Columbia students taking questions Forum

[smdpnp]

Anyone know where I can get a cheap air conditioner? I'm also looking for a cleaning service, if anybody has one to recommend.

Amazon or fellow students for the AC? I have two units I might be interested in selling.

Joanna's Cleaning Service (Yelp link) is $20 an hour, and they generally do a good job.

Thanks! That's a way better deal than the people charging fifty on craigslist right now.

[lunaraeon]

So I guess my question is if any of you current Columbia law students know of good barbers around Columbia, or should I expect to do a little commuting. Silly question, I know, but I have to ask.

There's a place on Amsterdam between 105th and 106th (I think, maybe 104th) run by some eastern european and greek gentlemen who speak very little english. They charge $14 and they do a fine job. That's where I've been going since November.

+1 for Corniel's.

[iamgeorgebush]

anyone know some good (i.e., affordable) storage options around CLS?

[jbagelboy]

Is there a due date for our spring grades?

Actually found it: June 16th, for anyone who's curious. Damn that's shitty.

[MCFC]

Is there a due date for our spring grades?

Actually found it: June 16th, for anyone who's curious. Damn that's shitty.

Sure is. Though some of the language in the Journal packet indicated that they would make decisions by early July *permitting Professors had grades done*, so I actually kind of figured it would be later.

Which, I mean, it probably will be.

[runthetrap]

sorry if this question's been asked (and answered) previously, but does anyone know when we get our housing assignments? i know the deadline was like, five days ago, but i can't wait to find out where i'll be living!

[papercut]

sorry if this question's been asked (and answered) previously, but does anyone know when we get our housing assignments? i know the deadline was like, five days ago, but i can't wait to find out where i'll be living!

People were saying they came out about now last year, but this year a lot of things were different so who knows.

I'm really anxious to find out where I'll be too.

* I just realized I answered this in the 1L's thread. Sorry about that.

[Theopliske8711]

Just wondering, do different Ls mingle with each other?

[MCFC]

sorry if this question's been asked (and answered) previously, but does anyone know when we get our housing assignments? i know the deadline was like, five days ago, but i can't wait to find out where i'll be living!

I checked my email from last year and I got my assignment on May 22, for whatever that's worth.

[runthetrap]

sorry if this question's been asked (and answered) previously, but does anyone know when we get our housing assignments? i know the deadline was like, five days ago, but i can't wait to find out where i'll be living!

I checked my email from last year and I got my assignment on May 22, for whatever that's worth.

hey, thanks. do you happen to remember if your housing application was due around may 15?

[MCFC]

sorry if this question's been asked (and answered) previously, but does anyone know when we get our housing assignments? i know the deadline was like, five days ago, but i can't wait to find out where i'll be living!

I checked my email from last year and I got my assignment on May 22, for whatever that's worth.

hey, thanks. do you happen to remember if your housing application was due around may 15?

Last year it was May 1st.

[Michigan1442]

Hello, I'm an incoming 1L..I just got my housing assignment, and am debating on whether or not I should accept...its a 1BR in Forest Chambers apartments, on W. 113th St and Broadway. Does anyone know anything about these by chance?

[KingFish]

Hello, I'm an incoming 1L..I just got my housing assignment, and am debating on whether or not I should accept...its a 1BR in Forest Chambers apartments, on W. 113th St and Broadway. Does anyone know anything about these by chance?

That's a pretty prime location. Halfway between the law school and the grocery store.

[icedflames]

Anyone know any good tailors around Columbia (or even in Manhattan)?
Need some work done on some dress pants and possibly suit jacket.

[PDX4343]

Did anybody in this thread get any need-based aid from Columbia? I don't think it's called 'EFC' in law school, but my 'EFC' would be $0, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

[papercut]

Did anybody in this thread get any need-based aid from Columbia? I don't think it's called 'EFC' in law school, but my 'EFC' would be $0, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

Yeah I got some.

[girlmonster]

Did anybody in this thread get any need-based aid from Columbia? I don't think it's called 'EFC' in law school, but my 'EFC' would be $0, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

I was ED and they still gave me $60k, and the only reason I can see for that is their consideration of my financial need.

[PDX4343]

Awesome good to hear since I'm considering an ED.

[papercut]

Awesome good to hear since I'm considering an ED.

Not sure what the actually numbers are, but a bunch of people were saying that this cycle they got more $ from CLS than NYU.

[PDX4343]

The small sample size of applicants with numbers in my range on mylsn seems to support that. Which would be AMAZING if true.

[ChiefMango]

How easy is it to gain employment during your 1L summer for relatively prestigious public interest positions (DoJ for example)? Did a majority of 1Ls who looked for summer employment find something that they enjoyed? Does coming from Columbia Law School give you a distinct advantage in non-NYC job markets like DC? Is that advantage comparable to HYS?

[jbagelboy]

How easy is it to gain employment during your 1L summer for relatively prestigious public interest positions (DoJ for example)? Did a majority of 1Ls who looked for summer employment find something that they enjoyed? Does coming from Columbia Law School give you a distinct advantage in non-NYC job markets like DC? Is that advantage comparable to HYS?

DC is one market where I wouldn't say Columbia can match HYS in placement. Columbia dominates NY, does well in CA. I wouldn't say it could match Harvard in cache nationwide, but it places equally well in firms because New York is such a large market.

Plenty of people get DoJ, clerkships, different fed agencies for 1L summer. These positions are unpaid so they aren't so impossible. Most people I've spoken to enjoyed their summer work.

[JVK]

How easy is it to gain employment during your 1L summer for relatively prestigious public interest positions (DoJ for example)? Did a majority of 1Ls who looked for summer employment find something that they enjoyed? Does coming from Columbia Law School give you a distinct advantage in non-NYC job markets like DC? Is that advantage comparable to HYS?

DC is one market where I wouldn't say Columbia can match HYS in placement. Columbia dominates NY, does well in CA. I wouldn't say it could match Harvard in cache nationwide, but it places equally well in firms because New York is such a large market.

Plenty of people get DoJ, clerkships, different fed agencies for 1L summer. These positions are unpaid so they aren't so impossible. Most people I've spoken to enjoyed their summer work.

I think this advice is pretty spot-on!

I'm a 1L (or just finished it, anyway) who'll be working with the DOJ this summer, starting next Monday. I don't think there's anyone else from Columbia in my particular section, but I know two others doing white collar and immigration work, respectively. There're probably more, I just don't know everyone's summer job. There's also a solid number of people working with the SEC. Other "relatively prestigious public interest positions" I can think of students going to offhand include the USAO, CFTC, and Federal Defenders, plus DA and AG offices. Some are in government offices abroad (USTR).

Something nice that did happen this last year was enlarging the Guaranteed Summer Funding amount, as well as including judicial internships. I think it's certainly worth considering those internships if you're looking for some great writing experience and more general exposure, and Columbia has a pretty good number working in SDNY/EDNY, let alone other courts around the U.S.

You will get a summer job, even if it takes a while. Apply early if you can but accept that many places are on vastly different hiring schedules, and some may not send offers out until later. I think just about everyone's pretty happy with where they're headed.

As far as going from Columbia to DC for firm work, that's tough. I think JBagelboy's right, though I haven't been through OCI yet. I definitely do know a decent amount of upperclassmen who are going, but you have to keep in mind that it's a much smaller legal market (think NY firms having 100+ summer associates per class, with DC being less than a third of that) that still has highly desirable work. That means that top students from around the country'll still be trying to push into D.C., because they want to pursue practice areas can't quite be duplicated elsewhere, or not on the same level (like antitrust or some regulatory work, for starters). That obstacle applies to all schools, not just Columbia.

They definitely don't look down on you for trying to come to DC from NY, though.

[scoobysnax]

How easy is it to gain employment during your 1L summer for relatively prestigious public interest positions (DoJ for example)?

0L here, but I interned at DOJ the past two summers and met several Columbia students who were also there for the summer. I don't know how easy it was, but there definitely was a huge T-14 presence.

[jbagelboy]

How much or little do you 2Ls/3Ls think LPW actually matters? I operated under basically a minimal effort theory, and unsurprisingly, scored P's both semesters. Do judges/employers care about this if your letter grades are otherwise up to par?