Columbia 1Ls taking questions Forum

[Sogui]

-Redacted by the State Department Order #11892 for discussion of classified Government transmissions-

[CG614]

Or maybe I'm just overlooking the flaws of fellow men, because I have a slightly harsher opinion about roughly half the women here.

Could you elaborate on this?

Probably not a good idea, I'm tired and I don't want to sound like the personality-type that I've gotten so sick of here.

I'd just say, I feel like the appearance factor is down a bit compared to undergrad... but that's natural compared to a big state school known for sports and partying. But the personality factor is down too, which is surprising. Instead of seeing the intelligent side of the women here I'm more exposed to the judging, trash-talking, etc... that makes me feel like we really are back in high school. Hearing a girl tear apart another girl in her study group/organization/class over and over just gets old. It makes me feel like it's really hard to build up genuine good will here, but I see an ugly side to many girls here that I don't remember so vividly from my other phases of education.

Seems like someone failed to realize that law school girls aren't going to give you free points solely because you are in law school. All girls gossip, regardless of circumstances. You are probably seeing more of it here because you are surrounded by the same people most of the time. My advice is to get away from the law school every so often and break free of the law school bubble. Also, get some action, dude. Seems like you may need it. ha

[maudlinstreet]

Ah well, to give my own opinion on our class....

I think we're a pretty normal group of people. Both the guys and the girls are reasonably attractive, people tend to be quite friendly, etc. Of course, there are the exceptions, but I feel like that'd be true in any case of ~400 students. Rest assured that when you get to Columbia (if you go here), you won't be terribly shocked by any aspect of the student body. I do think that the student body generally comes from wealthier families, but this is by no means universally true (my family isn't wealthy, for instance), and it's hardly surprising anyway. I think you'll find that's the case at most higher end law schools, although I am just extrapolating here.

Anyway, don't be concerned about meeting people and making friends! People are generally nice and open to making friends, especially when they first arrive.

[redsoxfan2495]

Thanks for taking questions.

How exactly does housing selection work? Can you basically get in where you want or can it be difficult to get into some places?

Also, what kind of extracurricular stuff is popular? I've read that a lot of people at NYU are really into flag football. Anything random like that that I should know about?

[CG614]

Thanks for taking questions.

How exactly does housing selection work? Can you basically get in where you want or can it be difficult to get into some places?

Also, what kind of extracurricular stuff is popular? I've read that a lot of people at NYU are really into flag football. Anything random like that that I should know about?

You are guaranteed housing if you fill out the forms in time. There is a softball club and tons of other club/organizations you could join. Having options is not an issue. However, the correct answer for popular extracurricular stuff is drinking.

[Sogui]

Thanks for taking questions.

How exactly does housing selection work? Can you basically get in where you want or can it be difficult to get into some places?

Also, what kind of extracurricular stuff is popular? I've read that a lot of people at NYU are really into flag football. Anything random like that that I should know about?

It depends on where you want to get in. If you don't have a spouse/family and don't mind sharing with roommates then you will probably get whatever you put down for your first choice, it will depend more on what you are willing to pay for. 115th is 2 minutes away a good deal cheaper than most alternatives, but you will share it with 2 roommates and have some pretty lousy furniture, no AC, with a view of a brick wall and some pipes. The other choices are much more expensive but also have nice accommodations. Still if you have a thick skin and are paying your own way through law school, I'd say the 115th block can't be beat.

EC's consist of softball, poker tournaments, bar reviews, and occasionally some ultimate frisbee. There will be plenty of drinking up during orientation and legal methods (please don't take legal methods seriously) but will taper off pretty fast after that unless your friends see drinking as a mandatory weekly activity.

[CG614]

but will taper off pretty fast after that unless your friends see drinking as a mandatory weekly activity.

Make friends with these people. It will make 1L much more fun. Everyone studies non-stop at finals period, no sense in not enjoying yourself somewhat throughout the semester.

[High_Hopes]

how is the diversity at cls?


can you break down racial demographics into rough percentages?

[maudlinstreet]

how is the diversity at cls?


can you break down racial demographics into rough percentages?

http://www.law.columbia.edu/jd_applican ... assprofile

[Sogui]

how is the diversity at cls?


can you break down racial demographics into rough percentages?

http://www.law.columbia.edu/jd_applican ... assprofile

I take back everything, the class of 2013 has quite the assprofile

[High_Hopes]

Have you seen the 1 person who is >20 years old?

[dubunamjah]

Have you seen the 1 person who is >20 years old?

you mean <20 years old? yeah, i know him/her

[High_Hopes]

Have you seen the 1 person who is >20 years old?

you mean <20 years old? yeah, i know him/her

sorry it was late. super kid or what?

[piccolittle]

Thanks to you all for taking questions!

1) Do you get to have any control over your schedule/section/professor for the 1L core classes? What is your schedule like?

2) How did you find exams? What is your study method, and how effective do you feel it is? What will you be changing next semester, if anything?

[hoopsguy6]

Thanks to you all for taking questions!

1) Do you get to have any control over your schedule/section/professor for the 1L core classes? What is your schedule like?

2) How did you find exams? What is your study method, and how effective do you feel it is? What will you be changing next semester, if anything?

1) No control at all. Some people will have classes 3-4 days a week, others will have 9am classes 5 days a week.

2) Exams are a pile of flaming shit.

[Sogui]

Thanks to you all for taking questions!

1) Do you get to have any control over your schedule/section/professor for the 1L core classes? What is your schedule like?

2) How did you find exams? What is your study method, and how effective do you feel it is? What will you be changing next semester, if anything?

1- Everything is assigned to you as a 1L. A well managed schedule will leave you with plenty of control over your time though

2- I have my controversial "Fuck your hornbook" philosophy. I think the ideal exam prep consists of:

1) Read for classes within 3 days of the class
2) Take good class notes
3) Starting around mid-November, begin outlining solely off class notes. Or outline throughout the semester whenever you finish a section
4) Once class ends: Finish outlines and take every practice exam you can find, compare it with classmates or the model answers. If you have time make a short-version of your outline 'an attack outline' that gives condensed accounts of what to consider when you inevitably come across one of the huge lessons covered in your class on the exam.

Congratulations! You are now as well prepared as possible. Meanwhile some of your peers will have spent 3x the effort you did in highlighting and marking all over their book, briefing every case, reading a hornbook twice from cover to cover and then buying another hornbook and reading that as well, and then they sit in class and take half the notes you do because they "already have that in their briefs/pre-class notes anyway". Needless to say this is how those 100 page outlines end up on the G:drive.

In hindsight my only regrets were not outlining sooner, missing a couple classes (relying on friend's notes is a huge gamble), and not doing every single practice exam humanly possible under real test conditions.

[UnitarySpace]

Haha, the guy who was <20 is now 20.

[imchuckbass58]

2- I have my controversial "Fuck your hornbook" philosophy. I think the ideal exam prep consists of:

1) Read for classes within 3 days of the class
2) Take good class notes
3) Starting around mid-November, begin outlining solely off class notes. Or outline throughout the semester whenever you finish a section
4) Once class ends: Finish outlines and take every practice exam you can find, compare it with classmates or the model answers. If you have time make a short-version of your outline 'an attack outline' that gives condensed accounts of what to consider when you inevitably come across one of the huge lessons covered in your class on the exam.

I was a 1L at CLS last year and did decently well (well above the stone cutoff), so I thought I'd add my two cents: I agree that hornbooks are not absolutely necessary. I used them a lot and found them very helpful, but I know several people who did well without touching them or using them minimally.

Along the lines of what Sogui said, the two big things that seemed to be almost universally helpful for those who did very well (and which I found helpful):
-Take every single practice test you can get your hands on under test conditions (i.e., timed, in one sitting, spellcheck off), especially if your professor has exams up, or if you can find exams with sample answers. If you are in a time crunch and have to choose between polishing your outline and taking practice tests, take practice tests.
-Keep up with the reading, and take really good notes during the semester as you do the reading. The process of synthesizing and writing everything down as you do the reading will enhance your understanding of the material, and you will get a set of notes extensive enough that they only needed minor supplementing from in-class notes to be turned into outlines (so you have more time to do practice tests).

The biggest mistake I think people make is not taking enough practice exams.

[piccolittle]

Thanks again everyone

What is the curve like?

For those of you who are 2Ls and above, how did you and those you know find OCI? Any horror stories?

[Sogui]

Thanks again everyone

What is the curve like?

For those of you who are 2Ls and above, how did you and those you know find OCI? Any horror stories?

Columbia: (1L's)

A 5-10%
A- 12-18%
Range for all A family grades: 20-25%

B+ 25-35%
Range for all grades of B+ and above: 45-55%

B 30-40%
Range for all grades of B and above: 85-93%

Range for all grades of B- and below: 7-15%

[imchuckbass58]

Thanks again everyone

What is the curve like?

For those of you who are 2Ls and above, how did you and those you know find OCI? Any horror stories?

See above for the curve.

I found EIP/OCI/whatever you want to call it much better than the previous year (I don't have stats for this year, I'm just judging anecdotally), but still not as good as 2006/2007/2008.

I'm a bit of a weird case because I'm a joint degree graduating in 2013 (some firms wouldn't even interview me) but I still managed to snag three offers in the V20 before cancelling the rest of my interviews. Law review people had upwards of 12-15 callbacks and upwards of 5 offers. Lower Stone I'd say average was 8-12 callbacks and 3-5 offers. Median was probably 5 or so callbacks and 1-3 offers. Again, I don't have hard stats, this is just my general sense of things and there was probably considerable variation.

My general sense was that if you were in the vicinity of median and targeted New York, you were fine. There was still a not-insignificant number of people who didn't get jobs this year (I can name several from my extended group of acquaintances), but for the most part either (1) I got the sense they were markedly below median, or (2) they exclusively targeted very hard-to-get markets like SF, Chicago or DC (even with ties).

People severely underestimate how brutal DC is. There's a kid I'm friends with on LR who interviewed in NY and DC. In NY he literally got every firm he interviewed with except watchtell (cravath on down). In DC he got no offers (granted, he interviewed with the harder-to-get firms, but still).

[piccolittle]

I know we can take non-law courses at Columbia for free, but has anyone ever done this? I might be interested in taking a language course but am concerned about the effect on my work load. It would suck to fail Civ Pro because I had too much Italian homework or something.

Thoughts?

[dubunamjah]

I know we can take non-law courses at Columbia for free, but has anyone ever done this? I might be interested in taking a language course but am concerned about the effect on my work load. It would suck to fail Civ Pro because I had too much Italian homework or something.

Thoughts?

uh i don't think you're allowed to do it during your 1l year

(and even if you were, i would highly suggest not doing so)

[marlis]

Thanks for all the input!

1) Is student housing really worth it for first year? Or would we be better off hunting down our own place? I've been to N.Y. a few times but am by no means super familiar with the area, especially not the Morningside area. I thought it might be easier to do the law student housing for at least my first year to get acquainted with the area and avoid choosing some sketchy rat-infested place by accident, but I don't want to over-pay (as I've heard Columbia's 'subsidization' of rent isn't all it's cracked up to be)

2) I'm sure this has been asked before, but how generous is Columbia for need & merit based aid for EDers? Would any EDers be willing to share approx what they recieved from Columbia last year (if anything)?

Thanks!

[irie]

Anyone know when schedules for the spring come out?