Northwestern Class of 2018 Forum

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Some of you like me are probably debating between a large scholarship at NU or little to nothing at UChi. Here's some info I was looking at.

School ~~ Biglaw (501+) ~~ Fed Clerkships ~~ Biglaw & Fed Clerkships ~~ Biglaw, Fed Clerkships, Public Interest

Chicago ~~ 54.00% ~~ 10.20% ~~ 64.20% ~~ 70.2%
NU ~~ 49.60% ~~ 7.70% ~~ 57.30% ~~ 60.1%


I think the most useful proxy for job outcomes is the biglaw, fed clerkships and PI combined percentages. Kids self-select PI so including it is relevant. Less clear is including government, business, and smaller firms, because self-selection is not clear-cut in those areas.

[WeeBey]

Some of you like me are probably debating between a large scholarship at NU or little to nothing at UChi. Here's some info I was looking at.

School ~~ Biglaw (501+) ~~ Fed Clerkships ~~ Biglaw & Fed Clerkships ~~ Biglaw, Fed Clerkships, Public Interest

Chicago ~~ 54.00% ~~ 10.20% ~~ 64.20% ~~ 70.2%
NU ~~ 49.60% ~~ 7.70% ~~ 57.30% ~~ 60.1%


I think the most useful proxy for job outcomes is the biglaw, fed clerkships and PI combined percentages. Kids self-select PI so including it is relevant. Less clear is including government, business, and smaller firms, because self-selection is not clear-cut in those areas.

I think we should stick with the Biglaw (100+ atty firms) and Fed Clerkships. There are some highly selective PI positions but also some that are not and as such a last resort. Also, using only 500+ biglaw has a bias towards schools that place heavy in NY. Many prestigious firms that pay market or even above have less than 500 atty (think Watchell, Susman...).

Either way, in 2013, Chicago placed 72.6% in big law and fed clerkships while NU placed 63.3. I think we should also take into account that NU places many students into well-paying business jobs (100k-120k-135k:25-50-75%).

At equal cost, yeah, go to Chicago, but if NU is offering you like 20k a year more, go to NU. You'll prolly end up working at the same 160k job in NY or Chicago but with 60k+interest less in debt.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

I think we should stick with the Biglaw (100+ atty firms) and Fed Clerkships. There are some highly selective PI positions but also some that are not and as such a last resort. Also, using only 500+ biglaw has a bias towards schools that place heavy in NY. Many prestigious firms that pay market or even above have less than 500 atty (think Watchell, Susman...).

Either way, in 2013, Chicago placed 72.6% in big law and fed clerkships while NU placed 63.3. I think we should also take into account that NU places many students into well-paying business jobs (100k-120k-135k:25-50-75%).

At equal cost, yeah, go to Chicago, but if NU is offering you like 20k a year more, go to NU. You'll prolly end up working at the same 160k job in NY or Chicago but with 60k+interest less in debt.

great points - thx

[keosu11]

FYI it may be time to start checking your Northwestern email address. I received an email with the subject line "Financial Aid Preliminary Awards Notice 2015-2016." Nothing new just loan amounts, but it seems like they may start emailing us things there.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

Any updates?

[secadc11]

Anyone heard back on scholarship reconsideration requests?

[hearsay77]

Anyone heard back on scholarship reconsideration requests?

Nothing here...and I have other deadlines coming up next week!

[WhatCouldHaveBeen]

Correct that we can deposit by April 30 and remain on waitlists?

There is absolutely no mention of anything on my letter of acceptance about waitlists, nor for that matter is there any mention of rules around double depositing? I also checked the 'candidate response form' but that is super basic and also has no info on waitlists or double deposits. The waitlist, discussion, however, is what I am most interested in. Enlighten me !!

p.s ASW was badass. We all already know this is an awesome, big-time school. My biggest takeaway: GREAT fit for older students, or younger ones who are very mature, might be tougher environment for younger students with less work experience. Hard to say what a "younger" or "older" applicant is because we're all different, so I'll leave it at that.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

biggest takeaways from asw - the view of the lake from the library is awesome. and an uber from NU to the bean costs $5.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

Biggest take-aways from ASW:

the view of the lake from the library from everywhere is awesome. and an uber from NU to the bean costs $5.

GREAT fit for older students, or younger ones who are very mature, might be tougher environment for younger students with less work experience. Hard to say what a "younger" or "older" applicant is because we're all different, so I'll leave it at that.

I'll add: Current students, and the prospective students I met at ASW all seem to be down-to-Earth, quality individuals with a good sense of humor and genuinely interesting backgrounds. Didn't experience any ASW gunning, which is a positive. Also, the Lincoln Park Zoo is amazing and I'm pretty sure I will live in that conservatory between November and February of each year.

[trynalaw123]

^ Everyone who attended ASW, please keep this up! It's helpful to hear about it since I haven't been able to visit yet, but NU is a top contender for me!

[hearsay77]

^ Everyone who attended ASW, please keep this up! It's helpful to hear about it since I haven't been able to visit yet, but NU is a top contender for me!

^+1

[plaidisrad]

^ Everyone who attended ASW, please keep this up! It's helpful to hear about it since I haven't been able to visit yet, but NU is a top contender for me!

^+1

+2

[OhBoyOhBortles]

^ Everyone who attended ASW, please keep this up! It's helpful to hear about it since I haven't been able to visit yet, but NU is a top contender for me!

^+1

+2

Would be easier if you guys posted questions you have. You'll probably get better responses.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

There were two gunners in a few panels I visited. One was citing law cases in a mock law school class. It was hilarious in a sad way.

My visit conformed to NU's reputation. I had a few profs and students sell the professional vibe, and when jobs were discussed, biglaw was mentioned in earnest. My vibe was that its a place that pumps out biglawyers, and they know and sell that. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. But it does feel a bit stuffy to me.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

There were two gunners in a few panels I visited. One was citing law cases in a mock law school class. It was hilarious in a sad way.

My visit conformed to NU's reputation. I had a few profs and students sell the professional vibe, and when jobs were discussed, biglaw was mentioned in earnest. My vibe was that its a place that pumps out biglawyers, and they know and sell that. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. But it does feel a bit stuffy to me.

Wut. I hate that I missed that. Did anyone laugh?

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

There were two gunners in a few panels I visited. One was citing law cases in a mock law school class. It was hilarious in a sad way.

My visit conformed to NU's reputation. I had a few profs and students sell the professional vibe, and when jobs were discussed, biglaw was mentioned in earnest. My vibe was that its a place that pumps out biglawyers, and they know and sell that. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. But it does feel a bit stuffy to me.

Wut. I hate that I missed that. Did anyone laugh?

Haha yea, at least two people chuckled. It was in the Law and Socratic Method mock class on Saturday.

[hearsay77]

^ Everyone who attended ASW, please keep this up! It's helpful to hear about it since I haven't been able to visit yet, but NU is a top contender for me!

^+1

+2

Would be easier if you guys posted questions you have. You'll probably get better responses.

1. Did they provide any new info on financial aid? Anything about when we might hear back about scholarship reconsideration requests (unlikely, I know, but I'm getting desperate here).

2. Did they say anything about the likelihood that students get there first choice clinics/does every student get to participate in a clinic if they want to?

Thanks in advance!

[OhBoyOhBortles]

1. Negative. A lot of people eagerly awaiting too though. I assume we'll hear back relatively soon.
2. We were told that because they are available both 2l and 3l, and the way the bidding system works, that if you got the pre-reqs out of the way asap, and bid properly, it was very likely that you would get one of your top-choice clinics. I don't think we were provided with exact statistics to back that up though. Can anyone else add to that/confirm?

[WhiskeyAndCupcakes]

.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

I know NU has a biglaw bent, but did they talk at all about public interest-- advising, etc?

They had a PI seminar I didn't attend, maybe someone else did. NU also has a really cool research project you can do your 3L year. You get half of your 3L credits by working on a serious piece of scholarly work with a professor both semesters. Seems neat. So you could pursue a PI project with this program, I imagine.

Also, if I recall, less than 8% of NU grads go into PI. Definitely didn't get a PI-vibe from them.

[omegaday1500]

1. Negative. A lot of people eagerly awaiting too though. I assume we'll hear back relatively soon.
2. We were told that because they are available both 2l and 3l, and the way the bidding system works, that if you got the pre-reqs out of the way asap, and bid properly, it was very likely that you would get one of your top-choice clinics. I don't think we were provided with exact statistics to back that up though. Can anyone else add to that/confirm?

In reference to the clinic question, I remember someone saying that if prioritize getting into a specific clinic, you are almost guaranteed the chance to get into that clinic. Overall the weekend was a great chance to see the law school. The people I met all seem motivated,genuine and approachable. While the current student volunteers encouraged you to attend Northwestern, they also gave you honest pros and cons of Northwestern. My visit cemented my choice and I will be attending!

[BlueLaw11]

There were two gunners in a few panels I visited. One was citing law cases in a mock law school class. It was hilarious in a sad way.

My visit conformed to NU's reputation. I had a few profs and students sell the professional vibe, and when jobs were discussed, biglaw was mentioned in earnest. My vibe was that its a place that pumps out biglawyers, and they know and sell that. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. But it does feel a bit stuffy to me.

Wut. I hate that I missed that. Did anyone laugh?

Haha yea, at least two people chuckled. It was in the Law and Socratic Method mock class on Saturday.

Haha I was in this class, even the professor facepalmed a bit. Classic.

Overall I had a great experience. The faculty I met were all warm and engaging and for the most part the admitted students and current students were a great mix. Especially enjoyed the diversity of backgrounds from everyone having work experience. I liked Chicago a lot too, we all have a tough choice ahead of us

[trynalaw123]

Thanks guys! Did you guys get the vibe that the student body was still very close and friendly despite having a lot of older students that may not participate in outside activities as much (i.e. bar review, social activities)? As someone who is on the young side, it's important to me to have close bonds with my peers.

[ILoveYou]

I know NU has a biglaw bent, but did they talk at all about public interest-- advising, etc?

I went to a panel on some of their PI clinical offerings--they have some really great programs, I think 4 separate clinics were discussed in that panel. If you want details, feel free to PM me. As far as advising, they made it sound like they make it a priority. They very much don't want the reputation as a school that just pumps out business-minded/biglaw type attorneys (though obviously they know they do that as well as anyone) and made a point of talking about the support PI people get from professors and the CSO.