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going to Duquesne

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rpplvc13:
Is anyone out there going to Duquesne?  I am visiting their campus next week and will be looking at housing options, sitting in on a class, and interviewing with the director of admissions (not sure what I am interviewing for, though).  Anyways, just wanted to see if anyone else out there is headed to Pittsburgh next year.

Robert:
I'll be heading to Duquesne in the fall. Let me know what the school is like as I have not yet seen it.

If memory serves though we have already discussed this issue via email, but please let me know how the visit works out.

laurel131:
Hi - I just got involved with this message board - but thought that I would mention that I'm going to Duquesne in the fall, as well.

I visited the campus in March - and was really happy with everything I saw.

Good luck.

joshdelight:
I will be attending Duq law in the fall as well.  I've lived in Pittsburgh for about five years now, and I can tell you that it is a good city to live in, albeit spread out (to a truly remarkable degree), and it has TERRIBLE weather.  This is no exaggeration:  2/3 of the days in a year are mostly cloudy.  Kiss sunlight goodbye, bring a full spectrum lamp or antidepressants for the winters, and you'll be fine.

As I am a Pitt alum, I am not familiar with Duquesne in general.  I do know that Duquesne grads dominate the judiciary in Western PA, and that Duq. has a very good percentage of students that become judicial clerks. 

Other impressions:  I have not been all that impressed with the level of professionalism or services of the financial aid office.  I don't know why they even exist: I was basically told: "uh... yeah, you'll have to find $12,000 in additional aid.  You're on your own. Yawn!"  (I'd love to have that job!)  Also, practices that are common at other universities (like a $3000 one-time financial aid allotment for a laptop and accessories) are unheard of at Duquesne (when I mentioned the allotment to my fin advisor, I was literally laughed at).

There seems to be a break in communications between the Law office and the rest of the University.  In my communications with them, I was often bounced from department to department as the buck was passed along. 

Beyond the support staff, I have been generally impressed with the offerings of the school.  The community and economic development clinic is well-respected in the city, where non-profit charitable groups have become increasingly important as the city recovers (or in some areas, flounders) from the present economic crises and the long-term damage that was wrought by the departure of the steel industry.  (A digression: Pittsburgh, by and large, is not the post industrial wasteland I thought it would be when I moved here from the Philly area.  Heck, it is worlds above Buffalo NY ;) )

Out of curiosity, to the other future Duquesne Law 1L's:  What sort of people are you?  What sort of students were you in undergrad?  Overacheivers, or just regular, intelligent students?  Did you have a big partying phase at some point in your undergraduate career? 

The majority of my classes were 'round-table' in nature, with anywhere from 10-25 people.  I graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology.  I was primarily interested in the formation of national and ethnic identities and the often violent conflict that result from clashing identities, shared symbols, and power imbalances.  I spent half a year in Israel during the recent flare-up in violence to experience first-hand these conflicting identities (and besides almost getting blown up once, it was amazing).

 I was at times TERRIBLY inconsistent with my classes, getting A's and B's in most, but totally blowing off others.  In my first two years I partied pretty hard, and regretted it Jr and Sr year.  I think the most significant thing that happened to me is that after I graduated, I fell into a really bad depression (one that was really cyclical throughout my high school and college career but never diagnosed or treated) and found out that I had a biologically based recurring depression that was easily treatable with meds, and REALLY bad ADD (which made my whole ffing school career fall into perspective).  These discoveries and the resulting treatment changed my whole experience of life.  I became very efficient in my work, and my cyclical depression completely disappeared.  I realized that I needed a challenge; this drive, combined with the current administration's committment to decimating rights, the environment, and international law, made law the ideal choice.

I'd love to know more about my fellow 1L's at Duquesne!

Robert:
That was an informative post to say the least.

I am a Northeastern University (Boston) grad. No sun and wicked bad winters are to be expected. I had hoped to leave the snow behind in law school but fate decided otherwise. Double major, journalism and political Science. I am originally from England, but spent 10 years living in Switzerland (again bad winters.) I only came to the states to go to college. I graduated in 3 years and my grades witnessed a steady improvment each quarter. My first year I was on the crew team and had pretty lousy grades, B- avg. I also did alot of drinking with the team and I am sure that I could have used some of the brain cells I was killing off. Every term there after I was pulling off high B's and solid A's. I am not an overacheiver but I for some reason do better in classes that are harder with more material than in easy classes.

I have a different story about the staff at Duquesne. I was called by the dean and told that I had been accepted about a week after my app went complete and ever since then I have found the staff very helpful. I am currently trying to get my student visa papers together and the international staff are helping me out.

My only concern with Duquesne is that I don't want to have to compete for jobs against pitt grads. It seems that most firms in the area want students from duquesne who are in the top 30% or higher. Competition appears to be harsh.

Josh, I am living about 20 miles or so outside of the city to the north. Any idea what traffic is like in pitt? I've been told that my trip should take about 25 min, but after having to deal wtih boston traffic I question their opinion. Also does anyone know how much better pitt is considered by local firms?

It would also be interesting to find out how old everyone is? 22.

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