Chicago C/O 2020 Applicants (2016-2017) Forum

[NorthDragon]

Quick question: for NYU, do we need to write a detailed description of our college and post-college activities as the Yale app requires? thanks!

I meant Chicago sorry

[call-me-bubbles]

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[Bob loblaw law blog]

Anyone here interested in the COASE-SANDOR INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND ECONOMICS

Well I wasn't, but with these CAPS how can I ignore it?

But actually, I'm gonna need to look into that. I did a lot research on Coase's stuff in undergrad so it may be a good topic for part of my "why Chicago."

[landshoes]

The summers and autumns here are GORGEOUS. The winter is cold and snowy. HOWEVER the city (and the school) are completely designed for winter.

---Sidewalks & streets are cleared insanely fast so you don't deal with snow and mud (anyone who has lived in NYC and Boston can appreciate this).
---You don't have to leave the Law School for the entire day if you don't want to (and usually will have a lunch talk to attend if you want free lunch).
---Buses are tracked very effectively, you never have to wait outside for more than a couple of minutes (or at all if you're catching them from the Law School.)

Because everything is set up so well for winter, I felt like a good coat with a hood and a cheap scarf made it pretty much irrelevant. That said:

---Dark! Winter is dark! I think that's basically the same everywhere, but it does suck.

[PrezRand]

Anyone here interested in the COASE-SANDOR INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND ECONOMICS

Well I wasn't, but with these CAPS how can I ignore it?

But actually, I'm gonna need to look into that. I did a lot research on Coase's stuff in undergrad so it may be a good topic for part of my "why Chicago."

Lol i didn't even realize I typed in caps

[call-me-bubbles]

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[KMart]

This is great to know. Thanks! Any thoughts on how safe or unsafe it feels/is, living in Chicago?

It's a city. Know that going in. Your on the south side where Chicago's infamous problems most frequently occur. Things happen in Hyde Park but not frequently. I don't recommend wandering around at midnight by yourself with headphones on but this probably applies to areas in every city you can think of.

That being said we have a huge private police force and shuttles once the buses stop running (only talking about HP here but this discussion changes drastically if you change the neighborhood). The shuttle will get you within a few blocks, if not directly in front of, your apartment and a UCPD squad car will shadow you if you feel uncomfortable. Things happen and we get safety alerts but I don't know if it'd be any better at another city school.

[btruj777]

Hey guys. 3L here. Good luck with the apps. To answer a few questions:

I think a "why Chicago" essay helped me get the Ruby with so-so numbers. That's more in the necessary than the sufficient condition camp, obviously—it helps that I'm an avant garde composer of minor acclaim and a rocket scientist on the side—but if you have interesting, well-thought-out reasons to go to UChi, I'd send them in.

The clerkship game has changed significantly in recent years (no plan, Obama appointees), as has UChi (the Ruby, more PI), so it's hard to comment for your class. My sense is that UChi has a few advantages and disadvantages in this respect. For one, UChi is small and the faculty are nerds for this place. You will form relationships with all your professors without even trying. You don't have to worry about gunning office hours, you can focus on learning and having fun. For another, UChi has grades. In the middle of the class you have better odds at YS, but they win this game by hiding who's at the top and letting people who look the same on paper duke it out. That means you'll have better odds but it won't necessarily be fun, unless you have a gross gunner personality, in which case please don't come here. At UChi, it's very straightforward what you do. Get the best grades you can. If they are very good, UChi will get you a clerkship. If they are middling, keep trying, and if you care enough, it will probably work out: you'll find your stride, everyone gets better at law school as they go on, and there's a judge out there with a background that matches most people (TFA, Kentuckian, whatever). Alternatively, do what I did: look at our employment numbers, think about how much you've learned and how cool your classmates are, and chill out, learn to lift, max out clinic hours, eat at all of these restaurants, and enjoy the cheapest COL in the T6.

Hey thank you very much for this!

One of the main reasons I am applying to UChi as opposed to other schools is because they seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on "interdisciplinary studies".

I wanted to ask any current students or alumni about how easy it is to take course at the main college/campus. I know its a stone's throw away from the law school, but does the law school even allow it? For example, if I just wanted to take a course in Philosophy, how easy would that be?

I know some schools discourage this, but I hope this is not the case.

[KMart]

Very easy and the schools actually encourage it. I forget how many classes you can take with other schools on campus - I want to say 12 credits but I could be very, very wrong. To answer your question, though, is it's very open, very easy, and very encouraged.

[airwrecka]

Hello! Jumping into the pool of UChicago hopefuls.

My application is already under review, but I didn't write a "Why Chicago" addendum/statement. Should I be worried about this? Is that a question that would come up in an interview, if I were offered one? Not sure if it's relevant, but my numbers are exactly at the median.

[dreams2020]

Hello! Jumping into the pool of UChicago hopefuls.

My application is already under review, but I didn't write a "Why Chicago" addendum/statement. Should I be worried about this? Is that a question that would come up in an interview, if I were offered one? Not sure if it's relevant, but my numbers are exactly at the median.

Conventional wisdom around these parts is that the why Chicago essay doesn't matter unless you have an incredible connection to them. They're Chicago, they know most of us want to attend.

Still no one with an interview invite? This is way later than last cycle, and it seems like it'll be cramped for ED decisions

[airwrecka]

Hello! Jumping into the pool of UChicago hopefuls.

My application is already under review, but I didn't write a "Why Chicago" addendum/statement. Should I be worried about this? Is that a question that would come up in an interview, if I were offered one? Not sure if it's relevant, but my numbers are exactly at the median.

Conventional wisdom around these parts is that the why Chicago essay doesn't matter unless you have an incredible connection to them. They're Chicago, they know most of us want to attend.

Still no one with an interview invite? This is way later than last cycle, and it seems like it'll be cramped for ED decisions

Good to know!

Yup, still waiting for an invite :-/

[KMart]

Hello! Jumping into the pool of UChicago hopefuls.

My application is already under review, but I didn't write a "Why Chicago" addendum/statement. Should I be worried about this? Is that a question that would come up in an interview, if I were offered one? Not sure if it's relevant, but my numbers are exactly at the median.

No and no. Don't worry. If waitlisted, I'd write one (assuming you still want to go).

[20170322]

So pissed at myself. Applied on Friday, just got a fee waiver.

[KMart]

So pissed at myself. Applied on Friday, just got a fee waiver.

sorry about that. hindsight is 20-20 though. best of luck!

[dryoasis]

So pissed at myself. Applied on Friday, just got a fee waiver.

deleted

[airwrecka]

Just got an e-mail inviting me to schedule an interview!!!

[atlantahoo]

Just got an e-mail inviting me to schedule an interview!!!

+1 Anyone have any tips/advice?

[poptart123]

Just got an e-mail inviting me to schedule an interview!!!

+1 Anyone have any tips/advice?

+1!! Tips and advice?? These are a good sign or not really?

[airwrecka]

Just got an e-mail inviting me to schedule an interview!!!

+1 Anyone have any tips/advice?

+1!! Tips and advice?? These are a good sign or not really?

It's my understanding you have to be invited to interview in order to be admitted (if you're not asked to interview, you will be rejected), so I'd say it's a good sign! Not a guarantee, but good!

[kiwi50]

.

[Assasindowntheavenue]

Same here!

[taxman14]

Invited as well! Anyone know the stats of % of people interviewed vs. accepted? As in out of the people interviewed how many are given an acceptance?

[potterotter]

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[nslaw123]

Just got an e-mail inviting me to schedule an interview!!!

+1