UChicago to Columbia/Boalt Forum

[Emma.]

I think it's both self selecting and Chicago brings it out. People I know applied to T6, minus chicago. Also, there's a lot of nonsense floating around about how chicago is the place vigorous academic debate. I'm fine with that in my lunch talk between kirkland partner and a professor - but nonstop in class?. why can't you save it for the final?

my friends say the same thing: calm down, 2L will be better etc... but I keep thinking about how i turned down boalt + columbia to come here and that my classmates will represent to future clients + employers - kind of scary at this point.

koalatriste, that story about your gunner is too funny. I feel like the constant small things people do are way more sinister though. Small enough to brush off/can never explain it to anyone else bc they'll think i'm crazy nitpicky, but it just happens so often. I swear i'm not a spiteful person - i love my undergrad, my parents, my nonchicago friends, my significant other, my dog - but this place just brings out the worst and i don't think it's the same at peer schools

Sorry to hear you are thinking of bailing. I just want to let you know that I have good friends at Boalt and they say the whole "laid back" thing is more or less a myth. It really doesn't sound any different from here as far as the people or the vibe. The weather on the other hand....

[gobulls11]

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[TaipeiMort]

Dude I can really get where you are coming from. Its really hard when 50% of the kids in 1L class are being jerks. I didn't feel this at the beginning of first quarter, but I do now. The pride cycle is a funny thing, get a little success and you feel that you can curb-check your classmates publicly and privately. I cannot believe how rude kids are here. I must say that almost everyone right now is either prideful and rude or has self-insulated and become indifferent to everything as a coping mechanism.

I do have to say that you would be suprised how many people are in the latter group and simply have stopped caring.

I hope everything goes well for you. Transfer out if that makes your life better. Employers will treat you as a Chicago 2L with a 178, not a Boalt/ Columbia kid with a X. The whole "tough it out" argument is stupid. You will only be 20-something once. If you don't like what is going on in your life right now, change it up.

[USAIRS]

usairs,

thanks for your thoughts, it's relieving that someone else felt the same way - i've never talked about my horror re: classmates with anyone from uchicago. and i do realize that staying here is probably a better career move. i'll probably get rejected anyways - too many finals to come up with good personal statement

You do need to find some people to vent to. I found one or two good friends who felt the same way. I honestly think it is weird to enjoy law school like some people do. 1L is the suck, no doubt. But, suck is the tie that binds us maroon alum. No one else can understand our pain!

One of my good friends who transferred to Columbia did really well, so I don't think that is necessarily a bad move. It could be really good, even better. NY would be a neat place to live, too. Berkeley...... well, having no grades sounds nice!

[Emma.]

usairs,

thanks for your thoughts, it's relieving that someone else felt the same way - i've never talked about my horror re: classmates with anyone from uchicago. and i do realize that staying here is probably a better career move. i'll probably get rejected anyways - too many finals to come up with good personal statement

I actually feel really lucky to have great friends here, but i can definitely sympathize. I'd be down to talk about this in person too if you want...

[USAIRS]

I hope everything goes well for you. Transfer out if that makes your life better. Employers will treat you as a Chicago 2L with a 178, not a Boalt/ Columbia kid with a X. The whole "tough it out" argument is stupid. You will only be 20-something once. If you don't like what is going on in your life right now, change it up.

I'm not arguing. I'm basically explaining to you, like a bunch of filthy teenagers, that high school is not life. 1L will end. Seriously, people don't feel this way after. You should have plenty of time to enjoy life next year and the year after. If you can't do that in the city of Chicago, I question the quality of your souls.

[JollyGreenGiant]

If you guys don't already, I recommend you attend the social events like bar review, prom, wine mess, halloween, etc. It's a different set of people than the ones who are likely turning you off and it's really fun. (Although I do know really enjoyable people who never socialize, too.)

[USAIRS]

If you guys don't already, I recommend you attend the social events like bar review, prom, wine mess, halloween, etc. It's a different set of people than the ones who are likely turning you off and it's really fun. (Although I do know really enjoyable people who never socialize, too.)

There's some truth to that. Here's a fun fact: Before going to chicago I was straight edge. About this time first year - started drinkin'! It helped. Beer and wings every monday at the pub saved my life.

[Emma.]

If you guys don't already, I recommend you attend the social events like bar review, prom, wine mess, halloween, etc. It's a different set of people than the ones who are likely turning you off and it's really fun. (Although I do know really enjoyable people who never socialize, too.)

This is pretty clutch advice. It is really easy to allow yourself to become surrounded with the same people day after day. If those people are making you miserable then if you stay you need to make a change find people who make you less miserable. I'm confident that at least half our class are really great.

[Chants]

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[gobulls11]

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[goodolgil]

Maybe consider Michigan? People aren't the best, but I haven't seen anything like what's been discussed in this thread. Then again, going from UChicago to Michigan is a step down, but so is Boalt (rankings wise, at least).