Columbia Law Class of 2011 Forum

[Zatoichi]

CLS 1L here - happy w/ decision

[Prize24]

What makes you so happy? Details please.

[Zatoichi]

- Been very happy with my professors - 7/8 have been outstanding and the one I didn't like was a visiting professor. All really engaging interesting people. Was worried the material would get boring but having good teachers keeps things interesting.

- School / firms do a good job of spoiling us w/ food and drink and bringing in interesting speakers etc.

- I was worried that I'd be surrounded by type-A personalities who'd want to argue over everything, but it hasn't been the case. I like most of my classmates a lot. I'm always surprised when I meet someone new and hear about their background before law school.

[Katkins]

Want to reiterate that you CAN use Macs easily at CLS--I'd say at least 15 people out of my 90 person class used them on exams, and no one had problems that I heard about.

We also have our resident TLS/CLSers, but they aren't quite as available.

I check TLS daily, though I don't always post, so please feel free to shoot me a PM if I don't catch a question in a thread. LSDers are better about starting "XX 1L taking questions" threads, but I'm too shy to start one--what if no one asked anything? Embarrassing!

[M51]

Anyone send in a photo yet? Wondering what the norm is... casual, formal, smiling? What's Lawnet and "student facebook" anyway?

[NewHere]

Lawnet is the website where you can check your grades and schedule, sign up for electives, etc. It also has a faculty directory and a student directory, and the latter is where your picture will end up.
Student facebook is a printout of that directory (well, actually only the photos, names, and UG University) that they give you a few weeks into the year.

Most people sent in a smiling semi-formal picture, but it's not that important. I don't think many people actually look at it.

Then again, your photo will also be on your student ID, and I think OCI interviewers may have access to it, so you may not want to send in your worst picture.

[aguyingeorgia]

Any aid being offered to attend an admitted students' day from either NYU or CLS?

[M51]

Ahhh, so I get to pick how I look in the student ID. That's actually very considerate of them... Thanks for the info!

[iwanttogotolawschool]

How long did it take you all to gain access to the admitted student site? Does CLS give you a user name and password? If not, how is that done?

/terrified CLS applicant, attempting to see if there is a secret way into the site given that a decision has already been made on his file and he doesn't know what it is.

[M51]

Admitted student's site has a generic username/pass... I don't think it'll help you that much. It's not personalized like JSmith02/Yay or anything.

[Singiesling]

Is anyone else having trouble making the ASDs given that they are right in the middle of the week? And the website says CLS doesn't given tours on Friday. Will it still be possible to get a sense of the school on the weekend? I'm really thinking hard about Columbia and would love to see some housing/attend some classes but that really sounds as though it won't be possible...

[brink123]

Any aid being offered to attend an admitted students' day from either NYU or CLS?

CLS's admit handbook says up to $200 is reimbursable, but variable based on city of departure. Not sure about NYU, I haven't found anything.

[aguyingeorgia]

Thanks. It is nice to hear that some people are doing the visit one, take a train to the other deal.

[wahoo831]

Any aid being offered to attend an admitted students' day from either NYU or CLS?

CLS's admit handbook says up to $200 is reimbursable, but variable based on city of departure.

Also, you have to apply for it in advance.

[NakaNaka]

CLS just bumped up their LRAP floor to $50,000. That is pretty awesome.

[NewHere]

Clarification: above statement that CLS bumped LRAP to $50,000 means that 'phasing out' begins at $50,000. Graduates earning more than $50,000 may also be eligible for LRAP, but for a lower amount than those earning <$50,000.

[Katkins]

The mid-week ASDs do suck. If anyone wants to visit on a weekend, you can still attend classes--sadly we do have class on Fridays, and my Crim class at 8 a.m. is pretty interesting. Also, they may not do formal tours on Fridays, but there's not much to see of the law school. If anyone really wants, I can meet you and show you around on a Friday--it'll take approx. 15 minutes. PM me.

Also, you have to apply for it in advance.

There's not really an "application." I just e-mailed Zarana Udani and was like, "I want to visit but am poor. Help." And they e-mailed me a form that I filled out and got $90.

[Julez9]

So are most of you guys visiting in March or April?

[Soulofheaven8]

I wish the ASD could be on the weekend instead of two days in the middle of the week.

[M51]

My impressions from Monday at Columbia:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =8&t=25870

If you think you saw me there, you did. I was the only asian guy there (I'm suprised SoH didn't make it out there for the classy free food...)

[Soulofheaven8]

(I'm suprised SoH didn't make it out there for the classy free food...)

Would've loved to, but unfortunately was stuck in class all day.

Are you still going to one of the ASDs?

I was the only asian guy there

That's pretty surprising; how many people were there total?

[HJM]

Can you also take classes in other graduate departments, like SIPA? And if so, do they count towards your law degree? (sorry if its a stupid question--totally ignorant about such issues)

[M51]

SoH: Not sure about the ASDs. I can't imagine that the ASDs would be too much more helpful, altho getting to meet more people and eating more free food are both nice perks. I'm considering it. Plus, they gave out Law School T-Shirts today... you know... the ones they don't actually sell at the store. I'd def go to ASDs if they give out more T-shirts there.

HJM: You can take up to a certain # of credits in other departments during 2L and 3L and have them count towards your law degree. (I think it's some rediculously high # like 20). Not sure what SIPA is though.

[Ben Matlock]

...

[NewHere]

Can you also take classes in other graduate departments, like SIPA? And if so, do they count towards your law degree?

Yes and yes, but not in your first year. We're allowed to take up to (I think) 10 credits' worth of courses outside of the law school which are counted towards the law degree. (That's almost one full semester.) You have to apply and explain why these courses are valuable for you as a future lawyer, but from what I've heard this criterion is fairly flexible: language courses are OK, business, politics and that kind of thing are all OK. Something like "Martial arts in the 12th Century" may be rejected.

The credits count towards your law degree, but the grades do not count in computing your law degree GPA.