Chicago-Kent Class of 2014 Forum

[chicarda]

I moved from Ohio in October and am living in lakeview now so I can help answer questions about living in this part of town. I'll just say up front that it's the best place I've ever lived.

Can you elaborate on this please? What is your rent? House or apartment? All I hear is how easy the transit is, is this true? How long does it take to get into the loop? What made you choose lakeview? Anything else you want to add would be much apprecieted.

Oh and congrats on the $$!

first off - thanks! i was excited since Kent was my first choice from the beginning.

secondly about the apartment. My first piece of advice is to take your time when looking for an apartment. the first one I moved into has been a nightmare that I'm just now escaping. I moved into Wrigleyville originally which is the area just north of lakeview surrounding Wrigley Field. both areas are great, but lakeview is really alive. this weekend when it first got warm the streets were full of people out shopping, dining, and just enjoying the weather. in the first apartment, I'm paying 1080/month for a small 1br apartment with a roommate (so i'm only paying 540). I could have done much better. the second apartment is a 2br with double the square footage and better amenities for 1500/month (750 is my share). i know my boss has a nice studio for about 800 in the same area where I'm moving. not awful.

as for transit - i couldn't ask for anything better. i'm about 2 minutes from the nearest bus stop which takes me down a road which has my work, the nearest grocery store (jewel-osco), a target, and any number of bars, restaurants, and shops. i'm 7 minutes from the red-line which goes from evanston through downtown as far south as 95th street. i would recommend living near the brown line, though, which shares the same tracks as the redline up to belmont, since the brown line is the quickest and closest train to Kent.

as for finding an apartment i know a number of people which have used craigslist which is fine if you are in town for a while and can schedule times to visit apartments. if you can't, you can contact any number of apartment rental places (I suggest apartmentsavvy.com, who helped me find my new place) who can help you (for free) to find a place for you based on what you want.

i feel like that's a lot for now - i'll be happy to help with whatever else you have questions about.

Thanks for your input fellow Miamian.

Roughly how much do you spend on food per month?

[pauwelsd]

according to Mint.com i've spent about 150/month on groceries (i have a dog) and about $150/month on eating out which includes valentines day dinner and way too many lunches out. i could get by on about the same amount for groceries and probably a third to a half on eating out.

[chicarda]

Score! Summer law internship in Chicago!

[FrankieFlye]

Score! Summer law internship in Chicago!

Nice, congrats! Any tips on where to start looking?


I just sent in my declines to other schools and have decided to join Kent's 2011 class. Sent in and got back my financial aid info, now to start looking for apartments in the city and a internship!

[chicarda]

Score! Summer law internship in Chicago!

Nice, congrats! Any tips on where to start looking?


I just sent in my declines to other schools and have decided to join Kent's 2011 class. Sent in and got back my financial aid info, now to start looking for apartments in the city and a internship!

Cook County State Attorneys Office's deadline is April 15th! So get a move on! Anita Alvarez is a Kent Alum too, so possible foot in.

[FrankieFlye]

Score! Summer law internship in Chicago!

Nice, congrats! Any tips on where to start looking?


I just sent in my declines to other schools and have decided to join Kent's 2011 class. Sent in and got back my financial aid info, now to start looking for apartments in the city and a internship!

Cook County State Attorneys Office's deadline is April 15th! So get a move on! Anita Alvarez is a Kent Alum too, so possible foot in.

thanks for the info man, will see if I can shoot that out today...


I e-mailed Dean Krent looking to get a little more money last minute out of this merit based scholly.....we'll see what happens!

[FrankieFlye]

Wow. E-Mailed Dean Krent this morning about negotiating a scholly increase and he replied by lunch with a scholarship increase....sweeeeeeeeeeet. Looks like it's Kent for sure kids. Time to look into apartments next week!

[chicarda]

Wow. E-Mailed Dean Krent this morning about negotiating a scholly increase and he replied by lunch with a scholarship increase....sweeeeeeeeeeet. Looks like it's Kent for sure kids. Time to look into apartments next week!

Congrats man!

[rdavi012]

just sent in my deposit!!looks like it gonna b kent 4 sure:D

[a11 1n]

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[pauwelsd]

I'm really happy to hear my fellow TLS'ers were successful in negotiating scholarship money out of Kent. I sent an email to Karla Davis and she said she forwarded my information to the admissions committee. It took a week and she replied to me with a no.

I sent in my seat deposit to Kent but am still working with another school on upping my scholarship money and could switch over if they can match what Kent is already offering me. Kent is still my top choice however. Do you think it would be wise to send an email to Dean Krent seeing if he could do anything or would that be pointless, especially since he already has my seat deposit? Could use some input.

I feel like Dean Krent would be the one to talk to about this. I'm not sure how you wrote your first email but I made it clear how much I wanted to go to Kent, how important $$ was for me and that it was my absolute top choice. It certainly can't hurt anything.

[chicarda]

I'm really happy to hear my fellow TLS'ers were successful in negotiating scholarship money out of Kent. I sent an email to Karla Davis and she said she forwarded my information to the admissions committee. It took a week and she replied to me with a no.

I sent in my seat deposit to Kent but am still working with another school on upping my scholarship money and could switch over if they can match what Kent is already offering me. Kent is still my top choice however. Do you think it would be wise to send an email to Dean Krent seeing if he could do anything or would that be pointless, especially since he already has my seat deposit? Could use some input.

I sent an email to both Dean Krent and Karla. Krent ignored my email, and Karla came back with a "soft" no(?) pending the next few weeks where it might change to a yes?

[rdavi012]

is anyone on here going to the Deans day on the 30th? i wasnt able to go to asw so i will be there on the 30th...hopefully i like it since i already sent in my seat deposit....while i am there i also want to look for some apartments. where have u guys had luck with so far?

[a11 1n]

.

[danget bobby]

Definatley not going again on the 30th, I can't handle eating another $15 lunch at Al's after the Panera boxed lunch they gave. I do need to get down there one of these days to look at housing.

[tennissanta]

Definatley not going again on the 30th, I can't handle eating another $15 lunch at Al's after the Panera boxed lunch they gave. I do need to get down there one of these days to look at housing.

Ha! I saw that Al's was right across the street and almost died. This is going to be a great 3 years! I'm going to the Dean's Program on April 30...

[gator6589]

I'm really happy to hear my fellow TLS'ers were successful in negotiating scholarship money out of Kent. I sent an email to Karla Davis and she said she forwarded my information to the admissions committee. It took a week and she replied to me with a no.

I sent in my seat deposit to Kent but am still working with another school on upping my scholarship money and could switch over if they can match what Kent is already offering me. Kent is still my top choice however. Do you think it would be wise to send an email to Dean Krent seeing if he could do anything or would that be pointless, especially since he already has my seat deposit? Could use some input.

I sent an email to both Dean Krent and Karla. Krent ignored my email, and Karla came back with a "soft" no(?) pending the next few weeks where it might change to a yes?

Same here they said it would be noted in my file I'd like additional aid, did you receive the same message? They only have the first part of my deposit so I hope they may feel the need to increase my aid. Also what are the scholarship increases everyones is getting? I feel as if 20k a year is their limit for this not above 75% lsat

[chicarda]

I'm really happy to hear my fellow TLS'ers were successful in negotiating scholarship money out of Kent. I sent an email to Karla Davis and she said she forwarded my information to the admissions committee. It took a week and she replied to me with a no.

I sent in my seat deposit to Kent but am still working with another school on upping my scholarship money and could switch over if they can match what Kent is already offering me. Kent is still my top choice however. Do you think it would be wise to send an email to Dean Krent seeing if he could do anything or would that be pointless, especially since he already has my seat deposit? Could use some input.

I sent an email to both Dean Krent and Karla. Krent ignored my email, and Karla came back with a "soft" no(?) pending the next few weeks where it might change to a yes?

Same here they said it would be noted in my file I'd like additional aid, did you receive the same message? They only have the first part of my deposit so I hope they may feel the need to increase my aid. Also what are the scholarship increases everyones is getting? I feel as if 20k a year is their limit for this not above 75% lsat

That's basically what she said to me. And this...

"I hope this information is helpful and I'm sorry that I don't have better news for you at this time. I know that finances are a major concern, but I also believe that Chicago-Kent provides an outstanding legal education."

...So I guess we can expect 100% employment rate at graduation in 2014 lol

[LaProfe14]

when are you guys planning on arriving in Chicago (if you don't already live there)?

[chicarda]

when are you guys planning on arriving in Chicago (if you don't already live there)?

I move into Presidential Towers May 19th and start my law internship basically the next day.

[corvettekid]

when are you guys planning on arriving in Chicago (if you don't already live there)?

Probably not until the start of August, trying to get through as many pay periods as I can before I become a jobless student again.

[chicarda]

Chicago-Kent students (and others I'm assuming) get huge discounts on Zip-Car rentals. $25 per year ($60) and no application fee ($25).

[FrankieFlye]

when are you guys planning on arriving in Chicago (if you don't already live there)?

Probably not until the start of August, trying to get through as many pay periods as I can before I become a jobless student again.

Ain't that the truth! Tryin to finish out May/June/July with some positive 9-5 income, especially since any tuition/loan refund disbursements don't come til' 2nd week of school (per financial aid office).

Would like to know how Presidential is....thinking about moving in there.

[chicarda]

when are you guys planning on arriving in Chicago (if you don't already live there)?

Probably not until the start of August, trying to get through as many pay periods as I can before I become a jobless student again.

Ain't that the truth! Tryin to finish out May/June/July with some positive 9-5 income, especially since any tuition/loan refund disbursements don't come til' 2nd week of school (per financial aid office).

Would like to know how Presidential is....thinking about moving in there.

I've toured it three times and I really liked it. Although I didn't have very many choices given my dog preferences. If you go in there ask for Edwin, he is far and away the most hospitable and friendly. Rent can be crazy expensive though and utilities will run around $160-200 a month for everything. They are also about to finish a massive remodeling and it looks great thus far.

[FrankieFlye]

I've toured it three times and I really liked it. Although I didn't have very many choices given my dog preferences. If you go in there ask for Edwin, he is far and away the most hospitable and friendly. Rent can be crazy expensive though and utilities will run around $160-200 a month for everything. They are also about to finish a massive remodeling and it looks great thus far.

I've heard mixed reviews...thinking about visiting next week, I figure it's the cheapest option and closest to the school. I was debating between it and living in the north Chicago neighborhoods (Lakeview, Streeterville, etc) but I think I'll stay closer to school to stay outta trouble. Can always catch the L out if I wanna go out. I used to live in the southside for undergrad (im a local Chicagoan) but want to live in a nicer loop building now and closer to campus.

I'd really hate to purchase furniture too...any idea about any relatively budget furnished apartment buildings?