4.5 out of 5 Stars
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Excellent professors who actually know how to teach, and easy to get to know. Course sizes are larger than I was used to coming from a liberal arts college, but still quite manageable (and shrink considerably after 1L year). As an aspiring academic, I've had a ton of research opportunities, including RA work for two professors and two workshops taken for credit. The work is hard, but fair, and people are always willing to help each other out.
Quality of LifeCost of living is good. Hyde Park is definitively not good. Such are the trade offs of life.
AdmissionsI don't recall anything special about it in addition to the standard LSDAS material.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
Heavy on the socratic method. Real grading - i.e. gradation between and amongst students. 1L classes are about 90 in size. The faculty are outstanding. The approach is probably theoretical leaning.
AdmissionsOnly Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford,NYU and arguably Penn and Berkeley are more difficult to get into. You need excellent LSAT scores and very good grades.
Level1
Graduation Year2012
Absolutely more socratic method at U Chicago than at any other school. Our academics are much more rigorous than at other top-ten schools. Grading is on a steep curve.
Quality of LifeGreat facilities, bad neighborhood, high stress.
Level3
Graduation Year2010
Class is primarily theoretical; if you can get into one of the practical clinics, it will change your entire view of the school. I would love a study-abroad program but U of C is really hung up on their faculty (even though they all seem to be leaving).
AdmissionsThe financial aid opportunities are not great; I don't recall any particularly odd essay questions but the LSAT score is very high. They should really implement an interview process to cut down on some of the least socially adapted students.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
very competitive, not remotely practical for real world lawyering, dog**** curve that hurts far more than it helps.
Admissionsvery standard process. got a decent scholarship off the waitlist.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
The professors are amazingly accessible and well-versed in their fields, with a good selection of small seminars and interesting fields alongside the core classes. Even large classes are taught by the more renowned faculty. Classes tend to be very Socratic, though not mean-spirited. Competitiveness is low, mainly because nobody really knows what anyone else's grades are, so it's hard to tell where exactly you might be in the class.
Quality of LifeThe campus is beautiful, and very accessible from the law school. Cost of living in Hyde Park is reasonable and lower than most other places in Chicago. Dining options have improved since the new campus dining hall was installed right behind the law school, and it's become a semi-regular place to eat for both students and faculty. Crime is not as big a problem as it's made out to be; though going too far south of campus can be worrisome, there's not much reason to go there either.
AdmissionsI was waitlisted, and was offered the opportunity to submit an additional essay or additional recommendation letter after I was advised of my waitlist status.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
Most classes are small in size with a lot of opportunities for participation and Socratic interrogation. The faculty is small and elite, meaning that we get to work closely with renowned minds on a day-to-day basis. The balance of the work is theoretical; practically-oriented classes focus on federal law, rather than state law. There are many opportunities for independent study programs.
I think grading is fair and uninflated, but the system is peculiar enough that we can't really tell. It has all the obscuring effect of a pass/fail, but the pressure of letter grades. Students don't compete with each other or try to put each other down - everything's very good-natured in that dimension.
Quality of LifeThe campus is wonderful. Hyde Park is not. It's very dull and limited. Safety isn't a concern - Hyde Park isn't any less safe than any other city.
Chicago gets hideous in the winter.
Admissions...Well, I mean, it looked just like any other admissions process.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
heavy socratic method, small class sizes, high competitiveness, especially since grades are based on a numerical point method, not much chance to study abroad during the regular school year, but summers can be spent in law firms abroad.
Quality of Lifeneighborhood can be unsafe in the evening.
AdmissionsLSAT, GPA, relatively generic application question, focus on trying to attract a diverse student body.
Level2
Graduation Year2011
During 1L year, professors use the Socratic method almost exclusively, and they do it quite well. In upper level courses, there is a mix between Socratic, lecture, and "discussion" classes.
The grading system is successful in allowing students to differentiate themselves, but the system is so convoluted that some employers don't understand it.
The faculty are outstanding, and the classes tilt toward theory.
AdmissionsThe school does not ask unique application questions. I provided a personal statement, LSAT score, and 3 letters of recommendation. I obtained a partial scholarship, and I think such scholarships are widely available.
Level3
Graduation Year2010