Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[09042014]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

[bjsesq]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

An acronym? Seriously, how do you screw up an acronym?

[09042014]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

An acronym? Seriously, how do you screw up an acronym?

I'm going to claim undiagnosed learning disability.

[1234543523]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

An acronym? Seriously, how do you screw up an acronym?

TWICE.

[Pleasye]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

An acronym? Seriously, how do you screw up an acronym?

I'm going to claim undiagnosed learning disability.

[rayiner]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

Best: Spelling "possession" wrong 17 times on your crim exam and not getting dinged for it.
Worst: Going to a school where your professors are so unfazed by your spelling possession wrong 17 times on your crim exam that they don't ding you for it.

[09042014]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

Best: Spelling "possession" wrong 17 times on your crim exam and not getting dinged for it.
Worst: Going to a school where your professors are so unfazed by your spelling possession wrong 17 times on your crim exam that they don't ding you for it.

I was made for this school.

[bjsesq]

Best: BSJ
Worst: BSJ

Best: Spelling "possession" wrong 17 times on your crim exam and not getting dinged for it.
Worst: Going to a school where your professors are so unfazed by your spelling possession wrong 17 times on your crim exam that they don't ding you for it.

I was made for this school.

And Stateville.

[Magnolia]

Any recommendations for good dive bars near NU?

[Sauer Grapes]

Any recommendations for good dive bars near NU?

Streeters.

[EarlCat]

Any recommendations for good dive bars near NU?

Streeters.

I just threw up a little bit.

[rayiner]

Any recommendations for good dive bars near NU?

Halligan's. We had a TLS meetup there last year, it was good.

[sarahlawg]

How different is the day-to-day class work at Northwestern than other t14s? I know there is an emphasis on working in groups - does that mean you do assignments in groups? More presentations in front of class?

How will I fare if my 2yrs work experience is with TFA and not something relevant to the law/business? Will I be disadvantaged at OCI?

I would like to work in either Chicago or, ideally, Boston. Can NU get me to Boston? I would like to do clerkship-->biglaw or straight into biglaw.

I was offered the Wigmore at NU and 60k at UChi, so I'm kind of trying to figure out how different these two schools are culture-wise. I know all the 'where fun goes to die' sentiments about UChi, but I'm just talking about the actual classes. I see there may not be a $100k difference in job prospects.

Thanks for any help

[rayiner]

How different is the day-to-day class work at Northwestern than other t14s? I know there is an emphasis on working in groups - does that mean you do assignments in groups? More presentations in front of class?

How will I fare if my 2yrs work experience is with TFA and not something relevant to the law/business? Will I be disadvantaged at OCI?

I would like to work in either Chicago or, ideally, Boston. Can NU get me to Boston? I would like to do clerkship-->biglaw or straight into biglaw.

I was offered the Wigmore at NU and 60k at UChi, so I'm kind of trying to figure out how different these two schools are culture-wise. I know all the 'where fun goes to die' sentiments about UChi, but I'm just talking about the actual classes. I see there may not be a $100k difference in job prospects.

Thanks for any help

1) No practical difference in coursework.

2) TFA shouldn't be a disadvantage at OCI. Above all employers are interested in the fact that you had a real job.

3) NU can get to Boston just fine.

4) $100k is a lot of money, you should consider it seriously. U Chicago has better job prospects. The 14% NLJ250 placement differential from this past year is probably the high water mark of the difference.

[sarahlawg]

How different is the day-to-day class work at Northwestern than other t14s? I know there is an emphasis on working in groups - does that mean you do assignments in groups? More presentations in front of class?

How will I fare if my 2yrs work experience is with TFA and not something relevant to the law/business? Will I be disadvantaged at OCI?

I would like to work in either Chicago or, ideally, Boston. Can NU get me to Boston? I would like to do clerkship-->biglaw or straight into biglaw.

I was offered the Wigmore at NU and 60k at UChi, so I'm kind of trying to figure out how different these two schools are culture-wise. I know all the 'where fun goes to die' sentiments about UChi, but I'm just talking about the actual classes. I see there may not be a $100k difference in job prospects.

Thanks for any help

1) No practical difference in coursework.

2) TFA shouldn't be a disadvantage at OCI. Above all employers are interested in the fact that you had a real job.

3) NU can get to Boston just fine.

4) $100k is a lot of money, you should consider it seriously. U Chicago has better job prospects. The 14% NLJ250 placement differential from this past year is probably the high water mark of the difference.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to see how negotiation plays out with Chi.
Do you think NU --> Boston is realistic if I have no other ties there? I just love the city and have always seen myself ultimately living there.

[rayiner]

How different is the day-to-day class work at Northwestern than other t14s? I know there is an emphasis on working in groups - does that mean you do assignments in groups? More presentations in front of class?

How will I fare if my 2yrs work experience is with TFA and not something relevant to the law/business? Will I be disadvantaged at OCI?

I would like to work in either Chicago or, ideally, Boston. Can NU get me to Boston? I would like to do clerkship-->biglaw or straight into biglaw.

I was offered the Wigmore at NU and 60k at UChi, so I'm kind of trying to figure out how different these two schools are culture-wise. I know all the 'where fun goes to die' sentiments about UChi, but I'm just talking about the actual classes. I see there may not be a $100k difference in job prospects.

Thanks for any help

1) No practical difference in coursework.

2) TFA shouldn't be a disadvantage at OCI. Above all employers are interested in the fact that you had a real job.

3) NU can get to Boston just fine.

4) $100k is a lot of money, you should consider it seriously. U Chicago has better job prospects. The 14% NLJ250 placement differential from this past year is probably the high water mark of the difference.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to see how negotiation plays out with Chi.
Do you think NU --> Boston is realistic if I have no other ties there? I just love the city and have always seen myself ultimately living there.

Boston is a very insular market. Tough to crack without ties from any school besides maybe H/Y.

[sarahlawg]

Boston is a very insular market. Tough to crack without ties from any school besides maybe H/Y.

Thanks. That's kind of the impression I've gotten. I hope I like living in Chicago as much as I like visiting it!

[jfb]

How is NU for the west, preferably SF?? I've seen the numbers in the info they've sent me, but I imagine that a lot of NU students shoot for Chicago, NYC rather than the west coast. Do any of you know of NU students who have wanted to head west upon graduation and were able to secure employment??

I'm pretty stuck between UCLA w/ 35k and NU w/ 40k, and am waiting for a response to a merit negotiation email sent to UCLA. I was born and raised in MI and am looking forward to getting out of the midwest but could handle 3 years in Chi if NU is my obvious best option.

[rayiner]

How is NU for the west, preferably SF?? I've seen the numbers in the info they've sent me, but I imagine that a lot of NU students shoot for Chicago, NYC rather than the west coast. Do any of you know of NU students who have wanted to head west upon graduation and were able to secure employment??

I'm pretty stuck between UCLA w/ 35k and NU w/ 40k, and am waiting for a response to a merit negotiation email sent to UCLA. I was born and raised in MI and am looking forward to getting out of the midwest but could handle 3 years in Chi if NU is my obvious best option.

NU sent about 12% of C/O 2009 to the west coast. Several of my friends are from there and are going back. C/O 2013 saw a huge spike in West-coast enrollees, with 28% of the class being from the west coast. There are now about an even number of people from the west coast, northeast, and midwest.

[BrightLine]

I read through the entire thread. Thanks to all those who have posted here, Northwestern is now my probably decision.

[EarlCat]

How different is the day-to-day class work at Northwestern than other t14s? I know there is an emphasis on working in groups - does that mean you do assignments in groups? More presentations in front of class?

I've only had 3 "classroom" classes that had any group work, which really means making one or two 30 min presentations. Obviously this is different in trial ad or clinical classes. I've had study groups for almost all my classes.

How will I fare if my 2yrs work experience is with TFA and not something relevant to the law/business? Will I be disadvantaged at OCI?

No. The important thing is that you've been in the real world. Also, paralegals are a dime a dozen. Just about any other job is more interesting to employers.

I would like to work in either Chicago or, ideally, Boston. Can NU get me to Boston? I would like to do clerkship-->biglaw or straight into biglaw.

Any market away from your school is tough unless you have ties. (FWIW, I got a job in a famously insular state and where I have no ties.) I'm not sure you'd have much more advantage at any other T14 except, like someone else said, H/Y. If you can land an externship in New England 1L summer, you'll be in better shape.

I was offered the Wigmore at NU and 60k at UChi, so I'm kind of trying to figure out how different these two schools are culture-wise. I know all the 'where fun goes to die' sentiments about UChi, but I'm just talking about the actual classes. I see there may not be a $100k difference in job prospects.

I don't think any difference among T14s could justify cutting your scholarship by more than half. Congrats on joining the Wigmore club!

[EarlCat]

I read through the entire thread. Thanks to all those who have posted here, Northwestern is now my probably decision.

Where's the "Like" button?

[Sauer Grapes]

How is NU for the west, preferably SF?? I've seen the numbers in the info they've sent me, but I imagine that a lot of NU students shoot for Chicago, NYC rather than the west coast. Do any of you know of NU students who have wanted to head west upon graduation and were able to secure employment??

I'm pretty stuck between UCLA w/ 35k and NU w/ 40k, and am waiting for a response to a merit negotiation email sent to UCLA. I was born and raised in MI and am looking forward to getting out of the midwest but could handle 3 years in Chi if NU is my obvious best option.

NU sent about 12% of C/O 2009 to the west coast. Several of my friends are from there and are going back. C/O 2013 saw a huge spike in West-coast enrollees, with 28% of the class being from the west coast. There are now about an even number of people from the west coast, northeast, and midwest.

Not just that, but it's possible to get west coast from NU with absolutely no connections. NU is a great school, and if you have the grades you can go almost anywhere (or even if you only almost have the grades like me).

[alexonfyre]

I read through the entire thread. Thanks to all those who have posted here, Northwestern is now my probably decision.

Same, NU seems to attract students that I would have a blast working with, compounded with the picture I get of life in general at the school, it is my number one (so long as I can get my LSAT over 171!)

[sarahlawg]

I was just looking at NU's budget for 2011-2012... $77,399...wow. 6-11k/year more than the other schools I'm considering. Does tuition go down for 2l and 3l?

Also... Chi estimates 13k for housing and NU estimates 14k... which is more realistic? I can't imagine them being that close given their neighborhoods.

Do NU students get to ride the subways/buses for free with their student ID?