Rutgers-Newark Class of 2012 Forum

[phooey182]

So I just met someone who graduated from Michigan Law School and spent 5 years working at a mid-sized firm in NY before giving up law to flip houses.

He says he wished he had taken a prep course like BarBri before law school. I explained Rutger's position on the prep courses. He said he couldn't understand why a school would recommend against them. Ugh, sooooo confusing! Maybe I'll do something in the middle like read some of the E&E stuff. I just don't feel like paying for a formal class. Anyone doing some 'studying' during the summer? Right now I'm reading Getting to Maybe.

On a positive note, he said while he was working in NY, he met a lot of Rutgers graduates working all over the city, and they were just as good as any other law school graduate.

His final piece of advice was to put as much effort into the first year and get stellar grades. "First year is the most important year", he said.

[Riles246]

So I just met someone who graduated from Michigan Law School and spent 5 years working at a mid-sized firm in NY before giving up law to flip houses.

He says he wished he had taken a prep course like BarBri before law school. I explained Rutger's position on the prep courses. He said he couldn't understand why a school would recommend against them. Ugh, sooooo confusing! Maybe I'll do something in the middle like read some of the E&E stuff. I just don't feel like paying for a formal class. Anyone doing some 'studying' during the summer? Right now I'm reading Getting to Maybe.

On a positive note, he said while he was working in NY, he met a lot of Rutgers graduates working all over the city, and they were just as good as any other law school graduate.

His final piece of advice was to put as much effort into the first year and get stellar grades. "First year is the most important year", he said.

I'm not doing any real studying, and its interesting that the guy you met said he wished he did a prep course- that's definitely the first I've heard of somebody saying that. If it weren't for the profs at the R-N open house saying how much they dislike the summer prep courses, I probably would have ended up taking one. I ordered Getting to Maybe last week along with another book that was mentioned on this site. But, other than those two, I don't have any plans for studying.

I just finished the CPA exam so I need a few months of relaxation before I pound my brain with studying again. I'll probably pick up some entertaining books this summer, as I haven't read for fun in probably 2 or 3 years. I'm really excited to start school though- I've been working for about 3 years and I've found that you don't get to "think" much. I put it in quotes because you definitely do think about your job, but its such a narrow concentration and you rarely get a chance to debate viewpoints and interpretations and such. I'm excited to start thinking again!

[macaw]

I talked to a 1L that went to Rutgers and he studied hard before law school and told me that he completely wasted his time. He said it wasn't worth it and he should have enjoyed his family and friends instead. He also said he was tired halfway through the semester, and if he hadn't studied during the summer, he would have been more focus and he would have probably done better in his exams. He also said some of stuff he read during the summer went against the professors teaching. I guess i'll listen to the professors when they say to relax during the summer. I'll just save my energy until the semester starts.

[dapoetic1]

At the rate people are going we're going to have to dissuade high school sophomores to not buy Bar Exam prep books in order to prepare for 1L year.

Listen peeps---law schools have been teaching the law for a hundred years. Every year tens of thousands of bright eyed 1Ls show up to the first day of class. Each and every one of them scared stiff that they have no idea what's about to happen and you know what...nothing is going to change that.
Law school is designed to teach you a number of things, a way to think, a way to talk, a way to communicate. If you could do it on your own and get ahead then Concord Law School Online would be much more popular. As it is we all pay $30-40K to have a professor toture us with unreadable statues and then test us on seemingly uncomprehendable scenarios. What exactly does one plan to get out of studying during the summer? How successful do you think you'll be at teaching yourself torts or contracts? Prep courses are good for 2 things when it comes to the law--LSAT and Bar Exam.
Everything in between should be left up to you learning from your professor and classmates.
Why pay a school all that money if you'r just going to teach yoursef.

If someone that didn't take a pre 1L Prep course, graduated from law school, worked for a law firm successfully before deciding on another career path I don't see how he has a relevant argument for why a prep course before law school is beneficial. Obvioulsy he made it through with no problem. There's no way I'm going to think I know more than the dozens of deans and professors that say don't worry about trying to study prior to 1L because it'll be a waste of time. If they all have confidene in their methods of teaching and they think I can learn everything I need to know during school then I'm taking that at face value. I'll listenn to the advice of the paid professionals before I listen to other pre1L's and disgruntled former attorney's. Everyone wants to do well but if there was a way to get ahead and to ensure that you did a good job in law school then law professors would tell you. They want you to have good grades. But as it stands they say the opposite. Trying to study prior to 1L year is pointless and a waste of time. Read a good book, read the newspaper, do a sudoku, go to the beach. We're all going to be up to our eyeball in study material in a few months, why add on more torture only to find out it's exactly what everyone said it would be--useless!
<-----.02

[premierock]

hey guys quick question...is there a january start program at rutgers?

[premierock]

bump

[Zeph]

bump

premierock did u get in?

[premierock]

bump

premierock did u get in?

No. I am curious if they have a January start. If they did, I would toss around the idea of retaking the LSAT in Sept. and trying to get in for January.

[Zeph]

bump

premierock did u get in?

No. I am curious if they have a January start. If they did, I would toss around the idea of retaking the LSAT in Sept. and trying to get in for January.

Doh! was gonna congratulate you =) ...what's the deal with them. I havent heard anything in a while and I wonder if they accepted anyone from the waitlist... I dont see anything on LSN.

[premierock]

bump

premierock did u get in?

No. I am curious if they have a January start. If they did, I would toss around the idea of retaking the LSAT in Sept. and trying to get in for January.

Doh! was gonna congratulate you =) ...what's the deal with them. I havent heard anything in a while and I wonder if they accepted anyone from the waitlist... I dont see anything on LSN.

I called last week (I think), and got a very firm "no movement yet". She did say that she does expect some sort of wait list movement but doesn't know when. I wish they had a second deposit due, because that really gets things rolling. With the one deposit I feel like some people may never withdraw their seat, and can wait until late this summer to make a decision. I don't understand how someone can attend a school if you get off the waitlist so late.

[Zeph]

I called last week (I think), and got a very firm "no movement yet". She did say that she does expect some sort of wait list movement but doesn't know when. I wish they had a second deposit due, because that really gets things rolling. With the one deposit I feel like some people may never withdraw their seat, and can wait until late this summer to make a decision. I don't understand how someone can attend a school if you get off the waitlist so late.

meh we shall see what happens...I ran out of things to update them with haha...

[premierock]

I called last week (I think), and got a very firm "no movement yet". She did say that she does expect some sort of wait list movement but doesn't know when. I wish they had a second deposit due, because that really gets things rolling. With the one deposit I feel like some people may never withdraw their seat, and can wait until late this summer to make a decision. I don't understand how someone can attend a school if you get off the waitlist so late.

meh we shall see what happens...I ran out of things to update them with haha...

lol...well good luck. i hope your head isnt spinning as much as mine is about this crap.

[Zeph]

I called last week (I think), and got a very firm "no movement yet". She did say that she does expect some sort of wait list movement but doesn't know when. I wish they had a second deposit due, because that really gets things rolling. With the one deposit I feel like some people may never withdraw their seat, and can wait until late this summer to make a decision. I don't understand how someone can attend a school if you get off the waitlist so late.

meh we shall see what happens...I ran out of things to update them with haha...

lol...well good luck. i hope your head isnt spinning as much as mine is about this crap.

o its spinning alright haha but lets see what the summer brings

[dapoetic1]

bump

premierock did u get in?

No. I am curious if they have a January start. If they did, I would toss around the idea of retaking the LSAT in Sept. and trying to get in for January.

Rutgers -Newark does NOT have a January start date. They only have a fall start date.
But Rutgers-Camden does have alternative start dates

[Zeph]

This may be random but what exam software does Rutgers use? I wanna buy a mac and its compatible at the school I will currently attend, but I want to see if its the same at RU. I don't wanna have to run Bootcamp etc and would rather get a laptop that can be used at either school with no modifications.

[dapoetic1]

This may be random but what exam software does Rutgers use? I wanna buy a mac and its compatible at the school I will currently attend, but I want to see if its the same at RU. I don't wanna have to run Bootcamp etc and would rather get a laptop that can be used at either school with no modifications.

Rutgers just sent out a computer requirements email that "if you want to take final exams on your laptop it must run at least Windows xP or Mac OSX and Windows Vista will also be supported", also it must have 802.11b wireless capability, some rooms have hard wired ethernet but all have wireless
Min Req's
Windows xp-Pentium 4
1GB RAM 40GB HD
Removable media or USB
ethernet connection

[Zeph]

This may be random but what exam software does Rutgers use? I wanna buy a mac and its compatible at the school I will currently attend, but I want to see if its the same at RU. I don't wanna have to run Bootcamp etc and would rather get a laptop that can be used at either school with no modifications.

Rutgers just sent out a computer requirements email that "if you want to take final exams on your laptop it must run at least Windows xP or Mac OSX and Windows Vista will also be supported", also it must have 802.11b wireless capability, some rooms have hard wired ethernet but all have wireless
Min Req's
Windows xp-Pentium 4
1GB RAM 40GB HD
Removable media or USB
ethernet connection

Thanks dude =)

[brianga]

This may be random but what exam software does Rutgers use? I wanna buy a mac and its compatible at the school I will currently attend, but I want to see if its the same at RU. I don't wanna have to run Bootcamp etc and would rather get a laptop that can be used at either school with no modifications.

Exam4

[dapoetic1]

This may be random but what exam software does Rutgers use? I wanna buy a mac and its compatible at the school I will currently attend, but I want to see if its the same at RU. I don't wanna have to run Bootcamp etc and would rather get a laptop that can be used at either school with no modifications.

Rutgers just sent out a computer requirements email that "if you want to take final exams on your laptop it must run at least Windows xP or Mac OSX and Windows Vista will also be supported", also it must have 802.11b wireless capability, some rooms have hard wired ethernet but all have wireless
Min Req's
Windows xp-Pentium 4
1GB RAM 40GB HD
Removable media or USB
ethernet connection

Thanks dude =)

It occurred to me that just because they accept OSX to run the software for final exams does not necessarily mean that you won't need to run bootcamp. They may just support an Intel Mac running XP/Vista for purposes of running the software. They don't specifically say you have to run bootcamp but there may be the implication that the software runs on a "windows-based" platform and either native Windows or the bootcamp/parallels version may work.
If you are leaning towards a Mac and the bootcamp is a deal breaker for you then maybe you should call the school directly to get an answer. No sense in spending money only to find out it's exactly what you don't want!

[phooey182]

I'll be getting a Mac. Mac > Windows

[dapoetic1]

I'll be getting a Mac. Mac > Windows

While I couldn't agree more I wanted to give the appearance of impartiality. I'm practicing for my days as a federal judge
I own just about every piece of electronics Apple makes--I can't help myself. I need Apple's love and affection. I like the way it makes me feel, and I look so darn cool

[Zeph]

I'll be getting a Mac. Mac > Windows

While I couldn't agree more I wanted to give the appearance of impartiality. I'm practicing for my days as a federal judge
I own just about every piece of electronics Apple makes--I can't help myself. I need Apple's love and affection. I like the way it makes me feel, and I look so darn cool

thanks for the info guys, i know the macs are hot so i will be leaning towards that

[phooey182]

I'll be getting a Mac. Mac > Windows

While I couldn't agree more I wanted to give the appearance of impartiality. I'm practicing for my days as a federal judge
I own just about every piece of electronics Apple makes--I can't help myself. I need Apple's love and affection. I like the way it makes me feel, and I look so darn cool

thanks for the info guys, i know the macs are hot so i will be leaning towards that

Be sure to use the student discount when ordering. Also I think you get a free iPod touch if you order online. I'm ordering the 13" Mac Laptop. I thought abot larger models, but lugging that stuff around can get annoying, especially with all the books we'll be carrying.

[Zeph]

I'll be getting a Mac. Mac > Windows

While I couldn't agree more I wanted to give the appearance of impartiality. I'm practicing for my days as a federal judge
I own just about every piece of electronics Apple makes--I can't help myself. I need Apple's love and affection. I like the way it makes me feel, and I look so darn cool

thanks for the info guys, i know the macs are hot so i will be leaning towards that

Be sure to use the student discount when ordering. Also I think you get a free iPod touch if you order online. I'm ordering the 13" Mac Laptop. I thought abot larger models, but lugging that stuff around can get annoying, especially with all the books we'll be carrying.

Yep I will be hittin up the free iPod and printer with my order. I too will get the 13" because the 12 just isnt worth the extra money

[addendum boy]

I'm currently in the apartment search for a student-friendly apartment in Newark or Jersey City. I came across this ad on Craigslist and I was wondering if anyone knows whether this area is a safe area? The property address is 751 Martin Luther King Blvd. Newark, NJ 07102 and the developer, TreeTop Development Corp., claims that this property and many of the buildings around this property have basically been renovated with brand new floors, ceramic tiles, new appliances, new fixtures, and state-of-the art security systems.

I've already looked at this location on Google Maps and I see that it is possible to walk from this property to campus and to Penn Station. The only question is, would you want to? Does anyone know if the area around this property is safe and whether the walk from this property to campus is actually a safe walk or do I need to put on a kevlar vest? Maybe a flak jacket?

--LinkRemoved--

This happened last night within feet of your future residence, if you are still contemplating moving there:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/0 ... y_was.html

Just thought I'd share, lol