Hastings 2011-2012 Cycle Forum

[Gavel]

Submitted in November, haven't heard a word from Hastings. Anyone else in my situation?

same here. hate this waiting. deposits for other schools are coming up. don't want to pay for more than one school but unfortunately that might end up happening.

[prosen5808]

It's 46.5 and 52.5

I got something in the mail from Hastings a week or two ago saying tuition this year for instate is 43 - is there already newer info?

[aliceydu]

It's 46.5 and 52.5

I got something in the mail from Hastings a week or two ago saying tuition this year for instate is 43 - is there already newer info?

The tuition card in my package says $43,486 for in-state

[surfSD]

It's 46.5 and 52.5

I got something in the mail from Hastings a week or two ago saying tuition this year for instate is 43 - is there already newer info?

The tuition card in my package says $43,486 for in-state

Same

[splitsplat]

$43,486 is the straight tuition.
+$82 Activity Fee (mandatory)
+$526 Health Service Fee (mandatory)
+2,481 Accident & Sickness Insurance (can be waived with proof of other insurance)
------------------
=$46,575 which is probably what most people will pay because most students won't have outside health insurance.

--LinkRemoved--

[michaelweisshar]

Complete since 1/31 and still nothing... Any reason to be worried?

[Blumpbeef]

$43,486 is the straight tuition.
+$82 Activity Fee (mandatory)
+$526 Health Service Fee (mandatory)
+2,481 Accident & Sickness Insurance (can be waived with proof of other insurance)
------------------
=$46,575 which is probably what most people will pay because most students won't have outside health insurance.

--LinkRemoved--

The page I looked at I think just had the bottom line number, I didn't realize it included extra fees.

In any case, thanks to Obamacare, a lot of us should be able to stay on our parents health plans and get a healthcare waiver.

[lilmissallyful]

Complete since 1/31 and still nothing... Any reason to be worried?

I was also UR since 1/31 and didn't hear back until yesterday. They seem to be taking their time with decisions so I wouldn't worry

[FinallyGoing]

How do I check my status? I am beyond confused :p

[splitsplat]

How do I check my status? I am beyond confused :p

Hastings doesn't have a status checker.

[FinallyGoing]

How do I check my status? I am beyond confused :p

Hastings doesn't have a status checker.

So when people talk about being "complete" and "under review" from where doth they obtain their information?

[Worker and Parasite]

How do I check my status? I am beyond confused :p

Hastings doesn't have a status checker.

So when people talk about being "complete" and "under review" from where doth they obtain their information?

Email.

[FinallyGoing]

How do I check my status? I am beyond confused :p

Hastings doesn't have a status checker.

So when people talk about being "complete" and "under review" from where doth they obtain their information?

Email.

Thanks!

[thedumbwaiter]

Hey cool cats!

I just breezed by and thought I’d give my two cents on LEOP. I’m also a 1L.

I think LEOP’s great and I’m sure the vast majority of my classmates agree. I don’t want people to read this thread and get the impression that non-LEOP students have a problem with LEOP because in my experience that would be way off base. Maybe a small percentage have issues with it but there’s always going to be the odd person who feels hard done by. Honestly it’s just not something that comes up much in conversation. Most people don’t care who's in it and who isn't but if you are a LEOP student and don't want people to know then people will probably never find out. Just as an aside, some of the most prestigious Hastings alum went through LEOP.

Lasers: you say you’re all for the program but you’re clearly not. ‘Borderline unfair’? ‘Too far’? That doesn't sound like someone who’s all for it. Perhaps you’re all for the idea of admitting a diverse student body but want it to just end there? The fact is that Hastings doesn't just accept people to help them look more diverse. They take students they think will succeed and they stick with them over three years. I know you’re just giving your personal opinion but you seem really bitter about it.

I live in the Tower so if anyone has any questions about it I’ll try to answer them for you. I live in an efficiency apartment and I like it
so much I’m even staying in it next year.

I’m going to be one of the tour guides at ASD on the 31st; if you’re going then come on my tour!

[Lasers]

Lasers: you say you’re all for the program but you’re clearly not. ‘Borderline unfair’? ‘Too far’? That doesn't sound like someone who’s all for it. Perhaps you’re all for the idea of admitting a diverse student body but want it to just end there? The fact is that Hastings doesn't just accept people to help them look more diverse. They take students they think will succeed and they stick with them over three years. I know you’re just giving your personal opinion but you seem really bitter about it.

i think you're misunderstanding me. as i've said over and over, i am 100% behind LEOP. my only issue is the amount of help that is given. you can certainly pm me if you are interested in my point of view and what i know of the system because i don't want you, or anyone, to think i am, for whatever reason, against the program. i think they need to tweak the system, not that they need do away with it.

[ArtyIvy]

Any LEOP admits (or even non-LEOP admits) here interested in organizing and starting some sort of organization for law students from underprivileged backgrounds? I was looking through all the student organizations and all of them seemed to focus on race, ethnicity, or legal interest. It would be nice to get together with people with similar backgrounds.

If there's already an organization like this, please let me know; otherwise, if we start one, our organization might actually be the first of its kind (an organization based on class).

I think that's a great idea. I never thought I was underprivileged until I found myself dealing with the complex class, race and gender issues at an Ivy. I feel like I learned the most from people who had grown up truly poor and disadvantaged -- they were incredibly resourceful and resilient.

I got pretty hooked on service in undergrad and talked a lot about giving back in my LEOP statement. Could that be a component of such a club? A support system is wonderful, but I find helping others is empowering and puts things in perspective.

[aliceydu]

So I went to Admit Day!

The good:
- All the administrators, professors, and students were SUPER nice and easy to talk to
- The professors who talked to us during lunch seemed really enthusiastic and charismatic
- I was really impressed by the Career Services Center
- San Francisco location + reputation + large alumni network
- One block away form the BART station
- I hear there's good, cheap food around

The bad:
- Gosh, the weather was so dreary.
- Was not so impressed by the interest rates of government loans~ 6.8% to 7.9%!!
- Saw a studio room in the Tower. It was soooo run-down. The carpet was old, the windows don't have screens, the kitchen is TINY (with a tiny fridge), etc.
- The facilities are small, too. There's a small gym (no swimming pool). I think the rainy weather just made the whole living situation look worse.

So I guess my summary is: the software is super nice but the hardware wasn't. I'm not a computer person, but I just found that to be the best way to describe Hastings. If anyone want to add to that, please do!

[onedavetoomany]

So I went to Admit Day!

The good:
- All the administrators, professors, and students were SUPER nice and easy to talk to
- The professors who talked to us during lunch seemed really enthusiastic and charismatic
- I was really impressed by the Career Services Center
- San Francisco location + reputation + large alumni network
- One block away form the BART station
- I hear there's good, cheap food around

The bad:
- Gosh, the weather was so dreary.
- Was not so impressed by the interest rates of government loans~ 6.8% to 7.9%!!
- Saw a studio room in the Tower. It was soooo run-down. The carpet was old, the windows don't have screens, the kitchen is TINY (with a tiny fridge), etc.
- The facilities are small, too. There's a small gym (no swimming pool). I think the rainy weather just made the whole living situation look worse.

So I guess my summary is: the software is super nice but the hardware wasn't. I'm not a computer person, but I just found that to be the best way to describe Hastings. If anyone want to add to that, please do!

I also attended the admitted students day!

My feeling is that the reputation accurately describes the school. They have a strong alumni base and all the benefits associated with a big student body; however, there is also the downside manifested in huge faculty to student ratios, less personal environment, etc.

The competitiveness issue was mentioned several times, but the sales pitch seemed to be that they have "good competition" that will help you succeed. They never went so far as to deny that the school was competitive or demanding. I asked several current students about this issue and they conceded that it was indeed a factor, but also stressed that most students still help each other. The administrators seemed to look down on Berkeley and Stanford because they don't use a traditional grading system. One argument was that your grades "mean something" at Hastings....

One admitted student asked about the downward ranking trend, and the faculty responded by dismissing the rankings as unscientific. On the other hand, they conceded that the perception of a school depends largely on the rankings, so they have formed a panel to address the issue. Beyond the rankings, I am somewhat concerned that the school is in danger of being a has-been sort of institution. They went a little overboard when emphasizing their history and pointing out how they are the oldest school in California. My line of thinking was: "It's great that you had the best faculty in the 70s, but what about today?" Keep in mind that this was just a concern, and I'm still seriously considering Hastings.

As a Bay Area resident, I can tell you that the weather was about as bad as it gets. The storms in the last two weeks have almost doubled our total rainfall for the season. San Francisco can be a bit foggy throughout the year, but if you live in the East Bay (15 minutes on BART, and cheaper rent) the fog burns off and you get consistently sunny, ~65-75 degree weather from April-November. Winters are usually mild in the upper 50's with some rainfall and some clear days.

[onedavetoomany]

One more thing...

I asked a current student about the grading curve. He said about 15% get As, 75% get Bs, and about 10% get Cs and Ds.

[ilovesf]

I also attended the admitted students day!

My feeling is that the reputation accurately describes the school. They have a strong alumni base and all the benefits associated with a big student body; however, there is also the downside manifested in huge faculty to student ratios, less personal environment, etc.

The competitiveness issue was mentioned several times, but the sales pitch seemed to be that they have "good competition" that will help you succeed. They never went so far as to deny that the school was competitive or demanding. I asked several current students about this issue and they conceded that it was indeed a factor, but also stressed that most students still help each other. The administrators seemed to look down on Berkeley and Stanford because they don't use a traditional grading system. One argument was that your grades "mean something" at Hastings....

One admitted student asked about the downward ranking trend, and the faculty responded by dismissing the rankings as unscientific. On the other hand, they conceded that the perception of a school depends largely on the rankings, so they have formed a panel to address the issue. Beyond the rankings, I am somewhat concerned that the school is in danger of being a has-been sort of institution. They went a little overboard when emphasizing their history and pointing out how they are the oldest school in California. My line of thinking was: "It's great that you had the best faculty in the 70s, but what about today?" Keep in mind that this was just a concern, and I'm still seriously considering Hastings.

As a Bay Area resident, I can tell you that the weather was about as bad as it gets. The storms in the last two weeks have almost doubled our total rainfall for the season. San Francisco can be a bit foggy throughout the year, but if you live in the East Bay (15 minutes on BART, and cheaper rent) the fog burns off and you get consistently sunny, ~65-75 degree weather from April-November. Winters are usually mild in the upper 50's with some rainfall and some clear days.

I just have a couple of quick responses to some of the things you mentioned:
-Your class will be 20% smaller next year, so the faculty-student ratio will improve. I'm only a 1L, but I haven't found the ratio to be a problem at all. The professors here seem to try really hard to get to know your name, and seem to be pretty open and friendly.
-No one here seems to care about the rankings, honestly. No one I know has really talked about it at all, both students and faculty alike. One my professors told me that one student transferred from here to Davis last year because Davis is higher ranked. He said this was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. There is a panel whose purpose is to address the rankings though. This is one of the reasons that the school is cutting down the incoming class by 20%.
-I don't find people here to be "competitive." Hard working? Yeah. But this is law school, so you should expect people to be working hard. When people miss class, tons of people send their notes, etc. We all helped each other practice our speeches for oral arguments. I'm in the library right now in a room with some friends hanging out and going over notes.
-Also, a notes on grades meaning something. When I interviewed with a judge where I'll be working this summer, she said my grades were particularly impressive because they come from Hastings, where she knows the grading can be more rigorous than other bay area schools. So while that is a stupid comment from a teacher, that isn't the only time I've heard it.
-The curve can be found online in the academic handbook. You can also look online to see how individual professors have given out grades so you know professors who tend to give out the most As.

[Lasers]

One more thing...

I asked a current student about the grading curve. He said about 15% get As, 75% get Bs, and about 10% get Cs and Ds.

this is, for the most part, wrong.

see for yourself (most give near the max of 25% A's): --LinkRemoved--

[splitsplat]

lasers dropping some more cold hard facts.

[onedavetoomany]

One more thing...

I asked a current student about the grading curve. He said about 15% get As, 75% get Bs, and about 10% get Cs and Ds.

this is, for the most part, wrong.

see for yourself (most give near the max of 25% A's): --LinkRemoved--

Ok, so I guess the Hastings student leading my tour was BS.

[apollo2015]

The food was good and plentiful.

[LockBox]

Waitlister here. I wanted to know what the consensus was for people who were/are considering Hastings after attending the ASD? Did it solidify your decision to attend (Can you elaborate)? Are you still waiting to hear back from other schools? Does it simply come down to $$$ offered from Hastings and other schools?