Boston College vs. William & Mary

[mettasutta]

I received merit-based aid from both--$45K from BC and $30K from W&M; stipulations of good standing only. The total cost of attendance for W&M and BC will be $52,300 and an $69,400, respectively (I deducted merit-based aid from the schools, an outside scholarship, and expected familial contribution from the total cost of attendance as indicated on FuManChusco's awesome CoA thread--http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=151221). I hope to practice in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic. I have little desire for Big Law; I hope to do PI work focused on child advocacy/education law. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[dshirs32]

Tough choice...BC is certainly better for the NE, but WM is probably better for the Mid-Atlantic. Do you have connections to either region? If so, I would follow the connections. On the whole, however, I'd say BC. Best of luck with your decision!

[Aberzombie1892]

BC by far.

I think that should sum up this thread.

[jpSartre]

See my thread. I'm taking BC 105 CoA over WM 55 CoA but I don't want PERSONAL INJURY

[mettasutta]

Do you have connections to either region? If so, I would follow the connections.

I have significant ties to Philadelphia (lived ~20 years in the region, went to school there, full time WE w/ well-known non-profit, etc.) Temple would have been a decent choice, but thanks to the budget cuts to public universities in PA, they had no choice but to be stingy with merit aid this year.

[bk1]

Most legal work is in large cities, meaning that the largest centers that these schools would offer you in the northeast/midatlantic are NYC/Boston/DC/Philly/etc.

BC will have a definite edge in NYC/Boston. The only area that W&M may have going for it is DC, but DC is hyper competitive because everyone wants to work there and it doesn't have that many jobs (as opposed to NYC where everyone wants to work but does have plenty of jobs, relatively speaking).

Because of this, I say take BC because it will give you an edge in terms of legal markets where it would be easiest for you to find work.

And to anybody who says that W&M for the midatlantic... realize that midatlantic can mean NYC/Philly/etc too and that these are places where BC definitely has an edge (maybe not Philly so much).

I don't want PERSONAL INJURY

No need to get your panties in a bunch.

[jpSartre]

God you're insufferable.

[bk1]

God you're insufferable.

Oh the irony.

[mettasutta]

Thank you all for the input! I just handed in my deposit to BC yesterday.

[r6_philly]

Thank you all for the input! I just handed in my deposit to BC yesterday.

Yay! Best of luck!