update on law school
I haven’t written about law school in a while now. This is mostly because there hadn’t been anything to say about it until last week, and even this news is, well, hardly earth-shattering. Nevertheless, I am Law School Ninja, so here’s the obligatory update.
I got a big admissions packet in the mail from NSOL (Ninja School of Law) last week. It contains information about the dates for orientation in August, housing, parking, etc. Since I’m a scholarship recipient, in lieu of making a second seat deposit of $1000 by June 1, I just have to sign a piece of paper indicating that I intend to matriculate and accept their money. Said piece of paper will be mailed tomorrow.
I don’t know if this is standard procedure everywhere, but at NSOL they divide you into sections and assign you a schedule. This will be mailed in July, according to my packet, and I’m convinced that my schedule will be the one with an 8:00 class five days a week. Also, the packet says that the schedule we’re given in July may change, so we should wait to buy books until orientation in August. This is giving me heartburn. What if I want to order my books from some cheap online source? I’ll probably just take my chances and buy books early.
Next source of stress: financial aid. I’m getting a scholarship, for which I’m eternally grateful, but I still have to borrow a little bit of money for living expenses, books, and supplies. I got a notice from NSOL about my financial aid award, but it shows that I’m eligible for the full $20,500 in Stafford loans. I thought this amount was supposed to be reduced by the amount of my scholarship? Maybe they’re just behind, but it’s been like this for 3 weeks now and I’ve already talked to the financial aid office once to no avail. I’ve never borrowed money for school before and I’m SO confused. 
Finally, I’m getting ready to start reading Law School Confidential. After that, it’s on to Getting to Maybe. I’ve heard mixed reviews from current law school students on these books, but I bought them and I’m going to read them. I’ll post more in-depth comments on each book as I get through them.
>>they divide you into sections and assign you a schedule.
Done for ALL first year law students everywhere, as far as I can tell.
>>Don’t buy books bullshit
They pulled this shit on me at my school too. I’d get the deals online anyway. Worst case scenario is you have to return one or two of them and eat the shipping costs.
>> Stafford Loans
Nope, what they’ve done is right.
>>Books
Terrible.
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I’ve read Law School Confidential and recommend it for general advice.
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*sections – butterflyfish is right – I’ve never heard of a school that DOESN’T do that. I remember that I really wanted to know and it made waiting hard. They didn’t email us, we had to go to the bookstore where a sheet was posted, thankfully one of our future gunners went on behalf of the pre-law crew who hung out before orientation, took a picture of the list and posted it on facebook for us all
Yes, our 1L class (and then each section) had facebook groups. It was a good way to get to know each other! (these were student started, not law school)
*LSC and GTM – I have them both sitting on my shelf and I never made it farther than halfway on either. LSC is good if you’re bored and want a general overview of the entire experience. I think GTM is more useful when you’ve started school since it’s mostly about exams.
I’m glad you @’ed me on Twitter, because I think your blog is fab! Love the header…
Enjoy your summer!
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