Law School Discussion

schoomp,

When i walked through the law school building all i kept saying was "wow".  it was absolutely amazing.... you can be on the toilet and on the internet.  It was so nice and new and beautiful and technologically advanced.  They have trial training rooms that look just like a court room, with the jury box, judges chair, witness stand.... the whole nine yards.  there were crevices everywhere with little study rooms, and some of them overlooked the Rockies.  The library seemed decent... it was three stories high in the same building... but i don't really know how the content of the library is.   Their moot court was beautiful, and almost all of the classrooms are shaped in a half circle, so everyone can see and face each other pretty much.  they have a parking garage right below the building, and the campus as a whole was well kept and pretty.  Coming from a small undergrad school... i was very impressed by the size of the school and the grounds, and how its like a mini city.  everyone was so friendly, everyone smiled and said hello. 

I talked to alot of ppl in denver about the law school, and everyone is aware that CU might lose their accredidation and that is totally affecting their perception of their law program.  Everyone is also aware of the awesome new law bldg DU has, and they are looking more and more favorably towards DU.

as far as denver.... absolutely gorgeous.  Ive never been to Colorado before, but i really do look forward to moving there this august.  I did alot of apartment shopping and furniture shopping, and i found the perfect apartment with a view of the mountains and a fire place.  Im a little nervous about not living on campus, only because i wont know anyone and the best way to meet people is in the community you live in... but I think im a little beyond the whole living on campus thing.  the other graduates in the other graduate programs seem to take school less seriously and partying more seriously, and they seem to be the ones who take up the bulk of the on campus graduate housing.  if you go to DU for a tour, which i highly recomend, try to make an appt to see their grad housing. You'll see their apartments are a little outdated and they arnt putting much effort into their upkeep since they are planning on knocking the bldgs down in a few years anyway.

but denver was so beautiful, and so clean, and i felt so safe and comfortable there.  I can't wait to move their......... even though its going to be a 37 hour drive :-D.  Im up for the road trip.

Funny thing i found out about private loans while visiting law schools this weekend.... ill share it with ya.

the federal government made it mandatory that all graduate schools, and perhaps undergrad too, but not sure, have to make a list of the estimated cost of living and break it down into categories, such as tuition per credit, room and board, transportation, blah blah blah.  so lets say the tuition at law school A is $25,000 a year... they may total the estimated cost of living at $35,000 a year.  The most you can get in federal financial aid is $18,500.  Count in any scholarships or grants you may recieve from the school.  The diferrence between the total of those and the estimated cost of living is the most you are eligable for a private loan.  that sucks so much, dosnt it? 

it dosnt take into consideration ppl like me who have to buy furniture and move across the country.    it dostn take into consideration if you possible have to make car payments or medical insurance payments.  So it forces you to find apartments w/ cheaper rents, which often times arnt in the best neighborhoods you'd want to find yourself in,  and by my estimation im going to have about $15-20 a week for food.  I guess i can stretch that and make it work.... but those are things i guess you have to consider if you want law school bad enough.

As far as credit.... as long as your credit is decent you'll be fine.  a late payment here or there is fine...  and the amount you are in debt will really only matter if you are REALLy in debt by the thousands of dollars.  You can call any financial institution and ask them if your specific amount will effect anything.  generally they are willing to give out loans to law students ive been told.

anyway, sorry i went off on a tangent about private loans... i was just annoyed this weekend when i was informed about the loans.  Good luck.

what a GREAT idea for a thread!   

I love this board.... it gives me a place where other people understand what im going through and can share experiences and insight into things that no one else but law school applicants can fully relate to.  Alot of people on this board have helped me, and in return i truly hope that maybe i helped at least one person make this stressful time a little bit easier and maybe a little bit clearer. 

I would like to thank everybody who has helped me, but the people who stand out in my mind the most is Andrew... the site administrator.... of course, Ithacabomber for his insight and advice, kattiewhich for her unending optimism, drewpac for the great input and guidance, Victor for his somewhat humorous search for the perfect LSAT prep course and never ending hope, pworth for your advice and your encouragement to everyone, ivy hopeful for your plethora of knowledge concerning law school and your willingness to share it with everyone, and of course nyugrad for your witty argumentation... you def kept it interesting for me and kept me on my toes.  no hard feelings what so ever. 

Geesh, this sounds like an oscar speech or something corny like that.

but seriously.... so many of you have made this process easier for me, and im so thankful. 

im flying into denver this friday to look at DU.... i can't wait.  My first time in denver.  I hear its an amazing city.

http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/buffzone_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2448_2603282,00.html

DU vs CU article