Feb 7- Chicago decisions to b out ..fingers crossed ...all the best ppl :)

Yes, fingers crossed..

"This years applicant pool is the strongest we have ever seen »
Guys, this is thanks to us!!!! :DDDD

Guys, I am a Chicago LL.M. graduate (2012) and currently a J.S.D. (doctoral) student here. I know admission decisions are about to come out for you guys, so first of all good luck! I just wanted to let you know that if you have any doubts about the program, the city, etc, I am happy to answer them.
Again, good luck to you all and let me know if I can be of assistance.
Agustin

Hey Labrujaveron, I am pursuing my final year law. Have done various internships. Is work experience v.imp to get into U of Chicago?
Is there any1 in your batch who does not have work experience & yet admitted?

Hi, I would say, only from looking at the class, that it is important but there are a number of European LLMs that have very little experience (internships, stages, clerkships, etc) as graduates and have made it to UChicago. I think that it is more about the overall profile and not just one single issue like grades, or work experience. It is definitely more nuanced than that, so keep your faith and good luck!

Got news from Chicago.

I am in!!!

H.

Hi everybody,

I got an admission offer as well!

we should appreciate their efforts to release admission decisions as early as possible :-)

I'm also in!

In :)

Breaking the spell here, got on the standby group. And the wait continues...

Got the admission email... In :)

I am in too :)

I am in too! Yay! :)

So, what do you think... Columbia or Chicago?

I am in too! Yay! :)

So, what do you think... Columbia or Chicago?

Anyone currently at UChicago following this thread? I asked for access to the facebook group. It'd be very helpful to get to talk with current LLM students.

In, as well! Congratulations, guys!

congratulations to everyone who got in!
I wasnt very luck, got turned down. Have to admire Richard's consistency in sending those helpful (sometimes annoying) emails, Sour grapes, I guess?

4 more to go. I hope I get in somewhere. I dont hear from any of the other ones till end March now.

Guys, first of all, congratulations to all those who got the admission already. I am an LLM graduate from UChicago and currently I am back for my doctoral degree here, so you can say I am acquainted with the Law School, the University and this beautiful city. Here you have some ideas that may be helpful now that you have to start considering alternative admission offers.
1) Size: the program at Columbia is several times the size of the LLM class at UChicago. The Law School itself is smaller than Columbia's, and that means that you literally know everybody. This is not only good for networking and friendship reasons, but also because the School can offer a number of things that would be impossible to have in larger schools. Let me give you an example. I am taking, for the second time, a seminar for which I go to class to my professors' homes. In my case, I have been attending classes at Judge Richard Posner's and Martha Nussbaum's houses (there are many professors doing the same thing) with a group of no more than 14 students. Imagine drink a glass of wine while you discuss the readings. Therefore, the connection and proximity with professors and other students is simply amazing.
2) Faculty: Chicago has an amazing group of professors. I know the same can be said about Columbia and other top 10 schools, but depending on the subjects, Chicago is really strong. I am thinking about topics like Con Law, Comparative Law, Torts, Antitrust, Contracts, Public Choice, Judicial Behavior, and of course, it is the very cradle of Economic Analysis of Law (will discuss further). Professors like Posner, Easterbrook, Landes, Epstein, Baird, Picker, Ginsburg, to name just a few, are frontrunners in their respective fields, and in the case of those still in the bench at the 7th Circuit (Posner, Easterbrook and also Wood) they have re-shaped the legal landscape in the US with their widely cited decisions and rationale.
3) Law & Econ: I have to say that I am biased, because I love Economic Analysis of Law, but here at Chicago you will be getting a set of tools that will help you get a fresh and very useful approach to legal issues, without prejudice to whatever normative standpoints you already have. A good balance of classic courses and a couple of basic courses on Economic Analysis of Law will change the way you approach law to your benefit. And if you already have a background on Law & Econ, you can go for the more advanced courses both at the Law School and by registering at the Econ Department, a feature that works for all other schools within the University. I am taking courses the School of Public Policy, Econ and Social Sciences this year, and they are amazing. This year, we even got to see two professors being awarded the Nobel Prize, and got free drinks for it!
4) Cost: Living in Chicago is way cheaper than options like NYC. Before coming back to the Law School for my doctoral degree I was working at Skadden in NYC. Believe me when I tell you that the cost of living is close to one third. And the same goes in different proportions with respect to D.C., Boston, SF. Here in Chicago you don't need to buy a car. Public transportation works really well, and if you live within the Campus area, you have free transportation 24hs a day. Food is cheaper, utilities are cheaper. A good way to compare these things is by using this calculator by CNN. http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/ You can compare the cost of living in different cities. You will see what I mean.
5) Chicago: again, I am biased. I love classical music and architecture, and here I get to attend Chicago Symphony concerts, the best orchestra in the U.S., for just 15 dollars (student tickets), and I also get to live in the world capital for architecture. When you get to Chicago you realize why is that. The skyline, the lake, the river, everything is amazingly beautiful, even with the snow! You also have great blues and jazz clubs, really good theater, and the broadway shows that come here all the time. Add to the list the Chicago Bulls, the Bears and the current champions of the Hockey League, the Blackhawks, and the combo is complete.
OK, as you can see, I am really a fun of the city, the University and the Law School. But for a reason. Please feel free to ask me anything you need guys. And congratulations again for the admission.
Agustin

Thanks for the overview, Agustin!
I have to say you made Chicago Law School sound even more appealing than it already is! I cannot imagine how nice it would be to have a glass of wine with Professor Posner...
The choice remains difficult but your tips were very valuable!