Columbia Law Class of 2019 Forum

[TheKisSquared]

Got my PID today via an email re housing, but no UNI still.

[schocolate]

Got my PID today via an email re housing, but no UNI still.

+1

[rska884]

Got my PID today via an email re housing, but no UNI still.

+1

What do we need them for? I assume they won't be particularly useful until I enroll, right?

[TheKisSquared]

Got my PID today via an email re housing, but no UNI still.

+1

What do we need them for? I assume they won't be particularly useful until I enroll, right?

The financial aid form wanted it but I submitted without it.

[rska884]

Got my PID today via an email re housing, but no UNI still.

+1

What do we need them for? I assume they won't be particularly useful until I enroll, right?

The financial aid form wanted it but I submitted without it.

Oh right. I called them to ask and they said to skip that page.

[mynameiskevin]

Does anyone have a more comprehensive information housing?
I'm leaning towards living in single studio, but the price on law school buildings is way over my budget.
Do you guys think UAH single is fine in terms of costs, distance, noise, etc.?

[somethingElse]

Checking in Had a quick Q about housing - I was reading that at least a couple years ago it doesn't matter when you send in the app (in terms of the lottery order) as long as its before the deadline. Is that still the case this year?

[ih8makingscreennames]

Checking in Had a quick Q about housing - I was reading that at least a couple years ago it doesn't matter when you send in the app (in terms of the lottery order) as long as its before the deadline. Is that still the case this year?

That's what the email that I got yesterday said.

[papersnowaghost]

.

[schocolate]

Yeah, I'd definitely appreciate more information about housing options. I had to miss the housing tours at the ASDs, and I don't find the housing site descriptions very helpful. Does anyone know/have more info?

[TheKisSquared]

From talking to students and visiting housing options:
UAH is variable in pricing, but *can* be cheaper. You can be pretty far from the law school (~10 blocks). If you want cheap (with roommates) and really really nice (dishwasher doorman etc), the Arbor up in Riverdale is a *really* good option, just be aware it's a shuttle ride away.
Law School Housing is right next to the law school. Studios are pricey but likely similar/the same as UAH. Roommate situations are a little more pricey than UAH but you're paying for the privilege of being on that block (which might be worth it for those of us that like to wake up at the last possible moment ).

Columbia's housing seems pretty 'fine'. It's not fancy, it's not updated or anything, but it's reasonable prices for the area and you cut out the broker and other terrors of NYC apartment hunting. They seem to genuinely give a shit about your preferences and want you to be happy.
If you want a nicer place there are luxury apartments around the corner that cut deals with the university (no guarantor needed for students, auto approval etc). YMMV. You also might be able to find cheaper apartments farther form the university (Harlem, North of campus, the Bronx etc), if you're comfortable with the commute and doing the legwork yourself.

[rska884]

From talking to students and visiting housing options:
UAH is variable in pricing, but *can* be cheaper. You can be pretty far from the law school (~10 blocks). If you want cheap (with roommates) and really really nice (dishwasher doorman etc), the Arbor up in Riverdale is a *really* good option, just be aware it's a shuttle ride away.
Law School Housing is right next to the law school. Studios are pricey but likely similar/the same as UAH. Roommate situations are a little more pricey than UAH but you're paying for the privilege of being on that block (which might be worth it for those of us that like to wake up at the last possible moment ).

Columbia's housing seems pretty 'fine'. It's not fancy, it's not updated or anything, but it's reasonable prices for the area and you cut out the broker and other terrors of NYC apartment hunting. They seem to genuinely give a shit about your preferences and want you to be happy.
If you want a nicer place there are luxury apartments around the corner that cut deals with the university (no guarantor needed for students, auto approval etc). YMMV. You also might be able to find cheaper apartments farther form the university (Harlem, North of campus, the Bronx etc), if you're comfortable with the commute and doing the legwork yourself.

Gonna go on the same rant I had in the NYU thread here... 10 blocks from the law school is not far, it's maybe a 10 minute walk. I live about 30 blocks from the law school and will probably walk it when it's nice out; it's also 5 minutes on the subway. Branching out of the Columbia housing (if you want to put in the effort of finding a place) can save you a substantial amount of money (I pay 4-500/month less than the cheapest Columbia housing option) and get you nicer accommodations if you look in the right neighborhood. Sure, you won't be across the street from the Law School, but it's worth looking into for people who are OK putting in a little more effort.

[GreenEggs]

UAH is cheaper than law school and much bigger for the price you pay. UAH is usually around $1100-$1200 (3-bedroom shares), but can be even cheaper. The vast majority is within a 5 block radius of the law school. Law school housing is pretty much right next to the law school, but the cheapest they have is $1250ish (3-bedroom share) and it's very small. The bigger law school apartments ones, on par with the UAH ones are closer to $1500.

There are really only 2 reasons to go with law school housing and not UAH, (1) There are some UAH housing much further away, Riverside and 125th. And it really sucks to be there (I'm not, but I have some friends there and every single one applied to transfer). (2) Price is not a big concern for you and you're interested in living really close to the law school, or you want to be in Lionsgate or Lenfest which are much nicer buildings (but those aren't right next to the law school anyway).

[papersnowaghost]

.

[GreenEggs]

UAH is cheaper than law school and much bigger for the price you pay. UAH is usually around $1100-$1200 (3-bedroom shares), but can be even cheaper. The vast majority is within a 5 block radius of the law school. Law school housing is pretty much right next to the law school, but the cheapest they have is $1250ish (3-bedroom share) and it's very small. The bigger law school apartments ones, on par with the UAH ones are closer to $1500.

There are really only 2 reasons to go with law school housing and not UAH, (1) There are some UAH housing much further away, Riverside and 125th. And it really sucks to be there (I'm not, but I have some friends there and every single one applied to transfer). (2) Price is not a big concern for you and you're interested in living really close to the law school, or you want to be in Lionsgate or Lenfest which are much nicer buildings (but those aren't right next to the law school anyway).

columbia's website says "The University Apartment Housing Office (UAH) manages housing for all graduate students," and then the rest of the housing page only talks about UAH housing. it makes it seem like the law school housing and UAH are one and the same, but from what you and a few other posters have said that doesn't seem to be the case. where can i find info on the actual columbia law school housing?

It is not one in the same, but UAH does "manage," in the sense that you sign your lease through UAH, your super is paid by UAH, and you mail them the check, but beyond that UAH has pretty much no control over your housing once you're in the law school housing. They explain it pretty poorly, but the law school owns a number of buildings that it administers, and so everyone who lives in them are somehow related to the law school (or are rent-controlled tenants who pre-date the law school acquiring the building). On the UAH site somewhere they have a school specific housing page and you can view the law school housing options (but they pretty much give you zero information). Once you take law school or UAH you're pretty much in their system. So if you want to transfer housing you're technically stuck only transferring among law school options or UAH options (dependent upon where you were placed originally).

[papersnowaghost]

.

[LALaw90210]

.

[ftge232]

I was offered 45k to attend Chicago, with nothing from Columbia as of yet. Hoping to negotiate for something comparable, so I sent in my FAFSA and I'm currently working on needaccess. The issue is that they require completed forms of 2015 tax returns from 4 people and I'm not in close contact with some of my non-custodial parents - the tax info/signed tax returns probably won't make it in good time. I'm also not interested in anything need-based, since my primary benefactor's finances put me above the threshold of consideration

Can I just forego the needaccess process and ask Columbia to consider me for something merit-based in a negotiation letter, or do they absolutely need this application as well?

[gamerish]

If anyone who attended the ASW this month could post/pm me about the housing tour and how long it took, I'd appreciate it. Trying to figure out what time to book a train for.

[benwyatt]

I was offered 45k to attend Chicago, with nothing from Columbia as of yet. Hoping to negotiate for something comparable, so I sent in my FAFSA and I'm currently working on needaccess. The issue is that they require completed forms of 2015 tax returns from 4 people and I'm not in close contact with some of my non-custodial parents - the tax info/signed tax returns probably won't make it in good time. I'm also not interested in anything need-based, since my primary benefactor's finances put me above the threshold of consideration

Can I just forego the needaccess process and ask Columbia to consider me for something merit-based in a negotiation letter, or do they absolutely need this application as well?

Just call admissions/financial aid and ask them.

[ftge232]

Which email/office should I correspond with to negotiate a merit-based grant?

[benwyatt]

Which email/office should I correspond with to negotiate a merit-based grant?

Admissions does merit, financial aid does need.

[ftge232]

Which email/office should I correspond with to negotiate a merit-based grant?

Admissions does merit, financial aid does need.

That applies to non-names as well?

[benwyatt]

Which email/office should I correspond with to negotiate a merit-based grant?

Admissions does merit, financial aid does need.

That applies to non-names as well?

Why wouldn't it?

[rska884]

Which email/office should I correspond with to negotiate a merit-based grant?

Admissions does merit, financial aid does need.

That applies to non-names as well?

You've heard on a non-named merit grant?