UC Hastings c/o 2017 Applicants (2013-2014) Forum

[Jamesta25]

Sorry, that's what I meant to say - that the money shows up in your bank account right before classes, not that you don't know what you'll get until then.

+1

Yea so back to negotiations. Any thoughts on if we'll get a bump like two posters earlier who got a 15k bump? I'd like to get another 10K bump and that would make life so much nicer. Have you sent them a negotiation thing yet?

Withdrew today. Really hoping that one of you gets that 15k bump in my place!

Ditto. 28k/year back in the pot. Good luck to you all!

[alawstudentsometime]

Anyone else still biting fingernails waiting to hear? It's only been slightly more than a month, but I'd really like to know. Would def. attend If admitted, this time around.

For those on the wait list: last year I was WLed 3/29 and admitted on 5/7. It can be a short wait.

Hope to not be obsessively checking email much longer... Maybe by Friday?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9eP2_Fk2R84

[Ally Mcbeal]

Just withdrew. 18k/yr scholly.

[mwhuzain]

Anyone else still biting fingernails waiting to hear? It's only been slightly more than a month, but I'd really like to know. Would def. attend If admitted, this time around.

For those on the wait list: last year I was WLed 3/29 and admitted on 5/7. It can be a short wait.

Hope to not be obsessively checking email much longer... Maybe by Friday?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9eP2_Fk2R84

I'm right here with you, I'm also thinking Friday..

[NorCalLaw]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

[dansanity]

Withdrawing. GL to everyone on the waitlist

[Cal Trask]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

How is the gym in the tower? It's open to people not living in the tower, yeah?

[NorCalLaw]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

How is the gym in the tower? It's open to people not living in the tower, yeah?

The gym is entirely adequate, if not state-of-the art. It is open to all students. Sometimes you see professors using the machines, which is a bonus.

On a related note, if you're not commuting into the city via BART or similar, the tower is probably the best housing option. The housing market in SF is completely insane and can easily tack on another $25,000/year in costs if you aren't careful, but the tower prices are relatively reasonable and the location is very convenient.

Full disclosure: I live with family and commute, which has worked out great for me so far, but I don't actually make much use of the tower myself. I probably would not have gone to Hastings had this not been an option for me.

[Moonlight]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

Hey there! Thanks for offering to give advice! I'm an incoming 1L. Any suggestions on preparation? As well as dealing with commuting in daily?
Any organizational tips and life management tips would be helpful as well. Also any suggestions on concentrations or which class to choose for the elective in spring term?

[NorCalLaw]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

Hey there! Thanks for offering to give advice! I'm an incoming 1L. Any suggestions on preparation? As well as dealing with commuting in daily?
Any organizational tips and life management tips would be helpful as well. Also any suggestions on concentrations or which class to choose for the elective in spring term?

Don't bother reading ahead in the material, just be prepared for each day's material when it comes. That means doing all the reading and preferably doing short briefs of the major cases. At first you will have no idea what's going on, but don't sweat it, they have a bunch of obnoxious support programs now to make sure you learn how to do this stuff.

Commuting is great if you take BART either very early near an end of the line stop or on off-hours, because you can get a seat and just read during the commute. Can't count how many times I've either finished or caught up on readings for my next class while on BART. Slap your hand away when you reach for the smart phone. If you're doing it by car, well, I don't have much to say other than that it is going to suck and that parking/gas prices will add even more than the cost of daily BART tickets. Still, commuting will generally save you a lot of cash over living in the city!

If you have any undergrad interests or experience (business, health, w/e), then I would explore related fields of law. Otherwise, don't sweat that stuff yet and focus on getting good grades. Doing all the reading and skipping no more than 1 class per course will cover 80% of your studying, doing a short outline will cover another 15%, and the last 5% is basically cramming with flash cards, group sessions, practice/past tests (these are absolutely necessary if the professor offers them, and most do). Not to be a downer, but your grades at Hastings will absolutely determine your life unless you're doing IP law or something super-niche, and even then, they'll still be hugely important. Top 5% of the class will mostly transfer, 5-15% mostly biglaw, 15-25% all sorts of things including gov't, 25-50% mixed, bottom 50% best not mentioned. Honestly, if you find yourself in the bottom half after 1L year, and don't have special skills, connections, scholarships, or cash reserves, I would seriously consider cutting yourself loose.

If there is one class to strive in, it's LWR. An A in LWR can go a long way in convincing employers that you have useful skills, whereas a B- can wreck you. Don't get lazy on the stupid LWR assignments, communicate and meet frequently with the professor and TAs (this will help you out, they'll grade you up if they like you since LWR isn't anonymously graded like most classes are). Don't be that annoying guy that emails three times in a night, though.

Plan to set yourself up with a judicial externship at some point in your Hastings career. With so many courts in walking distance, Hastings students are able to get externships with the district court, state supreme court, and even ninth circuit court! These are hugely valuable, but again, getting one will require top half at minimum, top 25% for most people. Apply very early, that means if you want to do an externship your 1L summer (great opportunity!) you should be sending out applications as soon as you get your first semester grades.

I don't know which electives they're offering right now, but tax is popular for the transactional hopefuls (and tax hopefuls, of course). The general admin. law one was good for a strong base of knowledge. Pick whichever interests you, but realize that the gunner types will flock to whichever options sound the most corporate (see: tax), so you might just boost your GPA by choosing something else.

[Moonlight]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

Hey there! Thanks for offering to give advice! I'm an incoming 1L. Any suggestions on preparation? As well as dealing with commuting in daily?
Any organizational tips and life management tips would be helpful as well. Also any suggestions on concentrations or which class to choose for the elective in spring term?

Don't bother reading ahead in the material, just be prepared for each day's material when it comes. That means doing all the reading and preferably doing short briefs of the major cases. At first you will have no idea what's going on, but don't sweat it, they have a bunch of obnoxious support programs now to make sure you learn how to do this stuff.

Commuting is great if you take BART either very early near an end of the line stop or on off-hours, because you can get a seat and just read during the commute. Can't count how many times I've either finished or caught up on readings for my next class while on BART. Slap your hand away when you reach for the smart phone. If you're doing it by car, well, I don't have much to say other than that it is going to suck and that parking/gas prices will add even more than the cost of daily BART tickets. Still, commuting will generally save you a lot of cash over living in the city!

If you have any undergrad interests or experience (business, health, w/e), then I would explore related fields of law. Otherwise, don't sweat that stuff yet and focus on getting good grades. Doing all the reading and skipping no more than 1 class per course will cover 80% of your studying, doing a short outline will cover another 15%, and the last 5% is basically cramming with flash cards, group sessions, practice/past tests (these are absolutely necessary if the professor offers them, and most do). Not to be a downer, but your grades at Hastings will absolutely determine your life unless you're doing IP law or something super-niche, and even then, they'll still be hugely important. Top 5% of the class will mostly transfer, 5-15% mostly biglaw, 15-25% all sorts of things including gov't, 25-50% mixed, bottom 50% best not mentioned. Honestly, if you find yourself in the bottom half after 1L year, and don't have special skills, connections, scholarships, or cash reserves, I would seriously consider cutting yourself loose.

If there is one class to strive in, it's LWR. An A in LWR can go a long way in convincing employers that you have useful skills, whereas a B- can wreck you. Don't get lazy on the stupid LWR assignments, communicate and meet frequently with the professor and TAs (this will help you out, they'll grade you up if they like you since LWR isn't anonymously graded like most classes are). Don't be that annoying guy that emails three times in a night, though.

Plan to set yourself up with a judicial externship at some point in your Hastings career. With so many courts in walking distance, Hastings students are able to get externships with the district court, state supreme court, and even ninth circuit court! These are hugely valuable, but again, getting one will require top half at minimum, top 25% for most people. Apply very early, that means if you want to do an externship your 1L summer (great opportunity!) you should be sending out applications as soon as you get your first semester grades.

I don't know which electives they're offering right now, but tax is popular for the transactional hopefuls (and tax hopefuls, of course). The general admin. law one was good for a strong base of knowledge. Pick whichever interests you, but realize that the gunner types will flock to whichever options sound the most corporate (see: tax), so you might just boost your GPA by choosing something else.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely take this all in. So its safe to say the Barbri 0L prep thing is not useful or worth it?
Do you suggest a certain note taking method? Computer? Notebook? Binder? And where to get the casebooks for class?

How useful are the lockers students get? And how safe is the parking? Suggested study places? By the way what parts of the Tower are open to all hastings students regardless of whether we live there or not?

Thanks in advance!

[NorCalLaw]

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely take this all in. So its safe to say the Barbri 0L prep thing is not useful or worth it?
Do you suggest a certain note taking method? Computer? Notebook? Binder? And where to get the casebooks for class?

How useful are the lockers students get? And how safe is the parking? Suggested study places? By the way what parts of the Tower are open to all hastings students regardless of whether we live there or not?

Thanks in advance!

I don't know anything about Barbri 0L prep, but you certainly shouldn't pay money for anything like that. I took notes almost exclusively by notebook. Something like 90% of students seem to use laptop. There are pros and cons with both. You'll catch more typing with your keyboard and your notes will be easier to format, but it's easier to draw diagrams and such on a notebook. Don't fall in the trap of just recording every word the professor says. You'll waste study time later sorting through the chaff. I think hand notes for class and typed for outlines works well, but plenty of successful people do both. Buy your casebooks online. Check Amazon, Half.com, and your class's facebook page if it's a used edition. Oftentimes, you can find them for $40 or less this way. If it is brand new, look around on the web regardless, rather than relying on the official "bookstore" website. Sometimes the publisher lists the books for less than Amazon does.

Lockers are as useful as you might expect, especially if you don't live in the tower. Parking is semi-safe in the parking structure, highly unsafe on the nearby streets. No matter where you park, never leave anything of value or even the appearance of value in your car, as it might cost you a window or two. There's a general-use rec room, basketball courts, and the gym for use by all Hastings students at the tower. You can also visit whoever you want freely, and the journals are presently located on the 23rd floor, though that might change by next year. Study in the gold room between and just prior to classes and in the library the rest of the time.

Prior grade distributions are available online. Check it out. Some professors give out better grades than others. You can't really do anything about this in your 1L year, but you can use it to plan later on.

[flyingmantis]

Has anyone been able to access the financial-aid award notification system? The "your award letter" link seems to be down.

http://www.uchastings.edu/about/admin-o ... /index.php

[Moonlight]

Has anyone been able to access the financial-aid award notification system? The "your award letter" link seems to be down.

http://www.uchastings.edu/about/admin-o ... /index.php

Nope. I don't know if we're even supposed to have access to that yet. Have you had access to the email system? Cause I haven't even gotten that yet.

[caligirl8]

Has anyone been able to access the financial-aid award notification system? The "your award letter" link seems to be down.

http://www.uchastings.edu/about/admin-o ... /index.php

Nope. I don't know if we're even supposed to have access to that yet. Have you had access to the email system? Cause I haven't even gotten that yet.

No, I don't believe that we've been given access to anything yet except to be able to put down our initial $300 deposit.

[Cal Trask]

Has anyone been able to access the financial-aid award notification system? The "your award letter" link seems to be down.

http://www.uchastings.edu/about/admin-o ... /index.php

Nope. I don't know if we're even supposed to have access to that yet. Have you had access to the email system? Cause I haven't even gotten that yet.

No, I don't believe that we've been given access to anything yet except to be able to put down our initial $300 deposit.

$300?!

[Moonlight]

I'm pretty sure I paid $500 lol

[Cal Trask]

I'm pretty sure I paid $500 lol

yo tambien

[Moonlight]

I'm pretty sure I paid $500 lol

yo tambien

[fallingwater]

Withdrew last week. $84k back in the pot. Good luck to everyone!

[caligirl8]

I'm pretty sure I paid $500 lol

yo tambien

type-o sorry. Yes, $500

[scottiescruff]

Hey incoming 1Ls and potential 1Ls, Hastings 2L here. If you have any questions about the school or just want to get in contact with someone who presently attends, go ahead and PM me. I'm not promoting the school by any means, but I am happy to help people out.

As a preliminary bit of info, the school is going to be pretty starved for qualified applicants this year, so expect the waitlist to cycle through and negotiate with the understanding that the school needs you more than you need it!

When does the loan refund show up in your account? I heard the Friday before classes. Does that affect your book/supply purchases, or did you find that you had enough time to get everything squared away?

How is 1L orientation? Daunting? Semi-fun?

[Cal Trask]

he said to PM him duder. Chances are he's not going to see it if you just post in here.

[scottiescruff]

he said to PM him duder. Chances are he's not going to see it if you just post in here.

Oops.

[SFpizzaGuy88]

Have any waitlisted students out there received offers?