Official University of Chicago Transfer Class 2012 Forum

[megaTTTron]

Would you guys mind sharing what school you're from? If not the specific school, t14? t30 etc? I just wanna know my chances.

t40 (used to be t30 ), top 12%.

Congrats on getting in, by the way. Honestly, I'm surprised, but I'm sure you'll do great here. UChicago ED was the perfect move for you though, HYS probably wasn't going to happen.

Haha. Me too! Although, as I've mentioned before, my school's curve is weird. I got all As and A-s but somehow missed the top 10%. lol. Maybe they took that into consideration? Either way, I am so in love with Chicago I just want to get this last grade and commit.

[bizen boat]

Yea I don't think .2 is accurate but I think that is the number admissions gave me to err on the side of caution.

On the other hand, were my GPA to drop .2 I'd go from top 5% to something like top 15%. Putting you under review for going from 4 to 3.8 is just not going to happen, but I could see them abusing me for going from a 3.8 to a 3.6. The fact that second semester is twice the credit hours of first at my school makes it realistic that I could do "alright" and still drop pretty far. I might be the first ever early decision transfer student to get reconsidered

I'm so jealous of you, Mega, for knowing you're all but set. I have to wait until mid June... and I still have one more exam to go on Friday.

[megaTTTron]

Yea I don't think .2 is accurate but I think that is the number admissions gave me to err on the side of caution.

On the other hand, were my GPA to drop .2 I'd go from top 5% to something like top 15%. Putting you under review for going from 4 to 3.8 is just not going to happen, but I could see them abusing me for going from a 3.8 to a 3.6. The fact that second semester is twice the credit hours of first at my school makes it realistic that I could do "alright" and still drop pretty far. I might be the first ever early decision transfer student to get reconsidered

I'm so jealous of you, Mega, for knowing you're all but set. I have to wait until mid June... and I still have one more exam to go on Friday.

Don't you do that to me Bizen. Haha. Nothing is for sure yet. Although I have faith in you as well.

EDIT: Destroy your last exam for all of us.

[kevzez]

Yea at this point I am just waiting on grades . Knowing i screwed up a little on my con law exam makes me nervous though.


What exam do you still have?

[bizen boat]

Still have Crim, which should be pretty straightforward. All my tests except one have been so straightforward that it's making me really nervous about the curve. I just don't feel like these easy exams are giving me much of a chance to distinguish myself from the rest of the pack. We'll see what happens!

In other news, I'm surprised nobody else has come out of the woodwork to join this thread as an early decision admit. If you're reading this, join the party!

[lurker12]

In other news, I'm surprised nobody else has come out of the woodwork to join this thread as an early decision admit. If you're reading this, join the party!

I'd rather just lurk, thanks. Today is my first time on the forum. Perhaps one day I'll dive in, but right now I'm just getting my toes wet.

[megaTTTron]

Still have Crim, which should be pretty straightforward. All my tests except one have been so straightforward that it's making me really nervous about the curve. I just don't feel like these easy exams are giving me much of a chance to distinguish myself from the rest of the pack. We'll see what happens!

In other news, I'm surprised nobody else has come out of the woodwork to join this thread as an early decision admit. If you're reading this, join the party!

I agree. I am more comfortable after exams I felt where really tough. They tend to be the ones I do better on. But then again, you never know.

[megaTTTron]

I have felt better about few things in my life than logging into the accepted students page.

Also, according to the OCS FAQ sheet, Chicago doesn't rank it's students, nor does the OCI program allow firms to screen or select candidates.

TToN, this is a good thing for transfers? (although they will, of course, know that we are transfers)

[ToTransferOrNot]

I have felt better about few things in my life than logging into the accepted students page.

Also, according to the OCS FAQ sheet, Chicago doesn't rank it's students, nor does the OCI program allow firms to screen or select candidates.

TToN, this is a good thing for transfers? (although they will, of course, know that we are transfers)

The nightmare that was my OCI is pretty well-known around the boards; you can probably find my old posts about it if you want. Suffice it to say, I got 2 callbacks, 1 offer--after being on the wait list for 6 weeks. However, the firm I got an offer with was one of my absolute top choices--they wouldn't have given me an interview had I not transfered.

Other transfer students did much, much better. Some did worse slightly worse. We all have jobs at this point, the vast majority has something in biglaw. I don't think Chicago's lack of ranking helps or hurts transfers--I just think that my trasfer class got particularly nailed by the dropoff in hiring.

FWIW, they may not rank students, but the way the grading scale works here makes your rank obvious. 177 is median, 179 is top 20% or so, because ~19% of the class graduates with honors. 180.5 is ~5%, though this number fluctuates. If you have 182 or higher, you're almost certainly at the top of the class (and you won't stay there for long, if my experience is any indication).

IMO, the fact that firms can't screen hurts everyone--not just transfers. Firms are going to have cutoff points, whether they're allowed to screen or not. Then again, there is the counterexample--one of the transfers is working at Kirkland; I imagine Kirkland may have screened him out on the first go-around.

Long story short: I don't think it's possible for me to give a good idea about OCI; OCI is normally good for transfers. It wasn't last year. Who knows what will happen with it this year--just prepare as well as you can.

[bizen boat]

I have felt better about few things in my life than logging into the accepted students page.

Completely agree. I submitted the acceptance form the minute I saw that email. Not sure about the rest of you, but transferring wasn't even on the back of my mind first semester. It's been quite a ride going from just hoping for above-median grades to being near the top of my class and now submitting a commitment form to U of C.

Anyway, better get back to studying crim. I'm not sure if this video is sufficient: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYxBlT1flJ0

[megaTTTron]

I have felt better about few things in my life than logging into the accepted students page.

Completely agree. I submitted the acceptance form the minute I saw that email. Not sure about the rest of you, but transferring wasn't even on the back of my mind first semester. It's been quite a ride going from just hoping for above-median grades to being near the top of my class and now submitting a commitment form to U of C.

Anyway, better get back to studying crim. I'm not sure if this video is sufficient: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYxBlT1flJ0

+1 to all of it.

[megaTTTron]

!!!!

I got my final grade today, and my GPA actually went up this semester. It's official I'm going to Chicago!!!!!

EDIT: new motherfucking avatar.

[kevzez]

wow congrats. I am so jealous of you. Despite having a 4. I am paranoid that my grades may not be as good this semester and I may have to worry (have a few reasons to think this). But that must be so nice, and hopefully I will see you there .


EDIT: Love the avatar.

[bizen boat]

Congrats Mega! The Chicago skyline is the best. I feel great about 2 out of my 4 exams. Hopefully those will pan out and be enough to drag me over the finish line. I made the decision not to do the write on at my current school today, so I'm officially going "all in."

Have you guys done anything financial aid related for Chicago yet? This is going to be a shocking amount of loans, but totally worth it.

[ToTransferOrNot]

!!!!

I got my final grade today, and my GPA actually went up this semester. It's official I'm going to Chicago!!!!!

EDIT: new motherfucking avatar.

I'd like to point out that we haven't even started finals here yet, much less have all our grades. Ah, the things you have to look forward to--and it's certain, now, so congrats! I'll look forward to meeting you folks at the new transfer orientation in August.

[megaTTTron]

Congrats Mega! The Chicago skyline is the best. I feel great about 2 out of my 4 exams. Hopefully those will pan out and be enough to drag me over the finish line. I made the decision not to do the write on at my current school today, so I'm officially going "all in."

Have you guys done anything financial aid related for Chicago yet? This is going to be a shocking amount of loans, but totally worth it.

I have not. I need to read more on the website.

Annnnnd I'm paying sticker at my t34, and Chicago is actually a little less. So go figure.

TToN -- where did you live this year? I have lived within 5 minutes of every class I have ever attended in college and law school. I like that, but maybe it's time to grow up and investigate this "public transportation" thing. Advice??

[ToTransferOrNot]

Congrats Mega! The Chicago skyline is the best. I feel great about 2 out of my 4 exams. Hopefully those will pan out and be enough to drag me over the finish line. I made the decision not to do the write on at my current school today, so I'm officially going "all in."

Have you guys done anything financial aid related for Chicago yet? This is going to be a shocking amount of loans, but totally worth it.

I have not. I need to read more on the website.

Annnnnd I'm paying sticker at my t34, and Chicago is actually a little less. So go figure.

TToN -- where did you live this year? I have lived within 5 minutes of every class I have ever attended in college and law school. I like that, but maybe it's time to grow up and investigate this "public transportation" thing. Advice??

I lived in Regents--a building you'll hear plenty about, it gets pushed quite a bit. It's relatively affordable if you get a 2-bedroom and a roommate, about 2 miles from the law school (there is essentially a shuttle that goes between the law school and Regents, though officially it is a CTA bus). A forewarning, though: Hyde Park SUCKS. No question about that. A lot of people choose to live downtown or north of the Loop and drive in to school or take the public transit. However, while the public transit in Chicago is generally good, getting to Hyde Park from elsewhere in the city takes a fair amount of time, especially in the morning.

[megaTTTron]

So regents was cool even though it's primarily a 1L dorm? I don't think I can not live in the city -- I love downtown Chicago. My friends that live there say the metra is doable, but it gets pricey.

[upgrade]

So regents was cool even though it's primarily a 1L dorm? I don't think I can not live in the city -- I love downtown Chicago. My friends that live there say the metra is doable, but it gets pricey.

Everyone who doesn't commute to HP says "take the Metra," but I know of nobody who does. I don't know how often the bus from the Metra stop to the law school runs, but I have heard it is unpredictable. You will most likely be taking the 6->172 or 2 bus lines if you choose to live downtown.

[ToTransferOrNot]

So regents was cool even though it's primarily a 1L dorm? I don't think I can not live in the city -- I love downtown Chicago. My friends that live there say the metra is doable, but it gets pricey.

The description of Regents as a 1L dorm is incredibly overreaching. There are a lot of students, but there are a ton of non-students in the building too. In the end, why would this matter? It isn't like people are running around the halls making fools of themselves and keeping people awake--you just happen to run in to a lot of your classmates throughout the day in the building.

If you're commuting in, you would be smart to buy a 30-day pass, which will run you over $80. It is what it is.

My bigger issue would be time involved with the commute, frankly. As upgrade mentioned, the bus from the metra to the law school is relatively unpredictable (and still drops you 5 blocks away from the school, which adds even more time). 6-->172 is probably around 45 minutes. Lots of people take the 2, and that is probably the most reasonable, but I don't know enough about the route to know how long the trip takes. It's at least 30 minutes though.

I just don't understand why someone would choose to commute to school 5 days a week so that they can be closer to the "fun" part of town for when they go out... once or twice a week (max). Not to mention the much higher rent, etc. To each their own, though. I'm in the minority here.

[megaTTTron]

Thanks for the insight TToN and upgrade.

I agree w/ you TToN, however, the fact that "most" 2L/3L students live downtown or north of the loop make me wonder if it's more doable that it seems. Regardless, thanks for the advice.

[ToTransferOrNot]

Thanks for the insight TToN and upgrade.

I agree w/ you TToN, however, the fact that "most" 2L/3L students live downtown or north of the loop make me wonder if it's more doable that it seems. Regardless, thanks for the advice.

Yeah, I'm not saying it isn't doable... I just don't understand why someone would pay more to have less convenience the majority of the time. Part of it is probably that I've never lived somewhere where dealing with a length commute is an issue though. I'm sure that people from New York/LA/DC who are used to putting in hour commutes all the time think nothing of coming in to Hyde Park from downtown.

I can already tell that commuting from Hyde Park to my summer job downtown is going to be a pain in the ass. Given traffic and such, it takes about 45 minutes to get there via bus, and the bus is too crowded to get any work done on. Sucks.

[OscarTheBear]

I cannot emphasize how much living in regents must blow. That is why I live downtown. If you live in the South Loop, you can take the #2 bus, which drops you off in front of the Law School. Or you can take the #4, which drops you on Cottage Grove 3 blocks from the school. Alternatively, you can take the metra from the Magnificient Mile area and walk the 5 blocks to the Law School. Or, if you have a car, as dozens of classmates do at UChi, you can live in Wicker Park, Bucktown, South Loop, etc.

Regents is not the be all end all. In fact, the only reason everybody lives there is that the owner of the company that owns Regents is pals with the former dean.

[megaTTTron]

I cannot emphasize how much living in regents must blow. That is why I live downtown. If you live in the South Loop, you can take the #2 bus, which drops you off in front of the Law School. Or you can take the #4, which drops you on Cottage Grove 3 blocks from the school. Alternatively, you can take the metra from the Magnificient Mile area and walk the 5 blocks to the Law School. Or, if you have a car, as dozens of classmates do at UChi, you can live in Wicker Park, Bucktown, South Loop, etc.

Regents is not the be all end all. In fact, the only reason everybody lives there is that the owner of the company that owns Regents is pals with the former dean.

Do you have any recommendations for apt complexes or areas in the South Loop? thanks.

[OscarTheBear]

I used craigslist to find my apartment and rent from an owner in a condo-building near 16th and Michigan. Good condo buildings in the area that have many rentals available include 1620 S. Michigan, 1720 S. Michigan, and 1255 S. State (right at Roosevelt and State and idea for the #2 bus). If you get to Printers Row, which is closer to Harrison (800 South) you also have access to the #2 and very easy access to the Loop.

There are some rental buildings in the area as well. The Collection at Roosevelt (Clark and Roosevelt) just opened and is part of a complex that includes the new Ikon Theater and Target. It is lofted rentals. I would avoid the building at 1130 S. Michigan, as it is known to be the cheapest rental in the area and is quite skeezy.