UChi Students & Alumni Taking Questions Forum

[skers]

Does need access affect loans at all?

[duckmoney]

Does need access affect loans at all?

I think the Perkins loan is need based, but that might be a federal thing. Stafford and Grad PLUS loans are not need based.

The school theoretically has some need based grants, and solicit the need access application from applicants, but I would bank on getting much. They prefer to give out merit based aid (read: formula based on LSAT and GPA) as it helps them go up US news rankings, and need based aid doesn't.

[sealrsqr]

I'm shooting for Legislation because I <3 Huq's voice.

Bring your dictionary.

Care to expand on the that enigmatic statement?

Sorry, it was a little tongue-in cheek. I think he does an excellent job as a professor, but he can use vocabulary that takes some getting used to. (Although this is more likely due to my terrible grasp of the finer points of English)

I have a fine grasp of English but I also find myself translating Huq's extensive vocabulary into my own Valley Girl speak. That said, I highly recommend this 1L elective. Huq is a great prof and the content of this class is foundational. It will help you in practically every other class you take over the next two years. His socratic and his exams are demanding, but never mean spirited. He just wants to make us better lawyers.

[Emma.]

Does need access affect loans at all?

I think the Perkins loan is need based, but that might be a federal thing. Stafford and Grad PLUS loans are not need based.

The school theoretically has some need based grants, and solicit the need access application from applicants, but I would bank on getting much. They prefer to give out merit based aid (read: formula based on LSAT and GPA) as it helps them go up US news rankings, and need based aid doesn't.

Fed subsidized loans are gone next year.

[lsatcrazy]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

[Emma.]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

Haven't read it, but pretty sure the median for student normalcy/social competency has gone up pretty drastically even from their year.

[Haymarket]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

"I am a Chinese American who at age 14 enrolled at Princeton and at age 17 began my applied mathematics Ph.D. at Harvard."

This is a sign that you probably should take the entire thing with a fucking heart-attack inducing grain of salt and not care about this. If this has any real influence on your decision then God help you.

[Nelson]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

Must be something in the water at The University of Colorado Law School these days...

[Flash]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

I think I speak for most Chicago law students when I say....

[Doorkeeper]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

Ugh...that was an ugly read, especially since I <3 Nussbaum.

[Haymarket]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

Ugh...that was an ugly read, especially since I <3 Nussbaum.

I very wise former Supreme Court clerk once asked me rhetorically, "Why would you ever take a law school class from someone without a law degree?"

[lsatcrazy]

I honestly read this after reading "Hymn of the Tiger Mother", not expecting anything about law schools at all. Pleasant surprise, although it dimmed my enthusiasm for UChi a bit...

[Haymarket]

I honestly read this after reading "Hymn of the Tiger Mother", not expecting anything about law schools at all. Pleasant surprise, although it dimmed my enthusiasm for UChi a bit...

See Haymarket, supra.

Wow. I actually read that thing, at least the parts about Chicago. Not only does that guy sound like he was kind of annoying in class, he seems to have absolutely zero sense of humor or appreciation for law school. I know this is probably pretty biased, but he seems pretty butthurt about Chicago in an unjustified way.

[Doorkeeper]

.

[lsatcrazy]

I honestly read this after reading "Hymn of the Tiger Mother", not expecting anything about law schools at all. Pleasant surprise, although it dimmed my enthusiasm for UChi a bit...

See Haymarket, supra.

Some of the stuff in there are stories, not his feelings or interpretations (though obviously told from his biased perspective). I would agree that there is something weird about the dude (as I mentioned in my initial post, plus he was denied tenure at Penn and seems to value "happiness" over all else), but some of the Chicago/Penn faculty sound less than awesome (to put it mildly). Listen, I'm a big fan of UChi, and may well end up there, but I'm just trying to do some due diligence as to the 25% yield and the cutthroat rep. Having said that, getting past the UChi kool-aid is hard around here (thanks Taipei!), and you all seem satisfied, which is actually quite encouraging!

[Haymarket]

I honestly read this after reading "Hymn of the Tiger Mother", not expecting anything about law schools at all. Pleasant surprise, although it dimmed my enthusiasm for UChi a bit...

See Haymarket, supra.

Some of the stuff in there are stories, not his feelings or interpretations (though obviously told from his biased perspective). I would agree that there is something weird about the dude (as I mentioned in my initial post, plus he was denied tenure at Penn and seems to value "happiness" over all else), but some of the Chicago/Penn faculty sound less than awesome (to put it mildly). Listen, I'm a big fan of UChi, and may well end up there, but I'm just trying to do some due diligence as to the 25% yield and the cutthroat rep. Having said that, getting past the UChi kool-aid is hard around here (thanks Taipei!), and you all seem satisfied, which is actually quite encouraging!

My advice: You'll be much better served getting opinions of actual current students from each of the schools and going on visits than you will in reading the 18 year old experiences of some strange, possibly bitter professor who likely has an ulterior motive and did not write such a paper with a 0L audience in mind. I think it is irrational to give it any more than an iota of weight in your decision just as I don't think you should decide on whether to go to Harvard based on your experience reading "1L".

[California Babe]

Some of the stuff in there are stories, not his feelings or interpretations (though obviously told from his biased perspective). I would agree that there is something weird about the dude (as I mentioned in my initial post, plus he was denied tenure at Penn and seems to value "happiness" over all else), but some of the Chicago/Penn faculty sound less than awesome (to put it mildly). Listen, I'm a big fan of UChi, and may well end up there, but I'm just trying to do some due diligence as to the 25% yield and the cutthroat rep. Having said that, getting past the UChi kool-aid is hard around here (thanks Taipei!), and you all seem satisfied, which is actually quite encouraging!

My advice: You'll be much better served getting opinions of actual current students from each of the schools and going on visits than you will in reading the 18 year old experiences of some strange, possibly bitter professor who likely has an ulterior motive and did not write such a paper with a 0L audience in mind. I think it is irrational to give it any more than an iota of weight in your decision just as I don't think you should decide on whether to go to Harvard based on your experience reading "1L".

This. This this this.

References to UChi's "cutthroat rep" is the sign of someone not actually talking to current/recent students at UChi. Due diligence? Right.

[lsatcrazy]

Hopefully I'll be visiting all of CCN sometime in the next month, and no I wasn't basing my decision on that paper whatsoever. I was just surprised by the tone and descriptions, and was curious as to what current students thought. And come on CB, you can't deny that UChi still has a certain "fun goes to die" rep. Not having visited, I can't comment on the general student body, hopefully I'll get that part of the due diligence done soon. However, as I mentioned, all UChi TLSers seem happy, and that factors into my decision way more than the paper.

[Haymarket]

Hopefully I'll be visiting all of CCN sometime in the next month, and no I wasn't basing my decision on that paper whatsoever. I was just surprised by the tone and descriptions, and was curious as to what current students thought. And come on CB, you can't deny that UChi still has a certain "fun goes to die" rep. Not having visited, I can't comment on the general student body, hopefully I'll get that part of the due diligence done soon. However, as I mentioned, all UChi TLSers seem happy, and that factors into my decision way more than the paper.

A word of wisdom: you won't get the best reaction out of current students by presenting them with the perceived faults in their school and then asking for their reaction or defense. It's off putting. After you do your due diligence and such, we're definitely happy to answer any general or specific questions about Chicago, but there likely won't be any active recruitment and lobbying.

[lsatcrazy]

Hopefully I'll be visiting all of CCN sometime in the next month, and no I wasn't basing my decision on that paper whatsoever. I was just surprised by the tone and descriptions, and was curious as to what current students thought. And come on CB, you can't deny that UChi still has a certain "fun goes to die" rep. Not having visited, I can't comment on the general student body, hopefully I'll get that part of the due diligence done soon. However, as I mentioned, all UChi TLSers seem happy, and that factors into my decision way more than the paper.

A word of wisdom: you won't get the best reaction out of current students by presenting them with the perceived faults in their school and then asking for their reaction or defense. It's off putting. After you do your due diligence and such, we're definitely happy to answer any general or specific questions about Chicago, but there likely won't be any active recruitment and lobbying.

My apologies if I sounded like I was trying to unlodge some kind of fault - I really wasn't. The way you guys have come to your school's defense is actually quite encouraging, and tells me a lot about the general attitude at UChi. TaipeiMort jokes aside, you guys really are doing good recruitment and lobbying just by being so active and positive about your experience at Chicago. Or maybe I'm used to my undergrad, which I didn't particularly enjoy and have no problem bashing...

[Flash]

Is it too early to go into coasting mode?

[Transferthrowaway]

Is it too early to go into coasting mode?

I have, but I don't think my opinion counts.

[Bildungsroman]

Is it too early to go into coasting mode?

If so, I'm pretty screwed.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

I read the Chicago section. The Property professor is easily identifiable, and I'm guessing I know the Contracts professor too.

Summary of my thoughts compared to his:
I know most people's first names. I call them by their first name. I hear people say "pass" all the time--some professors even encourage using it. Some professors can be jerks, but that's the nature of the beast. The vast majority of them aren't. Most professors do wear suits. I'm on the Scalia side of saying that you should take all the black letter law classes you can and pass on some of these law & philosophy classes (but obviously some people are interested in otherwise the law school wouldn't keep offering them). We do have off MLK Day. Professors are readily available and will take you out to lunch if you ask them. There is definitely an anxious culture in Chicago (as a 1L), but I doubt it's much different than most any other big school. 1L is a much different beast than any other class year.

[lsatcrazy]

Just read: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ... id=1958366

Any thoughts? Are the descriptions remotely accurate? Unloads pretty heavily on Levmore (aka "Not Silent"). He seems honest, but also a little kooky...

I read the Chicago section. The Property professor is easily identifiable, and I'm guessing I know the Contracts professor too.

Summary of my thoughts compared to his:
I know most people's first names. I call them by their first name. I hear people say "pass" all the time--some professors even encourage using it. Some professors can be jerks, but that's the nature of the beast. The vast majority of them aren't. Most professors do wear suits. I'm on the Scalia side of saying that you should take all the black letter law classes you can and pass on some of these law & philosophy classes (but obviously some people are interested in otherwise the law school wouldn't keep offering them). We do have off MLK Day. Professors are readily available and will take you out to lunch if you ask them. There is definitely an anxious culture in Chicago (as a 1L), but I doubt it's much different than most any other big school. 1L is a much different beast than any other class year.

That was really informative - thanks!