Trying to Chose a School for DoJ Work

[Banosby]

I think I'm finally far enough along in the cycle to post this. I haven't heard from Stanford or Yale yet, but I'd be exceedingly surprised to get in at either, so I've got a fairly final list. As the title suggests, I'm looking to work at the DoJ after graduation. I understand that's a rather tall order at the moment, and probably will be in three years, so the back-up plans are working for state DoJs or similiar (preference for CA/MA/NY, in that order) or to try and clerk and transition into the USAO in one of those areas. Other than job prospects, location is immaterial; I'm just as happy in Ithaca as I am in L.A. or N.Y. I'll put a list of where I've been accepted and the estimated CoL at the bottom, and any advice would be appreciated. In addition to advocacy for (or against) certain schools, I'm particularly interested in any general input that people may have. For example, how much does prestige/rankings matter for this sort of government work? How useful is it to live in or close to D.C.?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cost of Living

Columbia: Unknown
NYU: Unknown
Georgetown: Unknown
Northwestern: Unknown
Cornell: Unknown
GW: $54,400 ($20,000 award)
Duke,: $43,270 ($25,000 award)
Vanderbilt: $40,146 (-$5,000 for one year) ($30,000 award)
U-Texas: $28,748 ($15,000 award and in-state tuition)
UCLA: -$9,800 ($45,000 award and tuition waver for years 2/3)

Waitlisted at UVA/Penn/Chicago/Berkeley/Michigan

[johansantana21]

Columbia, barring some $ from peer schools.