Columbia students taking questions Forum

[quiver]

Just adding to what others said...I think I've had maybe 2 upper level classes where the professor teaching the class wasn't one of the named editors of the casebook. Most of these people are at or near the top of their respective fields, it's completely absurd to suggest otherwise. Also, picco didn't even link to some of our more impressive faculty. Good joke Chicago.

[Bronck]

No idea if anyone knows the A to this.... but how long does it take to establish residency in NY (and thus be able to get a NY driver's license and NY voter registration)?

[mel2010]

No idea if anyone knows the A to this.... but how long does it take to establish residency in NY (and thus be able to get a NY driver's license and NY voter registration)?

I don't touch steering wheels here, but as far as voting just 30 days, easy peasy download a form and mail it in.

[Bronck]

No idea if anyone knows the A to this.... but how long does it take to establish residency in NY (and thus be able to get a NY driver's license and NY voter registration)?

I don't touch steering wheels here, but as far as voting just 30 days, easy peasy download a form and mail it in.

Yeah, I have no plans to drive either, but I would like to have a NY state ID -- mostly for symbolic reasons, lol -- and changing my license gets that done nicely.

Oh cool, that is quick! I already unregistered to vote in my current state too.

ETA: "If you become a resident of NYS, you must apply for a NYS driver license not more than 30 days after you become a NYS resident." If I'm reading this correctly, this means you don't actually have to be a resident of NYS to get a NYS driver license.

[shepson]

Thanks for all the responses regarding faculty at Columbia. I assumed it was an exaggerated/incorrect claim, and appreciate the comments. I definitely noticed that NYU feels the need to measure up to Columbia, and not the reverse. And just for the record, I ain't Leiter.

[timbs4339]

Thanks for all the responses regarding faculty at Columbia. I assumed it was an exaggerated/incorrect claim, and appreciate the comments. I definitely noticed that NYU feels the need to measure up to Columbia, and not the reverse. And just for the record, I ain't Leiter.

But seriously, the faculty is top notch. They may not be the best teachers and they may be clueless about the job market, but I've had the opportunity to work closely with some faculty members and they are top in their fields.

[Doorkeeper]

I feel a bit out of place commenting in this thread since I turned down Columbia, but I have to say that I agree with the statement that NYU and Chicago have stronger faculty than Columbia, except perhaps in the areas of IP and corporate/securities law. This isn't to say Columbia doesn't have a really strong faculty, or that they're any less good at teaching, but on the whole I think right now it's weaker. I am only speaking academically, and not in any relation to practice. This sentiment has been echoed by almost all non-Columbia faculty I've talked to at HSCC. I'm prepared for the pushback on this, but just wanted to throw it out there.

[Tiago Splitter]

I feel a bit out of place commenting in this thread since I turned down Columbia, but I have to say that I agree with the statement that NYU and Chicago have stronger faculty than Columbia, except perhaps in the areas of IP and corporate/securities law. This isn't to say Columbia doesn't have a really strong faculty, or that they're any less good at teaching, but on the whole I think right now it's weaker. I am only speaking academically, and not in any relation to practice. This sentiment has been echoed by almost all non-Columbia faculty I've talked to at HSCC. I'm prepared for the pushback on this, but just wanted to throw it out there.

Let me know when this affects my job prospects.

[Doorkeeper]

I feel a bit out of place commenting in this thread since I turned down Columbia, but I have to say that I agree with the statement that NYU and Chicago have stronger faculty than Columbia, except perhaps in the areas of IP and corporate/securities law. This isn't to say Columbia doesn't have a really strong faculty, or that they're any less good at teaching, but on the whole I think right now it's weaker. I am only speaking academically, and not in any relation to practice. This sentiment has been echoed by almost all non-Columbia faculty I've talked to at HSCC. I'm prepared for the pushback on this, but just wanted to throw it out there.

Let me know when this affects my job prospects.

Oh yea, if you're going for most areas outside of academia then it's not really an issue at all. I just wanted to push back on the discussion in this thread. It really doesn't matter the number of citation that your con law professor has vs. the con law professor at NYU, what matters is whether he/she can put a call in for you at X place. I totally agree.

[blue_c]

I feel a bit out of place commenting in this thread since I turned down Columbia, but I have to say that I agree with the statement that NYU and Chicago have stronger faculty than Columbia, except perhaps in the areas of IP and corporate/securities law. This isn't to say Columbia doesn't have a really strong faculty, or that they're any less good at teaching, but on the whole I think right now it's weaker. I am only speaking academically, and not in any relation to practice. This sentiment has been echoed by almost all non-Columbia faculty I've talked to at HSCC. I'm prepared for the pushback on this, but just wanted to throw it out there.

Well, IP's all I care about so

[mel2010]

This could be anywhere between very true and completely false; I don't really know or care. What affects me is how knowledgeable/effective a teacher is (so I can learn) and how well-connected they are (so they can help me out). What doesn't affect me is how well-respected they are by professors (not to mention 0-3Ls) at other law schools based on how often they're cited.

I can tell you the quality of instruction varies prof to prof, as I'm sure it does anywhere. But I can also suggest that you don't end up teaching at CLS (or any top school) by being a nobody...

[Guchster]

With the exception of a few, my "big shot" professors are all huge assholes and severely suffer from autism (which probably makes them fantastic in their research roles and "highly esteemed" in the intellectual circlejerks that are law reviews).

The professors I love the most and have developed the closest ties to may not be huge deals (at least not, yet) here at CLS, but IDGAF because they've taken the time to really invest in me. I'd rather have them in my corners, than some of the huge legends that aren't even allowed to write clerkship recommendations anymore because they use the same form letters and got in trouble with judges; they couldn't even learn the students' names that tried making connections with them.

I need to learn property first and pass my bar exam, before I start going crazy on theories that are a bunch of bullshit in the first place. I'll pass on the big names, ty.

[Guchster]

But yes, I agree with mel. You just don't get to be apart of a T6 faculty without being a badd ass--burgerztime or not

[Doorkeeper]

All fair points, and I would agree with pretty much all of them!

I was expecting to open up my computer to a slew of insults. I guess finals have made everyone more agreeable! (surprising)

[Bronck]

I feel a bit out of place commenting in this thread since I turned down Columbia, but I have to say that I agree with the statement that NYU and Chicago have stronger faculty than Columbia, except perhaps in the areas of IP and corporate/securities law. This isn't to say Columbia doesn't have a really strong faculty, or that they're any less good at teaching, but on the whole I think right now it's weaker. I am only speaking academically, and not in any relation to practice. This sentiment has been echoed by almost all non-Columbia faculty I've talked to at HSCC. I'm prepared for the pushback on this, but just wanted to throw it out there.

Let me know when this affects my job prospects.

+1 million. If I only learned how to weave baskets at CLS and it guaranteed me a spot in a V10 firm, I'd take it.

[echamberlin8]

I'm applying this fall to try to get into law school. Columbia and NYU were definitely at the top of my list for schools I want to go to, since I've always wanted to live in NYC. My goal is NYC BigLaw, preferably something high on the V100.

I went up to NYC this past weekend, and looked at NYU and Columbia. I was a little disappointed by NYU's lack of a campus/college feel, but I was blown away by Columbia. I am so envious of you guys that you get to go there.

Someone was nice enough to let me and my companion into the law school, so we got to look around on the inside. I love how Columbia has such an enclosed, beautiful campus from the rest of the city. Unlike NYU, it feels like its own world of academia and knowledge (and prestige ). Love the Greco-Roman-style buildings. That is one crazy sculpture outside your law school.

Anyways, I don't really have any questions, except just to ask what you guys think would help me with getting my application accepted at Columbia. I have a 3.73 GPA, and I'm studying for the October LSAT currently. I am shooting for as close to perfect as possible (honestly, I'm shooting for a 180), since I know I need a 99th percentile score to get into Columbia. I also would like a shot at HYS.

I've heard others say that with Columbia that it helps to emphasize the "diverse voice" I would bring to the school. Does Columbia like work experience? Volunteering? I will be entering into law school with a solid amount (3+ years) of work experience, including 2 years working as a paralegal at a big DC law firm. But yeah, I just am going to study my ass off for the LSAT.

I just wanted to pop in and say I was very impressed with Columbia on the whole, and I think it blew NYU out of the water in terms of its aesthetic appeal for me.

[Guchster]

I just wanted to pop in and say I was very impressed with Columbia on the whole, and I think it blew NYU out of the water in terms of its aesthetic appeal for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit... but are you sure you came here?

I don't think those words mean what you think they mean.

[icedflames]

I just wanted to pop in and say I was very impressed with Columbia on the whole, and I think it blew NYU out of the water in terms of its aesthetic appeal for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit... but are you sure you came here?

I don't think those words mean what you think they mean.

Maybe the rest of the school

[echamberlin8]

I just wanted to pop in and say I was very impressed with Columbia on the whole, and I think it blew NYU out of the water in terms of its aesthetic appeal for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit... but are you sure you came here?

I don't think those words mean what you think they mean.

Yes, well most of the aesthetic appeal came from the main campus. But the law school was so close to the rest of Columbia that I included it in! It's not bad, though. Again, there is that crazy sculpture out front that is like something from a horror movie.

[Guchster]

Yes, well most of the aesthetic appeal came from the main campus. But the law school was so close to the rest of Columbia that I included it in! It's not bad, though. Again, there is that crazy sculpture out front that is like something from a horror movie.

lol i love the gigantic twisted horses statute! it's hilarious and really captures my angst on my way to final exams.

[echamberlin8]

Yes, well most of the aesthetic appeal came from the main campus. But the law school was so close to the rest of Columbia that I included it in! It's not bad, though. Again, there is that crazy sculpture out front that is like something from a horror movie.

lol i love the gigantic twisted horses statute! it's hilarious and really captures my angst on my way to final exams.

That really actually reminds me of a ghost-thing from the horror video-game Fatal Frame. It looks exactly like it!

When I visited NYU and Columbia, what I liked most about Columbia was that it WASN'T in downtown NYC. The Village and SoHo and those areas are almost a little too hipster for me. Hipster and very crowded. I had forgotten just how crowded NYC could be until this past weekend. I love Midtown and Uptown though.

[thunderflesh]

I've heard others say that with Columbia that it helps to emphasize the "diverse voice" I would bring to the school. Does Columbia like work experience? Volunteering? I will be entering into law school with a solid amount (3+ years) of work experience, including 2 years working as a paralegal at a big DC law firm. But yeah, I just am going to study my ass off for the LSAT.

Anecdotal evidence tells me CLS definitely places value on softs; my class year in particular has a lot of of students who did really interesting things before school (either in terms of work, where they lived, etc.). So definitely try to frame your personal statement in such a way that emphasizes how you'll bring some unique experiences to the table. That'll help no matter what school you're applying to, obv, but it can definitely make an impact at CLS.

[echamberlin8]

I've heard others say that with Columbia that it helps to emphasize the "diverse voice" I would bring to the school. Does Columbia like work experience? Volunteering? I will be entering into law school with a solid amount (3+ years) of work experience, including 2 years working as a paralegal at a big DC law firm. But yeah, I just am going to study my ass off for the LSAT.

Anecdotal evidence tells me CLS definitely places value on softs; my class year in particular has a lot of of students who did really interesting things before school (either in terms of work, where they lived, etc.). So definitely try to frame your personal statement in such a way that emphasizes how you'll bring some unique experiences to the table. That'll help no matter what school you're applying to, obv, but it can definitely make an impact at CLS.

Cool, thanks for the info. I can imagine it helps being out of school for a few years as opposed to being K-JD for this sort of thing. Personally, I can't imagine going to school my entire life for 20 years, and then graduating to make $160,000 in a big city, fancy law office. That would just make one so out of touch with reality for the vast majority of people in the world. I'm glad I graduated, but now I am pretty anxious to get back into school. Mostly this is because I felt that I have never lived up to my potential until the last few years of my life. I didn't try very hard to get into a good college, didn't care about much in college, and didn't really find my "calling" until I got a good job here as a paralegal at a top law firm, and this motivated me and gave me a kick in the ass to try to attend a great law school and get a top-notch education. It's pretty nice being at a firm with 170+ Harvard Law School grads, and it's definitely a very motivating experience.

[redsoxfan2495]

I'm kind of disappointed to learn that Chicago has the same silly inferiority complex as NYU.

I've heard professors say that the two big things that attract legal academics are institutional prestige and location. Ask yourself how pathetic the faculty of a T6 school located in Manhattan could possibly be.

[Kring345]

I think Ive seen a few people offer to send pictures of their UAH/CLS apartments. Any one able to PM those pictures to me? Just curious to see. Thanks!