Iowa

Well I'm out in Iowa for the weekend. I had hoped to visit the Pi Kappa Phi house at the University of Iowa, however I have been struggling to get a hold of any of the members down here. On the plus side I'm having a good time hanging out with buddies from home.

I visit the University of Iowa School of law. Like a few of the other law schools I have looked at, it appears as if everything you would ever need is located under one roof. I think that. An interesting thing about the school is that it is set up so that you can literally attend law school as if it is a full time job. There are personal study areas for non 1Ls and you can rent locker space. That have a dinning room and plenty of space to lounge around. It is really interestin how it is, in many ways set up for you to not leave.

I liked the lady I talked to, however the school seemed very competitive to me. I was reading a sylabus and it sounded more competitive than some other schools I have looked at. The message boards around the school had several references to "gunnars" and similar things.

I am excited about the fact that they are strong in two areas I feel I will probebally be weak in. First, I think I will struggle to make the adjustment and they offer weekly presentations on how to adjust to law school. Also, I feel as if I will be weakest in legal writting and they have several resources. Between Iowa and American I am sort of torn. I liked a lot of things about Iowa (including the location) but I didn't like how competitive it seems to be to make one of their journals, wheras at American it seems easier to get involved in journals and clinics. On other nice thing about Iowa is their promise that any interested person can become a RA and get in state tuition. I like this A TON.

I am torn. I would call my visit "good but not great."

Of the schools I have visited so far, I rank my experience:

1. George Washington
2. Iowa
2a. American University
3. University of Illinois
4. Northern Illinois
5. Southern Illinois

The more schools i visit the more I look forward to visiting more schools.

I'll update you on several things as they occur.