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So i just got in off of the UNC waitlist and I'm having a tough time deciding between these two. I have instate tuition at UGA, and i'm guessing out of state all three years at unc. Has anyone got instate at UNC their 2nd and 3rd years after being OOS? Want to practice in the South or in DC. Like both Atlanta and Charlotte, yet dont really have a preference over one or the other. Have family and friends in both cities.

Seems like both schools have the same placement in big law and federal clerkships (roughly 30%?), so is the "UNC" name worth the extra tuition costs? Also does UNC give me a decent shot at DC? Thanks!

bta422 wrote:So i just got in off of the UNC waitlist and I'm having a tough time deciding between these two. I have instate tuition at UGA, and i'm guessing out of state all three years at unc. Has anyone got instate at UNC their 2nd and 3rd years after being OOS? Want to practice in the South or in DC. Like both Atlanta and Charlotte, yet dont really have a preference over one or the other. Have family and friends in both cities.

Seems like both schools have the same placement in big law and federal clerkships (roughly 30%?), so is the "UNC" name worth the extra tuition costs? Also does UNC give me a decent shot at DC? Thanks!

Full disclosure: I'm on the UNC waiting list.

However, as the schools are similarly ranked I can say with 100% sincerity that the cheaper option is the smarter option. Keep your debt down man.

It is very difficult to go from OOS to instate in NC for tuition purposes. Since they are comparable schools, go with the cheap instate tuition at UGA.

Full disclosure: I'm on the UNC waitlist but I'm instate so we aren't competing for a spot anyway due to UNC filling based on demographics.

So I should expect to pay OOS all three years? Ive seen in the reputation rankings of lawyers and judges UNC is like #20 whereas UGA is #40. Does this really matter or not?

bta422 wrote:So I should expect to pay OOS all three years? Ive seen in the reputation rankings of lawyers and judges UNC is like #20 whereas UGA is #40. Does this really matter or not?

UNC probably has a slight edge in NYC and DC, but that doesn't matter because both schools are dominated by the entire T14 + the schools ranked in between. So does the reputation matter? No, not at all--both schools are regional and both schools dominate their respective regions.

If you want to work in NC then take UNC. But if you want to work in the south and keep your debt down (this is what I would do) then take UGA.

Go to UGA because it's cheaper.

Ive seen in the reputation rankings of lawyers and judges UNC is like #20 whereas UGA is #40. Does this really matter or not?

It looks like 76.7% of Georgia grads stay in state compared to 55.7% of UNC grads. Since you don't mind staying in state for either, it looks like you'll need to weigh the greater portability of UNC (which is likely attributable at least in part to the reputation scores you cite above) with the $15,000/yr tuition at UGA.

I'd take the bargain.

bta422 wrote:So I should expect to pay OOS all three years? Ive seen in the reputation rankings of lawyers and judges UNC is like #20 whereas UGA is #40. Does this really matter or not?

From UNC's website: North Carolina law (G.S. 116-143.1) provides, "To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for 12 months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes."

Yes, you should expect to pay OOS for all three years. Talk to an admissions counselor at UNC if you'd like confirmation but they're going to tell you that due to the language of the law regarding instate tuition for UNC system schools it is going to be extremely difficult for you to gain residency while in law school.

If you would be happy working in either Atlanta or Charlotte, UGA is a no brainer. They're comparable in both cities with a slight edge in their states but the difference is not enough to offset the extra debt. UNC probably does have the edge in DC though.

UGA