Michigan 2012 Forum

[06072010]

Did you guys see... damn, I can't remember if it was the 1L video or the 3L video from Mr. Wolverine, using the entry to the library as a golf course, with the elevator as the hole.

Was he imitating Professor X?

[Alexandria]

nooooo

[rightthat]

middle - middle.

So I'm quite late to this party, but since it's been a few days since Primus's class and I can't remember precisely how the conversation went in the class would you say that "middle - middle" means middle of entire room as in last row of wooden chairs before folding audience seats start? If so, I think you were the student who said hi to me as I sat down in the row of folding chairs closest to the front of the class.

As for the ASW in general: it was great! I had a really good time and would probably ramble on a bit but am sort of tired after having read through most of what others have commented on and found that I have not much of originality to add other than to say that I agree with most of what has been said, especially the positives about feel and perception of student collegiality and happiness.

Objection! - Thanks for getting the +/- discussion going. I enjoyed reading through it. FWIW I believe I was at your table for the student panel. I was sitting on your left and surmised your TLS identity. So now you know who I am more or less, I guess. Seemed only fair.

I may post a more coherent formulation of my experience at Michigan and in A2 at some point, but suffice it for now that I met a lot of people that I liked (both current and admitted students), very few that I didn't (I guess I didn't encounter the infamous d-bag), and the town and campus felt like "home."

Oh, what the heck, here's some thoughts: the negatives as I saw it were fairly minor things like the somewhat worn feeling/appearance of the inside of Hutchins. I do wish that they had maybe been just a little less laid back - I liked it, but I don't think it would have hurt to have brought in a few superstar alums or something of that nature (NYU brought in the presiding partner of Cravath, a founding partner of Wachtell, the founder of United Health Group, and several judges). That said, NYU and Columbia both seemed to be putting on more of a "show," throwing money around, and just generally pulling out more stops to impress as opposed to simply inviting us the admitted students in to their home to get to know them and see if we fit, which is what I felt that Michigan was aiming for. The New York schools (my only other ASWs for comparison at this point) were also great and I had a good time there as well, but I didn't get the same sense that what I was seeing was what I would be getting if I actually chose to attend.

I haven't made a final decision yet, but I had high expectations going into the visit and came away feeling like I could definitely choose Michigan and have no regrets ( ... though if Harvard decides to surprise me with an offer of admission that would make my decision much more difficult than it currently is with Columbia as U-M's foil ... ). Poor Objection!

My two cents re: Dean Caminker's comments on Michigan's place in USNews are that I thought he handled it rather well. I was pleased that he at least gave a thoughtful and pointed response as opposed to simply backhanding the question away. I think the question was not out of line, but maybe it could have been framed more gracefully. A better question might have asked him to explain why we should believe that the prestige and perception of Michigan Law is secure (USNews being part of that equation).

[rightthat]

hdg - I could pretty much add +1 to every item on your list, but I just wanted to highlight what I believe are a few that stood out to me as things that made me go "yeah ... that's what I thought too." BTW we were most definitely on the same tour. I was wearing a black beanie and gray jacket. If you could school spirit like it was water, our tour guide would be like a pristine mountain spring and M-branded water would replace Dasani on store shelves.

Just got back from the weekend, and I was thoroughly impressed. Here were my pros and cons, fwiw:

-Mock class/class visit: These were both some of my favorite events of the entire weekend. I disagree with the poster before- I was perfectly happy with how the mock class was run. There was no way they could run it like a real class when they gave us the case info the night before, and I think it was more helpful to observe the real thing in action at the class visit. Professor Sherman was freaking amazing- I know they videotaped that talk, and I hope they put it up somewhere, because it was probably my favorite hour of the entire weekend.

-The fact that undergrads apparently freak out and are in awe when they find out you're a law student (my tour guide had been an undergrad at UM, and he equated it to seeing a unicorn). Btw, I know this is a stupid and egotistical one, but hey, it's kind of cool

-smoking in restaurants/bars in michigan. I did not know they allowed this, and it's definitely a turn off

[motownsaint]

They videotaped Clark's mock class? Anyone know where to find it?

[yesofcourse]

I haven't been keeping up with how to interpret Michigan decisions besides that it is bad news if you have gone to decision but cannot log into the admitted students site. I went to decision at Michigan on 3/23 but cannot log in. Does this necessarily mean that I was not accepted? Also, are you emailed if you were put on the waitlist or anything? I have not recieved anything from them so what am I to think.

[hdg315]

Which page can't you log into? The blue page? Then that's okay.

If this page doesn't work:
http://cgi2.www.law.umich.edu/AdmitInfo/login.aspx

Then, I'm pretty sure its not an acceptance.

[melda]

.

[mightydinosaur]

I have a question for people who went to March ASW. Did anybody go on the jogging tour of Ann Arbor with Dean Z?

I'm going to April ASW, and I read about the jogging tour on the schedule and think it sounds totally awesome, but I'm no pro jogger. If anybody here went, how was it? How long was the route, and about how fast did people jog? Was the tour itself worthwhile?

Of course, even if I can handle the jog, that only matters if I can drag myself out of West Coast time enough to get up before 8 in the morning. We'll see how that goes!

[hdg315]

I have a question for people who went to March ASW. Did anybody go on the jogging tour of Ann Arbor with Dean Z?

I'm going to April ASW, and I read about the jogging tour on the schedule and think it sounds totally awesome, but I'm no pro jogger. If anybody here went, how was it? How long was the route, and about how fast did people jog? Was the tour itself worthwhile?

Of course, even if I can handle the jog, that only matters if I can drag myself out of West Coast time enough to get up before 8 in the morning. We'll see how that goes!

I was on the tour- we had a surprisingly high turnout, maybe 12-15 people (earlier she told a story about a year when only 1 showed up, granted it was snowing).

I was surprised that it actually turned out to be more like a run than a "jogging tour." Dean Z didn't really do much tour-guiding (though she jokingly made some pretty hilarious remarks- "This is the life sciences building, which looks like a factory. I think they manufacture people there")

The pace was pretty easy, but it was pretty long. We did maybe 2.5-3 miles by the time we got back to the law school. Then, half the people (including Dean Z) peeled off and left, and a current student took us another 2 miles or so around the football stadium, which was awesome. I'm not really a runner (run mayyybe 3-4 miles a week), but I didn't think it was too bad. And it was nice to get to talk to Dean Z in a smaller group.

[nhambley]

Jog was sweet...I'd say if you are not too "tired" after the bar night, then it is a great time.

As a lazy runner from California, I recommend wearing pants.....damn.....

[Alexandria]

OK, I'm officially an orientation leader for you peeps.

[tl]

I'm an orientation leader too! I only applied yesterday. That was quick.

[awesomepossum]

I'm considering it. I can't get over thinking we're just going to be monstrously busy at the beginning of next semester.

[tl]

I'm considering it. I can't get over thinking we're just going to be monstrously busy at the beginning of next semester.

Doing what though? OCI will be over, and it's really only one day. Do it!

[motownsaint]

Any of you current Ls got an opinion on MAP?

[awesomepossum]

do it. it's awesome.


the school stuff you learn...is pretty useless. The cultural stuff......funny but useless.

The great part is you meet a bunch of students in DIFFERENT SECTIONS before law school starts. It's an awesome thing to be in law school with no work.

Many of my closest friends right now are people I met in MAP who I might not have met otherwise.

Basically you shore up your liver and have a good time for a week on the law school's dime.

[motownsaint]

do it. it's awesome.


the school stuff you learn...is pretty useless. The cultural stuff......funny but useless.

The great part is you meet a bunch of students in DIFFERENT SECTIONS before law school starts. It's an awesome thing to be in law school with no work.

Many of my closest friends right now are people I met in MAP who I might not have met otherwise.

Basically you shore up your liver and have a good time for a week on the law school's dime.

Do SSers have time to participate?

[dem]

Many of my closest friends right now are people I met in MAP who I might not have met otherwise.

I thought MAP only had people from EFGH. Haha.

MAP was cool. Possum is right: the cultural ice-breakers are dumb. Other than that, it's a great way to get into and settle in Ann Arbor before everyone else does and on the school's wallet. You also get to meet some cool people and basically undergo a few days of unremitting debauchery.

Then orientation begins. Then schools begins.

I will be a MAP leader next year. I look forward to helping out, young grasshoppers.

[awesomepossum]

Summer starters have their own MAP. It's a bit truncated, but it's the same idea I think. However, it only has summer starters in it.

[jdn012]

I was wondering if anybody knew whether Michigan negotiates $$. I didn't receive anything from them but just got a decent offer from UVA. I would like to seriously consider Michigan but without any merit I just don't know if it's possible. Any suggestions?

[dem]

Summer starters have their own MAP. It's a bit truncated, but it's the same idea I think. However, it only has summer starters in it.

LOL yeah kind of defeats the purpose of getting to meet people outside your section.

[dem]

I was wondering if anybody knew whether Michigan negotiates $$. I didn't receive anything from them but just got a decent offer from UVA. I would like to seriously consider Michigan but without any merit I just don't know if it's possible. Any suggestions?

They do. Call 'em up and see what you can wrangle out of their deep pockets.

[Anhimal]

middle - middle.

So I'm quite late to this party, but since it's been a few days since Primus's class and I can't remember precisely how the conversation went in the class would you say that "middle - middle" means middle of entire room as in last row of wooden chairs before folding audience seats start? If so, I think you were the student who said hi to me as I sat down in the row of folding chairs closest to the front of the class.

As for the ASW in general: it was great! I had a really good time and would probably ramble on a bit but am sort of tired after having read through most of what others have commented on and found that I have not much of originality to add other than to say that I agree with most of what has been said, especially the positives about feel and perception of student collegiality and happiness.

Objection! - Thanks for getting the +/- discussion going. I enjoyed reading through it. FWIW I believe I was at your table for the student panel. I was sitting on your left and surmised your TLS identity. So now you know who I am more or less, I guess. Seemed only fair.

I may post a more coherent formulation of my experience at Michigan and in A2 at some point, but suffice it for now that I met a lot of people that I liked (both current and admitted students), very few that I didn't (I guess I didn't encounter the infamous d-bag), and the town and campus felt like "home."

Oh, what the heck, here's some thoughts: the negatives as I saw it were fairly minor things like the somewhat worn feeling/appearance of the inside of Hutchins. I do wish that they had maybe been just a little less laid back - I liked it, but I don't think it would have hurt to have brought in a few superstar alums or something of that nature (NYU brought in the presiding partner of Cravath, a founding partner of Wachtell, the founder of United Health Group, and several judges). That said, NYU and Columbia both seemed to be putting on more of a "show," throwing money around, and just generally pulling out more stops to impress as opposed to simply inviting us the admitted students in to their home to get to know them and see if we fit, which is what I felt that Michigan was aiming for. The New York schools (my only other ASWs for comparison at this point) were also great and I had a good time there as well, but I didn't get the same sense that what I was seeing was what I would be getting if I actually chose to attend.

I haven't made a final decision yet, but I had high expectations going into the visit and came away feeling like I could definitely choose Michigan and have no regrets ( ... though if Harvard decides to surprise me with an offer of admission that would make my decision much more difficult than it currently is with Columbia as U-M's foil ... ). Poor Objection!

My two cents re: Dean Caminker's comments on Michigan's place in USNews are that I thought he handled it rather well. I was pleased that he at least gave a thoughtful and pointed response as opposed to simply backhanding the question away. I think the question was not out of line, but maybe it could have been framed more gracefully. A better question might have asked him to explain why we should believe that the prestige and perception of Michigan Law is secure (USNews being part of that equation).

After reading about the March ASW, I am really intrigued by the rude question and the great response thing to which everyone refers. Is anyone willing to share with us what was asked and was was said? I doubt the April ASW's Q&A will be as controversial. Plus it'd be nice to hear what the dean had to say.

[hdg315]

After reading about the March ASW, I am really intrigued by the rude question and the great response thing to which everyone refers. Is anyone willing to share with us what was asked and was was said? I doubt the April ASW's Q&A will be as controversial. Plus it'd be nice to hear what the dean had to say.

It wasn't quite as controversial as maybe our conversations on the board made it. I would say it caused a tiny bit of a stir in the prospective student convos immediately after, but most people weren't talking about it (and probably didn't remember it) by the end- it was just something I had mentioned in an earlier post, and some other people commented on it.

Basically, a girl said the Dean something like "Obviously Michigan has dropped pretty far in the rankings for the last few decades, can you tell us why?"- I know this doesn't sound obviously rude, but the way she said it came across that way to me. And I loved the Dean's response; he really went into depth to talk about what he sees as the flaws in the rankings. He did it in a very methodical manner, and it didn't sound like whining (he basically described how the rankings tend to bias towards small private schools).