UC Hastings c/o 2018 (2014-2015 cycle) Forum

[ub3r]

Apologies if I came off a little strong there.

I just want you to make sure you're thinking about law school from a professional angle. Things like fit, location, and specialty offerings can and certainly will influence your preferences. But please don't turn a blind eye to what should be your most important consideration after cost, which is "How likely is it that I will be working as a lawyer after I graduate?" That answer, of course, may change how you see the cost.

I'm not saying that all schools with <75% employment rates are bad, or that numerical data should be your sole guiding light when picking a school. I just don't want anyone to get caught up in the excitement and intrigue of the whole law school application process without recognizing what matters most.

[horseshoe1]

Thanks for all the responses! I do completely understand concerns with employment and weighing this perhaps as the number 1 factor, especially since I am entering from a graduate program that does not prepare students for employment in our field.

In considering employment though, I am thinking the clinics are more than just about the experience I will have while in law school, but will also be part of building my work experience and networks. Given that Hastings and USF don't have drastic differences in employment statistics, and given that I am not interested in Big Law or corporate law, I am trying to figure out how to weigh all the factors (reaching out on this thread in case other people are thinking through the same decisions between the schools).

Curve ball: I am also thinking about UCI, but I know I want to live and work in the Bay Area and am not happy about the idea of putting this off for another 3 yrs- neither is my wife. Any thoughts between these three are appreciated. I know there are other threads that discuss this, but I am interested in the opinions here of people admitted to Hastings and possibly choosing between the same schools.

[PhantomBMAN]

ub3r, for what it's worth, please don't misunderstand my stance and perception of things. I appreciate where you were coming from, and I don't disagree with you. I'm just someone who has personally seen the effects that location (beyond employment stats) have on people and their quality of life, work ethic, or even employment opportunities, regardless of general stats.

In other words, I agree with you, and I won't take your admittedly hard tone personally (though I'll admit I did when I first read it). We're both looking out for other people on here, just with different personal experiences and ideas of what weighs more or less.

Cost is important, and so is realizing where you'll want to spend the next few years (or decades) of your life working. It's not often someone from a non T14 or T20 school can confidently move out of the state they graduated to work. And if your network is already building up around SF, that factors into it too.

But in no way am I dismissing the general probability of finding employment based on past stats. Consider WHY some people were employed and others weren't too (which field of law are people trying to break into).

Anyhoo, cheers to you Horse, and you as well ub3r. No hard feelings I hope.

[mak04]

Withdrew, $105,000 back in the pot! Good Luck!

[stillwaiting2015]

Is anyone still waiting for an answer? I completed 2/2, went under review 3/31, and still haven't heard back

Hoping to get waitlisted at the very least!

156 lsat and 3.51 lsdas gpa/3.44 ugpa

[KGLaw18]

Is anyone still waiting for an answer? I completed 2/2, went under review 3/31, and still haven't heard back

Hoping to get waitlisted at the very least!

156 lsat and 3.51 lsdas gpa/3.44 ugpa

I heard yesterday at an admitted student event for a different school that there were a ton of people still waiting to hear from Hastings. I actually got wait listed which I'm pretty confused about since I was accepted to higher ranked and "peer" schools which significant scholarship offers. I probably should have submitted a LOCI a while ago but with everything going on I've let it fall through the cracks. Any thoughts on how bad it would look to try and submit one now? Would it look insincere or like I didn't get in anywhere else, or is it even worthwhile at this point in the "game"? Does anyone know if they offer scholarships to students admitted off their wait list?

[jjwatt]

Is anyone still waiting for an answer? I completed 2/2, went under review 3/31, and still haven't heard back

Hoping to get waitlisted at the very least!

156 lsat and 3.51 lsdas gpa/3.44 ugpa

I heard yesterday at an admitted student event for a different school that there were a ton of people still waiting to hear from Hastings. I actually got wait listed which I'm pretty confused about since I was accepted to higher ranked and "peer" schools which significant scholarship offers. I probably should have submitted a LOCI a while ago but with everything going on I've let it fall through the cracks. Any thoughts on how bad it would look to try and submit one now? Would it look insincere or like I didn't get in anywhere else, or is it even worthwhile at this point in the "game"? Does anyone know if they offer scholarships to students admitted off their wait list?

My waitlist email notification (3/14) specifically asked to not send any additional information or a LOCI. I visited the campus a week later and met with an admissions director. He asked if I had been admitted for the fall, I told him I was on the waitlist. He seemed to brush me off with a "Yeah, we'll begin dealing with that in May," then quickly ushered me out.

[PhantomBMAN]

I'm almost embarrassed by how much I regarded Hastings for the longest time before seeing just how shoddy not just the area and some students are, but the administrative staff is.

I guess I looked upon it highly because of that reputation it has in the heart of the Bay Area, but holy hell....even the dude on the phone for admissions (maybe the same guy jkwatt spoke to) sounded like a dismissive, patronizing bastard.

I'm usually understanding of formality and emotionless administrators who deal with many students, but have SOME sense of decency when dealing with potential students anxious about their futures. Damn.

[ericalynn17]

Received the waitlist email today. Womp womp.

[athenaruth]

Waitlisted earlier today -_-

[1scout23]

Good luck to those on the waitlist...I won't be accepting admission, so hopefully that opens up a spot and some $.

[bisa]

withdrew today! good luck to those waiting!

[Renate300]

Also withdrew with $ back in the pot!

[1scout23]

Dumb question, but where did you all withdraw? I ran through my e-mails and didn't see a link to a portal. Was that sent in the mail?

[misskatejd]

Dumb question, but where did you all withdraw? I ran through my e-mails and didn't see a link to a portal. Was that sent in the mail?

[yannao]

There is a webpage that says to email admiss@uchastings.edu to withdraw.

[ub3r]

I simply sent them an email (same address that accepted me) saying "Thanks for your interest, but I am withdrawing my application from Hastings. Good luck, etc."

[Itsjustme71093]

Is anyone still waiting for an answer? I completed 2/2, went under review 3/31, and still haven't heard back

Hoping to get waitlisted at the very least!

156 lsat and 3.51 lsdas gpa/3.44 ugpa

I'm still waiting too.

[stillwaiting2015]

Finally heard back yesterday... waitlisted. Not great, but at least it's not a no?

[idontknow1]

Has anyone heard anything about need based aid?

[wildlavender]

For those of you on the waitlist, are we supposed to just sit around and wait for a call? The email said not to send addt'l info so I'm guessing LOCI is out of the question. Hastings was my top choice but I'm thinking even if I get pulled off the WL there won't be much money left anyway...

[Calbears123]

Lol so Hastings just emailed me again even though I withdrew. Scholarship went from 20k to 30k to 35k to full to full + living stipend. Wow my numbers aren't even THAT good

Said I had until May the 4th to decide. Guess I'll withdraw again already deposited at another school

[idontknow1]

Lol so Hastings just emailed me again even though I withdrew. Scholarship went from 20k to 30k to 35k to full to full + living stipend. Wow my numbers aren't even THAT good

Said I had until May the 4th to decide. Guess I'll withdraw again already deposited at another school

I just got bumped up as well. Did they say how much the full+living stipend amount is for you?

[Calbears123]

Lol so Hastings just emailed me again even though I withdrew. Scholarship went from 20k to 30k to 35k to full to full + living stipend. Wow my numbers aren't even THAT good

Said I had until May the 4th to decide. Guess I'll withdraw again already deposited at another school

I just got bumped up as well. Did they say how much the full+living stipend amount is for you?

5k a year

[msald002]

Lol so Hastings just emailed me again even though I withdrew. Scholarship went from 20k to 30k to 35k to full to full + living stipend. Wow my numbers aren't even THAT good

Said I had until May the 4th to decide. Guess I'll withdraw again already deposited at another school

I just got bumped up as well. Did they say how much the full+living stipend amount is for you?

5k a year

This may be a dumb question but do schools normally only increase scholarships for those who have not yet accepted? I'm assuming they have no incentive to give those who have deposited any more money?