UncleBill:
Oh yeah? Well, I got put on probation, took a semester off, had to reapply to get back in, got accepted, and promptly flunked out again! So there! And my Duke Alumni card says class of '95… 
(Boy, I was young back then.)
I concede to the master. But seriously, the list of law schools is damned good, and getting a choice, Wow. Must have been one hell of a poem.
Congratulations, Gadarene! Good choices all. Even Michigan, which is hard to say as a proud graduate of Dickinson Law (back before Penn State swallowed them up). G’town is a nice school, and if you like DC it’s heaven. A colleague of mine went to Georgetown and loved it. All of your choices are definitely fine schools and wherever you go, I’m sure you’ll do well.
Whatever your choice, remember these three points:
(1) Always sit in the middle of the room. That way you don’t get a rep as one of the suck-ups in the front row and you won’t get harassed by the profs for being a backbencher.
(2) Buy your outlines used from a second-year who had the professors you have now. That way all the important stuff is already highlighted. Besides that you might make a friend who’ll pass along some useful tips and tricks.
(3) Make sure you schedule at least two hours per day of downtime. Watch TV, read the paper, go for a walk, do something which doesn’t involve copious amounts of brainpower for a while before you go to bed. You’ll be stressed enough the first year. Don’t wind yourself up any more than you have to.
Congratulations and good luck!
Zappo
Gadarene,
I think my friend loves it up there. She’s born and bred in the Northern part of the US so she’s quite used to the cold. As far as studying, she’s one of the most studious people I know, but how she fairs academically is a mystery to me.
Zappo: Very valuable advice, made even more valuable by its patent dissimilarity with Dinsdale’s advice on the other thread. Thanks much.
Ender: You reminded me–male/female ratio at Michigan, 55/45 male. Male/female ration at Georgetown, 54/46 female. Advantage Georgetown. Rrrowr.
WTG, Gad! I’m sending you bail money now, just to hold until I need it, 'kay?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! breathe AHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!
Yep, two hours of downtime every day is a great idea. But I predict you’ll just be surprised how quickly “downtime” includes things like sleeping and showering.
But xeno, I’m not planning on becoming a litigat–coughcough
Um.
…I’ll give you my mailing address.
Let us know when you know the details, and we’ll throw a Dopefest for you!
Here are the details: I will be in D.C. at the end of March for a Georgetown preview weekend, with the expectation that I meet the both of you.
No, really–their open house is being held Friday, March 30; I’ll find out more about it as the day approaches. I think a Dopefest that weekend would be truly awesome.
(Anyone play poker? Heh heh…)
Hey! I’m not a suck-up! :
: My friends and I sit in the front whenever we can. Some of the professors speak very softly and it’s the only way we can hear them. (BTW: it’s also a great way to get under the prof’s radar. Especially if you sit at the end of the row. :))
Definitely get the course outlines. I’ve found Emmanuels (sp?) to be fantastic. I owe my A in Con Law to that book.
More good advice. In my first year a TA recommended taking off an entire day each week if you can manage it. Absolutely no studying for a 24-hour period. I’ve tried to follow that all through law school (no books on Saturdays) and it’s a great stress reliever. If you have a full day off you feel a little better about studying during the rest of the week.
I have to get to class now. Congratulations, Gadarene, and good luck in law school! 