Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[hmlee]

What is the student body like? cut throat competitive or more laid back and personable?

Neither, really. I get he impression that our 1L class is very hard working, but friendly and non-competitive.

I think because people are older here, everyone is very "into" law school. We are here to learn and become lawyers, not get better grades than our classmates. Just today I got cold called and had NO CLUE what the answer was, and 3 people gchatted it to me. They want to see me succeed as much as I want to see them succeed. The more we understand the coursework, the greater benefit we get out of our classes. So we help each other out a LOT. If someone doesn't understand something, we all want them to get it, because you're only as fast as your slowest team mate, so to speak.

My section, at least, is a very cooperative, supportive, congenial bunch. I came in terrified it would be competitive and cut throat despite what people said (that it IS congenial and laid back), and I've found it to be satisfyingly challenging.

My section is the same way, so it's not an experience unique to SJ.

By the way, SJ, the proper response to the previous question would have been to invite me to your post study group bar trips ... hehe...

[altoidz]

how vain of you rayiner

[rayiner]

how vain of you rayiner

<3

[MirandaHobbes]

.

[elliefont]

just signed up for an on-campus interview, guess I need to get an interview suit.

[Spor]

..and even the marrieds come out and their SO's so far have been really cool

I have a theory that the people at NU are, on the whole, hotter than the average law school

You must stop talking about me while I'm not around.

[Defacto]

Rayiner,

NU is on my list. I had a UG GPA of 3.5 and my LSAT score is a 172. I'm in grad school right now (contemplating withdrawal if you read my other thread). Any thoughts about how withdrawing from a graduate program (thereby wasting a year) might hinder my chances? Further, I don't have much in the way of work experience. I have a military background, and I'm a disabled vet, but that's about it. Since I didn't mention it earlier, my graduate GPA will be in the 3.8/3.9 area. The rumor is that B's in grad school = death. I'll also mention that I received my BA from a state university that isn't particularly reputable. The graduate program is at the same school and is even less reputable. I do have a LOR coming from a NU graduate, but not a law school grad.

I'm not expecting you to tell me whether I'd be accepted, and hell, I'll apply anyway, but it'd be interesting to hear you hedge a guess. Appreciate it.

[rayiner]

..and even the marrieds come out and their SO's so far have been really cool

I have a theory that the people at NU are, on the whole, hotter than the average law school

You must stop talking about me while I'm not around.

Working hard or hardly working?

[rayiner]

Rayiner,

NU is on my list. I had a UG GPA of 3.5 and my LSAT score is a 172. I'm in grad school right now (contemplating withdrawal if you read my other thread). Any thoughts about how withdrawing from a graduate program (thereby wasting a year) might hinder my chances? Further, I don't have much in the way of work experience. I have a military background, and I'm a disabled vet, but that's about it. Since I didn't mention it earlier, my graduate GPA will be in the 3.8/3.9 area. The rumor is that B's in grad school = death. I'll also mention that I received my BA from a state university that isn't particularly reputable. The graduate program is at the same school and is even less reputable. I do have a LOR coming from a NU graduate, but not a law school grad.

I'm not expecting you to tell me whether I'd be accepted, and hell, I'll apply anyway, but it'd be interesting to hear you hedge a guess. Appreciate it.

Your numbers are very good --- LSAT above 75th, GPA above 25th. Your graduate GPA is fine. Your undergraduate and graduate institution quality won't really matter, unless it's really good (HYPS). So the only question is work experience, and my guess would be that the military service would count.

Frankly, I think you have a great shot at getting admitted. All the pieces are there. That being said, you'll almost certainly get into Michigan and Virginia, maybe with some money. And CCN isn't out of the question if you play your cards right...

[hmlee]

Rayiner,

NU is on my list. I had a UG GPA of 3.5 and my LSAT score is a 172. I'm in grad school right now (contemplating withdrawal if you read my other thread). Any thoughts about how withdrawing from a graduate program (thereby wasting a year) might hinder my chances? Further, I don't have much in the way of work experience. I have a military background, and I'm a disabled vet, but that's about it. Since I didn't mention it earlier, my graduate GPA will be in the 3.8/3.9 area. The rumor is that B's in grad school = death. I'll also mention that I received my BA from a state university that isn't particularly reputable. The graduate program is at the same school and is even less reputable. I do have a LOR coming from a NU graduate, but not a law school grad.

I'm not expecting you to tell me whether I'd be accepted, and hell, I'll apply anyway, but it'd be interesting to hear you hedge a guess. Appreciate it.

Please excuse Ray not answering your question about the graduate program withdrawal. He's really tired and doesn't even know its Wednesday. As to the question itself... it's not usually a good thing in terms of applications, but it can be excused if you can come up with a semi-legitimate reason for your withdrawl and can articulate clearly why you want to attend law school. You need to set aside any reservations an ad-com will have (at Northwestern or elsewhere) about your ability to finish what you start. They don't want to admit you and have you drop out after a year because law school isn't for you. That being said, Ray is right that the military experience will likely be adequate as far as the WE issue goes. I think people sometimes misconstrue NU's work experience stats. They aren't looked for people who have work experience just because they've had a job - they're looking for people who are more mature than your average fresh out of college kid, and have had some exposure to the sort of communication / team work / problem solving / what have you type of skills that you normally develop through full time work. Those same things can be developed through military service or other avenues, and if you demonstrate them in your essays and interview, you'll be fine.

[jd-mba]

Hi guys,

It's so quiet in here. I was wondering, what do you guys NOT like about Northwestern? Sounds like a "what's your weakness" question doesn't it? Just curious. Seems like every law student has nothing but great things to say about their respective law school, but that really can't be the case. So other than Chicago weather, are there profs/courses or other aspects of Northwestern that you're not so happy about? Thanks!

[rayiner]

Hi guys,

It's so quiet in here. I was wondering, what do you guys NOT like about Northwestern? Sounds like a "what's your weakness" question doesn't it? Just curious. Seems like every law student has nothing but great things to say about their respective law school, but that really can't be the case. So other than Chicago weather, are there profs/courses or other aspects of Northwestern that you're not so happy about? Thanks!

The lighting in he library isn't great. The classrooms have these great incandescent lighting schemes, while he library has not-bright-enough flourescent lights. This does come into play, since you'll be living there come finals time. People seem a little more gunnerish than I expected, though I've been told its just my class. Graded legal writing blows. The "academic success" activities are an elaborate waste of time. (Videos are an appropriate medium only for porn and sitcoms.)

On the whole, though, these are fairly small nits to pick. I've been pleased, by the administration, the faculty, and the facilities. I even have a professor for K's who isn't a frilly academic! He tells us actual stories about practice! It's very refreshing considering that "top" law schools can get excessively theoretical.

[hmlee]

The temperature regulation in the buildings during the change of seasons is not ideal

[rayiner]

The temperature regulation in the buildings during the change of seasons is not ideal

I kinda like it. The different buildings are in the same thermostat, so the library is cooler while McCormick and levy meyer are toast warm. So you canfind a study place at the right temp. I like to go study in Strawn hall in the evening when my body temp dips and I want to sit somewhere warm.

[Spor]

I kinda like it. The different buildings are in the same thermostat, so the library is cooler while McCormick and levy meyer are toast warm. So you canfind a study place at the right temp. I like to go study in Strawn hall in the evening when my body temp dips and I want to sit somewhere warm.

Strawn is a damn oven.

[srb]

If this were Fantasy Law School, and you could draft 2 fantasy students to NU's roster, who would those students be?

Please keep in mind that there is a correct answer, and that friendship depends on it.

[Kant]

Speak to me about the women

[rayiner]

If this were Fantasy Law School, and you could draft 2 fantasy students to NU's roster, who would those students be?

Please keep in mind that there is a correct answer, and that friendship depends on it.

I'd draft diana341 and srb, then trade our section gunner for operasoprano.

[rayiner]

Speak to me about the women

I don't get this question. Why hit on NU law girls, who are not impressed by the "I go to NU law" line? Why eliminate from the equation what is, honestly speaking, likely your strongest comparative advantage in the marketplace?

The credited Q is: tell me about DePaul undergrad women...

[Kant]

Speak to me about the women

I don't get this question. Why hit on NU law girls, who are not impressed by the "I go to NU law" line? Why eliminate from the equation what is, honestly speaking, likely your strongest comparative advantage in the marketplace?

The credited Q is: tell me about DePaul undergrad women...

This is true.....Depaul women are fucking hot.



but are NU ugs hot?

[rayiner]

Speak to me about the women

I don't get this question. Why hit on NU law girls, who are not impressed by the "I go to NU law" line? Why eliminate from the equation what is, honestly speaking, likely your strongest comparative advantage in the marketplace?

The credited Q is: tell me about DePaul undergrad women...

This is true.....Depaul women are fucking hot.



but are NU ugs hot?

Yes. I was up there for a concert last week. NU UG is very fratty, though, which can be good or bad depending on your proclivities.

[hmlee]

If this were Fantasy Law School, and you could draft 2 fantasy students to NU's roster, who would those students be?

Please keep in mind that there is a correct answer, and that friendship depends on it.

I'd draft diana341 and srb, then trade our section gunner for operasoprano.

But without him, how would classes be entertaining? We wouldn't have gunner theatre!

[chadwick218]

I kinda like it. The different buildings are in the same thermostat, so the library is cooler while McCormick and levy meyer are toast warm. So you canfind a study place at the right temp. I like to go study in Strawn hall in the evening when my body temp dips and I want to sit somewhere warm.

Strawn is a damn oven.

Except when you take a midterm ... then it goes back to being freaking cold!

[sidgey]

I kinda like it. The different buildings are in the same thermostat, so the library is cooler while McCormick and levy meyer are toast warm. So you canfind a study place at the right temp. I like to go study in Strawn hall in the evening when my body temp dips and I want to sit somewhere warm.

Strawn is a damn oven.

Except when you take a midterm ... then it goes back to being freaking cold!

Ugh I took a midterm in there last week and it was roughly 80 degrees. Our hands were sliding all over our keyboards it was so hot and sweaty in there.

[sidgey]

The lighting in he library isn't great. The classrooms have these great incandescent lighting schemes, while he library has not-bright-enough flourescent lights. This does come into play, since you'll be living there come finals time. Untrue. I live with my study group in RB 160 or one of our apartments where beer is readily available in the fridge nearby Couldn't have gotten through midterms without it.

People seem a little more gunnerish than I expected, though I've been told its just my class.
People seem less gunnerish than I expected! Is it just your section?

Graded legal writing blows.
Graded legal writing is just about my favorite thing about law school so far. But I'm also into legal analysis so go figure. I also have the best teacher ever, and most people in my CLR like it.

The "academic success" activities are an elaborate waste of time. (Videos are an appropriate medium only for porn and sitcoms.) academic success is a HUGE waste of time. Great in theory, terribly executed. We should have had a week where we learned how to outline, take finals, etc. They give you all these methods (which you DONT need; if you got into NU you CLEARLY know how to study and budget your time, esp since you've been working for the last year at least (for me it was 5)) that ALL boil down to: do whatever works for you. Really? I can't believe I'm paying you $45k to tell me that. Thanks SSR. (ps I LOVE SSR)

On the whole, though, these are fairly small nits to pick. I've been pleased, by the administration, the faculty, and the facilities. I even have a professor for K's who isn't a frilly academic! He tells us actual stories about practice! It's very refreshing considering that "top" law schools can get excessively theoretical.

ZOMG my Ks professor blows. He's easily my favorite prof, but its his first time teaching and he's SO hard on us. He's already made me cry. He's def going to get terrible reviews from all of us. Thing is, we learn SO much in that class bc we're terrified of being called on, and we have to keep up bc he goes so fast. Are you guys already done with offer, acceptance, consideration, estoppel, repudiation?