One of my favorite things about being back at my alma mater and working in the Admissions Office is receiving feedback from people that visit the Law School. Some of these people take advantage of our Open Houses held earlier this fall, others visit on any random day, and still others drop in and take advantage of our great self-tour authored (and narrated!) by current law students. The most common refrain I hear is what a great, collegial and close-knit community we have and how impressive the classroom experience is here. As an alum these come as no surprise to me as my peers and the interactive classroom environment were two of the best parts of my law school experience. Rather than repeat our own sentiments about the Law School, we thought we would share some of the feedback we've received this fall from our visitors. Once again we encourage you to visit the Law School and experience for yourself what a unique place U of C is.
"From the point of entrance into the building, I felt very welcomed and accepted by the students and staff. I had the opportunity to sit in on the Elements of the Law lecture and the Property lecture for 1L students. While sitting in on these class, I noticed how the professors engage the students in their lectures by using the Socratic Method.
I also noticed that the professors had no problem spending time outside of the class with the students to ensure that they understood the lesson. This eased some tension because it shows me that the professors put a lot of effort into bettering their students and ensuring that students get the most out of their education at the University of Chicago Law School. During this visit, I also had the opportunity to talk to students about the current experiences as a law student ... I identified with some students due to shar[ed] similar interests, but others also due to them entering academia from the workforce. Initially, I was fearful that the transition would be extremely difficulty one; however, your students showed me that it can be done with perseverance and the support given by the University staff. Overall, this visit has solidified The University of Chicago Law School as my first choice."
"I found the tour highly valuable as I gained first-hand experience of Chicago Law. I enjoyed interacting with faculty, staff and students very much. ... I was impressed with both the research that Chicago Law students undertake and the clinical practice opportunities available. During the course of the tour, I found the arrangement of the relevant resources for legal research and studying lends to a unique synergy, which I believe contributes to the excellence of Chicago Law. My visit has confirmed my belief that Chicago Law is my top choice."
"I enjoyed [attending a Open House] thoroughly and was extremely impressed by your faculty, staff, students and campus. ... Now that I have visited [the Law School] and have had the opportunity to learn from Professor Strahilevitz during his class on Property, I am genuinely enthusiastic at the possibility of attending [U of C]."
"Coming from Utah, you can imagine that I do not get a chance to take part in may open house events at pretigious law schools such as [U of C] ... Chicago's students were welcoming ... [and] our class with Professor Strahelivitz genuinely gave me confirm and stoked my law interest anew."
Hopefully these comments "from the horse's mouth" will help give you a sense of the indelible impression the Law School leaves. We encourage and look forward to visits. Beginning on January 8, 2008, we will begin daily student-led tours of the Law School everyday at noon. If you are planning to visit the Law School and contact the Admissions Office a few days advance notice, our fabulous Student Admissions Committee can sometimes pair you with a student day host with whom you can attend class and talk about his or her experience at the Law School. And, of course, you are always welcome to drop by the Law School at any time and explore on your own, sit in on a class and chat informally with students. One of our newest ways to tour the Law School -- from home or as you walk the halls of the buidling -- is download the fabulous student-authored and narrated audio or video tours to your own digital player. If you forget yours don't worry -- we have some here too! Stop by the D'Angelo Law Library with a photo ID you can borrow one of our video iPods to use while you stroll the halls. One important reminder as you plan your visit -- our academic calendar operates on the quarter system which means you should target your visits during January and February in order to interact with our students and sit in on classes.
For those of you can't make it to Chicago, you can also always take advantage of the Law School's audio tour