Penn Students Taking Questions Forum

[absolutazn87]

does anyone have any suggestions for internet? it looks like only verizon and comcast offer service in the area, i would rather stick to verizon just because their basic service is cheaper, but does anyone know if it is too slow?

I know my future building has Verizon FIOS which is RIDICULOUSLY fast, at least here in NYC. I get 25Mbps/25Mbps download and upload respectively here in NYC. For some unknown crazy reason, they seem to throttle it in Philly to a slower speed but it's still miles ahead of what Comcast offers.

[tipler4213]

does anyone have any suggestions for internet? it looks like only verizon and comcast offer service in the area, i would rather stick to verizon just because their basic service is cheaper, but does anyone know if it is too slow?

I know my future building has Verizon FIOS which is RIDICULOUSLY fast, at least here in NYC. I get 25Mbps/25Mbps download and upload respectively here in NYC. For some unknown crazy reason, they seem to throttle it in Philly to a slower speed but it's still miles ahead of what Comcast offers.

2400? Yeah, I am going with FIOS even though it is more expensive. The Comcast customer service was abysmal while I was trying to set it up. I'll pay $8 more to feel better about not losing the internet during finals month.

[irishman8062]

For future reference by new 1Ls and such, journals called their new members this morning, 7/23/11.

[marija]

For future reference by new 1Ls and such, journals called their new members this morning, 7/23/11.

They sure did, although I'm not really sure why that matters to 0Ls.

[irishman8062]

They sure did, although I'm not really sure why that matters to 0Ls.

Oh, I just know that I had checked this thread to try to figure out when they called last year. Figured the info couldn't hurt!

[Georgiana]

Woo journal...

I shall miss blue-booking... I shall not miss journal politics

[Veyron]

They sure did, although I'm not really sure why that matters to 0Ls.

Oh, I just know that I had checked this thread to try to figure out when they called last year. Figured the info couldn't hurt!

Thanks guys for letting me know what journal I'm on after I've already sent out a bunch of resumes.

[iusedtolurk]

When do we get a book list? I ask because books are 'spensive and I'd like to find some cheaper than bookstore prices, if possible...

[freestallion]

Hi everyone! I haven't been able to read through all the pages so am not sure if this has been covered yet, but I am considering applying to penn this fall and am pretty much set on doing public interest. Are there good public interest opportunities? I've heard Penn leans towards the corporate but would there be enough support for someone doing public interest re: summer internship funding, post-grad fellowships, etc?

[Veyron]

Hi everyone! I haven't been able to read through all the pages so am not sure if this has been covered yet, but I am considering applying to penn this fall and am pretty much set on doing public interest. Are there good public interest opportunities? I've heard Penn leans towards the corporate but would there be enough support for someone doing public interest re: summer internship funding, post-grad fellowships, etc?

Of course there are. In my experience, there are actually lots of benefits available as long as you are willing to drag them out of the school by main force.

[freestallion]

Hi everyone! I haven't been able to read through all the pages so am not sure if this has been covered yet, but I am considering applying to penn this fall and am pretty much set on doing public interest. Are there good public interest opportunities? I've heard Penn leans towards the corporate but would there be enough support for someone doing public interest re: summer internship funding, post-grad fellowships, etc?

Of course there are. In my experience, there are actually lots of benefits available as long as you are willing to drag them out of the school by main force.

Thanks. Ideally, it would be nice to be in an atmosphere where PI is supported, rather than having to drag such opportunities out of my school. Is summer funding for PI internships guaranteed, or easily available?

[Veyron]

Hi everyone! I haven't been able to read through all the pages so am not sure if this has been covered yet, but I am considering applying to penn this fall and am pretty much set on doing public interest. Are there good public interest opportunities? I've heard Penn leans towards the corporate but would there be enough support for someone doing public interest re: summer internship funding, post-grad fellowships, etc?

Of course there are. In my experience, there are actually lots of benefits available as long as you are willing to drag them out of the school by main force.

Thanks. Ideally, it would be nice to be in an atmosphere where PI is supported, rather than having to drag such opportunities out of my school. Is summer funding for PI internships guaranteed, or easily available?

It is technically neither (although everyone gets funding who does PI). However, play your cards right and it can be some of the most generous in the country. This is what I mean by the benefits of going to a school that has lots of funding for PI but less interest, you have a better shot at getting lots of cash and support thrown your way than at a PI centric school where you have tons of competition. I'm doing PI this summer and between the school and my stipend I'm quite comfortable but did I ever have to wail and gnash my teeth to get what I wanted.

[HeavenWood]

Hi everyone! I haven't been able to read through all the pages so am not sure if this has been covered yet, but I am considering applying to penn this fall and am pretty much set on doing public interest. Are there good public interest opportunities? I've heard Penn leans towards the corporate but would there be enough support for someone doing public interest re: summer internship funding, post-grad fellowships, etc?

Of course there are. In my experience, there are actually lots of benefits available as long as you are willing to drag them out of the school by main force.

Thanks. Ideally, it would be nice to be in an atmosphere where PI is supported, rather than having to drag such opportunities out of my school. Is summer funding for PI internships guaranteed, or easily available?

It is technically neither (although everyone gets funding who does PI). However, play your cards right and it can be some of the most generous in the country. This is what I mean by the benefits of going to a school that has lots of funding for PI but less interest, you have a better shot at getting lots of cash and support thrown your way than at a PI centric school where you have tons of competition. I'm doing PI this summer and between the school and my stipend I'm quite comfortable but did I ever have to wail and gnash my teeth to get what I wanted.

I'm envisioning you wailing and gnashing your teeth. The mental image is quite entertaining.

[Veyron]

I'm envisioning you wailing and gnashing your teeth. The mental image is quite entertaining.

A real man is not afraid to cry when money is on the line

[HeavenWood]

I'm envisioning you wailing and gnashing your teeth. The mental image is quite entertaining.

A real man is not afraid to cry when money is on the line

Troof.

[ghog]

my friend was going to penn law- just got off the waitlist to nyu and now has a room he needs to sublet. he's living with two penn (undergrad) alums who are both working and very easy going and just looking for someone friendly. the apartment is really nice and in a great location. the room is also surprisingly cheap ($800/month). if anyone's looking for an apt, PM me and I can give you more details and pictures.

[OutCold]

He should post it to the Facebook group.

[silly101]

do we need a printer? is there a place we can print on campus if needed (and cost)?

laser printer or inkjet? should it have copy/scan capabilities?
i dont anticipate ever needing color...right?

thanks!

[kurla88]

do we need a printer? is there a place we can print on campus if needed (and cost)?

laser printer or inkjet? should it have copy/scan capabilities?
i dont anticipate ever needing color...right?

thanks!

The school gives you $100 something worth of printing per semester (that doesn't carry over ) and there's 5-7 printers around the school you can use... I usually use very little of it. Some people get really intense about reading notes and print them off for class everyday, and some professors assign some supplementary material now and then, but you really shouldn't need to print too much.

I do have a basic inkjet printer/copier/scanner at home for emergencies. You might want one to do mail merge on for your 1L job search. I'm sure you could do it at school, but a little harder to mess with all the settings and print on envelopes and whatnot.

[Georgiana]

do we need a printer? is there a place we can print on campus if needed (and cost)?

laser printer or inkjet? should it have copy/scan capabilities?
i dont anticipate ever needing color...right?

thanks!

You get about $120 printing credit per semester at the law school which lasts most people the whole semester (the only thing that can require a lot of printing is legal writing). I bought a laser printer for my apartment and I used it fairly regularly, especially after the first year.

Also, the lexis/westlaw printing is all free at school.

[underachiever]

do we need a printer? is there a place we can print on campus if needed (and cost)?

laser printer or inkjet? should it have copy/scan capabilities?
i dont anticipate ever needing color...right?

thanks!

I never got one, just did my printing at school with the credit and always had at least 20 dollars worth of print credits left at the end of a semester.

[onepass]

If you recieve need based grants, can they be renewed in full for the second and third years?

[Georgiana]

If you recieve need based grants, can they be renewed in full for the second and third years?

Penn generally gives a full 3 year plan for financial aid so whatever it says in your letter is what you get. Scholarships generally remain the same for the 3 years and grants tend to decrease each year.

[r6_philly]

If you recieve need based grants, can they be renewed in full for the second and third years?

Penn generally gives a full 3 year plan for financial aid so whatever it says in your letter is what you get. Scholarships generally remain the same for the 3 years and grants tend to decrease each year.

What options are there to gain more aid such as fellowships and TA position in the law school? I suppose summer positions are supposed to supplement the income, but are there good options within school for 2L/3L year? I'd have to work part-time outside of school to offset some of the escalating cost. Do you know people who worked as part-time clerks?

[Georgiana]

If you recieve need based grants, can they be renewed in full for the second and third years?

Penn generally gives a full 3 year plan for financial aid so whatever it says in your letter is what you get. Scholarships generally remain the same for the 3 years and grants tend to decrease each year.

What options are there to gain more aid such as fellowships and TA position in the law school? I suppose summer positions are supposed to supplement the income, but are there good options within school for 2L/3L year? I'd have to work part-time outside of school to offset some of the escalating cost. Do you know people who worked as part-time clerks?

I know one person who did work with a small firm in Philly and was paid pretty well for his time. Legal writing instructors make some money but not a ton. Working as an RA for a prof will usually pay about $10/hr. I also know someone who continued doing a little work on the side for his prior company which worked out well for him.