Top Law Schools

At last! I can make this poll.

So barring an outside shot at William & Mary or U Washington, this shall be The Decision.

I haven't heard about scholarship from UConn yet (just got in this morning). I'm in-state, and the estimate for COA is high because I could possibly cut back on living expenses. I've lived in CT my whole life, and wouldn't mind ending up here, but I really really wanted to get away for a while. UConn is in the same place I went for undergrad, and close to my family and boyfriend's family. This could be nice, but when I think of the prospect, I feel a bit suffocated (like it won't be "my" place).

The pluses of UConn are New England/CT work, any "network" (a few family friends who are attorneys) that I have is in CT, and I'd have the support of my long term boyfriend, friends and family.

The minuses are that I really didn't want to go to school in CT again, especially not Hartford. The thought of being near a lot of extended family is sort of suffocating, and although I like CT, I'm not sold on it long term (cost of living is crazy high, for one thing). Also, I like Wake's clinical offerings better than UConn's.

As far as Wake goes, I have $22k/year, dependant on top 66% ( I keep half if I'm in bottom third).

Pluses are I liked the small feeling of the school and the good name that it has in the southeast. I know that going to Wake would potentially only land me a job in NC / southern VA / Georgia. I visited there recently and liked the people and facilities; additionally they have some clinical offerings I'm very interested in (Child Advocacy clinic, for one).

Minuses are that it's really far away, and I may never make it back to a climate where I can utilize my extensive variety of Patagonia fleeces. I'd be dealing with the stress of making a long term relationship into a long distance relationship, and if it turns out that I don't particularly like the Southeast, the degree isn't really portable back to the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic.

Now that I've been to Winston-Salem and Hartford, they are both pretty equal in terms of pluses and minuses. W-S isn't as much of a hole as H-ford, but I'd be living in West Hartford, which is adorable and has copious shopping/restaurants/etc.

I know a lot of this will depend on "where I want to live and work", and that's just a choice I will have to make. However, I'd love any input from anyone who's made this choice before, or who's decided (either way) to stay close to home or move far away.

As far as scholarships at UConn, the most I could possibly get is $20k total. So realistically, the prices aren't going to be that different no matter what.

Does WFU place well in Georgia ?

Questions you should be asking yourself:
What is the legal market like in Connecticut? Is there a legal market in Connecticut?
What is the legal market like in North Carolina? How oversaturated is the legal market in North Carolina?

edit: I am from NC, and Wake Forest places well there, although you probably have a better shot in Charlotte/WS than in Raleigh, as most people I know in the Raleigh area in the legal market were UNC grads.

CONGRATS girl!!!

CanadianWolf wrote:Does WFU place well in Georgia ?

I have heard that Wake places well in Northern GA. But that is just anecdotal. According to Wake's website, they have placed the most graduates from 2005-2009 in the following:

1. North Carolina
2. Georgia
3. Virginia
4. New York

However, the most of those by FAR is North Carolina.

I PM'd you a repost of something I put in the Wake Forest thread from last year about the pros and cons of WFU from a friend of mine who is now a 3L there.

Thanks, Bedsole. That was quite helpful.

I am concerned about Wake being third in its market, and UConn being in a geographic area so close to schools like BU/BC/Fordham (I doubt many UConn students and Yalies are duking it out over jobs) which may well outplace UConn even in Connecticut.

snapdragon wrote:Thanks, Bedsole. That was quite helpful.

I am concerned about Wake being third in its market, and UConn being in a geographic area so close to schools like BU/BC/Fordham (I doubt many UConn students and Yalies are duking it out over jobs) which may well outplace UConn even in Connecticut.

The other concern that I have about UConn is the small legal market in the state of Connecticut itself. I looked at a school in that area, and the market was terrifyingly small, although you may know something that I don't.

I'd go to Wake if you are comfortable ending up in NC.

I actually had this same decision last year, and am positive I made the right choice with wake. The objective numbers are slightly in Wake's favor, but this is really a subjective decision since COA will be about the same for both. For me, it came down to quality of life. Coming from the 'North' I was tired of crappy weather and high cost of living, and needed a change. Its nice to rent a 2bd apartment for 750, and have a week of 60 or 70 degrees and sunny in february. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Thanks for all the insight so far everyone... it's much appreciated. I'm looking forward to visiting UConn soon too.

I visited both. While there were a lot of factors involved, I just didn't get a good vibe from UConn. I really enjoyed the hell out of Wake Forest.

1) Winston-Salem is a hole.
2) You overestimate how respected WF is in NC.

If you want to work in the Triad/WNC WF is an ok school. Charlotte, Raleigh, and anywhere else in the state worth living it's UNC or nothing. Unless you want personal injury or criminal work. They are good for that.

dextermorgan wrote:1) Winston-Salem is a hole.

Haha, as far as this goes, you have not met Hartford CT. My dorm was robbed and my friends were mugged at gunpoint next to me in H-ford. Winston-Salem was not exactly paradise, but I can't, in good faith, recommend Hartford over it.

Thank you for the info about Wake, though. It's hard to judge from laypeople's responses to the school how well respected it is legally. Much appreciated.

idk how big a deal this is for you, you mentioned it, but for me the long distance relationship aspect would be a HUGE deal. I mean, that's really hard to do...

But if you two are sure you can be happy apart for 3 years, I'd take Wake over Uconn.

But you should go to GW.

androstan wrote:idk how big a deal this is for you, you mentioned it, but for me the long distance relationship aspect would be a HUGE deal. I mean, that's really hard to do...

But if you two are sure you can be happy apart for 3 years, I'd take Wake over Uconn.

But you should go to GW.

I waaaaant to go to GW. Like a little kid wants candy at the store. But the thought of the debt is just absolutely terrifying Are you pretty much set on it, Mr. IP SECURE?

snapdragon wrote:

androstan wrote:idk how big a deal this is for you, you mentioned it, but for me the long distance relationship aspect would be a HUGE deal. I mean, that's really hard to do...

But if you two are sure you can be happy apart for 3 years, I'd take Wake over Uconn.

But you should go to GW.

I waaaaant to go to GW. Like a little kid wants candy at the store. But the thought of the debt is just absolutely terrifying Are you pretty much set on it, Mr. IP SECURE?

Pretty much, but I'm not sure a BS Che MS Ch with a year of WE in chemical information tech and chemical hygeine is "IP SECURE".

androstan wrote:

snapdragon wrote:
I waaaaant to go to GW. Like a little kid wants candy at the store. But the thought of the debt is just absolutely terrifying Are you pretty much set on it, Mr. IP SECURE?

Pretty much, but I'm not sure a BS Che MS Ch with a year of WE in chemical information tech and chemical hygeine is "IP SECURE".

That was me posting after two glasses of wine. It gets a little bit sassier than normal kind.

I'm still running the numbers, hoping that somehow it comes out affordable.. we shall see.