Post
by klj1 » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:23 pm
1. Since TLS loves hyperbole its hard to determine what the true CoL in NY is. Being a Jersey boy, and having crashed for a few strange weeks at Columbia, I found that although NY was very expensive to enjoy, it was not unbelievably expensive to live in assuming sacrifices are made (e.g. not eating out, doing my shopping either in NJ or at a grocery store etc. rather than at a bodega or Columbus circle, buying cheap tobacco, living in the outer boroughs, etc). Am I in for a rude awakening? What expenses were the most shocking?
Rent is definitely my biggest expense, but that was completely expected. I also live alone & within 20 or so blocks of school so that cost can be mitigated, but it was something I was willing to shell out for in my budget, at least for 1L. & relatively speaking to most of Manhattan, I pay a very reasonable amount considering that my apartment is actually a decent size & has great amenities. Groceries were a big shock to me - I expected it to some degree but was still really surprised by my grocery bills the first few weeks. But once you ask around where people like to shop & start checking out the stores in the area, you realize which ones are insanely overpriced ripoffs (i.e. Gristedes, D'agostino). Honestly I found that shopping at Whole Foods was cheaper than many of the other local supermarkets (as long as you stuck to their own generic brand & items at similar price points). Then the Trader Joes opened & saved my life/grocery budget - plus I started buying produce from the street vendors which is insanely cheap & has actually been better quality than things I've periodically picked up at places like Fairway. A lot of people also love FreshDirect online shopping, & the prices seem very reasonable. I'll probably give it a try this semester.
2. Would you have gone to a lower-tier school for less debt?
No - I'm actually one of the few people going to Fordham on a very large scholarship, & chose it over higher-ranked schools.
3. Fordham=Jesuit, SemperLegal=Jew. Not a problem, right? Pretty sure thats a given since exactly all law professors are Jewish.
Honestly I think there are way more Jews, particularly Orthodox, at Fordham than I even saw around Cardozo. It's a total non-issue.
4. Whats the best way to exploit the proximity to biglaw/NGOs? Someone told me that paying for a student membership in the bar association for Fed/NJ/NY and attending events was a good way to meet attorneys. I am skeptical. Thoughts?
I haven't done so, but I've heard this advised as well. If you happen to come from a large undergrad, joining the local alumni chapter & attending their events is a good way to make connections with local attorneys. 2nd semester is also supposedly when many of the large firms hold receptions + meet-and-greets for 1Ls. Many of the student groups around campus also set up similar things - I have 2 friends involved in Fordham Law Women who mentioned that 3 biglaw firms are planning to hold receptions with them in the spring.
5. Does the cafeteria food blow?
It's generally not terrible. The selection could use improvement - the undergrad cafeteria on the other side of the building has a salad bar, a little deli sandwich stand, & a much larger menu overall.
6. I am glad to hear that Fordham has a lot of tall, handsome men, but it begs the question are there a lot of beautiful, smart women?
I think overall people are pretty good-looking. I'd probably say attractive women outnumber the attractive men.
7. What schools did you choose FU over and why? Would you do it again?
Some people think I'm crazy, but I actually chose Fordham over T-14's. Much of it came down to a geographic preference, & not being comfortable committing to the regional biases of the other schools. Regardless, I would not have passed up a T14 for Fordham without the incredibly generous scholarship offer that I ultimately got - I had money from the other 2 schools as well, but I still would've landed in six-figure debt had I attended. I can't really say it was the right decision til I have a better picture of my job prospects, but so far I've been incredibly happy with my decision & love the school & NY.
Appreciate you taking the time out.
