Law School Discussion

Reread your post and noticed you talked about the army.

I understand that it's necessary to compare LS to something, but I think it's going to be a very different type of intensity than the army would offer.  I mean, it may actually be less stressful than the army, especially than Iraq.  But the type of intensity that law school will cause may actually burn you out faster.  Because even though there's less stress -- and the consequences of not succeeding are, in some ways, not as great -- the constant intellectual rigor (as opposed to physical rigor or emotional stress) may actually be worse than what you come up against in the army.

I'll be interested in seeing how you compare the two experiences after a semester, though.

I haven't read all three pages here, but I think I get the idea.

I might read a book about law school before I start.  But that's about it. 

I do think that recently graduating from UG (I graduated in May '04 BTW) does probably correlate with not "preparing" for school as much.  But I don't think it really is a matter of priorities.  I think it's more a matter of feeling academically confident.  B/c let's face it -- if it's been several years (or for some people, more than eight or nine years) since you've been in school, you probably are a bit more nervous about going back.  And you probably don't remember quite how academics can burn a person out in a way that a 9-5 job can't.  But this is just my opinion, of course. As always, I reserve the right to be wrong.

I just got back from Pitt, in fact.  I picked out a really great apartment in the heart of Shadyside.  But squirrel hill is really great too. 

And I think Regent Square is really a great place to look for a house/condo.  There's a decent amount of activity and shopping in Regent Square.  And it's a really short hop to Forbes and Murrey in Squirrel Hill. 

I personally think Greenfield is a little too boring, a little too far out, and a little too hilly (winter is probably hellish if you live in Greenfield) for my taste.  I'm not sure I'd be too hot on buying there myself.  And Lawrenceville and the strip district do seem a little shady.  I think I'd be sketched out to have to walk there at night much.

Yea, perhaps Bloomfield might be just a bit far I guess.  Somebody recommended www.craigslist.org and I've been looking at prices today.  I found 3 bedroom apartments in Squirrel Hill for like $850:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/apa/62414363.html

That's just an example, of course.  I'm not sure what you'd pay in Kentucky for something like this -- but in Ann Arbor you'd be looking at $1300, probably more.  I was especially struck at the range in prices.  You can pay $850 for a really nice three bedroom in a really great area, or you could probably pay that for a one bedroom in a nice area.  It's so odd.  But this was true of Ann Arbor (where I've lived for several years) as well.

It seems that three and four bedroom apartments (or houses) would be a better deal, both for rent and for utilities.  That's what I may end up trying to do -- share a three or four bedroom apt or house.  It might be a good call for you, as well.  If you could find a few people that don't mind a dog, it might make a dog a lot more managable in law school (all the people to give her attention too).

I am tempted to try to find a couple people and jump on something good before this summer.  I'm not a big fan of waiting until June or July.  It just seems like prices are pretty good now, and in the near future.  Why take the chance of waiting...

Wow!  Huge congrats!

I'm interested -- is it a $10,000 scholarship? 

I actually applied for it, and then later withdrew my application for various reasons.  But I never learned for sure what the amount was.

Anyhow, you'll love Pittsburgh.  In the market for a roommate?