June Letter
Again, we would like to welcome you to the University of Chicago Law School. The next three years will be the most intellectually stimulating of your life. You will be joining a highly qualified and diverse student body. We hope to make your transition to the Law School as smooth as possible. Before you arrive on campus, there are some administrative matters to which you must attend and information you need. This letter will detail that information and answer a lot of questions. Please take time to read the entire letter. Many of these administrative matters can be taken care of online, which should make things easier.
Orientation and Registration
The school year will begin with Orientation, starting Monday, September 19, and ending Thursday, September 22, 2011. All classes will begin on Monday, September 26, 2011. During Orientation, we balance information sessions with social opportunities and leave you time to unpack at the end of the week. Between mailings, we will post updates regarding orientation, class schedules, and other matters of interest to new students on the Incoming JD Students webpage.
There is no need to worry about course registration. Later this summer, our law school registrar’s office will assign students to one of six small Bigelow sections and will register you automatically for all of your classes. You will receive your section assignment on Friday, September 16. Please don’t worry about this now.
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) at student-loans@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-6061, if you have any questions about financing your laptop. Our Director of Information Technology, Ted Ressell, will detail the recommended configurations for your laptop in a memo that will be attached to the July letter. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact him directly at m-ressell@uchicago.edu.
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 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 do this as soon as possible and no later than July 15, 2011.
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 2011-2012 academic year. The total estimated tuition and fees for 2011-2012 is approximately $70,890 (this does not include the optional $1500 for computer purchase or the one time $50 transcript fee). 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 22, 2011. 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 22, 2011 and payment is due on September 16, 2011. 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 26, 2011, 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 their website for additional information.
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 weekends) 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 members of your class get to know one another. The Class Profiles will be distributed at Orientation. Please complete the online incoming student profile sheet by July 15, 2011.
Photos for the Glass Menagerie
Please provide a print or a high-quality digital photo, preferably a jpeg. You’ll know the photo quality is good enough if the file size is at least 200 KB. Photos straight from the digital camera work best; photos copied from websites like Facebook or those taken with cell phones generally have low quality and won’t work. When selecting a photo, try to find one that doesn’t show another person’s arm around your shoulders or anything else that may be visible when the photo is cropped to a tight headshot. Also, please keep in mind that this book will be used heavily by your professors and potential employers. Please send your digital image to glassmenagerie@law.uchicago.edu no later than 5pm on Friday, July 1.
Immunizations and Student Health Services
As a University of Chicago student, you have access to 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/ orhttp://counseling.uchicago.edu/.
All students are required to have insurance coverage. You must either select the University-sponsored plan or demonstrate that you have comparable coverage. If you do not select the University-sponsored plan, please review your coverage carefully and familiarize yourself with the details, 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 15, 2011. 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 contact the Student Immunization Office at (773) 702-9975, during regular business hours, or online at sccimm@uchospitals.edu.
You will receive additional emails this summer detailing the orientation schedule and other important information.
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 Office of the Dean of Students
(773) 702-9484 (773) 702-3164