Maryland Applicants c/o 2015 Forum

[yg13]

Has anyone visited the school yet? I am excited to go visit and see what it is like. Any impressions people would like to share?

I went to the October, 2011 open house. It's a good facility. The area isn't great but the school itself is very nice. The other prospectives that I met seemed like good people, and the 1L's and 2L's who did the tours and mingled with prospectives were nice.

[Mandi]

Has anyone visited the school yet? I am excited to go visit and see what it is like. Any impressions people would like to share?

I went to the October, 2011 open house. It's a good facility. The area isn't great but the school itself is very nice. The other prospectives that I met seemed like good people, and the 1L's and 2L's who did the tours and mingled with prospectives were nice.

I have been to the school as well. The school is not in the greatest area of the city and it seems like parking will be a complete nightmare (expensive, 2-3 blocks away, unsafe) based on a conversation I had with a lady in the admissions office. The closest parking lot is several blocks from the school and the students have to ride a shuttle or walk to the school. This is fine but she said that after dark many students need to have security escort them to their vehicles because it is not the best area of the city. The building is pretty nice inside, only downside is the building is not real large. Seems like in middle of midterm/exams it would be crowded in the library and not many other seats to sit around the grounds. When I went there to do a tour, there were students in the lobby of the law school trying to convince you to vote to legalize marijana! It was interesting to say the least.

[yg13]

Has anyone visited the school yet? I am excited to go visit and see what it is like. Any impressions people would like to share?

I went to the October, 2011 open house. It's a good facility. The area isn't great but the school itself is very nice. The other prospectives that I met seemed like good people, and the 1L's and 2L's who did the tours and mingled with prospectives were nice.

I have been to the school as well. The school is not in the greatest area of the city and it seems like parking will be a complete nightmare (expensive, 2-3 blocks away, unsafe) based on a conversation I had with a lady in the admissions office. The closest parking lot is several blocks from the school and the students have to ride a shuttle or walk to the school. This is fine but she said that after dark many students need to have security escort them to their vehicles because it is not the best area of the city.

The garage I parked in was right next to the law building, probably not even a block away. I'll try to get the name of the garage later when I'm at a pc if it makes a difference.

[h2oplyer7]

I am going to visit the school next month. Is the area that bad then? Can you compare it with another city like Los Angeles or New York. I am from LA. Is it worse than LA. What exactly are the problems?

[HellOnHeels]

Has anyone visited the school yet? I am excited to go visit and see what it is like. Any impressions people would like to share?

I went to the October, 2011 open house. It's a good facility. The area isn't great but the school itself is very nice. The other prospectives that I met seemed like good people, and the 1L's and 2L's who did the tours and mingled with prospectives were nice.

I have been to the school as well. The school is not in the greatest area of the city and it seems like parking will be a complete nightmare (expensive, 2-3 blocks away, unsafe) based on a conversation I had with a lady in the admissions office. The closest parking lot is several blocks from the school and the students have to ride a shuttle or walk to the school. This is fine but she said that after dark many students need to have security escort them to their vehicles because it is not the best area of the city.

The garage I parked in was right next to the law building, probably not even a block away. I'll try to get the name of the garage later when I'm at a pc if it makes a difference.

That's probably a full price garage. Fine if you want to pay $10+ per day. The student parking garage a few blocks away is $5 per day.

[HellOnHeels]

I am going to visit the school next month. Is the area that bad then? Can you compare it with another city like Los Angeles or New York. I am from LA. Is it worse than LA. What exactly are the problems?

"Its sort of like on the edge of The Wire, but not too bad. Keep you head out of your ass and don't walk around with ipods and phones in your hand, and you'll be fine" - my husband, who works downtown near the law school.

Eta that if I'm walking back to my car by myself late at night, I will be using security escort.

[TIKITEMBO]

I am going to visit the school next month. Is the area that bad then? Can you compare it with another city like Los Angeles or New York. I am from LA. Is it worse than LA. What exactly are the problems?

h20plyer, The school itself is I think pretty much the start of where the city breaks from a rougher area. From my visit it seemed like south of the school (and I think east maybe?) was fine, but directly west and north were a bit shady. It's that situation in a city where you are in a nice spot and then you turn a block and BAM you need to be more careful. When I visited there were police staked out watching down the street I was walking up (I picked the wrong part of the street to be coming up on I guess...). The shops on the street spaced out more, there were more that were vacant, and the streets in general were dirtier. In those parts I mentioned, it was more segregated and it was pretty obvious to everyone watching me that I was new and sort of an anomaly to be walking around as young white female by myself there. I'll stress that I don't want to sound like I "mind" being a minority as I have been many times, but it's all in how people react to you that tells the story for me. I live in a big city and used to do social work in similar areas (so I'm kind of used to the experience and know how to deal with it) but I could see it being stressful for some. Between the police presence (during the day), the more vacant buildings, street condition, and kind of sticking out it feels like a less safe place due to the few people that would take advantage of a person. And it becomes a whole new ballgame when you're carrying around a computer at night that is essentially your child.

I had someone tell me that there is a parking garage students can use that is 3-4 blocks away and is $5 a day. Seems like a lot to pay for parking (but maybe I'm cheap? ). I definitely wouldn't want to walk that far at night by myself either, so I'm glad there are some options being talked about. Here's this link on parking that the school actually provides which talks about paying $5 and getting a pass for the year. Anyone know if there are generally enough spaces to park in the school parking lot? http://www.law.umaryland.edu/students/r ... s.html#a13

Ha, also what stephinmd's husband said is the good short version.

[h2oplyer7]

Well, that is good to know. I grew up in SoCal and I am also a 6'4, 225 pound military guy. So hopefully I will be ok. Thanks so much for your comments. I actually just got on Google Street View and was "driving" around the city. It is really close to some cool looking places though. I will have to "take a drive" to the north next.

[pret]

If I'm admitted off the waitlist, I'll definitely be parking in the garage nearest the school (and running for my life into the law school lol). I think prices dive after a certain hour, which is good news for us evening applicants. I went during a busy time of day and I had to park in the 10th or so floor of the garage, but there were definitely enough parking spaces for everyone.

When I first went I made a wrong turn when I was trying to walk tot he school and...it wasn't pretty. I was wearing a nice shirt so everyone was staring at me like an ATM machine. There were a whole lot of crackheads and it felt like I was surrounded by zombies from Resident Evil.

[Jsa725]

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[yg13]

FWIW... UMD law is a stones throw from Camden Yards as well as the inner harbor, the are it's in now is being revamped (slowly)

It's not actually very close to the harbor and camden yards. Reasonably close, but you probably wouldn't want to walk there from campus

[h2oplyer7]

Having used Google Street View to "drive" the whole area over the last twenty minutes, I have to admit the area doesn't seem so bad. Of course, I am from LA. Also, it seems very close to Camden Yards, and the area looks fine to me. I think people who are not from big cities might find it intimidating. The trick is just to walk fast and don't talk to anyone! haha

[pret]

A relative of mine left the city after his car was first broken and later stolen completely. Since I applied for the evening program, I'm now worried what will happen to my car when I'm in the school from 6-10pm.

[yg13]

Having used Google Street View to "drive" the whole area over the last twenty minutes, I have to admit the area doesn't seem so bad. Of course, I am from LA. Also, it seems very close to Camden Yards, and the area looks fine to me. I think people who are not from big cities might find it intimidating. The trick is just to walk fast and don't talk to anyone! haha

I live in Baltimore and go to school in Baltimore. The area around UMD campus is bad... just my opinion.

[TIKITEMBO]

Having used Google Street View to "drive" the whole area over the last twenty minutes, I have to admit the area doesn't seem so bad. Of course, I am from LA. Also, it seems very close to Camden Yards, and the area looks fine to me. I think people who are not from big cities might find it intimidating. The trick is just to walk fast and don't talk to anyone! haha

Well I don't want to disclose too much, but I'm pretty familiar with what many would unarguably say are the worst and most dangerous places to live in the country (in a very big city) through my PI work experience and I'll say I wouldn't love the idea of having to walk through those areas near the school alone or at night. I'm sure it helps to be the body build you are. As a 5'2 female around *cough* 135 pounds who looks like a young professional (not girly, but more practical looking), it's a different story when people are sizing you up. You're right though about style. If you walk in areas like that you need to walk with purpose like you know exactly what you're doing and put on a pissed off face. I try to make men feel like if they hit on me just to impress their friends or because they want me to make me feel uncomfortable that I will absolutely rip their face off with my teeth and stomp it on the ground. It's hard to convey in a facial expression though Perhaps I'm more cautious though after living in a different country with a police force that was to put it nicely, lacking. That experience reminded me that gun beats man almost every time no matter how big you are.

[HellOnHeels]

Has anyone gotten any more info from the school after sending in their seat deposits?

[h2oplyer7]

Hahaha, well, gun does beat man every time! haha The gun is mightier than the law school student's pen. I will definitely have to check out the area then.

[TIKITEMBO]

Hahaha, well, gun does beat man every time! haha The gun is mightier than the law school student's pen. I will definitely have to check out the area then.

Haha, yeah you might feel okay physically but the weapon generally wins. I'd say when you visit just to consider whether you'd want to be carrying a bunch of expensive stuff around with you (laptob/phone/ipod). Even if you don't have them out, some lame people might get it that you're a law student with some valuables on you.

[h2oplyer7]

http://wikitravel.org/en/Baltimore

I really like what it says about staying safe. Honestly, I am not really deterred though. Actually, it was interesting to see that the City of Baltimore is trying to upgrade the very area the law school is in. Just remember New York City or Los Angeles in the 80s. I remember visiting both downtown's with my dad. It was madness. haha

[ama004]

Has anyone on the part-time waitlist heard anything yet?

[blurose]

I called the admissions office today and was surprised when Dean Beals answered the main line herself. She said because it was Administrative Professionals' Day she gave everyone the day off so she was the only one there. She was so nice and friendly, and just that interaction alone makes me more inclined to accept their offer. I also called the admissions at GW today and the poor woman answering the calls seemed so frazzled. Anyway, I was accepted by U of M earlier this month but haven't received my financial aid package yet, so Dean Beals said I could have my deposit deadline extended. Anyone else receive their financial aid package?

[pret]

It's safe to say it's "late April," so can we get to the pt waitlist, Maryland?

[ama004]

It's safe to say it's "late April," so can we get to the pt waitlist, Maryland?

+1 It's gotta be any day now...

[Bgard008]

Any regular, full-time waitlistee's heard anything yet? Been on the waitlist since 3/6.

[ama004]

Any regular, full-time waitlistee's heard anything yet? Been on the waitlist since 3/6.

A couple people posted on here that they were accepted off the full time waitlist. In addition, some folks updated their accounts on LSN to show that they were accepted off the waitlist.