Columbia students taking questions Forum

[Kring345]

Crappy how? Im kind of a meathead. Does that make it worse or better for me?

Also, pool to swim laps in?

[redsoxfan2495]

Crappy how? Im kind of a meathead. Does that make it worse or better for me?

Also, pool to swim laps in?

Crappy as in kind of old and not very nice looking. It's functional enough though. They have the equipment you'd expect them to have and you generally don't have to stand around and wait to use it.

I didn't really use the pool but I heard that the school teams occupy it a lot of the time.

[camelcrema]

I don't think the gym is crappy--it's just small. They replaced most of the equipment earlier this year, so it's not a bad place to work out unless it gets crowded. Unfortunately, it's always crowded. It's split up over 3 floors (cardio/some machines on bottom floor, free weights/machines on second floor, cardio/more machines on top floor) and the second floor is always packed. If you've got the discipline to get there at 6AM though, you're not going to have a bad time.

Never used the pool, but I hear it also is crowded. Land is scarce in Manhattan, and landowners around Columbia won't sell, so we stick to our tiny facilities for now.

[Ship87]

I think camel and redsox, like myself, have adjusted to the gym. Its functional and you'll be able to do what you want, unless its crowded. It was just a big change from my undergrad gym which was a lot bigger and nicer (nicer as in had windows, more space, more light).

Also, 6AM? Are you crazy? Are you.. cray cray?

[TheRedMamba]

Anyone know of a reasonably priced/located crossfit gym in the area? I was hoping there might be a crossfit club or something on campus but I didn't find much in my search

[redsoxfan2495]

I tended to go from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am on week nights and I never really had to wait for the machines. So I guess if you want to go when it's not crowded you've got to get there really early or really late.

Also, there's some history behind Columbia not having a nicer gym:

--LinkRemoved--

The students were so angry that they might get a nice gym that they stormed the administrative buildings and had to be beaten out of them by the NYPD.

[Bronck]

Do we have to set up our own wireless connections in UAH housing? is it just an ethernet jack?

[Kring345]

So I have returned to the states, and I intend to visit NYC for a day or two. I didnt make it to any ASW, etc.

Any suggestions on what to see or do besides the obvious? I know the school is going to be more or less empty, and that's fine. Just wanna check out the area. It's only a short train ride from my parents house, where I'll be going for a few days of leave.

[redsoxfan2495]

Do we have to set up our own wireless connections in UAH housing? is it just an ethernet jack?

That's how it was in my apartment (on 115th). I'm not sure if all UAH housing is like that though.

So I have returned to the states, and I intend to visit NYC for a day or two. I didnt make it to any ASW, etc.

Any suggestions on what to see or do besides the obvious? I know the school is going to be more or less empty, and that's fine. Just wanna check out the area. It's only a short train ride from my parents house, where I'll be going for a few days of leave.

There isn't all that much to see in Morningside. The only notable things in the neighborhood besides the campus are Grant's Tomb, a couple of Cathedrals and the diner from Seinfeld. I would recommend checking out the inside of St. John the Divine. You could also scout out the shops and restaurants along Broadway.

[Bronck]

That's how it was in my apartment (on 115th). I'm not sure if all UAH housing is like that though.

Alright. Was it pretty easy to set up wireless?

[redsoxfan2495]

That's how it was in my apartment (on 115th). I'm not sure if all UAH housing is like that though.

Alright. Was it pretty easy to set up wireless?

For me it was as simple as plugging the wireless router into the wall jack.

[NC1]

That's how it was in my apartment (on 115th). I'm not sure if all UAH housing is like that though.

Alright. Was it pretty easy to set up wireless?

For me it was as simple as plugging the wireless router into the wall jack.

What he said.

[Bronck]

Cool, thanks you guys.

[stej94]

Any perspective on living a few blocks further then average for the 1l year, around 100th st, probably a 15-20 minute walk, or a 10 minute subway/bus ride. I know it doesn't sound very far, but would you say there are any significant downsides to not living within 5 minutes of the school for the first year.

[kwais]

Any perspective on living a few blocks further then average for the 1l year, around 100th st, probably a 15-20 minute walk, or a 10 minute subway/bus ride. I know it doesn't sound very far, but would you say there are any significant downsides to not living within 5 minutes of the school for the first year.

That's about how far I lived (15 minute walk). maybe once or twice a month I was truly annoyed but otherwise it was no problem at all. On good weather days, I really appreciated the walk. That said, I will now be 15 seconds from the school, so maybe subliminally I hated it

[lawbeanie]

Any thoughts on 526 W. 112th St? Location? Apartment building?

Also, I'm living with a Math Ph.D-- I was hoping to live with a law student or at least someone who's doing grad school in int'l affairs or something. Any thoughts on whether that will significantly affect social schtuff?

[piccolittle]

Any thoughts on 526 W. 112th St? Location? Apartment building?

Also, I'm living with a Math Ph.D-- I was hoping to live with a law student or at least someone who's doing grad school in int'l affairs or something. Any thoughts on whether that will significantly affect social schtuff?

I mean, a lot of my friends had non-Law roommates, but it generally just meant they didn't have as many parties as we did (my roommate was a 1L, so we had the same friends and schedules generally). Keep in mind, though: if your roommate is crazy, DON'T PUT UP WITH IT. My friend's psycho roommate tormented her all year, and it only got worse during exams. Housing will move you if you make enough of a fuss.

[Kring345]

Thoughts on West 120th? I went to visit this weekend, and it seemed like a nice area. Also, I loved everything about Columbia. Amazing campus, the building seemed really nice (though a bit strange looking on the outside), and the area seemed great too. Easy access to subway, clean campus, etc.

[Bronck]

CLS' website breaks down the 1L summer employment as: 30% gov, 30% PI, 20% SA, 20% judge/RA/business.

I think I'd prefer to do government positions to PI positions -- if you put in the effort is it possible to really aim for one sector? or should you be casting a wide net and just taking whatever you can get?

Also, expanding on the above, is it easy to differentiate between PI that screams "SAVE THE WORLD!" and PI that doesn't?

[piccolittle]

I'll return to the job-related stuff later, but I just wanted to contribute a thought on spring electives for the incoming 1Ls. I really wish you guys were able to take Legislation; that was, hands down, the must useful class I took this year. I'm at work right now (shhhh), and I just had to take a moment away from reading this case to post that thought (which, yes, doesn't really help you I guess). I would have no idea about statutory interpretation or legislative history otherwise, and so far the work I've done all turns on those kinds of issues.

Also, don't take LAMLO. All my friends who took it were confused and frustrated. Reg State I've heard good things about. Moglen's class is apparently a bit pointless, but you only write papers and don't have to take an exam, so those kids had a full week between the two of our biggest exams.

Just some thoughts

[Bronck]

^ Cool! thanks for the electives info. Any thoughts on the Labor Law course?

I feel like that and Reg State are the main ones I'd be interested in taking.

Although... no final exam sounds nice for Moglen

[margogan]

Hi, do you guys know how much it costs to live in the Arbor housing per month? Thank you!

[viking138]

Hi, do you guys know how much it costs to live in the Arbor housing per month? Thank you!

It was ~$1650 for a 1 BR when I lived there in 2010-2011.

Also, don't take LAMLO. All my friends who took it were confused and frustrated. Reg State I've heard good things about. Moglen's class is apparently a bit pointless, but you only write papers and don't have to take an exam, so those kids had a full week between the two of our biggest exams.

I HATED Reg State. It was significantly more work than the other electives (more reading, two non-blind-graded papers, AND an exam). I did not feel I gained much from it because the treatment of that day's topic depended on what the professor's favorite students wanted to talk about. Some students love Prof Strauss, but I'd say more people that I knew disliked than liked him (based on those who also had him for Legal Methods).

If you take one of the 2L/3L classes that are open to 1Ls, you're graded on an easier curve and lots of students are in their 3L spring and are totally checked out -- could be an easier good grade.

[AndyMcNally]

Hello. I have a question about housing. I heard that for safety reasons one should try not to live farther north than 125th street and not across Morningside Park. Would you second that opinion? How would you feel about living on 125th near Amsterdam? Any general advice on looking for off campus housing?
Thanks in advance!

[piccolittle]

Hello. I have a question about housing. I heard that for safety reasons one should try not to live farther north than 125th street and not across Morningside Park. Would you second that opinion? How would you feel about living on 125th near Amsterdam? Any general advice on looking for off campus housing?
Thanks in advance!

I have friends who have done both. Everything is pretty safe below 125th Street (except for the dead bodies they found the other day), but I couldn't comment on anything north of 125th. There are actually some pretty nice apartments on LaSalle, which is between Broadway and Amsterdam around 124th or so.

I also have a friend who lives on the other side of the park at like 113th/112th. I hate to say it, but your comfort level with this may depend on your physical characteristics. If you're a big guy who doesn't get messed with a lot, you might be fine. The only reason people generally warn about living across from the park is that people tend to cut across the park, which is ripe for mugging at night (and frankly, it's not that great during the day if you're alone). If you commit to going around the park, you should be okay. Also bear in mind that you can take public transportation to close to both of these locations, so you will only be tempted to cut across the park if you are coming from school. It can be kind of a hassle to go around the park every time, though, so bear that in mind - your balance of priorities (safety vs. convenience/time) may shift around.