Columbia students taking questions Forum

[dabigchina]

Thanks for the advice! On the flip side, have you ever met anyone unhappy with UAH?

(Guess my LSAT-saturated mind can't get rid of necessary/sufficient thinking )

The biggest complaint I have ever heard is "my roommate's room is bigger." Note this person's room is still bigger than my room and he is still paying 200 less per month than me.

The price difference between UAH and law school housing also reflects a difference in amenities. UAH buildings are generally older/less recently renovated, no doormen or building services, no in-building amenities like gyms/lobbies/print centers, etc. If those things are important to you for some reason and you're willing to pay for them, consider law school housing. If you couldn't care less, save the money and go UAH.

I live on the 400 block of 115th street and am wondering where my doorman and print center are.

On a serious note, you are confusing Lenfest with all law school housing. Lenfest is the exception, rather than the rule for what you get with law school housing.

[FastRun]

The price difference between UAH and law school housing also reflects a difference in amenities. UAH buildings are generally older/less recently renovated, no doormen or building services, no in-building amenities like gyms/lobbies/print centers, etc. If those things are important to you for some reason and you're willing to pay for them, consider law school housing. If you couldn't care less, save the money and go UAH.

I live on the 400 block of 115th street and am wondering where my doorman and print center are.

On a serious note, you are confusing Lenfest with all law school housing. Lenfest is the exception, rather than the rule for what you get with law school housing.

True, didn't mean to imply that you were guaranteed those amenities, though I think Lionsgate has a doorman too. Don't know about printing. 400 blocks of 115th and 116th sound like they're more similar to other UAH housing.

[FastRun]

Hey guys, a quick but extremely pressing question here.
I am going to be a 1L at Columbia in the fall. My boyfriend and I are moving to NYC together, however, we do not qualify for couples housing. Would it be possible for me to apply for a one bedroom or studio apartment and just have my boyfriend live with me? Do other students do this? Any answers would be extremely appreciated.

You might get a studio applying as a single student. You will almost certainly not get a one-bedroom. So that uncertainty (and your boyfriend finding housing if you do end up with an apartment share) is the first problem. Presuming you do manage to get a studio, the second problem is your boyfriend living there. If you end up in a building with 24-hour security staff and/or one that needs an ID swipe to enter, you'll be pretty SOL because your boyfriend would never be able to come home unless you were also there. So the only situation in which this could plausibly work is if you get (1) a studio (2) in an older building that requires only physical keys to access. If the stars align on those factors, then it's up to whether you're willing to take the risk of Columbia discovering your unauthorized tenant and doing something about it. Columbia is an extremely hands-off landlord as a rule (for example, they don't do anything until you get multiple months behind on rent) and there's at least a decent chance that you could go a whole lease term without them ever noticing the additional person. But a long-term unauthorized tenant is one of the few things I can imagine them actually doing something about, and you never know what maintenance request or other random thing would cause them to notice something amiss.

tl;dr: Depending on what housing you're assigned, this plan may not even be plausible (and you won't know until you get your assignment). Even if your assignment works out such that the plan is plausible, it's risky.

If I were you I'd have your boyfriend find some roommates in NYC for a year, open a joint bank account as soon as you get here, and apply for couples' housing or plan to move off campus together second year. You can also always decline law school housing and move off campus now, if you're up for an NYC apartment search.

[GoneSouth]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

[Thelaw23]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

2700-2900 for a studio in Morningside Heights? You can get a one bedroom for that price.

[GoneSouth]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

[Thelaw23]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

I'm actually really bummed about this. I was hoping for a helpful clerkship office lol

[pretzeltime]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

I'm actually really bummed about this. I was hoping for a helpful clerkship office lol

Yikes

[GoneSouth]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

2700-2900 for a studio in Morningside Heights? You can get a one bedroom for that price.

I live in Lenfest and don't pay anywhere close to 2700-2900...

[GoneSouth]

Hey guys, a quick but extremely pressing question here.
I am going to be a 1L at Columbia in the fall. My boyfriend and I are moving to NYC together, however, we do not qualify for couples housing. Would it be possible for me to apply for a one bedroom or studio apartment and just have my boyfriend live with me? Do other students do this? Any answers would be extremely appreciated.

Can't you just go open a joint bank account with him? I think that's all you need to do to qualify (someone correct me).

[Nebby]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

[Thelaw23]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

2700-2900 for a studio in Morningside Heights? You can get a one bedroom for that price.

I live in Lenfest and don't pay anywhere close to 2700-2900...

How much are you paying? Lenfest studios show online as from 2200 - 2600
Lionsgate show 2400 - 2820

I mean that really is excessive for the area. I guess if the amenities are that great it's worth it, but living in nice amenities for that money is something I'm reserving for after law school when I have a paying job.

[GoneSouth]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

2700-2900 for a studio in Morningside Heights? You can get a one bedroom for that price.

I live in Lenfest and don't pay anywhere close to 2700-2900...

How much are you paying? Lenfest studios show online as from 2200 - 2600
Lionsgate show 2400 - 2820

I mean that really is excessive for the area. I guess if the amenities are that great it's worth it, but living in nice amenities for that money is something I'm reserving for after law school when I have a paying job.

I pay ~2200 (it's charged by semesters so I don't know the exact number off the top of my head). I think there are some larger units for couples in Lenfest (maybe 1 bedrooms?), so maybe those are the expensive ones. A lot of LLMs live in these.

[Nebby]

I lived in Harlem off of 7th Ave & 112th Street (~15 minute walk to school) for only $1300/month (total was $2600 for a 2 BR). Y'all need to up your housing game.

[GoneSouth]

I lived in Harlem off of 7th Ave & 112th Street (~15 minute walk to school) for only $1300/month (total was $2600 for a 2 BR). Y'all need to up your housing game.

Yes, everyone knows that you can get a share for $1300 (I know people that actually pay a lot less than that and live closer, so maybe you need to up your housing game). But we're talking about studio prices.

[Nebby]

I lived in Harlem off of 7th Ave & 112th Street (~15 minute walk to school) for only $1300/month (total was $2600 for a 2 BR). Y'all need to up your housing game.

Yes, everyone knows that you can get a share for $1300 (I know people that actually pay a lot less than that and live closer, so maybe you need to up your housing game). But we're talking about studio prices.

Does everyone know that, friend?

I am pretty sure there are a lot of people who browse this thread who are admitted 0Ls who may have no clue what the upper Manhattan rental market may be, and I provided an anecdote so that they have more information. Not everyone can afford a $2200 studio as a student at CLS.

[HarvardHopeful95]

Hey guys, a quick but extremely pressing question here.
I am going to be a 1L at Columbia in the fall. My boyfriend and I are moving to NYC together, however, we do not qualify for couples housing. Would it be possible for me to apply for a one bedroom or studio apartment and just have my boyfriend live with me? Do other students do this? Any answers would be extremely appreciated.

Can't you just go open a joint bank account with him? I think that's all you need to do to qualify (someone correct me).

It has to have been active for 6 months prior to May 15th (the housing application deadline)

[jbagelboy]

I lived in Harlem off of 7th Ave & 112th Street (~15 minute walk to school) for only $1300/month (total was $2600 for a 2 BR). Y'all need to up your housing game.

Yes, everyone knows that you can get a share for $1300 (I know people that actually pay a lot less than that and live closer, so maybe you need to up your housing game). But we're talking about studio prices.

Does everyone know that, friend?

I am pretty sure there are a lot of people who browse this thread who are admitted 0Ls who may have no clue what the upper Manhattan rental market may be, and I provided an anecdote so that they have more information. Not everyone can afford a $2200 studio as a student at CLS.

I mean, "afford" is relative. My SO and I couldn't "afford" our $2200 1BDR apartment, but I borrowed money from the federal government and spent all my summer earnings to help cover the costs. So yiu mean literally not able to pay that much incorporating loan allowance?

[Nebby]

I lived in Harlem off of 7th Ave & 112th Street (~15 minute walk to school) for only $1300/month (total was $2600 for a 2 BR). Y'all need to up your housing game.

Yes, everyone knows that you can get a share for $1300 (I know people that actually pay a lot less than that and live closer, so maybe you need to up your housing game). But we're talking about studio prices.

Does everyone know that, friend?

I am pretty sure there are a lot of people who browse this thread who are admitted 0Ls who may have no clue what the upper Manhattan rental market may be, and I provided an anecdote so that they have more information. Not everyone can afford a $2200 studio as a student at CLS.

I mean, "afford" is relative. My SO and I couldn't "afford" our $2200 1BDR apartment, but I borrowed money from the federal government and spent all my summer earnings to help cover the costs. So yiu mean literally not able to pay that much incorporating loan allowance?

Yeah. The COA loan allowance is like $21,500. 10 months (Aug-May) of $2200/month = $22,000. For a single non-biglaw student, the economics make that difficult to pull off.

[RSN]

Lenfest and Lionsgate studio pricing is insane....

It's really not that crazy when you consider the fact that it's a fully furnished unit in a new building with a 24/7 security person and a gym

2700-2900 for a studio in Morningside Heights? You can get a one bedroom for that price.

I live in Lenfest and don't pay anywhere close to 2700-2900...

How much are you paying? Lenfest studios show online as from 2200 - 2600
Lionsgate show 2400 - 2820

I mean that really is excessive for the area. I guess if the amenities are that great it's worth it, but living in nice amenities for that money is something I'm reserving for after law school when I have a paying job.

I pay ~2200 (it's charged by semesters so I don't know the exact number off the top of my head). I think there are some larger units for couples in Lenfest (maybe 1 bedrooms?), so maybe those are the expensive ones. A lot of LLMs live in these.

Yup, there are 1 bedrooms in Lenfest (and I think a few 2 bedrooms on the 16th floor for visiting faculty), but anything bigger than a studio is for couples only to my knowledge. I can't imagine who's paying $2500, but with the average at $2,240, most of the apartments are on the lower end of that range for sure.

[dabigchina]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

Some dude who was a solo before he came to CLS. He clerked for the 3rd circuit.

[Nebby]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

Some dude who was a solo before he came to CLS. He clerked for the 3rd circuit.

Damn. Can't they just like poach someone from another T6 clerkship program so they can get someone with experience.

[RSN]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

Some dude who was a solo before he came to CLS. He clerked for the 3rd circuit.

Damn. Can't they just like poach someone from another T6 clerkship program so they can get someone with experience.

My guess is they were working on this for months and couldn't close the deal on anyone, so they ultimately went with this option. No actual knowledge but based on the fact that they announced the transition in September and hired in March, seems like they probably had some offers turned down.

[dabigchina]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

Some dude who was a solo before he came to CLS. He clerked for the 3rd circuit.

Damn. Can't they just like poach someone from another T6 clerkship program so they can get someone with experience.

I am wildly speculating here, but I wouldn't take the job if I were some clerkship director at Chicago, NYU or even UVA.

If you take the job with CLS, you know that Columbia would be looking to you to turn around the clerkship program. The bar for success would be impossibly high. Why put yourself through that when you have a well established clerkship pipeline where you can just do everything on autopilot.

[GoneSouth]

The clerkship program is an embarrassment.

At least the administration is generally aware of this. We'll see if the changes they've been implementing are effective or not.

Well they just hired someone with zero clerkship advising experience to run clerkships, soooooo, not a good sign

Who?

Some dude who was a solo before he came to CLS. He clerked for the 3rd circuit.

Damn. Can't they just like poach someone from another T6 clerkship program so they can get someone with experience.

I am wildly speculating here, but I wouldn't take the job if I were some clerkship director at Chicago, NYU or even UVA.

If you take the job with CLS, you know that Columbia would be looking to you to turn around the clerkship program. The bar for success would be impossibly high. Why put yourself through that when you have a well established clerkship pipeline where you can just do everything on autopilot.

I don't know that "impossibly high" is the right word. There is no reason why Columbia shouldn't be able to place students in clerkships as well as schools like Virginia