Michigan 2012 Forum

[rightthat]

Regarding the Summer Start, how does the fact that you only take two doctrinal courses (and three total) change what you need to take in subsequent semesters, if at all? Is it easy to make up that extra course?

FWIW I am currently strongly considering Michigan (Summer Start) and plan to visit during the March ASW. Columbia and NYU (amongst others, but those are the two ranked above U-M) acceptances are going to make my decision difficult, but something about Michigan and Ann Arbor is really compelling to me - the nice Dean's scholly from UMich is also a factor. If only Michigan would considering giving me additional need-based grant money.

eta necessary preposition

the rest of the doctrinal courses (4) are spread among the remaining two semesters and you can take whatever electives for the balance.

Cool. Thanks awesome. So I take it that you would just wind up taking one less elective over the course of your career than you otherwise might?

[twinkletoes]

So I'm planning on visiting a friend in Chicago after the Michigan ASW in March. What's the best way to get there? I'm looking at Megabus, which is super cheap but has mixed reviews on Yelp, versus taking Amtrak which is more expensive but maybe more dependable. But I also have no idea where the train station is in ann arbor in relation to the university, and the bus i know picks up from somewhere on campus. Any advice would be much appreciated!

[granitemuse]

I'm going to Chicago after the March ASW too! is Megabus a good option?

[neverborn]

megabus is well... a bus. it's often late, but meh.

amtrak is awfulterriblefailure. it's late consistently and there are nearly always "signal problems" - the low end of reports for amtrak a2->chicago time is 7 hours and I have heard a report of over 14.

stay the hell away from that shit. fly from DTW before doing that.

[WIdan]

So I'm planning on visiting a friend in Chicago after the Michigan ASW in March. What's the best way to get there? I'm looking at Megabus, which is super cheap but has mixed reviews on Yelp, versus taking Amtrak which is more expensive but maybe more dependable. But I also have no idea where the train station is in ann arbor in relation to the university, and the bus i know picks up from somewhere on campus. Any advice would be much appreciated!

I'm going to Chicago after the March ASW too! is Megabus a good option?

I just registered for the March weekend and at this point I'm planning to make the drive from Madison. I'll probably go around Chicago to avoid the worst of the traffic, but I can get you close if you're interested.

[lilybbloom]

is anyone in the chicago area driving up to ann arbor for the april asw? i was going to take megabus, but i'd love to drive with someone and pitch in for gas.

[becca87]

I'm considering emailing the admissions office and asking if I can switch from fall to summer start...I'm a little worried about going straight from undergrad to law school in like 2 weeks, but I think I could handle it, and other than that, summer start seems like an attractive option. Have any of you guys had experience with this?

[awesomepossum]

I'm considering emailing the admissions office and asking if I can switch from fall to summer start...I'm a little worried about going straight from undergrad to law school in like 2 weeks, but I think I could handle it, and other than that, summer start seems like an attractive option. Have any of you guys had experience with this?

A lot of people do summer start right after undergrad and it seems to be okay. I think it helps that you're taking fewer classes than most folks usually do.

Usually switching from fall the summer is no problem. This year (fall/summer '08) was unusual and summer was actually over-subscribed and they were getting volunteers to switch from summer to fall.

[seychelles]

Thanks for all the replies regarding food in the LC...I'm still debating the issue. Right now, I'm leaning toward living in the LC for the first year to make it easier for me to get the feel of Ann Arbor, as I won't have a car.

What about preview weekends? I have finals during the March ASW, so if I go to an ASW, it will be in April. Anyone else for April?

[TrojanBadger]

Thanks for all the replies regarding food in the LC...I'm still debating the issue. Right now, I'm leaning toward living in the LC for the first year to make it easier for me to get the feel of Ann Arbor, as I won't have a car.

What about preview weekends? I have finals during the March ASW, so if I go to an ASW, it will be in April. Anyone else for April?

Is it really stupid that I decided which ASW to go to on the basis of not missing Spring Break?

Is it really stupid that I know the answer to that question and still don't care?

April it is!!

[itzjulz]

megabus is well... a bus. it's often late, but meh.

amtrak is awfulterriblefailure. it's late consistently and there are nearly always "signal problems" - the low end of reports for amtrak a2->chicago time is 7 hours and I have heard a report of over 14.

stay the hell away from that shit. fly from DTW before doing that.

+1

I took Amtrak home to Chicago from Detroit over the holidays. over 2 hours late, and I have heard reports of worse. Megabus has its moments, but for the most part is pretty reliable. The only problem with flying is getting to the airport from A2 - by the time you've made the travel to the airport, checked in, flown, gotten off the plane, and taken the train back into the city - it equates to about the same amount of time as taking the bus. If you're going to go public trans, I vote for Megabus. Lately they've even been showing movies on the bus - last time was Casino Royale

Hopefully Michigan lets me in, and I'll be able to join you all at ASW I'd be interested in chipping in for gas for a lift back to Chicago as well, otherwise it's Megabus for me too

[twinkletoes]

thanks for the transportation advice everyone. WIdan - that would be fantastic if possible! i'll PM you to see if we can work something out. now all i have to do is cross my fingers for some nice-ish weather otherwise i'm going to have to invest in some winter appropriate clothing for the trip.

[hoosier1508]

Thanks for all the replies regarding food in the LC...I'm still debating the issue. Right now, I'm leaning toward living in the LC for the first year to make it easier for me to get the feel of Ann Arbor, as I won't have a car.

What about preview weekends? I have finals during the March ASW, so if I go to an ASW, it will be in April. Anyone else for April?

Is it really stupid that I decided which ASW to go to on the basis of not missing Spring Break?

Is it really stupid that I know the answer to that question and still don't care?

April it is!!

Signed up for April as well. Only week I have any flexibility with my work schedule to take some vacation.

[verdandi]

wow, lots of Chicagoans here! I'm so sorry to hear about the Amtrak thing -- I was hoping that would be a better option with my fiance in Chicago for the next three years

Anyone start looking for housing in Michigan yet? The Lawyer's Club looks nice but I've gotten used to living in my own apartment... are you guys already looking for a place or waiting for more stuff to become available?

[neverborn]

wow, lots of Chicagoans here! I'm so sorry to hear about the Amtrak thing -- I was hoping that would be a better option with my fiance in Chicago for the next three years

Anyone start looking for housing in Michigan yet? The Lawyer's Club looks nice but I've gotten used to living in my own apartment... are you guys already looking for a place or waiting for more stuff to become available?

use the megabus, or the real credited response, a car. that's how i see my g/f in chicago

just say no to the lawyer's club

[vidhartha]

Anyone getting the phone calls from current students during the phoneathon? They keep calling, but I don't have any questions right now, don't they know I've already committed to UM.

[etwake]

I just got a call and e-mail from a 2L as well. Pretty excited!

[becca87]

I got a call from a 1L last night and we've been emailing back and forth. She's been really helpful. I talked to her about summer start...I think I'm going to email admissions tomorrow and ask them if I can switch. I've been really back and forth about it, but it seems like a good option.

[ndnlawdc]

Anyone getting the phone calls from current students during the phoneathon? They keep calling, but I don't have any questions right now, don't they know I've already committed to UM.

Though I haven't committed to UM, I think it's impressive that UM continues to "woo" you despite your commitment. It's not like they snagged your deposit and left you for dead.

[lilybbloom]

how much is the first deposit/when is it due? i don't have the materials with me and I can't find it on the website- thanks!

also, is it reasonable to think that i'll be able to have time to drive down to chicago 1-2 times/month to see my bf? and that i'll have time for him to come visit once a month? i'm getting really nervous about the long distance thing and the only way I feel like I'll get through it is if we see each other every 2 weeks or so.

[awesomepossum]

Anyone getting the phone calls from current students during the phoneathon? They keep calling, but I don't have any questions right now, don't they know I've already committed to UM.

Though I haven't committed to UM, I think it's impressive that UM continues to "woo" you despite your commitment. It's not like they snagged your deposit and left you for dead.

Admissions doesn't tell us to give you guys the hard sell. I think it's more that they want you guys to know that there are a lot of students here who care about the incoming class and the people that will make up our school community. Additionally, if there's something that is of concern to you, the student who calls you will most likely give you their best assessment of that aspect of the school.

[Flowah]

I suppose this would be the best place to ask this question.

I've been accepted to Michigan and UVA. Michigan just gave me 30k total, no word from UVA yet. Michigan's letter to me though, says "Please be aware that once we hvae awarded a merit scholarship, it is not our practice to 'compete' with awards from other schools. But while we can never increase an award that we have made, we would be very happy to discuss any concerns you may have about financing your education." Emphasis mine.

I had been thinking of leveraging UVA v. Michigan if I can get UVA to match or exceed 30k. Is that just something they put in their letters to discourage it without really meaning it? Or is it absolutely "never."

[Alexandria]

Hmm... I don't really know. I didn't have an award from Michigan at all, and they gave me money when I told them how much another school gave me. And the same tactic worked for a friend of mine. But I don't really know of anyone (but that doesn't mean much, since people don't go around talking about scholarships once they're at school) who had an award and then got it increased.

[Flowah]

So I can assume if you didn't get an award originally, that you didn't get a letter specifically stating that it is not their policy to increase award amounts?

However, your experience is still "Good news everyone!" It seems that they can be influenced into changing their initial amounts. If someone else could weigh in, I'd appreciate it.

[Alexandria]

Right, I never got any kind of letter until after I told them they were my first choice, but that I had a scholarship from my second.

But I've always wondered whether I jumped the gun and didn't wait long enough to find out whether Michigan was going to offer me money. Because I actually didn't intend to talk to them about it so soon... I mentioned it to a student who contacted me through emailathon, and he forwarded my email to Dean Z. Like... he was meaning to be helpful, I'm sure... and it was helpful, probably.