Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[bjsesq]

chicago has byob restaurants????? i am in love.

wow so i just walk in with a bottle of wine and that's okay? that's awesome!

Bring scotch instead. Go big.

awesome! this blows my mind...probably cuz i'm from a small town! lol

So am I, my friend. Trust me, there is a lot of shit the big city has to offer that will make your week.

[D-hops]

chicago has byob restaurants????? i am in love.

wow so i just walk in with a bottle of wine and that's okay? that's awesome!

Some restaurants will have a "corking fee" but most don't. There aren't a lot of BYOBs in streeterville or downtown but if you live in one of the more residential neighborhoods (e.g. lincoln park, lakeview) they are all over the place. It is great and can save you a bunch of money on booze.

[ariluh]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

[bjsesq]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

Go with what works for you and your goals. If your goal is biglaw, you'd be better off at NU. Illinois is a fantastic school in its own right.

[ahduth]

chicago has byob restaurants????? i am in love.

wow so i just walk in with a bottle of wine and that's okay? that's awesome!

Some restaurants will have a "corking fee" but most don't. There aren't a lot of BYOBs in streeterville or downtown but if you live in one of the more residential neighborhoods (e.g. lincoln park, lakeview) they are all over the place. It is great and can save you a bunch of money on booze.

This restaurant is... simply amazing:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tango-sur-chicago

Argentine steakhouse plus BYOB equals.... I dunno. Something awesome.

edit: I forget how to spell it (it's pronounced parisada I think). But it's a grill they put on your table that's covered with meat. True story.

[09042014]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

How much cash is Illinois giving you?

[rinkrat19]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

There are factors besides rankings that should influence your decision, but rankings--and their more obviously relevant cousin, employment prospects--should definitely be considered.

Are you 'drawn' to Illinois for some happy fuzzy rainbow reason like "the feel of the campus" or "how nice the people on my tour were", or do you have more legit reasons like scholarship money or family in Urbana-Champaign? Do you fully understand the schools' relative employment prospects, and national vs. regional reach, ITE?

[ariluh]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

How much cash is Illinois giving you?

Illi said 30k per yr and I'm not expecting a financial offer from NU until mid March

[homestyle28]

Just curious what the 1L summer job search looks like from NU?

[ariluh]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

There are factors besides rankings that should influence your decision, but rankings--and their more obviously relevant cousin, employment prospects--should definitely be considered.

Are you 'drawn' to Illinois for some happy fuzzy rainbow reason like "the feel of the campus" or "how nice the people on my tour were", or do you have more legit reasons like scholarship money or family in Urbana-Champaign? Do you fully understand the schools' relative employment prospects, and national vs. regional reach, ITE?

"Happy fuzzy rainbow reason", as you put it. The people, their willingness to help and accessibility def pulls me, NU seems a bit impersonal. They did offer me 30k per yr but I won't get a financial offer from NU until mid-march to compare. Yes I am aware of the employment aspect especially when compared regionally to NU and Univ of Chi. Maybe it's only suitable for biglaw since "Comparatively low peer and lawyer/judge assessment scores have traditionally hindered Northwestern Law’s rankings. Currently, it has the 14th lowest academic reputation score, and the 13th lowest lawyer/judge reputation score."

[09042014]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

There are factors besides rankings that should influence your decision, but rankings--and their more obviously relevant cousin, employment prospects--should definitely be considered.

Are you 'drawn' to Illinois for some happy fuzzy rainbow reason like "the feel of the campus" or "how nice the people on my tour were", or do you have more legit reasons like scholarship money or family in Urbana-Champaign? Do you fully understand the schools' relative employment prospects, and national vs. regional reach, ITE?

"Happy fuzzy rainbow reason", as you put it. The people, their willingness to help and accessibility def pulls me, NU seems a bit impersonal. They did offer me 30k per yr but I won't get a financial offer from NU until mid-march to compare. Yes I am aware of the employment aspect especially when compared regionally to NU and Univ of Chi. Maybe it's only suitable for biglaw since "Comparatively low peer and lawyer/judge assessment scores have traditionally hindered Northwestern Law’s rankings. Currently, it has the 14th lowest academic reputation score, and the 13th lowest lawyer/judge reputation score."

NU to going to mop the floor with Illinois in every way. But 90K is a lot of money.

[SMA22]

Same issue here; got the guaranteed full ride from UIUC, but NU was my top pick. I agree that the folks from UIUC have been extremely approachable and friendly; same time, I think UIUC has made every school I've gotten into come up short in terms of promoting themselves. I don't take it as a sign that NU is cold, but that UIUC is really pushing the face time.

I could really use the full ride (owe already for graduate school), but I think long term, NU is the better pick for me, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen.

To NU students, thanks for being so approachable and answering our questions--you guys have been great.

[bjsesq]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

There are factors besides rankings that should influence your decision, but rankings--and their more obviously relevant cousin, employment prospects--should definitely be considered.

Are you 'drawn' to Illinois for some happy fuzzy rainbow reason like "the feel of the campus" or "how nice the people on my tour were", or do you have more legit reasons like scholarship money or family in Urbana-Champaign? Do you fully understand the schools' relative employment prospects, and national vs. regional reach, ITE?

"Happy fuzzy rainbow reason", as you put it. The people, their willingness to help and accessibility def pulls me, NU seems a bit impersonal. They did offer me 30k per yr but I won't get a financial offer from NU until mid-march to compare. Yes I am aware of the employment aspect especially when compared regionally to NU and Univ of Chi. Maybe it's only suitable for biglaw since "Comparatively low peer and lawyer/judge assessment scores have traditionally hindered Northwestern Law’s rankings. Currently, it has the 14th lowest academic reputation score, and the 13th lowest lawyer/judge reputation score."

That is good money at Illinois. As far as the atmosphere at NU is concerned: trust me, we are not impersonal. My section is very close, and I'm friends with many outside of the section. People are pretty chill here.

[ariluh]

Same issue here; got the guaranteed full ride from UIUC, but NU was my top pick. I agree that the folks from UIUC have been extremely approachable and friendly; same time, I think UIUC has made every school I've gotten into come up short in terms of promoting themselves. I don't take it as a sign that NU is cold, but that UIUC is really pushing the face time.

I could really use the full ride (owe already for graduate school), but I think long term, NU is the better pick for me, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen.

To NU students, thanks for being so approachable and answering our questions--you guys have been great.

I completely agree. Their marketing scheme or whatever you call it is incredible. I want to personally commend them for making an otherwise obvious decision very difficult for me. I shouldn't even be stuck in this decision, with a ten spot rank deficit, and that signifies a great job on their part. I think I'll wait until I get an offer from NU to decide tho.

[crumpetsandtea]

To NU students, thanks for being so approachable and answering our questions--you guys have been great.

Agreed!! (: This thread makes me <3 NU.

[ariluh]

Is it weird that I'm more drawn to Univ of Illi than to Northwestern? It's not all abt rankings...is it?

There are factors besides rankings that should influence your decision, but rankings--and their more obviously relevant cousin, employment prospects--should definitely be considered.

Are you 'drawn' to Illinois for some happy fuzzy rainbow reason like "the feel of the campus" or "how nice the people on my tour were", or do you have more legit reasons like scholarship money or family in Urbana-Champaign? Do you fully understand the schools' relative employment prospects, and national vs. regional reach, ITE?

"Happy fuzzy rainbow reason", as you put it. The people, their willingness to help and accessibility def pulls me, NU seems a bit impersonal. They did offer me 30k per yr but I won't get a financial offer from NU until mid-march to compare. Yes I am aware of the employment aspect especially when compared regionally to NU and Univ of Chi. Maybe it's only suitable for biglaw since "Comparatively low peer and lawyer/judge assessment scores have traditionally hindered Northwestern Law’s rankings. Currently, it has the 14th lowest academic reputation score, and the 13th lowest lawyer/judge reputation score."

That is good money at Illinois. As far as the atmosphere at NU is concerned: trust me, we are not impersonal. My section is very close, and I'm friends with many outside of the section. People are pretty chill here.

Yes I've been told it's different when you actually get there. I think I'll wait until I get their financial offer to decide. Both appear to be very good options.

[animalcrkrs]

I do not understand this conversation. The ONLY reasons you should pick Illinois (or any other school of that caliber that gave you significant money) over NU are: 1) You are public interest 150% and prefer very no/little debt to committing to an LRAP program or 2) you absolutely want to stay in the midwest, or more likely, Illinois.

The T-14 will open SIGNIFICANTLY more doors for you no matter what, in the midwest or otherwise, and IMO, there is very little reason NOT to go if you are fortunate enough to get in. This is not college where you look to explore yourself and find your niche, it's professional graduate school, and the future of your career in law. Forget the fuzzy feelings and focus on what actually matters, ability to place graduates in premium jobs, be they highly selective firms, great public service/government positions, or clerkships.

/rant.

[09042014]

I'd probably take the full ride, but I'm eligible for patent law which gives me more leeway. If you aren't really interested in big law, or preftigious PI, take Illinois. But as of a year ago their big law number were pretty awful.

I've attended UIUC undergrad. It was fun for the 22 and under scene, but frat and house party scene gets old. The law school in on the corner of the campus, and is in a pretty boring location.

[rinkrat19]

I'd probably take the full ride, but I'm eligible for patent law which gives me more leeway. If you aren't really interested in big law, or preftigious PI, take Illinois. But as of a year ago their big law number were pretty awful.

I've attended UIUC undergrad. It was fun for the 22 and under scene, but frat and house party scene gets old. The law school in on the corner of the campus, and is in a pretty boring location.

Illinois' biglaw numbers got a lot worse. The new NLJ Go-To Schools list is out: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... OLS_REPORT

Northwestern fell to 8th, placing 44.37% of the 2010 class in NLJ 250 firms. (1st place in 2009, placing 55.9%)
Illinois is 26th, placing 17.95%. (25th place in 2009, placing 26.7%)

[09042014]

I'd probably take the full ride, but I'm eligible for patent law which gives me more leeway. If you aren't really interested in big law, or preftigious PI, take Illinois. But as of a year ago their big law number were pretty awful.

I've attended UIUC undergrad. It was fun for the 22 and under scene, but frat and house party scene gets old. The law school in on the corner of the campus, and is in a pretty boring location.

Illinois' biglaw numbers got a lot worse. The new NLJ Go-To Schools list is out: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... OLS_REPORT

Northwestern fell to 8th, placing 44.37% of the 2010 class in NLJ 250 firms. (1st place in 2009, placing 55.9%)
Illinois is 26th, placing 17.95%. (25th place in 2009, placing 26.7%)

Even those numbers aren't a true estimate. Class of 2010 did OCI in 2008. OCI 2009 was a lot worse.

[bjsesq]

Yes I've been told it's different when you actually get there. I think I'll wait until I get their financial offer to decide. Both appear to be very good options.

Well, let us know what you decide. Good luck to you, either way.

[forward]

Chicago>Chambana. I'd take sticker at NU over a full-ride at UIUC (which I've been offered). Maybe I'm crazy, though.

[homestyle28]

Just curious what the 1L summer job search looks like from the NU vantage point?

Bumping this question b/c I think it got lost in all the NU/UIUC shenanigans

[bjsesq]

Just curious what the 1L summer job search looks like from the NU vantage point?

Bumping this question b/c I think it got lost in all the NU/UIUC shenanigans

I've got a job doing what I want to do. I know 4 or 5 biglaw 1L summers. A few DOJ kids. Quite a few are still looking/doing interviews. I'll see if I can get you some idea of numbers, because I'm unsure right now.

[bdubs]

Just curious what the 1L summer job search looks like from the NU vantage point?

Bumping this question b/c I think it got lost in all the NU/UIUC shenanigans

I've got a job doing what I want to do. I know 4 or 5 biglaw 1L summers. A few DOJ kids. Quite a few are still looking/doing interviews. I'll see if I can get you some idea of numbers, because I'm unsure right now.

Are all of the 1L biglaw summer offers minorities?