Top Law Schools

So I think it is pretty much a 99% chance I am going to GW. Anyone else think they are definately going there or think that it is still a top candidate? Also, anyone a current student with advice or comments about the school?

I'm going in the Fall.

It's near the top of the responses I've heard from so far. Why do you like it so much?

Well, being from Canada and only being in Niagara Falls, NY for UG, I love the DC area. I went to visit the school 2 days after they called me to say I got in and the area really appealed to me. I'm not in the mood to amass a great deal of debt and the money offered was enough to get me to turn down Cornell... I'm also a big fan of the noncompetitive nature of the school. I'm not in the mood for a cut-throat environment for 3 years.

Funny--I just read on LSD that it is a frighteningly competitive environment. I don't know personally but I'd interested to know what makes you think the opposite. Reputation or discussions you had with students?

Conversation with students and the Dean (or Assistant Dean...). And I've heard that from a friend who lives in the area. I could be wrong, but I definitely didn't get that vibe when I was there.

I was accepted though i do not know if i will be attending. GW is an awesome school that is extremely respected here in the dc area and is known for treating their students nicely. as far as competition, i don't believe that it is in any way overly so.

Someone, what is "LSD" please? No, no, not the drug...

Not the drug but for hardcore forum posters, it might as well be. "LSD" is http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org

Thanks prettypithy

The noncompetative environment might stem from the fact that they don't rank...well at least not conventionally. They have a top % system.

I toured the school and several students emphasized the non-compete nature. I agree that the top % might have something to do with it, but am not sure. Its my #1.

When I went and spoke to Dean Richard she told me that you'll know if you're in the top 10 or 15% because you'll be in something like "Presidential Honors" and then you'll know you're in the next 10 or 15% by being in something else. You won't know what you are in either, you just have an idea as to how well you're doing.

Every time I have visited a school and they have assured me it was one thing, it usually turned out to be the opposite. Just be careful.

For grad school, I was visiting Harvard and the students said "Oh yea, Boston is cheap, our rent is only $600 per month!" It turned out they had 6 people in a 3 bedroom apartment! Their bunk-beds weren't mentioned when they bragged about their rent.

I'm not saying this to make people nervous, but try to talk with people who aren't giving you the tour. In my grad department the students doing recruitment are specifically chosen for a reason, law schools are even more competitive with prospectives, so I would bet it is similar.

I am currently in my last year at GW undergrad and I have to say that the campus and the entire DC environment is one of the major reasons I have decided to continue my education here. As for expenses, living in any city is going to be expensive and I'm sure that if students don't decide to go GW it is because they have opted to go to another big name city school, so expenses won't be that different. GW is located in the best/safest part of DC 4 blocks away from the white house so there is a reason the rent is so high. That being said though, it is definately possible to find cheap places if you are willing to squeeze or if you are willing to move slightly off campus. And if you aren't from around here, the neighborhoods around GW are really nice and filled with young professionals. It is a great place to go to school if you feel like NYC and Boston are too overwhelming, but don't want to go to a school in the middle of nowhere. I don't know about the competitive nature at the school, but one student who have spoken to has said that she has really enjoyed her first semester as a 1L and that it wasn't as hard and cut throat as everyone had made law school out to be. And GW is a good enough school that you won't have trouble finding a job in NYC or other big cities if you decide not to stay in DC after graduation. Take it from me, I am originally from a surburb of DC and have gone to school in DC for the past 4 years and I am still not tired of this city. You definately have opportunities here you won't find anyplace else!

Where do most law students live? On-campus housing or what neighborhoods & streets near by?

So if I really want to live in NYC or Chicago, then DC won't do as a good subsitute, right?

University-Sponsored Housing

The Aston
The Hall on Virginia Avenue (HOVA)

or should I just find something on Craigslist?

I'm going to be living in The Aston when I go next year, what is it like? Does anyone know and like/not like it?

how do u know ur in at the Aston?? did housing notify u already?

the aston is a really nice dorm. i think it used to be a hotel so it still has a very stylish look to it (not at all like a regular college dorm). only grad students live there (which is a plus) and all the rooms are singles with their own bathrooms but not sure about kitchens. the only downside is that it is relatively far from campus (about 8-10 blocks i think) but this is also kind of a plus b/c it is closer to downtown and far from undergrad dorms. for a dorm, it is pretty much as good as you can get.

Yeah it has a kitchen, I saw the floor plan, but not any real pictures. I got housing through ED so they told me I'd be there. Yeah when I went to visit they said it was a few blocks away (not sure if it's quite 8 though). I was just wondering if there was anyone with actual pictures. It's weird not being able to see where I'm going to be next year. But Setareh19, you helped the visualization process.

Anyone thinking of living in nearby areas of VA and commuting? I assume its cheaper.

actually you'd be surprised. northern VA is a pretty expensive area and not much cheaper than dc. plus the added commute and being out of dc on the weekends can be a hassle. your best bet is to find housing outside of the foggy bottom area, preferably somewhere closer downtown in up and coming neighborhoods. honestly, i think i am just going to put my name on the waiting list for aston and hope it works out. having cable, phone, utilities, and all that other crap included in the price is well worth living in a dorm for another year. although im not too keen on living alone and if the singles in the aston are as small as the singles in other GW dorms then its going to be a rough year

For anyone that lives in the DC area right now, or has in the past... What's the situation with parking? It's ridiulously expensive to get a pasking pass, but like... are there parking garages or just lots to park in? I'm from Canada so I need to bring my car to get home I'm a homebody but the flights would be ridiculous... What should I do?

I will probably be going in the fall! Hi everybody!