American ($) vs. George Mason Forum
-
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:08 pm
American ($) vs. George Mason
American has offered me a small scholarship and as of now Mason has offered nothing.
I am leaning towards GMU because I like their law/economics program and get the idea that American is more for those interested in International law, but should I base it on that?
I would really appreciate anyone weighing in on this topic. I noticed that more firms come to American OCIs. As far as prestige in DC, what would you pick?
Please let me know what you feel I should consider while making this huge decision!
I am leaning towards GMU because I like their law/economics program and get the idea that American is more for those interested in International law, but should I base it on that?
I would really appreciate anyone weighing in on this topic. I noticed that more firms come to American OCIs. As far as prestige in DC, what would you pick?
Please let me know what you feel I should consider while making this huge decision!
- holydonkey
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Something to keep in mind. American's full-time tuition is $42,614, George Mason's out-of-state full-time tuition is $34,220. So Mason is over $25,000 cheaper at sticker. If American offered less than 25k, GMU is still cheaper.
- eagles86
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 5:39 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
George Mason is like the FOX News of law schools, without Bush and his cronies in the White House its not quite as good as some people on this site believe.
-
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:08 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Yeah, hopefully that is not the case. It seems like a pretty good school.eagles86 wrote:George Mason is like the FOX News of law schools, without Bush and his cronies in the White House its not quite as good as some people on this site believe.
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:36 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
GMU hands down. I went to American my first year PT before transferring upwards, the place is a diploma mill. As for the number of firms recall that American has double the number of students as GMU.lawlife2010 wrote:American has offered me a small scholarship and as of now Mason has offered nothing.
I am leaning towards GMU because I like their law/economics program and get the idea that American is more for those interested in International law, but should I base it on that?
I would really appreciate anyone weighing in on this topic. I noticed that more firms come to American OCIs. As far as prestige in DC, what would you pick?
Please let me know what you feel I should consider while making this huge decision!
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- truthypants
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:50 am
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
I can't speak for American, but Mason has an unconventional 1L curriculum. That is, you have to take an economics class and founder's constitution class (i.e., deals with federalist papers). In other words, if you weren't an econ major or poli-sci major, you are at a disadvantage going in, in terms of it you are gunning for top of the class. Mason has a lot of gunners, too. Also, a lot of people complain about the grading in the legal writing class at Mason (myself included) because it is graded by students and the grades are based on how well you do compared to a very small sample size rather than the class as a whole (the last project we did, the sample size was 4 total grades). I don't know how American's writing program is graded, so can't comment. I'd say go to whichever school you think you will be able to get the good grades at (i.e., if you were an econ major or have a ton of time to put into writing assignments, head to Mason).
- Rocketman11
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:32 am
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Removed everything that is ignorant from this statement for the OP's benefit.eagles86 wrote:[strike]George Mason is like the FOX News of law schools, without Bush and his cronies in the White House its not quite as good as some people on this site believe.[/strike]
- BigFatPanda
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:47 am
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
amenRocketman11 wrote:Removed everything that is ignorant from this statement for the OP's benefit.eagles86 wrote:[strike]George Mason is like the FOX News of law schools, without Bush and his cronies in the White House its not quite as good as some people on this site believe.[/strike]
- oberlin08
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:37 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
You mentioned OCIs so I assume you want to do biglaw or practice in a lawfirm? Then Choose American.
If youre going for Gov't however, I'd say GMU.
If youre going for Gov't however, I'd say GMU.
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:36 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Why would you prefer American for BigLaw? The only reason to go to American is if you want to make contacts in the public interest market.oberlin08 wrote:You mentioned OCIs so I assume you want to do biglaw or practice in a lawfirm? Then Choose American.
If youre going for Gov't however, I'd say GMU.
Last edited by digitalcntrl on Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:36 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
A more logical question would be if Mason saw a dip in the numbers (relative to other schools, I realize there is a recession going on) of students going to govt.Rocketman11 wrote:Removed everything that is ignorant from this statement for the OP's benefit.eagles86 wrote:[strike]George Mason is like the FOX News of law schools, without Bush and his cronies in the White House its not quite as good as some people on this site believe.[/strike]
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:36 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
A few comments on your comparison with American:truthypants wrote:I can't speak for American, but Mason has an unconventional 1L curriculum. That is, you have to take an economics class and founder's constitution class (i.e., deals with federalist papers). In other words, if you weren't an econ major or poli-sci major, you are at a disadvantage going in, in terms of it you are gunning for top of the class. Mason has a lot of gunners, too. Also, a lot of people complain about the grading in the legal writing class at Mason (myself included) because it is graded by students and the grades are based on how well you do compared to a very small sample size rather than the class as a whole (the last project we did, the sample size was 4 total grades). I don't know how American's writing program is graded, so can't comment. I'd say go to whichever school you think you will be able to get the good grades at (i.e., if you were an econ major or have a ton of time to put into writing assignments, head to Mason).
1. American has a conventional 1L course structure.
2. Every school has a lot of gunners.
3. Every schools legal writing course is a bitch time wise. This is well known and understood. American (and I am assuming many other schools) also splits you up and grades you in small groups of 8-10 (our appellate brief was done in groups of 2 with a total of 4 groups) since it is impossible to compare the score given by one adjunct to another and it impossible for one professor to grade all 95 briefs with a reasonable amount of time.
- truthypants
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:50 am
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Interesting. How do you define "public interest"? Are you talking cushy federal govt. jobs (i.e., maybe DOJ or something like the SEC)? Or are you talking like a crappy public defender gig for some state govt.? My impression from Mason is that they are more focused on govt. gigs (i.e. federal govt.). They have a federal govt. career fair at Mason (I think January or early Feb?) and a lot of the students (at least night section) work for the feds in some capacity. Is American focused on federal govt. work like that?digitalcntrl wrote:Why would you prefer American for BigLaw? The only reason to go to American is if you want to make contacts in the public interest market.oberlin08 wrote:You mentioned OCIs so I assume you want to do biglaw or practice in a lawfirm? Then Choose American.
If youre going for Gov't however, I'd say GMU.
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:36 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Public interest at American is more like doing human rights law or working for the poor, you know all that give back to humanity stuff. I guess the public defender's office could qualify but American does not focus on the govt per se. Many students at American have a very different mentality toward getting an great job than you or I. No wonder I transferred out of there.truthypants wrote:Interesting. How do you define "public interest"? Are you talking cushy federal govt. jobs (i.e., maybe DOJ or something like the SEC)? Or are you talking like a crappy public defender gig for some state govt.? My impression from Mason is that they are more focused on govt. gigs (i.e. federal govt.). They have a federal govt. career fair at Mason (I think January or early Feb?) and a lot of the students (at least night section) work for the feds in some capacity. Is American focused on federal govt. work like that?digitalcntrl wrote:Why would you prefer American for BigLaw? The only reason to go to American is if you want to make contacts in the public interest market.oberlin08 wrote:You mentioned OCIs so I assume you want to do biglaw or practice in a lawfirm? Then Choose American.
If youre going for Gov't however, I'd say GMU.
- daagermy1
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:00 pm
Re: American ($) vs. George Mason
Lawlife - I'm in the exact same predicament! Looking at the PT programs though.
Visited the ASE a few weeks back and very much got the public interest vibe from AU. Also AU tends to be a bit more liberal of a school, both undergrad and grad. Obviously bot Mason and AU have students from different ends of the spectrum, but, if it matters, AU is more left leaning and Mason more right.
Visited the ASE a few weeks back and very much got the public interest vibe from AU. Also AU tends to be a bit more liberal of a school, both undergrad and grad. Obviously bot Mason and AU have students from different ends of the spectrum, but, if it matters, AU is more left leaning and Mason more right.
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login