IN AT COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL!!!!!! Forum

[blue5385]

just put my deposit down!

see you guys in august!!!

[maudlinstreet]

just put my deposit down!

see you guys in august!!!

awesome!

[georgina]

just put my deposit down!

see you guys in august!!!

yay, i'll be seeing you, blue!

[KG_CalGuy]

anticipating putting my deposit down this saturday, but i'm still torn...

[blue5385]

see you guys in a few months, maudlinstreet & georgina!

[parker09]

anticipating putting my deposit down this saturday, but i'm still torn...

Me too!

Any newly-minted CLSers want to throw in some last-minute reasons to pick CLS? I'm standing really close to the edge, but I just need one... more... push (more like a tap, really).

[muahawhawhaw]

anticipating putting my deposit down this saturday, but i'm still torn...

Me too!

Any newly-minted CLSers want to throw in some last-minute reasons to pick CLS? I'm standing really close to the edge, but I just need one... more... push (more like a tap, really).

Ditto.

[protokurios]

After all my law school visits and financial aid offers, I came away with this: it should be HYSC > CN, not HYS > CCN. It really felt like Columbia belonged on the same level as HYS rather than below--from the backgrounds of the admitted students I met (seemed like the vast majority of people at UChicago went there only because they didn't get into HYSC), to its Ivy League status and the reputation of the general university, to the quality of the admitted student program, the facilities, and even little things like the brochures and informational materials (shiny blue box anyone?), and how its location is a big draw compared to HYS. I think of a 2009 alum I met who turned down HYS acceptances and scholarships to go to CLS. And I saw a lot of name tags at the ASP of people who went to HYPSC for undergrad.

For me, as well as a few other TLSers, the fact that CLS also does need-based aid has been just another amazing draw. What a tangible way to prove that they're not just another elitist institution that thinks anybody who hesitates to pay sticker to go to their school is crazy (coughChicagocough). The public interest panel at the April ASP made a really good impression on me as well, to know that even though percentage-wise most grads go to biglaw, there will be plenty of resources and support from CLS if I choose PI. It was a very different feel from Chicago, the way they handled financial aid and their LRAP and the quality of the admitted students/current students (didn't get into NYU, so can't quite speak for that comparison).

Just my two cents...

[georgina]

yes, I received a letter dated 4/1 on saturday...offering me nothing.

same here. i am so bitter at Columbia right now... they didn't even offer or suggest any loan options, just reiterated a federal stafford (which I already knew about), and a short paragraph that basically said "sorry but you need to find $55k more on your own if you want to come here this fall, good luck, kthxbye"

thanks CLS, i'll remember this day when you come asking for donations in 5 years.

just got my aid letter. i wonder what took them so long to tell me i was getting nothing. i guess knowing i'll never feel a sense of obligation to donate is refreshing.

[groundkontrol]

Does anyone know anything about housing deposits? Are we supposed to pay first months rent over the summer? I'm budgeting my summer out now so I'm wondering.

[CG614]

anticipating putting my deposit down this saturday, but i'm still torn...

Me too!

Any newly-minted CLSers want to throw in some last-minute reasons to pick CLS? I'm standing really close to the edge, but I just need one... more... push (more like a tap, really).

Ditto.

I just deposited this week. I can tell you the reason I choose CLS, but I believe the choice is different for everyone. I was down to NYU and CLS. I felt like the people I talked to at NYU touted the non-competitive nature of the students so much that it almost felt contrived. Not to say that it isn't true, as I don't know, but that was the feeling I had. While visiting CLS, I felt like the students were relaxed and friendly with one another, and while nobody told me that they were not uber competitive, I actually felt that they weren't based on the atmosphere. Also, CLS requires you to do a moot court in the 2nd semester of your 1L year, which is big for me because I want to do a moot court and a journal. At NYU, I was told that I'd have to pick one and apply to it. Also, I felt like the clinic program was more attractive to me at CLS. They have 8 students per professor in a clinic, which allows for much more hands on training. I was told NYU has something like 20 students per professor in their clinics. Lastly, I want to work abroad for a portion of my career and CLS has the better name overseas, although both have excellent international programs. When it came down to it, I felt like CLS was a better fit for me. I would suggest you both look at what details are important to you and see how they differ at the schools. Most all schools are going to give you a good classroom education, the devil is in the details.



*(I apologize for ending in a cliche.)

[holborn]

Anyone else on here picking CLS at sticker over a decent (40-60k) scholarship at another school? Like some above posters, I wouldn't mind some reassurance that I'm not crazy for turning down scholarships at UMich and Chicago to come to Columbia.

[blue5385]

Anyone else on here picking CLS at sticker over a decent (40-60k) scholarship at another school? Like some above posters, I wouldn't mind some reassurance that I'm not crazy for turning down scholarships at UMich and Chicago to come to Columbia.

Yes.

I hope you're not crazy, because that would mean I'm crazy too.

[MTC87]

Are the grant awards that they sent out still negotiable at all? I'm thinking about scheduling a visit with their financial aid office to haggle for more. Would I just be wasting my time?

[holborn]

Are the grant awards that they sent out still negotiable at all? I'm thinking about scheduling a visit with their financial aid office to haggle for more. Would I just be wasting my time?

I tried negotiating and they didn't give me anything, but some other people have had luck. I would say give it a try, the worst thing they will do is say no.

[Dtackpat75]

I am taking 40K at CLS over 90K ar UVA, 50K at NYU, 60K at UChi and 98K at GULC. I hope that helps.

[lsnoob]

has anyone else still not received their fin aid information?

[Dignan]

Are the grant awards that they sent out still negotiable at all? I'm thinking about scheduling a visit with their financial aid office to haggle for more. Would I just be wasting my time?

My guess is that the FA office would not respond well to a personal visit. But if you've already tried negotiating by email, then I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try.

[jl2032]

I haven't received my financial aid info yet, but that's because I sent everything in the day I was accepted - April 8th. It's only been two weeks, but I really need to decide between CLS and NYU, and it's going to come down to money.

When I called, they said they had an "open door policy" so I should just come by if I wanted to talk to someone about it. I think I might do that on Monday during the Admitted Students event. Or maybe I should just go now?

[holborn]

random question: does anyone (current student or 0L who had a very thorough housing tour) know if there is laundry in the apt buildings on 115th?

[blue5385]

random question: does anyone (current student or 0L who had a very thorough housing tour) know if there is laundry in the apt buildings on 115th?

I saw the 115th apartments during ASW. I didn't have a thorough tour of the building, but IIRC, the student who showed me her apartment said there was laundry in the building.

[CG614]

random question: does anyone (current student or 0L who had a very thorough housing tour) know if there is laundry in the apt buildings on 115th?

I saw the 115th apartments during ASW. I didn't have a thorough tour of the building, but IIRC, the student who showed me her apartment said there was laundry in the building.

I didn't go to see the apartments because I was supposed to get an apartment with a friend in the UES, but that fell through. Can anyone give me a little detail about the 115 and 116 apartment shares?

[holborn]

They are all pre-war buildings. (ie. not modern - they have "charm"). 116 is all one bedrooms and studios. 115 is apartment shares (2 and 3 bedrooms). I found them fine, although I also lived in the same type of older, not super modern or new, been through maybe one too many parties housing for part of my time in undergrad. If youre looking for new, modern, and super nice I would check out lenfest (all studios/one bedrooms). What I did really like about the apartment shares - good sized bedrooms and common rooms (and it seemed like if the bedrooms were on the smaller size you had a bigger common room and vice versa), the social aspect of living with a bunch of other law students, location is amazing (less than one minute to class), and there are elevators (most pre-war nyc apartment buildings dont have them).

Probably not the nicest housing you will ever live in, but also not the worst. Also, they are a great deal for nyc and most other apartment buildings in the area will be of the same look, quality, etc.

[CG614]

They are all pre-war buildings. (ie. not modern - they have "charm"). 116 is all one bedrooms and studios. 115 is apartment shares (2 and 3 bedrooms). I found them fine, although I also lived in the same type of older, not super modern or new, been through maybe one too many parties housing for part of my time in undergrad. If youre looking for new, modern, and super nice I would check out lenfest (all studios/one bedrooms). What I did really like about the apartment shares - good sized bedrooms and common rooms (and it seemed like if the bedrooms were on the smaller size you had a bigger common room and vice versa), the social aspect of living with a bunch of other law students, location is amazing (less than one minute to class), and there are elevators (most pre-war nyc apartment buildings dont have them).

Probably not the nicest housing you will ever live in, but also not the worst. Also, they are a great deal for nyc and most other apartment buildings in the area will be of the same look, quality, etc.

Thanks, this is good information!

[lucille]

riding a couple waitlists this summer and likely depositing at CLS. since columbia starts in mid-august and my two other options start later, curious when i accepting a waitlist offer elsewhere would start costing me more than my seat deposit.

i'd rather not ask CLS, especially since they still haven't given me my financial aid info. anyone know these details? THANKS!