Columbia Law School 2012! Forum

[particleman]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

[imchuckbass58]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

Finding a studio for less than $1400/month (excluding utilities) is tough in manhattan, unless you live in Harlem or Washington Heights, which while not blatantly dangerous, are not the nicest/most convenient neighborhoods compared with Morningside Heights. On the Upper West Side, a studio will run you at least $1500/month.

If you're willing to find a roomate, you can get it much lower. As low as $1000, though $1100-$1200 is more typical.

My personal opinion (have lived in NYC all my life) is you will not find a similar "quality" studio (location, furnishings, amenities) for a similar price. If price is your primary object, however, you could probably get something $200-$300 cheaper by sacrificing one of those things.

[imchuckbass58]

For what it's worth, I'm paying $1100 a month for a nice (but not luxury) doorman building on 96th and Amsterdam, but I am sharing an apartment with three other guys.

[paranoidjet]

People who have on campus apartments that cost 1600 or so - how are you guys paying for that? I mean I'm off campus paying 1375 and I'm sweating bullets at keeping under budget (I am psychotic about money, though).

[totebag]

.

[jmat]

Okay, so I've been crazy busy lately, but I am almost done working and we're all starting law school, this merits celebratory drinks and Mexican food. For those of y'all in NYC right now, I know a great place with good margaritas and awesome food on the Lower East Side that's pretty cheap. What's say we try to meet up some time in the first week of August. If this works for people let me know, also let me know what nights are good. I will post about this on Facebook and AdmitNet too and see if we can't get a whole bunch of us together.

[06132010]

Okay, so I've been crazy busy lately, but I am almost done working and we're all starting law school, this merits celebratory drinks and Mexican food. For those of y'all in NYC right now, I know a great place with good margaritas and awesome food on the Lower East Side that's pretty cheap. What's say we try to meet up some time in the first week of August. If this works for people let me know, also let me know what nights are good. I will post about this on Facebook and AdmitNet too and see if we can't get a whole bunch of us together.

yes.

[imchuckbass58]

I can do pretty much any time.

[specialist73]

Okay, so I've been crazy busy lately, but I am almost done working and we're all starting law school, this merits celebratory drinks and Mexican food. For those of y'all in NYC right now, I know a great place with good margaritas and awesome food on the Lower East Side that's pretty cheap. What's say we try to meet up some time in the first week of August. If this works for people let me know, also let me know what nights are good. I will post about this on Facebook and AdmitNet too and see if we can't get a whole bunch of us together.

sounds great!

my schedule's pretty flexible...

(and thanks for getting the organizational ball rolling, jmat!)

[frank_the_tank]

[whyamidoingthis]

Don't know if this is helpful for others but Chase has a promotion where you get $125 if you open a checking acct and set up a direct deposit. I was going to do it anyway but I don't mind getting paid for my money . I think the offer expires Aug 5.

[particleman]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

Today is my deposit deadline and the housing office is closed, so I've got a few questions in case anyone else already knows the answers:

1) The studio I was offered is furnished but I have furniture. Will UAH remove the furniture for me if I request it?

2) Can I rent for Fall term only or does it need to be for Fall and Spring? Or Fall, Spring, and Summer?

[deneuve39]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

Today is my deposit deadline and the housing office is closed, so I've got a few questions in case anyone else already knows the answers:

1) The studio I was offered is furnished but I have furniture. Will UAH remove the furniture for me if I request it?

2) Can I rent for Fall term only or does it need to be for Fall and Spring? Or Fall, Spring, and Summer?

1. I'm almost positive they won't remove the furniture for you. I remember at one of the ASPs I saw some apartments where people had propped up their UAH beds in the living room or in the hallway because they had new beds. Your best bet would be to find a storage place near campus and store the UAH furniture there (though I think that's fairly expensive).

2. I think the standard is that they last til May 31st but are automatically renewed (meaning that you still have to pay rent or find a subletter for the summer, even if you're living somewhere else. This website has more info: http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/ ... #CONTRACTS

[particleman]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

Today is my deposit deadline and the housing office is closed, so I've got a few questions in case anyone else already knows the answers:

1) The studio I was offered is furnished but I have furniture. Will UAH remove the furniture for me if I request it?

2) Can I rent for Fall term only or does it need to be for Fall and Spring? Or Fall, Spring, and Summer?

1. I'm almost positive they won't remove the furniture for you. I remember at one of the ASPs I saw some apartments where people had propped up their UAH beds in the living room or in the hallway because they had new beds. Your best bet would be to find a storage place near campus and store the UAH furniture there (though I think that's fairly expensive).

2. I think the standard is that they last til May 31st but are automatically renewed (meaning that you still have to pay rent or find a subletter for the summer, even if you're living somewhere else. This website has more info: http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/ ... #CONTRACTS

This is what I got from the link:

"With the exception of International House (I-House), student housing contracts terminate on May 31st. Contracts are renewable (with a standardized rent increase) annually in June for 12 months, provided that full-time student status in the same degree program is maintained and all other terms and conditions of the contract are met. If you expect to be out of town for the summer, you may wish to make arrangements to sublet your room or apartment for this period."

I read that to mean that you only need to find a subletter for the summer if you want to renew the contract and return in the fall?

[deneuve39]

Hey everyone. So I just got my housing assignment off the wait list (I declined my first assignment) and I got an efficiency in Lenfast. The location is obviously awesome but the rent works out to over $1600/month! My first reaction is that I could find a good place at a slightly farther location for significantly less. What do you all think? Am I undervaluing the convenience of living in law school housing and/or underestimating how much it will cost for me to live off campus?

Today is my deposit deadline and the housing office is closed, so I've got a few questions in case anyone else already knows the answers:

1) The studio I was offered is furnished but I have furniture. Will UAH remove the furniture for me if I request it?

2) Can I rent for Fall term only or does it need to be for Fall and Spring? Or Fall, Spring, and Summer?

1. I'm almost positive they won't remove the furniture for you. I remember at one of the ASPs I saw some apartments where people had propped up their UAH beds in the living room or in the hallway because they had new beds. Your best bet would be to find a storage place near campus and store the UAH furniture there (though I think that's fairly expensive).

2. I think the standard is that they last til May 31st but are automatically renewed (meaning that you still have to pay rent or find a subletter for the summer, even if you're living somewhere else. This website has more info: http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/ ... #CONTRACTS

This is what I got from the link:

"With the exception of International House (I-House), student housing contracts terminate on May 31st. Contracts are renewable (with a standardized rent increase) annually in June for 12 months, provided that full-time student status in the same degree program is maintained and all other terms and conditions of the contract are met. If you expect to be out of town for the summer, you may wish to make arrangements to sublet your room or apartment for this period."

I read that to mean that you only need to find a subletter for the summer if you want to renew the contract and return in the fall?

That's what I think too; however, I'm actually still a bit confused as to what happens if you still want to be in UAH housing but not in the same apartment. I'm guessing you need to re apply but I'm not sure when your new contract would start (maybe it depends on the place?)

[particleman]

Today is my deposit deadline and the housing office is closed, so I've got a few questions in case anyone else already knows the answers:

1) The studio I was offered is furnished but I have furniture. Will UAH remove the furniture for me if I request it?

2) Can I rent for Fall term only or does it need to be for Fall and Spring? Or Fall, Spring, and Summer?

1. I'm almost positive they won't remove the furniture for you. I remember at one of the ASPs I saw some apartments where people had propped up their UAH beds in the living room or in the hallway because they had new beds. Your best bet would be to find a storage place near campus and store the UAH furniture there (though I think that's fairly expensive).

2. I think the standard is that they last til May 31st but are automatically renewed (meaning that you still have to pay rent or find a subletter for the summer, even if you're living somewhere else. This website has more info: http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/ ... #CONTRACTS

This is what I got from the link:

"With the exception of International House (I-House), student housing contracts terminate on May 31st. Contracts are renewable (with a standardized rent increase) annually in June for 12 months, provided that full-time student status in the same degree program is maintained and all other terms and conditions of the contract are met. If you expect to be out of town for the summer, you may wish to make arrangements to sublet your room or apartment for this period."

I read that to mean that you only need to find a subletter for the summer if you want to renew the contract and return in the fall?

That's what I think too; however, I'm actually still a bit confused as to what happens if you still want to be in UAH housing but not in the same apartment. I'm guessing you need to re apply but I'm not sure when your new contract would start (maybe it depends on the place?)

"Students who elect not to renew their contracts and who later desire UAH accommodations must file a new application and will be placed on a Wait List for continuing students."

[SleekFire]

Don't know if this is helpful for others but Chase has a promotion where you get $125 if you open a checking acct and set up a direct deposit. I was going to do it anyway but I don't mind getting paid for my money . I think the offer expires Aug 5.

Hey Why, mind supplying more info on this?

( I share your sentiments exactly on this one )

Thanks..

[brokeyourcrayons]

On an unrelated tip:

Hi future classmates, let's be friends.

[whyamidoingthis]

Don't know if this is helpful for others but Chase has a promotion where you get $125 if you open a checking acct and set up a direct deposit. I was going to do it anyway but I don't mind getting paid for my money . I think the offer expires Aug 5.

Hey Why, mind supplying more info on this?

( I share your sentiments exactly on this one )

Thanks..

Hmmm this link --LinkRemoved-- is for $100 w the same conditions but the one they gave my was definitely for $125. I'll keep looking...it may be different bc I have a chase credit card.

[DrmgSprs]

I noticed someone on the CLS Admitnet forum for (future) 1Ls said the IT department provides Windows for free to be downloaded on a partitioned Mac during the orientation IT sessions. I couldn't find this anywhere on the website and haven't gotten a response from my email to IT like a week ago- does anyone know if this is true? I definitely don't want to have to pay for Windows.

[whyamidoingthis]

I noticed someone on the CLS Admitnet forum for (future) 1Ls said the IT department provides Windows for free to be downloaded on a partitioned Mac during the orientation IT sessions. I couldn't find this anywhere on the website and haven't gotten a response from my email to IT like a week ago- does anyone know if this is true? I definitely don't want to have to pay for Windows.

--LinkRemoved--

[DavidMorales]

The chase promotion for 125 is for moving and setting up a direct deposit checking accoung. You go to the post office and pick up a change of address card and it comes with a little slip detailing the promotion.

[frank_the_tank]

I noticed someone on the CLS Admitnet forum for (future) 1Ls said the IT department provides Windows for free to be downloaded on a partitioned Mac during the orientation IT sessions. I couldn't find this anywhere on the website and haven't gotten a response from my email to IT like a week ago- does anyone know if this is true? I definitely don't want to have to pay for Windows.

--LinkRemoved--

I don't think we're covered for that though

http://www.columbia.edu/acis/software/msagreement/

[paranoidjet]

Does anybody have any info as to when we'll get lists of textbooks we're required to buy next year? I've got the supplement stuff all figured out but the textbooks we need are still a mystery, correct?

[SleekFire]

Pretty sure booklists get released during orientation.

How did you workout all the supplements?! I have no idea what hornbooks, E&Es, briefs and all the rest of the stuff i cant remember are... I here people talking about them but I have no idea what they are!

It would be awesome if someone made a thread dissecting the major study aids- explaining what they are and how they work... . ::hint hint, nudge nudge:::