BU/Davis or Wait out T-14 WL Forum

[bernadette1]

So my cycle so far is as follows

BU- with 35kyr
BC-with 28k yr
UNC-with 20kyr
UC Davis- with ~25k yr
Georgetown-WL (non preferred)
Duke-WL
USC- still waiting

BU is my top choice so far. I loved Boston and the campus, and they are offering a nice amount of aid. I honestly wouldn't mind living in Boston or NYC at all, however I am a SoCal native and it would be nice to have some way of getting back here one day. I'm still waiting on USC and if accepted, I might not be able to turn it down (tuition would be significantly cheaper). I'm not 100% of what I want to do but I am leaning toward something in PI.

So i'm just looking for some feedback. I've loved what I've seen and heard about BU but is it worth passing up (the possibility) of higher ranked schools, or should I just wait it out for the t-14?

[forty-two]

I would stay on the waitlists, but that is an excellent offer from BU. If you like the school and would be happy staying in Boston/the NE and don't get into anything better, then I don't think it's a bad choice at all. I'd ask the school to put you in touch with some alums in SoCal to see how hard it is to find a job there though.

[Slevin Kelevra 2011]

Don't go to BU if you want to end up on the west coast. Vice versa for Davis and working on the east coast. Pick where you would rather work and attend a school in that area.

[bk1]

If you're comfortable with a slim (say 10-20% shot at coming back to CA) right after graduation or moving after a few years of Boston/NYC, I don't think BU is that bad. I also think 25k/year at Davis is a good choice (even for SoCal) and might even pick it over USC at sticker if I wanted LA.

Best of all options: decide between BU/Davis now, start studying for a retake in June, ride out the waitlists, decide whether you want to reapply pending your June LSAT.

[Cupidity]

The few friend I have here at BU who want to go to California have been successful, but I'm basing that on four or five well qualified students. I think the 10% figure is somewhat deceptive when you consider the West Coast is not a target market for us. At the end of the day, BU is a better degree than Davis for less money. I'd take my chances here.

[bernadette1]

thanks for all the input guys, i really appreciate it!!

I think I'll wait it out on the waitlists (for a bit at least) even though im pretty in love with BU. I honestly would love to live in the Boston or NYC area after graduation. I just didn't want to completely shut myself out of the California market in case I changed my mind and wanted to come back home one day. I talked to a few alums at a Socal reception the other day and they all said around the same thing, that a job in Cali is possible, you just have to work harder at it.

I'm going to visit davis next week so i'll see how I like it, but as of right now BU is my top choice.

[dakatz]

Def BU. Duke and GULC aren't worth sticker price anyway, and especially not when compared with 105K from BU.

[alexonfyre]

Def BU. Duke and GULC aren't worth sticker price anyway, and especially not when compared with 105K from BU.

False.

[dakatz]

Def BU. Duke and GULC aren't worth sticker price anyway, and especially not when compared with 105K from BU.

False.

Says the 0L, but thanks for playing

[flexityflex86]

I'd take 35k to BU over GT and Duke. I did hear a story, though, of a guy who did not make partner presumably because he "only" went to BU. However, I am not sure how long ago this took place.

[dakatz]

I'd take 35k to BU over GT and Duke. I did hear a story, though, of a guy who did not make partner presumably because he "only" went to BU. However, I am not sure how long ago this took place.

I really doubt firms would hire you in the first place if they were troubled by where you went to school. Sure, there are firms that won't hire from anything but T10 schools. They wouldn't hire someone who is "only" a BU student. But once you are hired, how you progress would be almost entirely tied to your work product and ability to bring in business. Much as your LSAT becomes irrelevant once you receive law school grades, your law school pedigree becomes far less relevant once you have tangible work output at your firm.

[flexityflex86]

I'd take 35k to BU over GT and Duke. I did hear a story, though, of a guy who did not make partner presumably because he "only" went to BU. However, I am not sure how long ago this took place.

I really doubt firms would hire you in the first place if they were troubled by where you went to school. Sure, there are firms that won't hire from anything but T10 schools. They wouldn't hire someone who is "only" a BU student. But once you are hired, how you progress would be almost entirely tied to your work product and ability to bring in business. Much as your LSAT becomes irrelevant once you receive law school grades, your law school pedigree becomes far less relevant once you have tangible work output at your firm.

I can see them maybe saying, "This person is good at law, we like their personality, but we can't have BU on our list of partners." I can basically see them thinking one is good enough to practice for them, but not good enough to be a partner based off of something like this, because they aren't in their elite little club. My issue is, I do not think GT and Duke are exactly "elite." If OP had guaranteed placement in such a firm regardless, I'd advise GT or Duke, but s/he does not as these schools are not a "sure" bet for Big Law. However, I do not think there'd be a HUGE difference between these two bottom t-14, and BU in terms of mid-level placement unless OP wants to practice outside of New England.

[dakatz]

I'd take 35k to BU over GT and Duke. I did hear a story, though, of a guy who did not make partner presumably because he "only" went to BU. However, I am not sure how long ago this took place.

I really doubt firms would hire you in the first place if they were troubled by where you went to school. Sure, there are firms that won't hire from anything but T10 schools. They wouldn't hire someone who is "only" a BU student. But once you are hired, how you progress would be almost entirely tied to your work product and ability to bring in business. Much as your LSAT becomes irrelevant once you receive law school grades, your law school pedigree becomes far less relevant once you have tangible work output at your firm.

I can see them maybe saying, "This person is good at law, we like their personality, but we can't have BU on our list of partners." I can basically see them thinking one is good enough to practice for them, but not good enough to be a partner based off of something like this, because they aren't in their elite little club. My issue is, I do not think GT and Duke are exactly "elite." If OP had guaranteed placement in such a firm regardless, I'd advise GT or Duke, but s/he does not as these schools are not a "sure" bet for Big Law. However, I do not think there'd be a HUGE difference between these two bottom t-14, and BU in terms of mid-level placement unless OP wants to practice outside of New England.

First of all, OP said he/she is leaning toward PI work, so most of this wouldn't even apply. And second of all, I find it highly questionable. I talked to a number of people in large firms from a number of schools. They said that they are able to sort of tailor their progression based on their goals and are usually given very honest feedback along the way (i.e. what are chances of making partner based on what I have done thus far). I really doubt a firm would spring that sentiment on you out of the blue after years of hard work that would otherwise be deserving of partnership.

[flexityflex86]

I'd take 35k to BU over GT and Duke. I did hear a story, though, of a guy who did not make partner presumably because he "only" went to BU. However, I am not sure how long ago this took place.

I really doubt firms would hire you in the first place if they were troubled by where you went to school. Sure, there are firms that won't hire from anything but T10 schools. They wouldn't hire someone who is "only" a BU student. But once you are hired, how you progress would be almost entirely tied to your work product and ability to bring in business. Much as your LSAT becomes irrelevant once you receive law school grades, your law school pedigree becomes far less relevant once you have tangible work output at your firm.

I can see them maybe saying, "This person is good at law, we like their personality, but we can't have BU on our list of partners." I can basically see them thinking one is good enough to practice for them, but not good enough to be a partner based off of something like this, because they aren't in their elite little club. My issue is, I do not think GT and Duke are exactly "elite." If OP had guaranteed placement in such a firm regardless, I'd advise GT or Duke, but s/he does not as these schools are not a "sure" bet for Big Law. However, I do not think there'd be a HUGE difference between these two bottom t-14, and BU in terms of mid-level placement unless OP wants to practice outside of New England.

First of all, OP said he/she is leaning toward PI work, so most of this wouldn't even apply. And second of all, I find it highly questionable. I talked to a number of people in large firms from a number of schools. They said that they are able to sort of tailor their progression based on their goals and are usually given very honest feedback along the way (i.e. what are chances of making partner based on what I have done thus far). I really doubt a firm would spring that sentiment on you out of the blue after years of hard work that would otherwise be deserving of partnership.

Well, I did hear this from a young professional I live with who has a few friends much older than me who are practicing. It's very likely his friend used BU as a cop out to explain he wasn't a good lawyer much like a fat guy might use his weight to explain why he messed it up with some girl when in actuality he just has no game.

[Blindmelon]

Someone saying they didn't make partner because they went to BU is obviously lying. Making partner is about bringing clients and money in. Look at top firms, and you won't be super impressed with where partners went to school.

[Metaread]

Davis is out, esp if BU is offering a better scholly. Davis seems rather stingy with schollies, I personally didn't get any money offered. Oh well.

[80884]

1 Vote for Davis.

1. in state + $$
2. Good Chance for Cal, even So-Cal (far better than BU)
3. LRAP at Davis is super-good for PI !!! very important
4. Class Rank (I bet you would rank better at Davis)

[bk1]

4. Class Rank (I bet you would rank better at Davis)

This is a foolish assumption to make.

[Metaread]

1 Vote for Davis.

1. in state + $$
2. Good Chance for Cal, even So-Cal (far better than BU)
3. LRAP at Davis is super-good for PI !!! very important
4. Class Rank (I bet you would rank better at Davis)

I honestly don't see how Davis would be better than BU, unless the OP really wants to go to Cali over BU (as a school, which he/she appears to like a lot). Davis' recent and rapid rise in rankings is somewhat suspicious, many people think it's because they gamed their employment stats. They have ok employment prospects, not as good as BU's in my opinion.

[ndirish2010]

BU all the way. There is no way in hell I would take GULC at sticker over BU w/105K. Duke is a closer call, but still a no-go.

[bernadette1]

thanks for all the feedback guys. i really appreciate it!