Penn-Like Atmosphere?

[lsatbeard]

Greetings,

I am going to take my LSAT in June, and apply for Fall 2010 admission. I've read up on several law schools, and Penn seems like it has a really nice atmosphere. It struck me as laid-back, collegial, and intellectual, rather than cold and competitive. Of course, it's Penn, and I only have a 3.5 from a decent, but not exceptionally great, state university, so I think it's a long shot.

Which schools have communities similar to Penn, and which ones don't?

Also, has anyone heard of decent financial aid being awarded to students transferring to a T-14 school?

[botbot]

Penn has a terrible atmosphere.

[Matthies]

Penn has a terrible atmosphere.

Ok you know I have nothing but respect for you my friend. But “ [botbot]has developed a reputation as one of the most savvy and prolific internet prelaw advisors” is seriously TLS level bloated egomaniacal drivel. I threw up a little, no a lot, in my mouth reading that. For all that is holy tone down the bio a bit. Other than that, good luck with your new project.

BTW news scoop Denver is now looking for a new dean as well.

[botbot]

I didn't write it, I just send in my stuff.

I guess I could ask to change it...

[Matthies]

I didn't write it, I just send in my stuff.

I guess I could ask to change it...

Maybe tone down the hype a notch, but I’m not a marketing guy, so what do I know. Right now its comedic gold that I can’t, in good conscious, leave alone.

[Susan B. Anthony]

Penn has a terrible atmosphere.

I can see why someone would want to pay you to give advice to 0Ls.   

[lsatbeard]

Anyone?

Schools I'm considering (besides Penn):

Virginia
Cornell
UChicago
Northwestern
WUSTL
Berkeley
Hastings
Maryland
UCLA
Boston College
Boston University
William & Mary
Georgetown
GWU
Minnesota
Illinois
Kent
Tulane
UTexas

[argo]

Anyone?

Schools I'm considering (besides Penn):

Virginia
Cornell
UChicago
Northwestern
WUSTL
Berkeley
Hastings
Maryland
UCLA
Boston College
Boston University
William & Mary
Georgetown
GWU
Minnesota
Illinois
Kent
Tulane
UTexas

Stop posting to this board without knowing your LSAT.  A 3.5 GPA could land you at Harvard or at any of the numerous TTT's with no career prospects.  Yes, I've been out of school for 12 yrs, have great softs and an Ivy League degree, but a year ago I was hoping to make it into Cardozo.  Today, I've already turned down full scholarship there and about to withdraw from three of the T14's.  LSAT is king.  Without it - it's just BS.  Go do some LR questions.

[dashrashi]

Okay, yes, seriously. What argo said. And I think you should actually do a little more reading/independent research before we come back to this question. Even just googling "chicago law atmosphere," for example, would give you a starting point.

As a general rule, you'll get better responses from this board when your question is more targeted. It's no use talking about the relative atmospheres of Penn and Chicago when you may get a 154 on the LSAT, for instance, and a lot of posters are therefore reluctant to spend time doing so.

[botbot]

Penn has a terrible atmosphere.

I can see why someone would want to pay you to give advice to 0Ls.   

I can't think of a t14 school who has a more intense atmosphere than Penn...

Although I have a 1.5 day/15 student sample size.