UVA Law Students Taking Questions Forum

[dailygrind]

If deciding between Michigan and UVA, what would you say is the main reason(s) why you would say to pick UVA?

I'd probably choose based on whether I had a preference for/ties to the south or the midwest. Obviously you should be able to make it anywhere from either school if you do well, but if things go poorly you'll probably end up looking to work somewhere you have ties, and if your school has a strong name in that area it'll be pretty helpful. What Albanach said is also true - UVA's located in a beautiful town and there are a lot of institutional things in place designed to make it a friendly place. Can't really say how it compares to Michigan, but FWIW I've had a good experience here and I think it's a great place to go to law school.

[paulinaporizkova]

For the 1L section joys of getting destroyed by a hand-picked 2L-3L softball team during the first game of playoffs.

Good to know my section was not the only one that ran into this.

mine too

[sundance95]

For the 1L section joys of getting destroyed by a hand-picked 2L-3L softball team during the first game of playoffs.

Good to know my section was not the only one that ran into this.

mine too

Not *every* section had this problem

[esq]

For the 1L section joys of getting destroyed by a hand-picked 2L-3L softball team during the first game of playoffs.

Good to know my section was not the only one that ran into this.

mine too

Not *every* section had this problem

In spite of your snarky remark, I'm glad to see that us 1L's are still represented. The team that clobbered us rarely left home plate to do it. Take 'em down for us.

[albanach]

For the 1L section joys of getting destroyed by a hand-picked 2L-3L softball team during the first game of playoffs.

Good to know my section was not the only one that ran into this.

mine too

Not *every* section had this problem

Perhaps the 1L members of TLS only represent 2 sections?

[esq]

Not *every* section had this problem

Perhaps the 1L members of TLS only represent 2 sections?

The Divas and Runs. We've still got two dogs left in this fight.

http://www.ngsl.com/season/2011_fall/index.html

[gladiator]

The 1L tournament is your playoffs. The actual playoffs give 1Ls incentive to go join new teams to keep the league strong.

[jediknight2424]

I'm visiting UVA this upcoming friday for the student tour/ class observation / panels. I'm applying early decision and would like to speak to someone in admissions to emphasize my interest and ask questions. Any suggestions on how I should go about doing this? Would it feasible to talk to the Dean Trujillo or should I speak to a secretary?

Also, is there anything in particular I should check out while I'm visiting? I'm staying at a hotel in Charlottesville so I'll be around all day.

[YCrevolution]

..

[dailygrind]

I'm visiting UVA this upcoming friday for the student tour/ class observation / panels. I'm applying early decision and would like to speak to someone in admissions to emphasize my interest and ask questions. Any suggestions on how I should go about doing this? Would it feasible to talk to the Dean Trujillo or should I speak to a secretary?

Also, is there anything in particular I should check out while I'm visiting? I'm staying at a hotel in Charlottesville so I'll be around all day.

Of the two classes meeting on Friday, Abraham's is probably the better choice (just going off reputation; I've never had either of them). I did a student tour back in the day as well, and I didn't have to really do anything special to meet with an AdComm member - once I signed in Dean Dugas popped by to do the Admissions Q&A panel. I assume it's not a particularly different method now, but emailing to check is a low cost play. Agree with YCR re: what to see, though I would personally prioritize the Corner and the Downtown Mall since they're probably the biggest hot spots for law students. Monticello and the main grounds are pretty sweet, it's just that it's hard to get out there very often.

[sundance95]

Don't know who the second professor you can attend is, but you definitely should catch Abraham's class. You'll get a chance to hear his weekly Friday off-topic inspirational speech. Sounds corny, but all of us (in my section at least) really look forward to it. His class is also the one that most accords with what I thought a law school class would be prior to coming here. Plus, you'll have a decent chance to see some of the tougher cold calling at UVA on a post bar-review morning, and see for yourself how cold calling really isn't that big of a deal. (Although TBH, I don't know that very many 1Ls are still hitting bar review hard.)

[jediknight2424]

Thanks guys! I'll definitely check out Abraham's class.

Right now I'm waiting on a Professor's recommendation (should be processed early this week). Do you recommend submitting my application before my visit or after?

I could write a better "Why UVA" essay if I visited first and submitted after, but I've been told its better to submit beforehand so that admission officers have something to refer to if you make a good impression.

[dailygrind]

FWIW, I applied after visiting and the admission officer I met with still remembered who I was when my app came in (it was a week or two after I visited). Your mileage may vary, but I think it makes more sense to visit before applying ED - if you end up not liking it for whatever reason, you're going to want an out.

[Gecko of Doom]

So I'm working on narrowing down my list of electives for the spring, and I'm leaning towards taking Criminal Investigation with Coughlin and Evidence with Mitchell (a total of 7 hours). Would this be an overly intense combination? I don't want to shoot myself in the foot grade-wise.

[5ky]

So I'm working on narrowing down my list of electives for the spring, and I'm leaning towards taking Criminal Investigation with Coughlin and Evidence with Mitchell (a total of 7 hours). Would this be an overly intense combination? I don't want to shoot myself in the foot grade-wise.

It's no more intense than your fall semester. But if your first semester grades roll out and you killed it, one possibility is to take the minimum number of elective credits you can (5) so that in the event your grades regress to the mean, it won't hurt you as much.

[Cavalier]

...

[pjo]

Um, can anyone tell me where the job leads are in Symplicity? I'm not seeing any. Am I missing something here?

I think the jobs tab is not available to 1L's until Dec. 1. But I may be wrong.

[Gecko of Doom]

It's no more intense than your fall semester. But if your first semester grades roll out and you killed it, one possibility is to take the minimum number of elective credits you can (5) so that in the event your grades regress to the mean, it won't hurt you as much.

Heh, I'm not overly worried about that scenario, but something to keep in mind.

That sounds fine--it's hard to take an "overly intense" spring semester schedule unless you take three electives or something. If you're on the fence about criminal investigation, you should probably grab it now if you can; you'll have a hard time getting into that class off the waitlist.

I was more wondering whether those specific classes would be a bit much substantively to take as a 1L (rather than whether 7 hours was too much to take). Sounds like you guys don't really think that's much of an issue, though.

[Cavalier]

It's no more intense than your fall semester. But if your first semester grades roll out and you killed it, one possibility is to take the minimum number of elective credits you can (5) so that in the event your grades regress to the mean, it won't hurt you as much.

Heh, I'm not overly worried about that scenario, but something to keep in mind.

That sounds fine--it's hard to take an "overly intense" spring semester schedule unless you take three electives or something. If you're on the fence about criminal investigation, you should probably grab it now if you can; you'll have a hard time getting into that class off the waitlist.

I was more wondering whether those specific classes would be a bit much substantively to take as a 1L (rather than whether 7 hours was too much to take). Sounds like you guys don't really think that's much of an issue, though.

No, not much of an issue. Some courses are more difficult than others, but I don't think you'll find anything here that's too difficult substantively. The most difficult courses are, in my opinion, those that are code-based. Crim investigation is mostly constitutional matters, and evidence is a bit like the portion of civ pro that involves the FRCP.

[citykitty]

How long of a walk is it from the Copeland apts to the law school? It seems fairly close, but maps can be deceiving.

[RVP11]

How long of a walk is it from the Copeland apts to the law school? It seems fairly close, but maps can be deceiving.

Do you mean Copeley?

It'd be about 2-3 minute walk to the front steps of the law school. Copeley is across the street from the law school.

[citykitty]

How long of a walk is it from the Copeland apts to the law school? It seems fairly close, but maps can be deceiving.

Do you mean Copeley?

It'd be about 2-3 minute walk to the front steps of the law school. Copeley is across the street from the law school.

Yeah that. I have the stupid website open on my computer. I don't know why I wrote that. I guess I was thinking food instead. So, NBD living there and parking there. Wouldn't need to drive to school or anything, right?

[5ky]

How long of a walk is it from the Copeland apts to the law school? It seems fairly close, but maps can be deceiving.

Do you mean Copeley?

It'd be about 2-3 minute walk to the front steps of the law school. Copeley is across the street from the law school.

Yeah that. I have the stupid website open on my computer. I don't know why I wrote that. I guess I was thinking food instead. So, NBD living there and parking there. Wouldn't need to drive to school or anything, right?

No.

[joemoviebuff]

How long of a walk is it from the Copeland apts to the law school? It seems fairly close, but maps can be deceiving.

Do you mean Copeley?

It'd be about 2-3 minute walk to the front steps of the law school. Copeley is across the street from the law school.

Yeah that. I have the stupid website open on my computer. I don't know why I wrote that. I guess I was thinking food instead. So, NBD living there and parking there. Wouldn't need to drive to school or anything, right?

No.

But they are pretty crappy apartments, at least from what I've seen. Hit the Jeffersonian for a much better apartment and a 5 minute walk, or anywhere on Arlington for a better apartment and a 10 minute walk.

[5ky]

But they are pretty crappy apartments, at least from what I've seen. Hit the Jeffersonian for a much better apartment and a 5 minute walk, or anywhere on Arlington for a better apartment and a 10 minute walk.

This is very true, and I think you also share a bedroom with another person. I would loathe having to do this in law school.