we got our schedules, and from that we could tell who was teaching what, and when.

[reversejinx]

Any other 0L's getting emails about the Tony Patino Fellowship? Anyone here going to apply?

[Emma.]

Any other 0L's getting emails about the Tony Patino Fellowship? Anyone here going to apply?

You're asking in the wrong place, but I think everyone gets that email.

[Dany]

Any other 0L's getting emails about the Tony Patino Fellowship? Anyone here going to apply?

You're asking in the wrong place, but I think everyone gets that email.

Yep, and it's the same one about ten times.

[WhatSarahSaid]

Title change on the thread is depressing

The end is in sight!

[Emma.]

Title change on the thread is depressing

The end is in sight!

Shit got real. Law school is hard.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Title change on the thread is depressing

The end is in sight!

Shit got real. Law school is hard.

I questioned my decision to attend law school far less when I wrote out a $50,000 check than I am right now. This is torture.
ALMOST.THERE.

*doesn't know a damn thing about Civil Procedure*

*has a Civil Procedure exam in 40 hours*

[ellewoods110]

Title change on the thread is depressing

The end is in sight!

Shit got real. Law school is hard.

+1

[jitsrenzo]

Helmholz. Nice guy, brilliant professor.

Also a demon from hell sent to torment law students and their GPAs