Carbondale, IL (Chicago, Springfield, Murphysboro: real estate, apartments, power lines)

[CrazyHorsePete]

I have been accepted to SIU Carbondale School of Law. After reading several threads about the Carbondale area, Carbondale appears to be a very nice area. I am very strongly considering matriculating, as it appears to offer a great legal education at a low price. I am able to pay Illinois resident tuition after only one semester. I have lived in the midwest all my life. Is there anyone who lives in the area and can provide feedback? Cost of living appears to be fairly inexpensive. Does the law school have a good reputation in Illinois? Thanks a lot!

[BLS2753]

It doesn't have the reputation of U of IL or Northwestern, but I don't think there's anything negative associated with graduating from there.

As long as you're going for an education, and don't expect much in the way of urban amenities from the surrounding communities, you'll be alright.

Cost of living is about as low as it gets in the midwest.

[hamiltonra25]

I went to SIU for one year to get my degree in mass comm, but transfered to a college in wisconsin for a finance degree. The area is beautiful. The law school is located by the older fraternities and sororities. Carbondale is nice, but its somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. Youre about 30 minutes west of I-57 with that being said you will drive through marion which is not much and then hit carbondale. You will like the town itself, but there wont be much that you can drive to outside of C-dale. However cities like nashville and others are about 1 and a half away. Decent football and basketball team so you can be at a game (free) if you choose to. The student center is the largest in the state, (maybe nation?) A forest in the middle of the campus, several times i walked to class and a deer was not more than 10 ft away. The law school does not have a stellar reputation but its tough with John Marshall and Nwestern being in the same state. Carbondale doesnt really provide you with chicago winters which is fairly nice. Its typically around 40-45 and gets scorching hot in the summer. I personally like T-storms and they can brew them up pretty good down there. Overall SIU is a wonderful campus, with great people. I wish you the best of luck, congrats on being a saluki!

[CrazyHorsePete]

Thanks so much for the responses! They help a lot!

[linicx]

The truth is if you put your nose in the books, participate in moot court if you have the opportunity, clerk during the summer, and graduate SCL your employer will be thrilled. On rhe other hand if your GPA is 3 or lower, you could be a Rhodes Scholar and no one will notice. You'll either be a very good lawyer and live the good life, or an average lawyer that doesn't win many appeals.

One of my best friends is a small town criminal attormey. He nevel loses on appeal. Many a time he said he much prefers realestate and speeding tickets. So I say why you do what you like? Unless I work for a Wall Street firm - which I obviouly don't - I can't. In a little town there isn't enough real estate and personal estates to support a one person office and secretary. .

[Badday]

You might want to rethink the cost of living, apartments are expensive in Carbondale. If you have a wealthy family who can foot your housing bill, or maybe school assistance can help. Small apartments can run 150 dollars to 200 and more per week. Shop around for housing, and if you don't mind driving check out MArion Illinois or Murphysboro Illinois. Around 20 miles away, might find housing cheaper.

[BLS2753]

Originally Posted by Badday

You might want to rethink the cost of living, apartments are expensive in Carbondale. If you have a wealthy family who can foot your housing bill, or maybe school assistance can help. Small apartments can run 150 dollars to 200 and more per week. Shop around for housing, and if you don't mind driving check out MArion Illinois or Murphysboro Illinois. Around 20 miles away, might find housing cheaper.

Your apartment rates are way off. Decent 1 bedroom's run $300-400 a month. For the prices you're stating, one could get a nice duplex or townhouse.

And I don't know anyone charging by the week, unless it's a motel room.

[laidoffreporter]

You should consider living in the dorms. Wait! I'm not talking about the undergrad dorms. These are reserved for law school and grad students only, they are located right next to the law school (parking is an ongoing horrible nightmare. When I was a TA, I had students who drove to campus three or four hours before class started in order to get a space), are quiet, and all rooms are single. I've never lived there, but I had classmates who did. I think (sorry, not positive) that the law school has its own library, and from what I know about law school (okay, not too much) that's where you'll spend an incredible percentage of your time. You won't have a lot of time to shop, cook, clean an apt or house. This way, you'll have a meal card (actually, you can buy one even if you don't live in the dorms, come to think of it) which will enable you to eat in a wide variety of venues all over campus. You can roll out of bed, get your breakfast, even a sack lunch to go, and stroll a block to class. But if you're interested, contact the SIU housing office ASAP - the economy has created a much bigger demand for the dorms than was previously the case. (No, I don't work for the SIU housing office, I promise!
I think SIU's reputation has really grown. The late Senator Paul Simon ended up teaching there, and used his impressive national connections to bring some heavy hitters to campus through a think tank, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute - it has a strong relationship with the law school. Simon's daughter teaches at the law school now. Too many law school graduates seem to hang around Carbondale - the main East/West drag is packed with little law firms. The town isn't big enough to support that many lawyers. But my impression is that there are plenty of grads doing just fine in Springfield, Chicago, St. Louis, etc. And they, like all law school alums, are prone to hiring SIU grads. I think you'll do just fine. And not to reveal my own liberal political views - but there's always public interest law! Not much money, but, hey, as we liberal arts majors know all too well, money isn't everything.

[At1WithNature]

I used to live in carbondale. even attended SIU. can't you tell by that last "sentence?" anyways, it is a beautiful area. however, jackson county's residents (about) 60%, have received "government assistance" at one time or another. it's a deprived area. however, $300 to $400 G's will get you a mansion. a real one and not the "mcmansion" variety. they have some haunted areas around there too...nice distance to st. louis. you get paducah, kentucky television though. and if you are a bears fan, be forewarned. you're obviously going to get the Rams games and they suck. oh yeah, be aware of the ice storms. sure, they make the trees look pretty but they totally mess up the power lines, traffic, etc.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by hamiltonra25

I went to SIU for one year to get my degree in mass comm, but transfered to a college in wisconsin for a finance degree. The area is beautiful. The law school is located by the older fraternities and sororities. Carbondale is nice, but its somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. Youre about 30 minutes west of I-57 with that being said you will drive through marion which is not much and then hit carbondale. You will like the town itself, but there wont be much that you can drive to outside of C-dale. However cities like nashville and others are about 1 and a half away. Decent football and basketball team so you can be at a game (free) if you choose to. The student center is the largest in the state, (maybe nation?) A forest in the middle of the campus, several times i walked to class and a deer was not more than 10 ft away. The law school does not have a stellar reputation but its tough with John Marshall and Nwestern being in the same state. Carbondale doesnt really provide you with chicago winters which is fairly nice. Its typically around 40-45 and gets scorching hot in the summer. I personally like T-storms and they can brew them up pretty good down there. Overall SIU is a wonderful campus, with great people. I wish you the best of luck, congrats on being a saluki!

I just came across your post here. You are right on for the most part. Winter temps down there can get fairly cold just not for long.

The main thing you said: Nashville 1 and a half hours away???

St. Louis is the closest big city and that is about 2 hrs away.