Visiting Students Letter
July 24, 2009
Welcome! We are looking forward to you joining our community in a couple short months as a visiting student. Now is a good time to think about some additional details before your arrival here at the University of Chicago Law School. In the summer months, we typically hear from incoming students with questions about administrative matters. This letter is meant to answer some of those questions. If you have other questions, this summer please feel welcome to contact either the Admissions office or the Dean of Students' office.
Orientation
We will hold two Orientation programs this fall, and you are more than welcome to participate in either or both. The Orientation for transfer students this year will take place on Friday, August 14th at 1:00 p.m. At the end of the day, we are planning an informal reception and bowling party with several 2L and 3L students who have volunteered to serve as mentors for those students. We will also have several sessions during the fall quarter, winter quarter, and spring quarter that will feature speakers from the Law School community, and you will be invited to those as well.
The Orientation for the Class of 2012 will take place from Wednesday, September 23rd to Friday, September 25th. A schedule will be available online shortly, and you are welcome to join us for any of the sessions that might be helpful to you.
Throughout the summer we will post updates on the Incoming JD Students section of the webpage regarding orientation, class schedules, and other matters of interest to new students. You should also start looking at the Student Handbook, which contains basic information about life and policies at the Law School. It is undergoing revision this summer, along with our other publications, but the information remains relatively constant from year to year.
Computer, CnetID, and University E-mail Account
The Law School requires students to use laptops for all of their Law School exams. Your student financial aid allocation can be increased by $1500 to cover the cost of a laptop purchase (or other computer equipment you may need). The computer allocation is NOT included in your initial financial aid package. Contact the Student Loan Administration (SLA), student-loans@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-6061, if you have any questions about financing your laptop. Our Director of Information Technology, Ted Ressell, has detailed the recommended configurations for your laptop in a memo located on the Incoming JD Students section of the webpage. Please do not hesitate to contact him directly at m-ressell@uchicago.edu if you have questions.
Also, you need to obtain your CNetID and University E-mail Account. All students are required to do this at the outset of their University of Chicago career. To obtain both of these items you can go to the CNET webpage. Next click on "Create your CNetID" and establish your e-mail account and directory password. Follow the instructions carefully. Please note that the CNetID serves as the basis for your official University e-mail address. Also, CNetIDs cannot be changed, so pick something that you will like for a long time and that can be used on your resume and in the Law School phone directory. Please claim your CNetID as soon as possible so that you will be included in the student directory. Do not share it, write it down, or save it on your computer. Please take care of this as soon as possible.
Tuition Billing, Policies, and Dates
Please look at the University Bursar's Office website, which contains information about tuition billing, policies, and dates that will be helpful during the 2009-2010 academic year. The total estimated tuition and fees for 2009-2010 is approximately $66,381. If you were awarded loans, you can find information on the Bursar's website about how those will be distributed. Bills will be mailed to your current address: please verify your current address prior to August 24, 2009. To verify or specify a different address for tuition bills, please go to the "Personal Information" section of the "Students" web area. Instructions on use of cMore are available there. (Note that you will need to have first claimed your University CNetID and established your password before you can proceed to verify or change any information on cMore; see directions above). The first Autumn bill is scheduled to be mailed on August 24, 2009 and payment is due on September 18, 2009. Please continue to update your address as it changes throughout your career at the University of Chicago. If you have any questions, please contact the Bursar's Office at (773) 702-7086 or by e-mail at bursar@listhost.uchicago.edu.
Official Transcripts
By August 28, 2009, please obtain an official transcript for each undergraduate and graduate degree you have received and send these to the Admissions Office, The University of Chicago Law School, 1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637. Your transcripts must show that a degree was awarded. The American Bar Association rules prohibit submission of an LSDAS transcript in lieu of an official copy. You will not be able to register for classes if your official transcript is not on file.
Parking
The University Parking Office manages campus parking lots and makes space available to incoming students, as space permits, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to apply for parking, please contact the University Parking Facilities Office or check on line http://facilities.uchicago.edu/transpparking for additional information.
If you are living in New Grad, you can apply for parking there. Instructions on obtaining a New Grad Parking permit will be enclosed with your New Grad information packet, which will be mailed to you by the Graduate Student Housing Office in August. New Grad parking spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If demand exceeds supply for the New Grad lot, they will try to place students in the Kimbark or Chapin lots if space permits. Questions about parking at New Grad should be directed to the Real Estate Operations Office at (773) 753-2200.
Free street parking is available around the Law School for those who arrive early. Most nearby spots are taken by 8:00 each day. The Law Lot (directly behind the Law School) is reserved parking, but it is open to all students beginning at 4:00 each afternoon (and all day on the weekend) so you have the option of parking on the street and moving your car into the lot for the evening if you will be at school late.
Student Profiles
We produce a background sheet to help the new members of our community get to know one another. The Class Profiles will be distributed at Orientation, and your information will be included along with the Transfer Student profiles. You can complete the incoming student profile sheet on-line. Please complete this form by August 14, 2009.
Registration for Fall Classes
Information about course registration will be available from our Registrar's Office in early August. Registration for the fall quarter will take place online in early September. If you would like to look at the course descriptions from classes offered last year, please look online at The Announcements (http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/announcements). Please keep in mind that course offerings and instructors may changes significantly from year to year, though many of the same courses are offered each year. Our student handbook (Section 1.8) contains some information about recommended classes for upper level students http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/handbook. Our Associate Director of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students will also be available in late August by appointment to answer individual questions about course selection.
Photos for the Glass Menagerie
Each year the Law School puts together a student/faculty facebook (a.k.a., The Glass Menagerie). The Menagerie includes a picture of each student in the Law School, information about home towns, schools attended, and degrees received. This information is obtained from your Student Profile form. The Menagerie is given to all students at Orientation and is provided to faculty, to employers interviewing at the Law School, to prospective students, and to alumni. Please send a recent photo of yourself. The photo should only feature you in the image. As you know, we have already been collecting these photos. If you haven't already sent them in please be sure that we receive them no later than August 1, 2009. We strongly prefer to receive a digital photo (300 dpi, if possible). Please send your digital image to glassmenagerie@law.uchicago.edu.
Immunizations and Student Health Services
As a University of Chicago student, you have access to excellent health care at the Student Care Center (SCC) and the Student Counseling and Resource Service (SCRS). The SCC and SCRS are part of the University of Chicago Hospitals, named one of the best hospitals in America. The Student Life Fee covers visits to the SCC and SCRS. Students who have chronic medical conditions should meet and establish a relationship with a primary care provider when they arrive on campus. To find out more about these services, visit http://scc.bsd.uchicago.edu/ or http://counseling.uchicago.edu/.
All students are required to have insurance coverage. You must either select the University-sponsored plan or show that you have comparable coverage. If you do not select the University-sponsored plan, please review your coverage carefully and familiarize yourself with your coverage including any restrictions, deductibles, and co-payments. Detailed information about obtaining a Health Insurance waiver is available on the University's website. Services other than visits to the SCC and SCRS are not covered by the Student Health Fee and will be billed to the patients and/or their insurance. This includes all laboratory testing, radiology, specialist visits, and emergency room care. Be sure to bring a copy of your insurance card with you to campus. More information regarding insurance is available here.
The State of Illinois requires entering students to provide proof of immunity to Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella (German measles), and Tetanus/Diphtheria. Proof of immunity varies from disease to disease. Carefully read the instructions on http://scc.uchicago.edu/pdf/immunizations_general.pdf. Have the form completed by a licensed provider and/or attach a copy of your childhood immunization record. This form needs to be completed by August 7, 2009. DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL IMMUNIZATION RECORDS. Return the immunization form to the immunization office as soon as possible:
University of Chicago Hospitals
Student Care Center Immunization Program
5841 South Maryland MC 3052/R100
Chicago, IL 60637
In accordance with the Illinois State Code, if you have not completed the immunization requirement by registration time for your second quarter at the University of Chicago, you will not be able to register. If you have questions about the immunization requirement or immunization form, you may call the Student Immunization Office, (773) 702-9975, during regular business hours or online at sccimm@uchospitals.edu.
You will receive a couple additional emails this summer which will include information about the class schedule (which will also be on the web). As you make your transition to the Law School, please feel free to contact us. We join the rest of the Law School community in looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you. In the interim, best wishes for an enjoyable summer!
Sincerely,
The Office of Admissions The Dean of Students Office
Ann Perry, Dean of Admissions Michele Richardson, Dean of Students
Jayme McKellop, Assistant Director of Maureen Sheehan, Associate Director
Admissions of Student Affairs
Sarah Arimoto-Mercer, Lisa Alvarez, Student Affairs Administrator
Director of Financial Aid
