Columbia 2013 Forum

[CG614]

deposited. anyone know how/when we get our cls email address (I want to join the facebook network.. ashamed...)

I think the way to do it is to go here: http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/ ... ingstudent and click "click here to activate your email account." not sure when you'll be deep enough in the system for the registration to actually work, though - I deposited a couple weeks back and no dice yet.

edit: and... scratch that. I was just successful in making my account!

thanks. also what the hel lis with these ridiculous dean's certificate forms. do i really need to give this to someone at my old ug? wtf

Yeah, they seem needless to me. What do they prove? You already accepted the offer.

[maudlinstreet]

deposited. anyone know how/when we get our cls email address (I want to join the facebook network.. ashamed...)

I think the way to do it is to go here: http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/ ... ingstudent and click "click here to activate your email account." not sure when you'll be deep enough in the system for the registration to actually work, though - I deposited a couple weeks back and no dice yet.

edit: and... scratch that. I was just successful in making my account!

thanks. also what the hel lis with these ridiculous dean's certificate forms. do i really need to give this to someone at my old ug? wtf

Yeah, they seem needless to me. What do that prove? You already accepted the offer.

I mean, they just want to make sure you didn't lie on your application about any academic violations / other bad stuff.

it's a little bit annoying, but understandable I think. plus, all you have to do (or at least all I did for my stanford one) was send the dean's office of your university the form + a pre-stamped envelope addressed to Columbia and they'll take care of it.

[of Benito Cereno]

I mean the form makes it sound like the dean of students is supposed to know me personally or something.... very weird.
when are they due? june?
also, for the email address, I guess you can only do that once you appear in the directory?

[maudlinstreet]

I mean the form makes it sound like the dean of students is supposed to know me personally or something.... very weird.
when are they due? june?
also, for the email address, I guess you can only do that once you appear in the directory?

well on the dean's form it says, "note that it is not required that the dean or other adminsitrator know you personally. this appraisal is often simply a report based on an examination of your school records."

yeah, the submission deadline for the dean's certification is june 15th. and about the e-mail address: I think that's correct. you need a valid UNI in the system to make your e-mail address, and I think you get that when you appear in the directory.

[CG614]

I mean, they just want to make sure you didn't lie on your application about any academic violations / other bad stuff.

it's a little bit annoying, but understandable I think. plus, all you have to do (or at least all I did for my stanford one) was send the dean's office of your university the form + a pre-stamped envelope addressed to Columbia and they'll take care of it.

An official transcript does this too, but not a big deal. Minor annoyance and easy to do.

[blue5385]

I mean the form makes it sound like the dean of students is supposed to know me personally or something.... very weird.
when are they due? june?
also, for the email address, I guess you can only do that once you appear in the directory?

well on the dean's form it says, "note that it is not required that the dean or other adminsitrator know you personally. this appraisal is often simply a report based on an examination of your school records."

yeah, I called my UG and asked about the Dean's Certification because I had no idea what to send, other than the form from the CLS website. The person I spoke to said it's just checking a few boxes, and as long as you don't have any egregious violations on your record (like suspension or cheating) they will recommend you 'with enthusiasm' (or whatever the form says). That may vary from school to school, though.

I'd think people who receive a recommendation from a dean who actually knows them are in the minority.

[CanadianEH]

Deposit is down. See you all next year!

[parker09]

Just deposited too!

[CG614]

Just deposited too!

Deposit is down. See you all next year!

Awesome, see you all in the fall!

[iminlstrick]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

[Tofu]

Awesome, see you all in the fall!

I have that shirt in your avatar!

[huckabees]

Count me in as well. Very excited to join you guys!

[somewhatwayward]

maybe this isn't the right place to ask....but maybe one of you knows.....how often do 1L classes typically meet? every day? and how do we get assigned schedules?

oh, and is there any other paperwork besides the dean's certification?

[of Benito Cereno]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

don't go with university housing. i checked some out today and its a huge fucking ripoff. the 116th street building right across from the law school charges around 2k for total shithole slumesque apartments (the building itself is really just a complete dump). I get that the housing is convenient and the leasing process is simple but the prices for one bedrooms are not at all cheaper than the market rates in much nicer areas (also the university apartments and buildings are in horrid shape). Lenfest was kinda nice but nothing special and in Harlem (and the apartments are tiny and furnished with cheap bland furniture) and way over priced (you can live in much bigger apartments of similar quality in much nicer areas of the west side for the same price). I didn't get to look at lionsgate but i hear its nice enough (though also strangely expensive) but i'd feel weird about leasing an apartment i've never seen (how can they not have any pictures or viewings!) and also a student mentioned that at least for the next year there will be very loud construction in the building from 9-430!. Time to start looking on craigslist...

[holborn]

Sending in my deposit was both awesome and anti-climactic. I was expecting an email confirmation or something...

[CG614]

Sending in my deposit was both awesome and anti-climactic. I was expecting an email confirmation or something...

+1

[CG614]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

don't go with university housing. i checked some out today and its a huge fucking ripoff. the 116th street building right across from the law school charges around 2k for total shithole slumesque apartments (the building itself is really just a complete dump). I get that the housing is convenient and the leasing process is simple but the prices for one bedrooms are not at all cheaper than the market rates in much nicer areas (also the university apartments and buildings are in horrid shape). Lenfest was kinda nice but nothing special and in Harlem (and the apartments are tiny and furnished with cheap bland furniture) and way over priced (you can live in much bigger apartments of similar quality in much nicer areas of the west side for the same price). I didn't get to look at lionsgate but i hear its nice enough (though also strangely expensive) but i'd feel weird about leasing an apartment i've never seen (how can they not have any pictures or viewings!) and also a student mentioned that at least for the next year there will be very loud construction in the building from 9-430!. Time to start looking on craigslist...

Did you check out any apartment shares on 115? I was thinking Craigslist too, as there are some decent studios for around $1100 on there in Morningside area. But, I was thinking it may be worth it to live in University housing for 1L and then move off.

[of Benito Cereno]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

don't go with university housing. i checked some out today and its a huge fucking ripoff. the 116th street building right across from the law school charges around 2k for total shithole slumesque apartments (the building itself is really just a complete dump). I get that the housing is convenient and the leasing process is simple but the prices for one bedrooms are not at all cheaper than the market rates in much nicer areas (also the university apartments and buildings are in horrid shape). Lenfest was kinda nice but nothing special and in Harlem (and the apartments are tiny and furnished with cheap bland furniture) and way over priced (you can live in much bigger apartments of similar quality in much nicer areas of the west side for the same price). I didn't get to look at lionsgate but i hear its nice enough (though also strangely expensive) but i'd feel weird about leasing an apartment i've never seen (how can they not have any pictures or viewings!) and also a student mentioned that at least for the next year there will be very loud construction in the building from 9-430!. Time to start looking on craigslist...

Did you check out any apartment shares on 115? I was thinking Craigslist too, as there are some decent studios for around $1100 on there in Morningside area. But, I was thinking it may be worth it to live in University housing for 1L and then move off.

I didn't check out apartment shares on 115 because I'm going to be living with my SO (at least part of the week) so I need a 1 bedroom.

Anyways, a lot of people have messaged me asking what sort of options one can get outside of university housing. good question. well, morningside heights is kinda dominated by Columbia and morningside heights is kidna shitty and lacking nice housing options. I think its much better to look on the upper west side (an apartment in the 70s or 80s is maybe 10 minutes by subway to Columbia... so if thats too much for you to handle I think you're pretty ridiculous).
Here is an example of some nice one bedrooms on the upper west side (most are within two blocks of central park and are in very nice neighborhoods with great shops etc, also some have pools in the buildings!)

http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=86607
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=139970
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=153282
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=155434
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=144285
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=156284
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=97964
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=99449
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=126076
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=153728

clearly, you'd have to look in june or july as these apartments are available now but that won't be a problem. by and large these apartments are infinitely nicer than any CLS apartments and a much better area closer to the real nyc (that is to say the not depressing and rundown part north of the park). I love the CLS but I dont see why a fear of a 10 minute subway ride should keep me trapped in south harlem all year in a near criminally over priced garbage apartment.

[swc65]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

don't go with university housing. i checked some out today and its a huge fucking ripoff. the 116th street building right across from the law school charges around 2k for total shithole slumesque apartments (the building itself is really just a complete dump). I get that the housing is convenient and the leasing process is simple but the prices for one bedrooms are not at all cheaper than the market rates in much nicer areas (also the university apartments and buildings are in horrid shape). Lenfest was kinda nice but nothing special and in Harlem (and the apartments are tiny and furnished with cheap bland furniture) and way over priced (you can live in much bigger apartments of similar quality in much nicer areas of the west side for the same price). I didn't get to look at lionsgate but i hear its nice enough (though also strangely expensive) but i'd feel weird about leasing an apartment i've never seen (how can they not have any pictures or viewings!) and also a student mentioned that at least for the next year there will be very loud construction in the building from 9-430!. Time to start looking on craigslist...

Did you check out any apartment shares on 115? I was thinking Craigslist too, as there are some decent studios for around $1100 on there in Morningside area. But, I was thinking it may be worth it to live in University housing for 1L and then move off.

I didn't check out apartment shares on 115 because I'm going to be living with my SO (at least part of the week) so I need a 1 bedroom.

Anyways, a lot of people have messaged me asking what sort of options one can get outside of university housing. good question. well, morningside heights is kinda dominated by Columbia and morningside heights is kidna shitty and lacking nice housing options. I think its much better to look on the upper west side (an apartment in the 70s or 80s is maybe 10 minutes by subway to Columbia... so if thats too much for you to handle I think you're pretty ridiculous).
Here is an example of some nice one bedrooms on the upper west side (most are within two blocks of central park and are in very nice neighborhoods with great shops etc, also some have pools in the buildings!)

http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=86607
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=139970
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=153282
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=155434
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=144285
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=156284
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=97964
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page=details&id=99449
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=126076
http://www.anchornyc.com/page.cfm?page= ... &id=153728

clearly, you'd have to look in june or july as these apartments are available now but that won't be a problem. by and large these apartments are infinitely nicer than any CLS apartments and a much better area closer to the real nyc (that is to say the not depressing and rundown part north of the park). I love the CLS but I dont see why a fear of a 10 minute subway ride should keep me trapped in south harlem all year in a near criminally over priced garbage apartment.

What do you think about income requirements and about landlords not wanting to rent to a house full of students? Is it easy to get around these impediments? When I move down there it will be just me and my partner and we are both students. Where I used to live, it was very difficult to get a decent apartment unless one of the people on the lease had a steady income that could support the rent.

[andreea7]

I'm in as well!! Trying to figure out reasonably-priced housing (ah hahaha yea who am I kidding) relatively close to the LS...

don't go with university housing. i checked some out today and its a huge fucking ripoff. the 116th street building right across from the law school charges around 2k for total shithole slumesque apartments (the building itself is really just a complete dump). I get that the housing is convenient and the leasing process is simple but the prices for one bedrooms are not at all cheaper than the market rates in much nicer areas (also the university apartments and buildings are in horrid shape). Lenfest was kinda nice but nothing special and in Harlem (and the apartments are tiny and furnished with cheap bland furniture) and way over priced (you can live in much bigger apartments of similar quality in much nicer areas of the west side for the same price). I didn't get to look at lionsgate but i hear its nice enough (though also strangely expensive) but i'd feel weird about leasing an apartment i've never seen (how can they not have any pictures or viewings!) and also a student mentioned that at least for the next year there will be very loud construction in the building from 9-430!. Time to start looking on craigslist...

Columbia charges market rent for housing -- and the market in Manhattan is really high. So if anyone has any ideas that Columbia's housing is subsidized (as someone at the ASW thought) forget about that.

[chris0805]

Got accepted this week! Can't believe it.
Is anyone else considering living off campus housing?
The prices on the housing page seems awfully high...

I really, really don't understand why people would use their university housing unless they want to lived in an assigned share. If you're looking for a single studio or one-bedroom you'll find much better deals off campus.

Are those off-campus places safe/convenient though? I was under the impression that a $1500 studio right across from the law school would not be a bad deal given the extremely short commute... Which areas would one look in for the off campus studios/1BRs? Thanks

you can very easily find a decent 1 bedroom on the upperwest side for $2,500 or a studio for $1800-2,000. Commuting really isn't an issue. Anywhere on the upperwest side is maybe a 10-15 minute "commute." The idea that you would need to live in any unsafe or far away area is somewhat absurd (especially because everything south of columbia is basically a crime-free amusement park). Columbia housing isn't really below market rates at all. Its convenient because its across the street from campus and you don't have to actually go through the effort of finding and leasing an apartment. However, morningside heights is pretty lame, isolated, and grungy and you can easily find fine apartments in similar price ranges on the uws or in the village that require only the most effortless of commutes. check out craigslist and then look at the listings of various ny realots to get a sense of the offerings and price ranges.

What are they quoting for UAH apartments this year?? I live in a couples housing 2BR (albeit a small 2BR) and we pay ~1350 for the whole thing, which includes internet. I know law school housing is more expensive and most couples in 2BRs are paying closer to the 1600-2500 range, but I would recommend at least submitting a housing application... you can always turn it down if they offer you a studio for 2200 or something ridiculous like that.

[of Benito Cereno]

What do you think about income requirements and about landlords not wanting to rent to a house full of students? Is it easy to get around these impediments? When I move down there it will be just me and my partner and we are both students. Where I used to live, it was very difficult to get a decent apartment unless one of the people on the lease had a steady income that could support the rent.

get a parent to cosign.

[of Benito Cereno]

What are they quoting for UAH apartments this year?? I live in a couples housing 2BR (albeit a small 2BR) and we pay ~1350 for the whole thing, which includes internet. I know law school housing is more expensive and most couples in 2BRs are paying closer to the 1600-2500 range, but I would recommend at least submitting a housing application... you can always turn it down if they offer you a studio for 2200 or something ridiculous like that.

wait, uah gave you a 2 bedroom for 1350? how many sq feet? where? i'm looking at couple's housing and after seeing how dumpy the 116th st was I figured the only option I had for a decent 1 bd was lionsgate, which is overpriced and apparently very loud. Anyways, I'm pretty set on just finding an apartment on the uws.

[chris0805]

What are they quoting for UAH apartments this year?? I live in a couples housing 2BR (albeit a small 2BR) and we pay ~1350 for the whole thing, which includes internet. I know law school housing is more expensive and most couples in 2BRs are paying closer to the 1600-2500 range, but I would recommend at least submitting a housing application... you can always turn it down if they offer you a studio for 2200 or something ridiculous like that.

wait, uah gave you a 2 bedroom for 1350? how many sq feet? where? i'm looking at couple's housing and after seeing how dumpy the 116th st was I figured the only option I had for a decent 1 bd was lionsgate, which is overpriced and apparently very loud. Anyways, I'm pretty set on just finding an apartment on the uws.

It's a small 2BR (about 600 sq. ft.), but it's laid out nicely. It has its downsides, primarily a small kitchen and the fact that it's an interior apartment (my view is into a closed off courtyard, and not a pretty one). It's on 118th street, which is a really nice location.

Like I said, it's smaller and "more interior" than most 2BRs so we pay less, but other people I know are paying around 1900-2200 for 2BRs. Also, it's a standard pre-war, so if you need something nicer, you might not be happy with UAH apartments. I agree that Lionsgate is over-priced, but I don't feel like Columbia's pre-war apts. with old appliances are necessarily "dumpy." I guess it could depend on what your standards are and what you're used to though.

P.S. If I think about it a bit more, I guess the bones of the apartment aren't exactly nice, but my wife is very crafty/design oriented. We put in shelves, she decorated, put up some of her photography and made her own curtains, and the place looks a lot more like a home than a college apartment. Pre-war apts. can look dingy, but they can look nice if you put some effort and creativity into them.

[of Benito Cereno]

What are they quoting for UAH apartments this year?? I live in a couples housing 2BR (albeit a small 2BR) and we pay ~1350 for the whole thing, which includes internet. I know law school housing is more expensive and most couples in 2BRs are paying closer to the 1600-2500 range, but I would recommend at least submitting a housing application... you can always turn it down if they offer you a studio for 2200 or something ridiculous like that.

wait, uah gave you a 2 bedroom for 1350? how many sq feet? where? i'm looking at couple's housing and after seeing how dumpy the 116th st was I figured the only option I had for a decent 1 bd was lionsgate, which is overpriced and apparently very loud. Anyways, I'm pretty set on just finding an apartment on the uws.

It's a small 2BR (about 600 sq. ft.), but it's laid out nicely. It has its downsides, primarily a small kitchen and the fact that it's an interior apartment (my view is into a closed off courtyard, and not a pretty one). It's on 118th street, which is a really nice location.

Like I said, it's smaller and "more interior" than most 2BRs so we pay less, but other people I know are paying around 1900-2200 for 2BRs. Also, it's a standard pre-war, so if you need something nicer, you might not be happy with UAH apartments. I agree that Lionsgate is over-priced, but I don't feel like Columbia's pre-war apts. with old appliances are necessarily "dumpy." I guess it could depend on what your standards are and what you're used to though.

P.S. If I think about it a bit more, I guess the bones of the apartment aren't exactly nice, but my wife is very crafty/design oriented. We put in shelves, she decorated, put up some of her photography and made her own curtains, and the place looks a lot more like a home than a college apartment. Pre-war apts. can look dingy, but they can look nice if you put some effort and creativity into them.

I'm not expecting the Ritz, I was just pretty horrified by the apartments at 420 west 116th street. The idea that a one-bedroom in that building could cost over 2k seemed absurd given what else is available in the city. I didn't know 2 bedrooms were available to couples without children. Did you specifically ask for one on your app? Also, had you ever seen your building or apartment before singing the lease. I feel weird signing for something I've never seen. I think lionsgate was recently re-done but I'm afraid a bit of the noise and think i can find a nice 1 bedroom for less on the uws. i'll see what housing gives me before deciding for sure.