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Social Life Survey |
| Full-time law program |
The Thursday evening bar review is a big deal for 1L's. Don't miss the
first few bar reviews. Also, be sure to show up for the Halloween party
at the Gamma House, which is the law school fraternity house.
The "fraternity" isn't much, but the first couple parties they throw
are well-attended.
There is limited interaction between upper level students and 1L's.
Some students will have families, or be married to their books, but a
number of students are very social. Most sections organize as smaller
social groups. Expect most of your friends to come from the section in
which you are placed. People are pretty laid back here, and competition
is fairly muted. People want to win, but they want to win "Minnesota
nice." The only time things get a little rough is during interviewing
season in the Fall. People who are succeeding tend to feel good, while
people who are not tend to be a little bitter. It isn't a major issue,
however.
As mentioned, many people have families or long-term relationships.
Don't expect to make this your own private singles scene. A word of
caution: you will be the subject of much gossip if you become
a "player." Don't do it. If you want one-night stands, do it outside
the law school. This place can become a middle school when it comes to
social pressures. Word will get around, and people here tend to be
conservative when it comes to behavior (liberal in politics, however).
As for the city itself, Minneapolis is an amazing place to live -
expect for the winter. You'll get used to that, however. There are lots
of cultural opportunities, and it is about as nice as a fairly large
city can be. Don't come here expecting NYC, LA, D.C., San Francisco,
Miami, or Chicago. It isn't that. This is not the city that never
sleeps. It is more likely the city that went to bed early. But that
doesn't mean you can't have fun. It just means you shouldn't come here
expecting the ultimate "scene." Many of the "hippest" bars are pale
imitations of what people think LA and NYC bars are like. Skip Mell's
Beauty Bar and go for the down-market set like Nye's.
Around the school, if you need a night of reliving your Greek days,
then head to Grandma's (a popular lunch option during the day). Just
don't look at anyone's "girl" for too long. No need to show up for Con
Law with bruises. For a quieter drink close to the school, Town Hall is
a very popular option. During the nicer days of the year, it has a very
popular outdoor area.
The restaurant scene here is mediocre. Vegans and vegetarians will have
few options unless they cook for themselves (Ecopolitan is a raw food
restaurant, but it is not very good. Good Earth is more organic than
vegetarian, but it is about as good as you will get. There are some
other co-op places, but quality is mixed.) There are few truly great
upscale restaurants, but that should rarely be a concern for poor law
students. As for lunch spots in between classes, walking-distance
options are extremely limited. If you want a quick bite, and you eat
meat, Chipotle is a hugely popular choice. The burritos are pretty good
and you will see the Chipotle brown bag as a staple around the school.
The Wienery is one option - if you don't care about health codes.
Another popular option is trying to pick up free pizza from the myriad
extracurricular activities during the lunch hour. Don't worry about
feeling guilty - they openly use the pizza to ramp up attendance.
Life at Minnesota is pretty good. The people are friendly, and the
competition is low. You'll be too busy to worry about the cold for long.
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University of Minnesota Law School Admission & Application Surveys
