BU vs. BC Forum

[cinephile]

coin flip

[stillwater]

BC just seems like a great law school. It would be a great decision for anyone to attend such a school at sticker.

This must have been sarcasm.

judging by DaRascal's history, no.

[gatorfan163287]

Visited both schools the past 2 days while up doing BU's preview day. My choice without a doubt based on feel and campus alone is BU. It's in a better location in my opinion actually being in Boston and not outside the city and shouldn't even be considered Boston itself. Academically I feel they are comparative with BU maybe having more of a national reach especially into NYC vs BC.

TL;DR go to whichever is cheaper or if you like the city and living in the city go to BU and opposite for BC

[elm84dr]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

[BCLS]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

BU troll. BU is on the outer fringe of Boston. It is not downtown Boston for sure. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get from BU Central to Park Street on the T. Admittedly, it takes longer to get downtown for clinics/jobs from BC, but it is easily doable.

Second, if by national reach you mean BU places more students in CA that is true. I'm not sure anyone would call either BC or BU "national". I'm not sure how much of the CA placement is self-selection.

I definitely disagree that BU's courses and professors are "far superior" to BC's. I'm not sure how you are measuring this.

Additionally, you guys hired back 20% of your class! That's insane. BC didn't have to do this

BU is such a numbers whore school.

I also have a bunch of friends at BU who are absolutely miserable and anecdotally inform me of how competitive you guys are. That's why I love BC-- it's a great community.

[elm84dr]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

BU troll. BU is on the outer fringe of Boston. It is not downtown Boston for sure. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get from BU Central to Park Street on the T. Admittedly, it takes longer to get downtown for clinics/jobs from BC, but it is easily doable.

Second, if by national reach you mean BU places more students in CA that is true. I'm not sure anyone would call either BC or BU "national". I'm not sure how much of the CA placement is self-selection.

I definitely disagree that BU's courses and professors are "far superior" to BC's. I'm not sure how you are measuring this.

Additionally, you guys hired back 20% of your class! That's insane. BC didn't have to do this

Not a BU troll, although I concede it could have come off like that. When I go from the tower to downtown, it takes about fifteen-twenty minutes. If in a cab, 10 minutes.

Self-selection matters. With all those alum in California and agencies & firms that hire them---they become more likely to hire BU people in the future.

You did not respond to the professor ratings on Princeton Review, and the course selection catalog. Please look at the BU course selection and professor rating before you dismiss the point.

We hire 20% of the class, which I think assures people not to have resume gaps and are given experience. They are decent paying JD jobs, they are not paying people $10 an hour. Regardless, BC does also hire people to work at the school.

[colonelnerd]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

These are all really good points, thanks for weighing in.

Do you think BU's reputation IN Boston is the same as BC's though? Several of my professors are lawyers (both at small firms) and they universally recommend that I go to BC over BU.

Also, if you check every single firm (other than goodwin) website, BC outnumbers BU. Is this just self-selection? I've heard that BC grads really look out for their own--that their alumni network is practically a cult. Do you think BU's network here in Boston is comparable?

[BCLS]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

BU troll. BU is on the outer fringe of Boston. It is not downtown Boston for sure. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get from BU Central to Park Street on the T. Admittedly, it takes longer to get downtown for clinics/jobs from BC, but it is easily doable.

Second, if by national reach you mean BU places more students in CA that is true. I'm not sure anyone would call either BC or BU "national". I'm not sure how much of the CA placement is self-selection.

I definitely disagree that BU's courses and professors are "far superior" to BC's. I'm not sure how you are measuring this.

Additionally, you guys hired back 20% of your class! That's insane. BC didn't have to do this

Not a BU troll, although I concede it could have come off like that. When I go from the tower to downtown, it takes about fifteen-twenty minutes. If in a cab, 10 minutes.

Self-selection matters. With all those alum in California and agencies & firms that hire them---they become more likely to hire BU people in the future.

You did not respond to the professor ratings on Princeton Review, and the course selection catalog. Please look at the BU course selection and professor rating before you dismiss the point.

We hire 20% of the class, which I think assures people not to have resume gaps and are given experience. They are decent paying JD jobs, they are not paying people $10 an hour. Regardless, BC does also hire people to work at the school.

Sure BC hires a small percentage to work at its Legal Assistance Bureau; but it's not 1/5 of the class! I think this highlights the strength of BC-- both schools have almost identical big law placement numbers but BC didn't hire back as many of its graduates (because it didn't have to).

Second, Princeton review and also US News rankings are a joke. I don't think scoring higher on the Princeton professor scale makes BU's professors "vastly superior" to BC's.

Finally, no one takes cabs downtown except for interviews because they are expensive. It't about a 20-25 min cab ride from BC. The T, as we both know, on the green line on comm ave has 100 stops and its easily taken me 25 min (maybe even 30-35) to get downtown from BU Central.

What I'm saying with the self-selection point is that a lot of BC students don't want to work in CA. If CA is your goal, maybe BU is slightly better for that location. Although, let me tell you, neither school is particularly great for CA. I'll give BU the edge with this point.

[BCLS]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

These are all really good points, thanks for weighing in.

Do you think BU's reputation IN Boston is the same as BC's though? Several of my professors are lawyers (both at small firms) and they universally recommend that I go to BC over BU.

Also, if you check every single firm (other than goodwin) website, BC outnumbers BU. Is this just self-selection? I've heard that BC grads really look out for their own--that their alumni network is practically a cult. Do you think BU's network here in Boston is comparable?

BC absolutely has the better reputation in Boston. I think part of it has to do with the undergrad institutions. BU is the safety school for BC in undergrad.

Our alum network is incredibly strong.

[AllTheLawz]

Neither one is a great option in Boston or nationally. This is especially true now since Boston SA class sizes are expected to be on the small side for the foreseeable future and, contrary to popular belief, a significant number of HLS students stay in Boston plus a fair number of Yale and Columbia students come in as well. Go to the one that is cheaper and I wouldn't recommend either at sticker.

[BCLS]

Neither one is a great option in Boston or nationally. This is especially true now since Boston SA class sizes are expected to be on the small side for the foreseeable future and, contrary to popular belief, a significant number of HLS students stay in Boston plus a fair number of Yale and Columbia students come in as well. Go to the one that is cheaper and I wouldn't recommend either at sticker.

Definitely don't go to either at sticker! I was fortunate and get a decent scholarship/help from parents so I was able to take a nice small firm "dream" job.

[elm84dr]

Neither one is a great option in Boston or nationally. This is especially true now since Boston SA class sizes are expected to be on the small side for the foreseeable future and, contrary to popular belief, a significant number of HLS students stay in Boston plus a fair number of Yale and Columbia students come in as well. Go to the one that is cheaper and I wouldn't recommend either at sticker.

Definitely don't go to either at sticker! I was fortunate and get a decent scholarship/help from parents so I was able to take a nice small firm "dream" job.

I would echo neither at sticker. I would say and reveal, I went to BC undergrad, and BC undergrad>BU undergrad. BU Law=BC Law for reputation in Boston.

The reason the Boston firms have more BC is because more BU people end up in NY and CA firms than people from BC. Look at the ABA 2012 Report. BC had 116 hires in MA, 22 in NY, 20 in D.C., 3 in foreign countries. BU had 110 hires in MA, 33 in NY, 27 in CA, and 5 in foreign countries.

I think the statement that neither BU/BC are great options in Boston is probably misinformation at best, an outright lie at worst. If you are saying Duke.UVA/Penn/Mich people have a better shot at Boston firms than BU/BC people, I think that statement could be debatable---obviously there are much more BU/BC alums in Boston which leads to more being hired in Boston. Also, outside the top 14, no school has a fragment of a chance at the Boston market that BU/BC have.

[DoveBodyWash]

BC absolutely has the better reputation in Boston. I think part of it has to do with the undergrad institutions. BU is the safety school for BC in undergrad.

Our alum network is incredibly strong.

+100

[Kalinda]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

These are all really good points, thanks for weighing in.

Do you think BU's reputation IN Boston is the same as BC's though? Several of my professors are lawyers (both at small firms) and they universally recommend that I go to BC over BU.

Also, if you check every single firm (other than goodwin) website, BC outnumbers BU. Is this just self-selection? I've heard that BC grads really look out for their own--that their alumni network is practically a cult. Do you think BU's network here in Boston is comparable?

BC absolutely has the better reputation in Boston. I think part of it has to do with the undergrad institutions. BU is the safety school for BC in undergrad.

Our alum network is incredibly strong.

As a Boston native (who worked and has lived on both the West Coast and Midwest the last few years), I agree with this statement. Boston people love BC. Whether its due to undergrad sports or simply because BC Law is a "better" school (which I don't think is the case), BC holds a prestige edge over BU (I understand prestige is stretching it) to the people who live in the area. Moving outside of Boston though, BU has an edge. Both of these schools are considered strong regional schools in my opinion, UNLESS you have ties to another market. If you can see yourself in Boston, and would be happy working here, I would visit both and see which one I liked best because both will have an equal shot at Boston firms. BC alumni network is strong, but not strong enough to make a significant difference between the two. When I went to college on the West Coast, I was fairly surprised about how highly regarded BU was considered since I had grown up in Boston and grew up thinking BC was just a step down from Harvard.

Do you have any scholarship money at either?

[elm84dr]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

These are all really good points, thanks for weighing in.

Do you think BU's reputation IN Boston is the same as BC's though? Several of my professors are lawyers (both at small firms) and they universally recommend that I go to BC over BU.

Also, if you check every single firm (other than goodwin) website, BC outnumbers BU. Is this just self-selection? I've heard that BC grads really look out for their own--that their alumni network is practically a cult. Do you think BU's network here in Boston is comparable?

BC absolutely has the better reputation in Boston. I think part of it has to do with the undergrad institutions. BU is the safety school for BC in undergrad.

Our alum network is incredibly strong.

As a Boston native (who worked and has lived on both the West Coast and Midwest the last few years), I agree with this statement. Boston people love BC. Whether its due to undergrad sports or simply because BC Law is a "better" school (which I don't think is the case), BC holds a prestige edge over BU (I understand prestige is stretching it) to the people who live in the area. Moving outside of Boston though, BU has an edge. Both of these schools are considered strong regional schools in my opinion, UNLESS you have ties to another market. If you can see yourself in Boston, and would be happy working here, I would visit both and see which one I liked best because both will have an equal shot at Boston firms. BC alumni network is strong, but not strong enough to make a significant difference between the two. When I went to college on the West Coast, I was fairly surprised about how highly regarded BU was considered since I had grown up in Boston and grew up thinking BC was just a step down from Harvard.

Do you have any scholarship money at either?

+100

[AllTheLawz]

Neither one is a great option in Boston or nationally. This is especially true now since Boston SA class sizes are expected to be on the small side for the foreseeable future and, contrary to popular belief, a significant number of HLS students stay in Boston plus a fair number of Yale and Columbia students come in as well. Go to the one that is cheaper and I wouldn't recommend either at sticker.

Definitely don't go to either at sticker! I was fortunate and get a decent scholarship/help from parents so I was able to take a nice small firm "dream" job.

I would echo neither at sticker. I would say and reveal, I went to BC undergrad, and BC undergrad>BU undergrad. BU Law=BC Law for reputation in Boston.

The reason the Boston firms have more BC is because more BU people end up in NY and CA firms than people from BC. Look at the ABA 2012 Report. BC had 116 hires in MA, 22 in NY, 20 in D.C., 3 in foreign countries. BU had 110 hires in MA, 33 in NY, 27 in CA, and 5 in foreign countries.

I think the statement that neither BU/BC are great options in Boston is probably misinformation at best, an outright lie at worst. If you are saying Duke.UVA/Penn/Mich people have a better shot at Boston firms than BU/BC people, I think that statement could be debatable---obviously there are much more BU/BC alums in Boston which leads to more being hired in Boston. Also, outside the top 14, no school has a fragment of a chance at the Boston market that BU/BC have.

I should be more specific. I am talking about for major firms in Boston. There are probably around 175 major firm SA openings each year in Boston these days. 50 or so of these go to HLS, Boston produces a lot of people who go to top schools so lets say another 20-30 go to T14 students w/ Boston ties.. account for top students from random schools throughout the country and BU/BC are probably fighting for 50-75 major firm SAs in Boston between them. Clearly back of the envelope calculation but I don't think that sounds unreasonable and don't consider either good options for Boston if we are talking about major firms. If smaller firms, gov't and other things are added in then I agree that my statement might sound like hyperbole.

[elm84dr]

Neither one is a great option in Boston or nationally. This is especially true now since Boston SA class sizes are expected to be on the small side for the foreseeable future and, contrary to popular belief, a significant number of HLS students stay in Boston plus a fair number of Yale and Columbia students come in as well. Go to the one that is cheaper and I wouldn't recommend either at sticker.

Definitely don't go to either at sticker! I was fortunate and get a decent scholarship/help from parents so I was able to take a nice small firm "dream" job.

I would echo neither at sticker. I would say and reveal, I went to BC undergrad, and BC undergrad>BU undergrad. BU Law=BC Law for reputation in Boston.

The reason the Boston firms have more BC is because more BU people end up in NY and CA firms than people from BC. Look at the ABA 2012 Report. BC had 116 hires in MA, 22 in NY, 20 in D.C., 3 in foreign countries. BU had 110 hires in MA, 33 in NY, 27 in CA, and 5 in foreign countries.

I think the statement that neither BU/BC are great options in Boston is probably misinformation at best, an outright lie at worst. If you are saying Duke.UVA/Penn/Mich people have a better shot at Boston firms than BU/BC people, I think that statement could be debatable---obviously there are much more BU/BC alums in Boston which leads to more being hired in Boston. Also, outside the top 14, no school has a fragment of a chance at the Boston market that BU/BC have.

I should be more specific. I am talking about for major firms in Boston. There are probably around 175 major firm SA openings each year in Boston these days. 50 or so of these go to HLS, Boston produces a lot of people who go to top schools so lets say another 20-30 go to T14 students w/ Boston ties.. account for top students from random schools throughout the country and BU/BC are probably fighting for 50-75 major firm SAs in Boston between them. Clearly back of the envelope calculation but I don't think that sounds unreasonable and don't consider either good options for Boston if we are talking about major firms. If smaller firms, gov't and other things are added in then I agree that my statement might sound like hyperbole.

Okay, if limited to Wilmer/Goodwin/Ropes then yes, BC/BU really have no real edge over other schools. HLS and Top 14 w/Boston ties come first in the pecking order.

[colonelnerd]

There are a few main differences:

1. Location. In Boston, and a hour and fifteen minute train/bus combo ride into Boston are very different. This becomes especially important if you ever plan on doing clinics, or going into Boston for networking lunches, etc.

2. National Reach. If all you want is Massachusetts, it will we a wash. If you ant NY or CA, BU is where you need to be.

3. Courses. Look at the professor ratings and course selections. BU Law is far superior in professors and courses offered.

4. Student Life. This one is arguable. As a BU student I can say that we have weekly bar reviews, with drink tickets every other week. We also have a lot of really big events (boat cruise, ski trip, casino trip, law prom, etc.).

5. Smaller size effect. BU Law's smaller size will be significant. First, the class size is smaller because of the brand new building that anyone coming to BU next year will experience for their 2L & 3L years. Also, the firms that hire BU Law grads are not going to cut back the BU people they hire because the class size went down. They will continue hiring them at the rates they usually do, and more than likely this will increase BU's employment numbers. On average, I would say the class of 2014 is doing much better than the class of 2013---and that is anecdotal, but even 2013 says it seems pretty spot on. 2013 has about 30 more students than 2014.

These are all really good points, thanks for weighing in.

Do you think BU's reputation IN Boston is the same as BC's though? Several of my professors are lawyers (both at small firms) and they universally recommend that I go to BC over BU.

Also, if you check every single firm (other than goodwin) website, BC outnumbers BU. Is this just self-selection? I've heard that BC grads really look out for their own--that their alumni network is practically a cult. Do you think BU's network here in Boston is comparable?

BC absolutely has the better reputation in Boston. I think part of it has to do with the undergrad institutions. BU is the safety school for BC in undergrad.

Our alum network is incredibly strong.

As a Boston native (who worked and has lived on both the West Coast and Midwest the last few years), I agree with this statement. Boston people love BC. Whether its due to undergrad sports or simply because BC Law is a "better" school (which I don't think is the case), BC holds a prestige edge over BU (I understand prestige is stretching it) to the people who live in the area. Moving outside of Boston though, BU has an edge. Both of these schools are considered strong regional schools in my opinion, UNLESS you have ties to another market. If you can see yourself in Boston, and would be happy working here, I would visit both and see which one I liked best because both will have an equal shot at Boston firms. BC alumni network is strong, but not strong enough to make a significant difference between the two. When I went to college on the West Coast, I was fairly surprised about how highly regarded BU was considered since I had grown up in Boston and grew up thinking BC was just a step down from Harvard.

Do you have any scholarship money at either?

I have more-than-half scholarships at both. Total CoA with living expenses, tuition increases, and interest will be 120k at BC and 127k at BU.

I should also add that I am not 100% set on Big Law. I've talked with associates at Goodwin, and they all seem like jackasses with no personal lives. In contrast, I've also met an associate at Burns & Levinson (120ish lawyers) who says he works 9-7, no weekends, and loves the people he works with.

For mid/small law in Boston, do you think BC has better connections/reputation?

[AllTheLawz]

I should be more specific. I am talking about for major firms in Boston. There are probably around 175 major firm SA openings each year in Boston these days. 50 or so of these go to HLS, Boston produces a lot of people who go to top schools so lets say another 20-30 go to T14 students w/ Boston ties.. account for top students from random schools throughout the country and BU/BC are probably fighting for 50-75 major firm SAs in Boston between them. Clearly back of the envelope calculation but I don't think that sounds unreasonable and don't consider either good options for Boston if we are talking about major firms. If smaller firms, gov't and other things are added in then I agree that my statement might sound like hyperbole.

Okay, if limited to Wilmer/Goodwin/Ropes then yes, BC/BU really have no real edge over other schools. HLS and Top 14 w/Boston ties come first in the pecking order.

Unfortunately, that ~175 would include Ropes (40-55), Wilmer (25-35), Goodwin (25-30), Choate (12-20), Bingham (~10), foley hoag (~15), Skadden (5-10), Edwards Wildman (~5), Mintz Levin (5-10), etc. Boston is just a real small market and (according to what I have been told) will be small for the foreseeable future. I would really warn people about BU/BC at a high price.

[elm84dr]

If you want no big-law, but if you want a small New England firm---I think BC has the edge, in all fairness. BU does not have the small firm infrastructure that BC has in Massachusetts. I would add that Goodwin people are not a great representation of big firm life.

[Kalinda]

[/quote]

I have more-than-half scholarships at both. Total CoA with living expenses, tuition increases, and interest will be 120k at BC and 127k at BU.

I should also add that I am not 100% set on Big Law. I've talked with associates at Goodwin, and they all seem like jackasses with no personal lives. In contrast, I've also met an associate at Burns & Levinson (120ish lawyers) who says he works 9-7, no weekends, and loves the people he works with.

For mid/small law in Boston, do you think BC has better connections/reputation?[/quote]

For mid/small law I would say definitely yes. The only tricky part with that is that I believe these positions are also very difficult to find. Small/mid-law hiring is different than Big Law, meaning that the timing of when you would know if you would be employed could be as late as middle of 3L year, the hiring frame at some of these firms do model Big Law, but several do hiring on a need basis.

Have you visited both? Since your COA is basically the same at both, I would go with the one I liked better (or if you are not really committed to Boston, I would encourage BU). In the several cities I've been to on the West and Midwest, it was easy to find BU alumni (not just law).

[froglee]

Only 25% of BC's graduates got into +100 biglaws.....

http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/la ... _full.html

[Informative]

BC has slightly better biglaw placement statistics, although the difference is fairly minor. They are pretty much equal when it comes to biglaw placement.

In terms of regional midsized firms, BC places much better than BU in Boston. BU doesn't place as well in the local market.

Admittedly, the BC name carries a bit more "prestige" but this may be largely due to the undergraduate or the university as a whole being more nationally known than BU. Careerwise, I don't think the BC name is significantly better than the BU name to alone justify picking it over BU.

For these reasons, I would choose BC over BU, but really, you should just visit the campuses and decide which you like better because at the end of the day, they are pretty much equal.

[colonelnerd]

BC has slightly better biglaw placement statistics, although the difference is fairly minor. They are pretty much equal when it comes to biglaw placement.

In terms of regional midsized firms, BC places much better than BU in Boston. BU doesn't place as well in the local market.

Admittedly, the BC name carries a bit more "prestige" but this may be largely due to the undergraduate or the university as a whole being more nationally known than BU. Careerwise, I don't think the BC name is significantly better than the BU name to alone justify picking it over BU.

For these reasons, I would choose BC over BU, but really, you should just visit the campuses and decide which you like better because at the end of the day, they are pretty much equal.

It seems people (including at least one current BU student) are relatively agreed on this point. If that's the case, I think that might be the deciding factor for me. Although I'll try BigLaw out (if that option is available of course), I see myself at a local mid-sized firm in the long term. Does this (along with the slight difference in scholarships) seem like a reasonable decision?

[elm84dr]

BC has slightly better biglaw placement statistics, although the difference is fairly minor. They are pretty much equal when it comes to biglaw placement.

In terms of regional midsized firms, BC places much better than BU in Boston. BU doesn't place as well in the local market.

Admittedly, the BC name carries a bit more "prestige" but this may be largely due to the undergraduate or the university as a whole being more nationally known than BU. Careerwise, I don't think the BC name is significantly better than the BU name to alone justify picking it over BU.

For these reasons, I would choose BC over BU, but really, you should just visit the campuses and decide which you like better because at the end of the day, they are pretty much equal.

It seems people (including at least one current BU student) are relatively agreed on this point. If that's the case, I think that might be the deciding factor for me. Although I'll try BigLaw out (if that option is available of course), I see myself at a local mid-sized firm in the long term. Does this (along with the slight difference in scholarships) seem like a reasonable decision?

I would say that if you ever find yourself anywhere outside of Massachusetts BU is a much better bet. I think the placement for the midsize firms are a combination of BC students self-selection AND the fact that BC has a lot more people from New England than BU does.