We encourage first year students to live in Hyde Park. Because of the hours you will spend at the Law School, living within ten to fifteen minutes is highly desirable. Typically 80% of first-year students choose to live in Hyde Park, with the remainder usually living on the North side of Chicago.

Within Hyde Park, there are several options, including a dormitory, University-owned apartments, or private apartment buildings. The following is a summary of these options, as well as a few search tips for looking 'up North'. Please note that the information is by no means an endorsement of any particular building or neighborhood, we encourage you to come to Chicago and see the choices for yourself!

University Housing: Student housing at the University is varied and plentiful. University housing opportunities are described at the University Housing Site. In recent years, all entering law students who have requested University housing before June 1 have been accommodated. The Admissions Office sends University housing applications to all admitted applicants when the materials become available in late March. Applicants admitted after that date will have housing application materials included with the letter of admission. Admitted applicants who are uncertain about their housing needs, or whether they will be attending Chicago, are urged, nevertheless, to begin the housing application process as soon as they receive the application.

Room assignments in New Grad are sent out in July. Assignments in University apartment buildings are made one month before the requested move in date.

New Graduate Residence Hall: Many first-year Law School students live in the New Graduate Residence Hall (New Grad), a former conference center two blocks east of the Law School. It has a capacity for about 125 graduate students, 50 of which are usually first-year law students. The accommodations are mostly single rooms with private baths. The building provides a 24-hour reception desk, study and meeting rooms, computer rooms, music practice rooms, laundry and exercise facilities, as well as a cable-TV room, a game room, a House lounge, and a community kitchen where residents may prepare their own meals. The approximate room rate for 2006-2007 is $7,280 or $8,835 for a single or a super-single respectively. A single room with shared bath is available at $6,740. These prices include all utilities except long-distance phone and cable TV.

Neighborhood Student Apartments: The University owns and operates more than 1,100 apartments in twenty-nine buildings for the housing of graduate students. There are furnished and unfurnished units ranging from one to six and one-half rooms. The 2006-2007 rates for furnished apartments are from $505 to $965 monthly; those for unfurnished are from $585 to $1,225 monthly. Apartments are rented on a twelve-month basis, but special arrangements can be made to terminate the lease as of the first day of an academic quarter. Heat and water are included in all rents. Inclusion of gas and electricity varies by building, although they are included in the rent payment for most furnished apartments.

Meal Service: Law students can purchase a meal plan served in the Burton-Judson dining halls next to the Law School. Contracts consist of a number of meals served per quarter plus Flex Dollars, which can be used to purchase meals in the dining halls or around campus. Last year's maximum contract providedup to 187 meals per quarter at a cost of $4419 for the year. Other packages are available and can be used in any of the four residential dining halls including International House. Further information, meal plans, and 2006-07 pricing can be obtained at the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing.

Private Housing

Alternatives to University Housing (This list is only meant to be informative. The Law School does not endorse any particular building and/or neighborhood.)

Large Apartment Buildings:

Regents Park, 5020 S. Lake Shore Dr. (773) 288-5050. www.regentsparkchicago.com

• Studios, 1 BR, 2 BR, and 3 BR apartments are available.
• Regents is very modern. Many students move out of New Grad and into Regents. Regents has a 24 hour doorman, in-building parking, a dry cleaner, a supermarket, a gym with an indoor swimming pool (costs extra), a restaurant, a conference room and a garden. Beautiful views of the Lake and park. Many Chicago graduate students and professors live here.
• Regents also offers a special discounted Law School Student Package. Contact a Leasing Agent at 773-288-5050 for details.

Hyde Park Tower, 5140 S. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 752-5140 or www.aimco.com

• 1 BR, 2 BR, and 3 BR apartments are available.
• Hyde Park Tower is across from Regents. It is one of the newer apartment complexes - and like many buildings built in the past two decades, it has lots of windows and light. It has a 24 hour doorman, in-building parking, a gym and a recreation room. Beautiful views of the Lake and park.

Windermere House, 1642 E. 56th St. (773) 643-1500.

• Studios, 1 BR, 2 BR, and 3 BR apartments are available.
• Windermere has old-world charm. The apartments tend to be big with quaint features like built-in closets. Complex features: controlled access, courtyard, fitness center, high rise, laundry room, storage, parking across the street, restaurant. Closer to school than Regents and Hyde Park Tower. Views of the Museum and a Park.

Other Hyde Park Options:

MAC Property Management manages several apartment buildings in Hyde Park including Blackwood Apartments, 5200 S. Blackstone Ave. All apartments are recently rehapbbed with new kitchens (inlcuding dishwashers) and baths. (773) 548-5077 or www.macapartments.com.

The Algonquin, 1606 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 324-1213. This hi-rise is right around the corner from the popular Regents Park building.

Twin Towers,  1649 E. 50th St. (773) 684-2333.

Flamingo, 5500 S. Shore Dr. (773) 752-3800. Vintage hi-rise with views of the Lake, pool, fitness center, free parking, restaurant, 24 hour lobby attendant. Studios and 1 BRs, furnished and unfurnished, short and long term. A limited number of Chicago law students live here.

Madison Park Apartments 1380 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 536-4300. Modern, clean apartments include air conditioning and kitchens with dishwashers. Controlled access. Some students live here.

Poinsettia 5528 S. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 363-7500. Vintage hi-rise with views of the Lake. Studios, 1 BR and 2 BRs. Historic building listed on the National Historic Registry. The University of Chicago buses stop right near by. A limited number of students live here.

"Living Up North"

Many students choose to live on the northside of Chicago, especially in their second and third years. Housing in Chicago is plentiful (compared to San Francisco, New York, DC or Boston). Popular neighborhoods are Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, and the Gold Coast. Driving to campus ranges from 20 to 40 minutes, while the train takes from 30 to 50 minutes.

On line resources are great for finding apartments on the north side of Chicago. Many students find their apartment through the Chicago Reader's spacefinder. Other on-line sources include, www.chicagotribune.com, www.rent.com, and www.apartments.com.

Students may also work with real estate agents. Typically, agents in Chicago do not charge a fee. For students who want to live in a high rise, the larger buildings provide onsite representatives who show the apartment to visitors. Pick up an apartment guide while visiting downtown Chicago or visit one of the many online websites.

Finally, current students and our admitted student bulletin board are great sources of information!