URGENT HELP - Vanderbilt vs UC Davis ??!?!? Forum

[WhatToDooo]

Totally outing myself, but, I just got in to Vanderbilt off the wait list.

I want to practice in CA. I also want to go to the best law school I can, for personal reasons, and Vanderbilt is it both in terms of rankings and reputation. It was my top choice during the process of applying after everything I read about the school.

With only a few days left I would have to move across the country.

UC Davis - significant scholarship - read...a bit more than half of tuition/fees.
Vandy - $7K

I don't know what I want to do when I graduate. I'm open to clerkships, pub interest, big law, whatever so long as I enjoy what I'm doing and helping others in some fashion.

As the name says.... what to do????

edit - I also signed a lease that I am now seeing if I can get out of at Davis...if I can't that may make this decision a whole lot easier...

[romothesavior]

I love Vandy, but UC Davis is the better school for you. You're looking at 150-160k in debt at Vandy and you want to practice in Cali.

[najumobi]

Totally outing myself, but, I just got in to Vanderbilt off the wait list.

I want to practice in CA. I also want to go to the best law school I can, for personal reasons, and Vanderbilt is it both in terms of rankings and reputation. It was my top choice during the process of applying after everything I read about the school.

With only a few days left I would have to move across the country.

UC Davis - significant scholarship - read...a bit more than half of tuition/fees.
Vandy - $7K

I don't know what I want to do when I graduate. I'm open to clerkships, pub interest, big law, whatever so long as I enjoy what I'm doing and helping others in some fashion.

As the name says.... what to do????

edit - I also signed a lease that I am now seeing if I can get out of at Davis...if I can't that may make this decision a whole lot easier...

is there a gpa requiremnt for your davis scholly?

[WhatToDooo]

Totally outing myself, but, I just got in to Vanderbilt off the wait list.

I want to practice in CA. I also want to go to the best law school I can, for personal reasons, and Vanderbilt is it both in terms of rankings and reputation. It was my top choice during the process of applying after everything I read about the school.

With only a few days left I would have to move across the country.

UC Davis - significant scholarship - read...a bit more than half of tuition/fees.
Vandy - $7K

I don't know what I want to do when I graduate. I'm open to clerkships, pub interest, big law, whatever so long as I enjoy what I'm doing and helping others in some fashion.

As the name says.... what to do????

edit - I also signed a lease that I am now seeing if I can get out of at Davis...if I can't that may make this decision a whole lot easier...

is there a gpa requiremnt for your davis scholly?

no, remain in good standing

[yo!]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

[bk1]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

[romothesavior]

What will the cost difference be? ~60k by my estimates, is that right?

[WhatToDooo]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

What about LA?

[lawman2010]

Vandy competes better in SoCal against UCLA, USD, etc.

[WhatToDooo]

What will the cost difference be? ~60k by my estimates, is that right?

If you take into account that the UCs will again be raising fees the next two years, it's probably less than 60 but who knows what the actual amount is. The amount Davis raised fees this year is more than what was discussed in their mtgs/the pdf someone posted here a while back

[yo!]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

What about LA?

I'm just an 0L, so I can't really tell you. UCD really tried to hype up their SoCal presence at the ASD, but I didn't really buy it. I'd suspect that Vandy vs. Davis in LA would be a wash. In which case, I'd still go to Davis for the cheaper price. Anywhere else, I'd choose Vandy.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that you shouldn't take my advice too seriously because I really don't know anything that you don't. However, FWIW, I choose Davis becase I knew that I wanted to stay in NorCal. I would suggest that you think long and hard about where you want to end up.

[WhatToDooo]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

What about LA?

I'm just an 0L, so I can't really tell you. UCD really tried to hype up their SoCal presence at the ASD, but I didn't really buy it. I'd suspect that Vandy vs. Davis in LA would be a wash. In which case, I'd still go to Davis for the cheaper price. Anywhere else, I'd choose Vandy.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that you shouldn't take my advice too seriously because I really don't know anything that you don't. However, FWIW, I choose Davis becase I knew that I wanted to stay in NorCal. I would suggest that you think long and hard about where you want to end up.

SoCal is my end goal, no question.

[Grizz]

Leaving for Vandy tomorrow.

But I think Davis.

Vandy isn't worth the money given your career goals.

[yo!]

If you REALLY know for SURE that you want to end up in CA, I'd choose Davis. Moving across the country and paying a lot more may actually be worth it if you want a little bit more portability(you'll probably never work on the East coast coming from Davis). But I'd say for Northern CA at least, UCD>Vandy.

What about LA?

I'm just an 0L, so I can't really tell you. UCD really tried to hype up their SoCal presence at the ASD, but I didn't really buy it. I'd suspect that Vandy vs. Davis in LA would be a wash. In which case, I'd still go to Davis for the cheaper price. Anywhere else, I'd choose Vandy.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that you shouldn't take my advice too seriously because I really don't know anything that you don't. However, FWIW, I choose Davis becase I knew that I wanted to stay in NorCal. I would suggest that you think long and hard about where you want to end up.

SoCal is my end goal, no question.

Then, IMO, it's just a question of how much the cost difference is, and whether you are willing to take out the extra loans.

[WhatToDooo]

Still waiting to hear back from landlord to see if they'll let me out of it....

I shouldn't have put that poll. I'm guessing people on both waitlists are voting one way or another

[neimanmarxist]

If I were in your situation, the question I would be asking myself is this:

If it were March, and I had just been admitted to both Vanderbilt and Davis with the same amounts of money that I have been awarded now, which school would I choose to attend?

Personally, I wouldn't let six months' rent come between me and the school that I ultimately thought would be best for my career/ aims. But that's just me. Also, can you look into finding a subletter? All kinds of people make arrangements to come to campus at the last minute. Some landlords are really cool and just take on the subletter as tenant.

[lawman2010]

If I get the call today from Davis I may be interested in your lease. Is it a one bedroom?

[sibley]

Davis, for the reasons the other posters mention. Knowing you got into Vanderbilt with some money can give you some satisfaction without having to accept their offer.

[WhatToDooo]

Out of curiosity, since Vandy doesn't rank students (minus that top 20% Dean's List/10% Coif) does that make it far less competitive than Davis would be?

[bk1]

Out of curiosity, since Vandy doesn't rank students (minus that top 20% Dean's List/10% Coif) does that make it far less competitive than Davis would be?

I would doubt far less. ITE, I would assume everywhere is super competitive.

[Grizz]

Out of curiosity, since Vandy doesn't rank students (minus that top 20% Dean's List/10% Coif) does that make it far less competitive than Davis would be?

I would doubt far less. ITE, I would assume everywhere is super competitive.

People I've talked to at Vandy have stressed that barely anyone appears outwardly competitive. Not sure how much good that advice does you.

[bk1]

People I've talked to at Vandy have stressed that barely anyone appears outwardly competitive. Not sure how much good that advice does you.

Brings up a good point as to whether the OP meant an atmosphere of competitiveness or the actual relative chances of doing well.

[WhatToDooo]

People I've talked to at Vandy have stressed that barely anyone appears outwardly competitive. Not sure how much good that advice does you.

Brings up a good point as to whether the OP meant an atmosphere of competitiveness or the actual relative chances of doing well.

A little of both I guess. I would say that just based off of numbers, clearly Vandy is going to be more difficult to crack the upper percentages. But, in terms of atmosphere what are the people like? I did not get to meet any students prior to this. I visisted once for less than a day.

[WhatToDooo]

So here's a question...

Lets say I throw out the coming back to CA requirement right out of school. Would anyone's opinion change then?

[Informative]

Go to a UC school if you want to practice in Cali. You won't find many southerners loyal enough to Vandy to hire a grad from that school unless you have top grades. You may get lucky at Davis if you don't make the T10-15%. If you're top 10-15% at either, you'll be fine. You just may have more luck in Cali from the lower part of the class from Davis.