Northwestern Law C/O 2016 (2012-2013 Applicants) Forum

[rinkrat19]

My plan is to research remotely and find a few buildings to check out, then fly into Chicago sometime around late July / early August to tour some apartments and secure a lease. I'm still not sure what neighborhoods to look in, but I'll be doing a lot more research over the next couple months.

Is it generally worth it to pay a premium but be close to school?

Depends on your relative values of time, convenience, square footage, and money.

I loathe commuting with the power of a supernova, so I think it's worth it to pay $1325 for a small studio and live 3 blocks from school. Other people would rather pay $900 for a 1-bedroom but have a 30-minute train ride+walking commute.

[PBateman1]

My plan is to research remotely and find a few buildings to check out, then fly into Chicago sometime around late July / early August to tour some apartments and secure a lease. I'm still not sure what neighborhoods to look in, but I'll be doing a lot more research over the next couple months.

Is it generally worth it to pay a premium but be close to school?

If you don't want to live around the school, I'd at least try to live near a red line L stop.

[Samara]

My plan is to research remotely and find a few buildings to check out, then fly into Chicago sometime around late July / early August to tour some apartments and secure a lease. I'm still not sure what neighborhoods to look in, but I'll be doing a lot more research over the next couple months.

Is it generally worth it to pay a premium but be close to school?

If you don't want to live around the school, I'd at least try to live near a red line L stop.

Or the Lake Shore Dr express buses. They are awesome. (Shameless Lakeview stumper)

[untar614]

Thanks for all the speedy response!

I'll try to do as much research as I can beforehand then considering I might not be able to get there until Mid-Aug. My current work contract (I'm in Japan now) doesn't end until early Aug. So it considerably limits my options.. sigh.

Well if (and hopefully when) you get in off the hold, if you're cool with roommates, I'm looking to live with ppl to keep costs down, and could come earlier in August to get the place squared away. I'm looking at places a little further north within a few blocks of a redline stop. That should keep commutes fairly short, but from what I've researched (padmapper is amazing, thank you to whoever it was that pointed me in that direction) it makes a big difference in rental rates.

[M458]

Thanks for all the speedy response!

I'll try to do as much research as I can beforehand then considering I might not be able to get there until Mid-Aug. My current work contract (I'm in Japan now) doesn't end until early Aug. So it considerably limits my options.. sigh.

Well if (and hopefully when) you get in off the hold, if you're cool with roommates, I'm looking to live with ppl to keep costs down, and could come earlier in August to get the place squared away. I'm looking at places a little further north within a few blocks of a redline stop. That should keep commutes fairly short, but from what I've researched (padmapper is amazing, thank you to whoever it was that pointed me in that direction) it makes a big difference in rental rates.

Hey--I'm hoping to live with roommates too and looking at neighborhoods on the north side near the red line. PM me if you're coming to ASW.

[Big Dog]

Well if (and hopefully when) you get in off the hold, if you're cool with roommates, I'm looking to live with ppl to keep costs down, and could come earlier in August to get the place squared away. I'm looking at places a little further north within a few blocks of a redline stop.

Don't forget the express busses from the north side. Live near the lake, and the busses jump on Lake Shore Drive straight down to Michigan Avenue.

[fruitoftheloom]

Thanks for all the speedy response!

I'll try to do as much research as I can beforehand then considering I might not be able to get there until Mid-Aug. My current work contract (I'm in Japan now) doesn't end until early Aug. So it considerably limits my options.. sigh.

Well if (and hopefully when) you get in off the hold, if you're cool with roommates, I'm looking to live with ppl to keep costs down, and could come earlier in August to get the place squared away. I'm looking at places a little further north within a few blocks of a redline stop. That should keep commutes fairly short, but from what I've researched (padmapper is amazing, thank you to whoever it was that pointed me in that direction) it makes a big difference in rental rates.

Padmapper is good, but it mostly pulls from Craigslist and therefore can be a little behind. I think using padmapper + maps feature on Craiglist is where it's at.

[pammie0415]

Thanks for all the speedy response!

I'll try to do as much research as I can beforehand then considering I might not be able to get there until Mid-Aug. My current work contract (I'm in Japan now) doesn't end until early Aug. So it considerably limits my options.. sigh.

Well if (and hopefully when) you get in off the hold, if you're cool with roommates, I'm looking to live with ppl to keep costs down, and could come earlier in August to get the place squared away. I'm looking at places a little further north within a few blocks of a redline stop. That should keep commutes fairly short, but from what I've researched (padmapper is amazing, thank you to whoever it was that pointed me in that direction) it makes a big difference in rental rates.

I definitely don't mind roomies! Getting in off hold means I won't get any $$ and I would need to try to keep costs down in other ways. Hopefully I'll hear soon enough.

I really hope I get into NU as it is definitely my absolute top choice. I hope you're reading this Johann

[Clearly]

What are your stats? I'm rooting for you, but talking roommates might be premature.

Eta: hopefully not being rude, just would hate to see someone get too worked up and let down.

[pammie0415]

What are your stats? I'm rooting for you, but talking roommates might be premature.

Eta: hopefully not being rude, just would hate to see someone get too worked up and let down.

Haha no worries. NU is definitely a reach for me. Didn't even think I would be held. So I'm glad for that. I've already gotten into WUSTL with $$. If I don't get into NU I'll definitely be disappointed (and sad ) but not I'm going to jump off a bridge kind. I'm a super splitter with 170/2.6. Definitely didn't do well in undergrad but I do have 4 years of WE with great recs and some other softs. So I'm hoping for the best.

[Clearly]

I'm a super splitter myself currently waitlisted. My plan was to apply next cycle, but I decided it was worth the cost to sneak a very late app out and see if they bite, if I don't hear anything off the waitlist I'm reapplying, absolutely dream of NU as well. Good luck, maybe I'll see you at NU eventually!

[pammie0415]

I'm a super splitter myself currently waitlisted. My plan was to apply next cycle, but I decided it was worth the cost to sneak a very late app out and see if they bite, if I don't hear anything off the waitlist I'm reapplying, absolutely dream of NU as well. Good luck, maybe I'll see you at NU eventually!

Thanks! Best of luck to you too! It's not easy being a splitter but I can always hope haha. Gonna try to stay positive.

[Scarlett66]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

[Cobretti]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

Your friend spends only about $10-15 a week more on their own food than I do on my dog's food

[andy261]

I'm a super splitter myself currently waitlisted. My plan was to apply next cycle, but I decided it was worth the cost to sneak a very late app out and see if they bite, if I don't hear anything off the waitlist I'm reapplying, absolutely dream of NU as well. Good luck, maybe I'll see you at NU eventually!

Thanks! Best of luck to you too! It's not easy being a splitter but I can always hope haha. Gonna try to stay positive.

We have almost identical stats. Good luck!

[jbagelboy]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

$30 a week on food isn't living. I spent more than freshmen year of college when I had a full free meal plan. your friend must be anorexic and not go out, ever.

[vinnnyvincenzo]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

$30 a week on food isn't living. I spent more than freshmen year of college when I had a full free meal plan. your friend must be anorexic and not go out, ever.

I did this in college and I was pretty malnourished, mostly had like one meal a day and that was like a scrambled egg or a $5 footlong. The fact I slept till 3 pm everyday was also a contributing factor though.

[Danny Boyo]

Quick question, do U all think is premature to send a why NU/LOCI even if I haven't heard from NU yet? I believe a decision will come in the next couple of weeks and I don’t want to push my application back in the review line. On the other hand, its been a while and I want to show them I'm still very committed. I've already visited the school, in early March, so I can't do that again. Any thought or comments?

Thanks in advance.

[Big Dog]

Quick question, do U all think is premature to send a why NU/LOCI even if I haven't heard from NU yet?

No, not premature according to Mike Spivey (you can search for his threads).

[perfectheight411]

still havent heard anything

[luxurylawyer]

I've enjoyed the NU thread too much to dip out now that I'm waitlisted, so I'm hanging in here. The consensus decision for waitlisted people is to "visit the school, they love that" etc. etc. Is there some sort of official visit people are talking about where you actually can meet with people and whatnot?

[Scarlett66]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

$30 a week on food isn't living. I spent more than freshmen year of college when I had a full free meal plan. your friend must be anorexic and not go out, ever.

I did this in college and I was pretty malnourished, mostly had like one meal a day and that was like a scrambled egg or a $5 footlong. The fact I slept till 3 pm everyday was also a contributing factor though.

Haha, no. It's all about aldi. Everything's dirt cheap! Pick one meat for the week and make 6 things based on it. And that's what dollar drink specials are for. Lakeview is awesome in my experience

[jbagelboy]

To those freaking out about COL expenses in Chicago, the numbers for NU skew high.
If you live just a few stops north of the red line (20 minute commute plus some walking), you get to ride a roller coaster to school and save huge money. Lakeview/Uptown has an aldi/target/jewel, and my friend who's a law student up there pays only $25-30 a week on food, and $700 a month on rent (no roomie). It is completely possible to be frugal. You just have to take the inconvenience of not living in Streeterville or Gold Coast.

$30 a week on food isn't living. I spent more than freshmen year of college when I had a full free meal plan. your friend must be anorexic and not go out, ever.

I did this in college and I was pretty malnourished, mostly had like one meal a day and that was like a scrambled egg or a $5 footlong. The fact I slept till 3 pm everyday was also a contributing factor though.

Haha, no. It's all about aldi. Everything's dirt cheap! Pick one meat for the week and make 6 things based on it. And that's what dollar drink specials are for. Lakeview is awesome in my experience

hmm. alternatively, 2 shots of don julio and an iced coffee would cap your spending for the week. then again, I'm used to LA prices.

Either way, I'm going to hate being broke again.

[untar614]

Weren't we supposed to hear back about student hosts for ASW by today? Has anyone else applied for that but not heard anything?

[Kikero]

Weren't we supposed to hear back about student hosts for ASW by today? Has anyone else applied for that but not heard anything?

The emails asking for additional students to host said that the deadline to sign up was at 12:00pm today. I'm hosting, and it only took about 15 minutes after I signed up to get paired up, so if you haven't heard by now I wouldn't hold out too much hope.