UChi Students & Alumni Taking Questions Forum

[blank403]

I hope you're definitely coming to Chicago.

Hahah, thanks. I sent in my deposit a while back.

Who ever said you weren't doing your fair share of recruiting?

[Xifeng]

I hope you're definitely coming to Chicago.

Hahah, thanks. I sent in my deposit a while back.

Who ever said you weren't doing your fair share of recruiting?

Hay is the face of our marketing campaign.

[Haymarket]

I hope you're definitely coming to Chicago.

Hahah, thanks. I sent in my deposit a while back.

Who ever said you weren't doing your fair share of recruiting?

Hay is the face of our marketing campaign.

My impeccable ability to judge character is an asset to determining the most desirable future 1Ls. Obviously.

[GoodFood]

I asked this to someone via PM, and my apologies if it's been asked before, but where would you guys recommend around the $900-$1000/month price range that is still close to the Law School via transportation (presumably for my 2L/3L years)?

And also, since HP seems to be the cheapest/most convenient option during your 1L, is this where most stay? Is this where you guys would recommend a 1L stay? How safe do you feel walking around HP after midnight on a Saturday?

Thanks.

[Mad Hatter]

I asked this to someone via PM, and my apologies if it's been asked before, but where would you guys recommend around the $900-$1000/month price range that is still close to the Law School via transportation (presumably for my 2L/3L years)?

And also, since HP seems to be the cheapest/most convenient option during your 1L, is this where most stay? Is this where you guys would recommend a 1L stay? How safe do you feel walking around HP after midnight on a Saturday?

Thanks.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=84243

[duckmoney]

I asked this to someone via PM, and my apologies if it's been asked before, but where would you guys recommend around the $900-$1000/month price range that is still close to the Law School via transportation (presumably for my 2L/3L years)?

And also, since HP seems to be the cheapest/most convenient option during your 1L, is this where most stay? Is this where you guys would recommend a 1L stay? How safe do you feel walking around HP after midnight on a Saturday?

Thanks.

Anywhere in Hyde Park has pretty easy access to the law school. There are plenty of places in Hyde Park in that price range for a 1BR, but most 1BRs in other neighborhoods will run $1400+ per month. If you're thinking about taking a roommate, you should be able to find something in that price range in most neighborhoods in the city. South Loop and the Loop have the best public transport options to the law school outside of Hyde Park (mostly the 2 bus, but I think the 4 will get you close enough).

Most 1Ls live in Hyde Park, although its not a requirement. It's nice for 1L because it's where most of the social scene is and it's very convenient and reduces commute time.

Walking around at night depends on where you are exactly and who's travelling. Group of people with multiple men, you're fine. Single girl, bad idea. There are several good options for travelling at night though - safe ride (free university taxi service within Hyde Park), a night shuttle system, and the police will trail you if you're on foot and you call them.

[Flash]

I asked this to someone via PM, and my apologies if it's been asked before, but where would you guys recommend around the $900-$1000/month price range that is still close to the Law School via transportation (presumably for my 2L/3L years)?

And also, since HP seems to be the cheapest/most convenient option during your 1L, is this where most stay? Is this where you guys would recommend a 1L stay? How safe do you feel walking around HP after midnight on a Saturday?

Thanks.

Is that 900-1k/month for a 1Br or would you be willing to have a roommate and each pay that much? If you're willing to have a roommate you can live pretty much anywhere in the city for 1800-2k/month. I would recommend River North, New Eastside or Gold Coast. A lot of people will tell you South Loop but South Loop sucks. As long as you have access to the 2 bus you'll be fine.

Yes, most people stay 1L year. I don't live in HP and love it, it's nice to completely get away from everything school related when I go home and unlike living in HP, I actually live in Chicago. I'm never in HP after 4pm so I don't know.

[Mad Hatter]

Another housing question: Do you guys know anyone who lives here or here? Each other these is ~$300 cheaper in rent (more when parking/utilities is taken into account) relative to The Regents. Is there a reason these don't seem very popular? Are they full/hard to get?

[Xifeng]

Another housing question: Do you guys know anyone who lives here or here? Each other these is ~$300 cheaper in rent (more when parking/utilities is taken into account) relative to The Regents. Is there a reason these don't seem very popular? Are they full/hard to get?

That's getting a little...shady. Basically, the more sketchy areas of Hyde Park are south and west, and you are in the southeast corner right there. Regents is also right on the 6 bus line which gets you downtown, whereas you'd have to walk a WHILE to get somewhere that could get you there. And it's not as close to a grocery store, etc.

[Mad Hatter]

How about this one? It seems like it avoids the pitfalls you mentioned, and remains far cheaper cheap than Regents/Algonquin. I suppose part of my question hinges upon how important the "social scene" at the Regents is for 1Ls; at ASW people made it sound almost like an undergrad dorm. Is it really worth the $200 or so premium over equivalent options (space-wise) in HP?

[Xifeng]

That one should be fine, you'll also be on the 171 which is nice.

I don't live in Regents, and I don't think it's a necessity. As long as you're not too lazy to go over there sometimes/host people at your place, you'll be fine. It's also kind of nice not seeing law students 24/7. As long as you're not someone prone to locking themselves in their apartment for days on end without seeing people, you'll be fine living in a non-Regents building.

[GoodFood]

Another housing question: Do you guys know anyone who lives here or here? Each other these is ~$300 cheaper in rent (more when parking/utilities is taken into account) relative to The Regents. Is there a reason these don't seem very popular? Are they full/hard to get?

That's getting a little...shady. Basically, the more sketchy areas of Hyde Park are south and west, and you are in the southeast corner right there. Regents is also right on the 6 bus line which gets you downtown, whereas you'd have to walk a WHILE to get somewhere that could get you there. And it's not as close to a grocery store, etc.

Isn't that...where the law school is? lol

[Xifeng]

Another housing question: Do you guys know anyone who lives here or here? Each other these is ~$300 cheaper in rent (more when parking/utilities is taken into account) relative to The Regents. Is there a reason these don't seem very popular? Are they full/hard to get?

That's getting a little...shady. Basically, the more sketchy areas of Hyde Park are south and west, and you are in the southeast corner right there. Regents is also right on the 6 bus line which gets you downtown, whereas you'd have to walk a WHILE to get somewhere that could get you there. And it's not as close to a grocery store, etc.

Isn't that...where the law school is? lol

Yeah, but you don't tend to be walking alone late at night by the law school with your laptops/phones. There are shuttles and things for when it gets dark to be cautious.

[GoodFood]

Yeah, but you don't tend to be walking alone late at night by the law school with your laptops/phones. There are shuttles and things for when it gets dark to be cautious.

Not to dwell on this, but has this ever been an issue for any of your male classmates? I had a friend who went to UChicago for his undergrad and...let's just say...if he survived without it ever being a concern, it shouldn't be an issue for anyone.

Should I be concerned about walking around in that area with my laptop/iPhone in my backpack after 7pm?

[Xifeng]

Yeah, but you don't tend to be walking alone late at night by the law school with your laptops/phones. There are shuttles and things for when it gets dark to be cautious.

Not to dwell on this, but has this ever been an issue for any of your male classmates? I had a friend who went to UChicago for his undergrad and...let's just say...if he survived without it ever being a concern, it shouldn't be an issue for anyone.

Should I be concerned about walking around in that area with my laptop/iPhone in my backpack after 7pm?

Well, I haven't heard of it being a problem for any law students in general (the random emails seem to be about undergrads), but they also give you a big lecture during orientation about safety.

I've walked around there after 7 PM. There are a lot of those blue light box things, as well as UChicago police wandering around. You can also call the UChicago PD and get them to drive a squad car next to you while you walk, apparently? (obviously that may not be the best every-day idea).

I just wouldn't walk home at like 3 AM.

[Lekal]

I'm still struggling with the debt question I mentioned a couple of pages back; my decision would be UChicago no-questions-asked if it weren't for the expense. So I thought I'd ask if you guys/anyone you know had experience with large amounts of debt for your law school educations. Do you/they feel more limited in potential future job choices or more stressed about future salaries as a result? Or does Chicago's LRAP/other factors alleviate that? Thanks.

[duckmoney]

I'm still struggling with the debt question I mentioned a couple of pages back; my decision would be UChicago no-questions-asked if it weren't for the expense. So I thought I'd ask if you guys/anyone you know had experience with large amounts of debt for your law school educations. Do you/they feel more limited in potential future job choices or more stressed about future salaries as a result? Or does Chicago's LRAP/other factors alleviate that? Thanks.

Debt is definitely scary. And it is limiting. You have to have either a salary capable of servicing your debt or an LRAP-qualifying job, or you're screwed.

Chicago's LRAP is fantastic for anyone pursuing public interest, but its not a great backup plan for people who strike out. Because it will probably not pay off the interest on your loans, it creates a sort of LRAP trap where you will have almost no hope of paying off the debt if you leave public service.

Is it worth the price anyway? Probably. 160k salary + lots of debt is a lot better than no job and no debt. And the school gives you a very good shot of biglaw if you want it (although some people will still strike out and graduate un or underemployed).

The entirety of law school, debt or not, is an exercise in dealing with uncertainty. It's definitely a gamble. Tuition is the wager; (imperfect) employment data are the odds.

[knickerbocker]

Wait, sorry. I am naive because I'm an 0L, but I thought one of the advantages of UofC over NYU and Columbia was that basically no one struck out due to the much smaller class size. That is, virtually everyone who wanted a Big Law job got one.
From what you wrote, I guess that's not true?
If it isn't, what happens to those people?

[Xifeng]

Wait, sorry. I am naive because I'm an 0L, but I thought one of the advantages of UofC over NYU and Columbia was that basically no one struck out due to the much smaller class size. That is, virtually everyone who wanted a Big Law job got one.
From what you wrote, I guess that's not true?
If it isn't, what happens to those people?

No school has a 100% success rate. If you look at the employment statistics, no school is at 100%.

At Chicago, we have a great employment %. Not 100%, but great. We haven't had our OCI meeting regarding %s who did OCI & got jobs, etc.

The same thing happens to those people that happens to the people who don't get biglaw jobs at NYU: they look for other jobs and OCS helps them.

[Emma.]

Wait, sorry. I am naive because I'm an 0L, but I thought one of the advantages of UofC over NYU and Columbia was that basically no one struck out due to the much smaller class size. That is, virtually everyone who wanted a Big Law job got one.
From what you wrote, I guess that's not true?
If it isn't, what happens to those people?

No school has a 100% success rate. If you look at the employment statistics, no school is at 100%.

At Chicago, we have a great employment %. Not 100%, but great. We haven't had our OCI meeting regarding %s who did OCI & got jobs, etc.

The same thing happens to those people that happens to the people who don't get biglaw jobs at NYU: they look for other jobs and OCS helps them.

Good answer.

The vast majority of our class did really well at OCI last year, but there are no guarantees at any school. If you are well below median and/or poor social skills, landing biglaw can be pretty tough. This is true at Harvard, CLS, NYU, whatever.

[Mista Bojangles]

Srs Q, as a 0L who is headed to Chicago (and perhaps only vaguely aware of any irony inherent in my asking this question):

Is it that UChi breeds cynical assholes, or that it has a tendency to attract them in the first place?

[lawp389]

Do any Chicago law students live at the Windermere House apartments? The building seems conveniently located, both to the law school and public transportation (within Hyde Park and to downtown), but what would the drawbacks be?

[Haymarket]

Srs Q, as a 0L who is headed to Chicago (and perhaps only vaguely aware of any irony inherent in my asking this question):

Is it that UChi breeds cynical assholes, or that it has a tendency to attract them in the first place?

First, I don't think this is a correct use of the word irony. Second, I think you're misunderstanding the type of people attracted to/created by law school in general.

[TaipeiMort]

Srs Q, as a 0L who is headed to Chicago (and perhaps only vaguely aware of any irony inherent in my asking this question):

Is it that UChi breeds cynical assholes, or that it has a tendency to attract them in the first place?

First, I don't think this is a correct use of the word irony. Second, I think you're misunderstanding the type of people attracted to/created by law school in general.

Most people are at their worst 1L year at any school, and revert back to being themselves by 3L year. I think Chicago being small and tightly confined, and everyone living in the same small boring community, just makes negativity more visible and contagious. Dean Gardner may have the hardest job in the U.S. outside of ice road trucking or Alaskan deep sea fishing.

[GoodFood]

Srs Q, as a 0L who is headed to Chicago (and perhaps only vaguely aware of any irony inherent in my asking this question):

Is it that UChi breeds cynical assholes, or that it has a tendency to attract them in the first place?

First, I don't think this is a correct use of the word irony. Second, I think you're misunderstanding the type of people attracted to/created by law school in general.

Enlighten us.