GW vs. Hastings vs. Pepperdine vs. Loyola

[ryanp1000]

Hi everyone this is my first post on the board.... been a long time lurker since I started taking the LSAT a while ago. Anyways, I am in the midst of my cycle, but things are starting to clear up for me on my options. Here is my cycle so far:


GW- admitted (not sure on money yet, assuming not much if any at all)
Hastings- admitted (not sure on money yet, won't expect much)
Pepperdine- admitted 25k a year, must be top 1/3 of class
Loyola LA- admitted 29k a year, must be top 1/3 of class
Davis- haven't heard yet... likely admitted though
UCLA- haven't heard yet
USC- haven't heard yet
Berkeley- haven't heard yet
Georgetown- haven't heard yet

My stats are 3.85/163 so I am not getting my hopes up on any of the other schools I'm waiting to hear back from other than Davis. If I were to get into any of the other schools I applied to I would most likely attend, but assuming it came down to GW, hastings, pepperdine, loyola, or davis which one would you pick and why?

One caveat is that I really want to work here in Cali, most likely LA. In terms of ranking GW obviously is much higher than any of the other schools I have on my list, but if I want to practice law out here in Cali, would it be worth it to go to school out there? Or am I better off going to Hastings, or what about pepperdine or loyola because I want to work in LA and both schools have large alumni networks in LA?

I'm not sure about what sort of law I want to pursue... I've thought about going for IP law (minus the patenting, probably just the copyright and trademark stuff since I don't have the technical background for it!), but criminal law and entertainment law both are also appealing.


Thanks for all the help in advance!

[Hannibal]

I voted Davis because of the low COL, but Davis and Hastings are pretty much the same. Though since you're from here you could probably finagle I job here with a degree from GW. GW is really expensive though so it probably wouldn't be worth it if you're really dead set on California.

So basically I vote Hastings if you want to live in a city, Davis if you wanna live in a small town with a low COL.

[ryanp1000]

I voted Davis because of the low COL, but Davis and Hastings are pretty much the same. Though since you're from here you could probably finagle I job here with a degree from GW. GW is really expensive though so it probably wouldn't be worth it if you're really dead set on California.

So basically I vote Hastings if you want to live in a city, Davis if you wanna live in a small town with a low COL.

Thanks for the advice, I definitely am a big city kind of guy.... might go check out davis though since I never have been there really. I went to school across the bay in Berkeley so I kind of know what the SF city life is like.

[1ferret!]

I'd say probably Loyola given the money and location. I would say Pepp if you could get them to match, but honestly I'm a little surprised you got that much out of em being that your LSAT is at median. Hastings and Davis are gonna be too expensive for the amount of traction they would give you in LA, and GW isn't gonna give you nearly enough boost to pay sticker or endure the east coast.

[beaniew]

I vote Hastings! Hastings provides an amazing education in a cool place with down to earth people.

[rman1201]

Are you close enough to Davis or Hastings to stay at home?
The stipulations on Pepperdine/Loyola are unreasonable, ask to have them eased or removed and they might be better options.
For now the best choice would be UCLA/USC (if admitted), then Davis/Hastings based on personal preference, desire to work in that region.
GW shouldn't really be in the equation if you have your heart set on Cali, but if you've never been to the east coast I'd advise checking it out since it is a great school. Who knows, maybe you'll love it over here.

[Danteshek]

I think you should take the money and come to Loyola (where I am a 2L). The scholarship will provide flexibility that you won't have at Davis/Hastings. And you need to think about making long lasting contacts. There are not many Davis/Hastings grads in LA.

[sundance95]

GW out due to Cali preference. Pepperdine and Loyola out due to scholly stips. So, Davis v. Hastings...if you have to be in the Bay Area due to a preference for cities, then go w/Hastings, but otherwise Davis-you'll save thousands with the lower COL. There are literally thousands of Davis vs Hastings threads where their respective students troll hard for each-check them out.

[ryanp1000]

Are you close enough to Davis or Hastings to stay at home?
The stipulations on Pepperdine/Loyola are unreasonable, ask to have them eased or removed and they might be better options.
For now the best choice would be UCLA/USC (if admitted), then Davis/Hastings based on personal preference, desire to work in that region.
GW shouldn't really be in the equation if you have your heart set on Cali, but if you've never been to the east coast I'd advise checking it out since it is a great school. Who knows, maybe you'll love it over here.

I was born and raised in LA, I have been to DC twice and liked it a lot both times I was there. I am pretty sure I'll fly out to go check GW. In terms of landing a biglaw job in LA or Cali would GW have an advantage over the other schools?

[Hannibal]

Loyola does not budge on Scholly stips, fyi. If Pepperdine budges and makes it guaranteed, that is TCR. Though you should know you'll have to go to school with Gatriel.

[1ferret!]

Are you close enough to Davis or Hastings to stay at home?
The stipulations on Pepperdine/Loyola are unreasonable, ask to have them eased or removed and they might be better options.
For now the best choice would be UCLA/USC (if admitted), then Davis/Hastings based on personal preference, desire to work in that region.
GW shouldn't really be in the equation if you have your heart set on Cali, but if you've never been to the east coast I'd advise checking it out since it is a great school. Who knows, maybe you'll love it over here.

I was born and raised in LA, I have been to DC twice and liked it a lot both times I was there. I am pretty sure I'll fly out to go check GW. In terms of landing a biglaw job in LA or Cali would GW have an advantage over the other schools?

Doubtful. Probably do just as well with either of the UC schools if thats your concern.

[ryanp1000]

Loyola does not budge on Scholly stips, fyi. If Pepperdine budges and makes it guaranteed, that is TCR. Though you should know you'll have to go to school with Gatriel.

Haha is that a bad thing? What does TCR stand for by the way? I'm still picking up on some of the lingo around here.....

[sundance95]

I'm a California native who went GW UG. No one in California knows what that is. People often mistake it for Georgetown. Those in the law profession may be more aware of east coast schools, but since Californians consider California to be the center of the globe universe, it may not. Either way you should go to a school in California, IMO.

TCR=the credited response=the right answer

[ryanp1000]

I'm a California native who went GW UG. No one in California knows what that is. People often mistake it for Georgetown. Those in the law profession may be more aware of east coast schools, but since Californians consider California to be the center of the globe universe, it may not. Either way you should go to a school in California, IMO.

TCR=the credited response=the right answer

Ahh TCR makes a lot of sense now. Did you enjoy going to GW? How was the transition from CA to DC?

[sundance95]

Did you enjoy going to GW?

Definitely. There is a lot of opportunity in the DC area, especially if you are willing to hustle connections, network hard, and not take no for an answer.

How was the transition from CA to DC?

Not terrible. Everyone worries about winter when they come here from CA, but it's actually summer you should be worried about. It's miserable.

The transition back was much more difficult. Granted, I moved back in September 2008, right when the economy asploded. My wife was getting her master's at Berkeley and I couldn't find any work as a paralegal, or anything law related for that matter. GW didn't seem to have a ton of pull in the Bay Area at that time, but of course I'm talking about a UG degree so that's pretty much apples and oranges.

Now I'm back in DC (Northern VA actually) and will be going to UVA this fall. I'd love to head back to the Bay Area afterwards, but I have a feeling that the strength of my network here is going to keep me here; it'd be a pain to start over. That's why I'd caution you to think about whether you want to spend time here-once you get here, it can be hard to leave, and not because the quality of life is amazing like in CA.

[ryanp1000]

Did you enjoy going to GW?

Definitely. There is a lot of opportunity in the DC area, especially if you are willing to hustle connections, network hard, and not take no for an answer.

How was the transition from CA to DC?

Not terrible. Everyone worries about winter when they come here from CA, but it's actually summer you should be worried about. It's miserable.

The transition back was much more difficult. Granted, I moved back in September 2008, right when the economy asploded. My wife was getting her master's at Berkeley and I couldn't find any work as a paralegal, or anything law related for that matter. GW didn't seem to have a ton of pull in the Bay Area at that time, but of course I'm talking about a UG degree so that's pretty much apples and oranges.

Now I'm back in DC (Northern VA actually) and will be going to UVA this fall. I'd love to head back to the Bay Area afterwards, but I have a feeling that the strength of my network here is going to keep me here; it'd be a pain to start over. That's why I'd caution you to think about whether you want to spend time here-once you get here, it can be hard to leave, and not because the quality of life is amazing like in CA.

That's definitely something I'm worried about. I don't mind going away for a few years to get a degree so I can come back, but I just don't see myself as an east coaster for life. I am definitely feeling that trouble finding that post-grad legal job as well. No one is willing to hire a fresh college grad since they don't have any experience....

[Hannibal]

I'm a California native who went GW UG. No one in California knows what that is. People often mistake it for Georgetown. Those in the law profession may be more aware of east coast schools, but since Californians consider California to be the center of the globe universe, it may not. Either way you should go to a school in California, IMO.

TCR=the credited response=the right answer

I have stories of people not knowing about super prestigious East Coast schools here.

Columbia? NYU? Both community colleges in New York. University of Chicago? Community college in Chicago. As you said, GW = Georgetown, which is old and what is it anyway? Oh, Cornell? Ivy league. Awesome, probably top 3 along with the other two Ivy league schools, Harvard and Yale. Wait, that wouldn't leave room for Stanford which is probably the best school of all time possible. Michigan and Virginia are huge diploma mills, Duke only has Basketball players, Lacrosse players, and women who have sex with Lacrosse players. Northwestern is a tech school like DeVry.

[sundance95]

It doesn't help that several SF biglaw firms collapsed ITE. There's all kinds of career paralegals out there who are cutthroat for even entry level jerbs. Pretty much killed the recent grad paralegal gravy train.

[sundance95]

I'm a California native who went GW UG. No one in California knows what that is. People often mistake it for Georgetown. Those in the law profession may be more aware of east coast schools, but since Californians consider California to be the center of the globe universe, it may not. Either way you should go to a school in California, IMO.

TCR=the credited response=the right answer

I have stories of people not knowing about super prestigious East Coast schools here.

Columbia? NYU? Both community colleges in New York. University of Chicago? Community college in Chicago. As you said, GW = Georgetown, which is old and what is it anyway? Oh, Cornell? Ivy league. Awesome, probably top 3 along with the other two Ivy league schools, Harvard and Yale. Wait, that wouldn't leave room for Stanford which is probably the best school of all time possible. Michigan and Virginia are huge diploma mills, Duke only has Basketball players, Lacrosse players, and women who have sex with Lacrosse players. Northwestern is a tech school like DeVry.

QF truth + lulz

[Gleason]

I voted Davis. You want to work in Cali and it, along with Hastings, is the best school for Cali on the 'likely' or 'in' list.

And I don't care if you like big cities.

Obviously Berkeley/UCLA/USC would trump this a million times over.

[ryanp1000]

I voted Davis. You want to work in Cali and it, along with Hastings, is the best school for Cali on the 'likely' list.

And I don't care if you like big cities.

Obviously Berkeley/UCLA would trump this a million times over.

I can only hope and wish haha... but thank you for the objectivity. At the end of the day law school is only 3 years... where ever I gotta go to provide a better future and the best education is where I'm going to go.

[Gatriel]

I voted Pepperdine. Great penetration in the LA market, very, very high bar passage rate (higher than Hastings and Loyola). Come visit campus man.

[sundance95]

I voted Pepperdine. Great penetration in the LA market, very, very high bar passage rate (higher than Hastings and Loyola). Come visit campus man.

So......?

[ryanp1000]

I voted Pepperdine. Great penetration in the LA market, very, very high bar passage rate (higher than Hastings and Loyola). Come visit campus man.

Beautiful campus. I live 20 minutes away... I was there for the Condeleeza Rice lecture and am definitely going to check out the open house.

[Gatriel]

I voted Pepperdine. Great penetration in the LA market, very, very high bar passage rate (higher than Hastings and Loyola). Come visit campus man.

So......?

I mean . . . its really important. If we have a consistently higher bar passage rate than most other schools in Cali one would think we're equipping students to pass the Cali bar better than that of other schools. You kinda need to pass the bar.