Full ride at American vs. GW???? Forum

[chenson]

I just rec'd a full tuition, all 3 yrs, public interest scholarship at American. After returning from a great preview weekend at GW, I am definitely baffled! I want to do public interest and American definitely focuses more on it, but GW has a better location, reputation, and facilities- but only gave me 10k/ yr. GW just seemed to have a great community atmosphere and happy students- but is very firm-focused. Will I enjoy my (debt free!) years at American and still compete with GULC and GW students for jobs?
I have to decide by Monday so all help is appreciated!

[Master Tofu]

I'd take American. I attended GW's preview weekend and sat in on the clinicals student panel and the current public interest students are not happy with how the administration is treating them. I say take the money and run. I don't think you'd get too much help getting public interest jobs from GW, the best way to make sure that you can is to be debt-free.

[John S]

GW is the better school, but it's not THAT much better, especially if you plan on staying in DC.

If you plan on working in the District, go to American. If you want to try to get a job in NYC or LA or something similar, you may want to consider GW.

[Morpheous]

Follow the white rabbit
Kidding aside, American sounds like a good deal.

[nixie]

Go to American!! It's the wiser choice.

[sapereaude2012]

I'd take American. I attended GW's preview weekend and sat in on the clinicals student panel and the current public interest students are not happy with how the administration is treating them. I say take the money and run. I don't think you'd get too much help getting public interest jobs from GW, the best way to make sure that you can is to be debt-free.

As a current GW student that is still considering public interest, I'd like to toss a few thoughts out there.

First off, I don't know what to say about the student panel. Our clinics at GW are by no means a representation of what all of the public interest-oriented students are like. While many of these students may be dead set on public interest, there are plenty out there who are not involved in clinics and will do public interest, and just as many that are doing a clinic but will work for a firm.

GW just hired a new dean for public interest this year, and I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen to be honest. While there are definitely a lot of people at GW set on biglaw, to say that public interest students are ignored by the administration is just dead wrong. In addition to having connections with virtually any govt agency you can think of, many of the adjunct professors work in govt agencies or public interest (although some are in firms as well). We also have a public-interest OCI program with G'town, and also a public interest resume collection through the CDO. GW pumped up the funding for public-interest stipends this year, which is a trend that I can only see continuing. One drawback for that is the deadline was pretty early, like mid-March, and many public interest jobs haven't finished hiring by then, but it's a good sign nonetheless.

The debt issue is definitely one that shouldn't be ignored, both schools are expensive, and the PI scholly at American is great. GW isn't that keen on matching scholarships, but they might throw you a little more money if you tried, it never hurts to ask. Also I've heard that Obama is trying to overhaul LRAP for public-interest students, not too sure about the specifics, but your debt might be a moot point if you're 100% committed to a public-interest career.

American has awesome study abroad opportunities such as their human rights program at the Hague, but GW also has an int'l human rights program at Oxford that I've heard nothing but great things about. Neither of these should sway your decision though, because you could participate in either as a student at either school.

For me, other than the $$, this would come down to regional preference. If you are dead-set on staying in Washington, American isn't a bad choice, but if you aren't, I really do think GW will open many more doors for you. In the end, my best advice would be to visit both schools, meet w/the respective deans for public interest, and see where you feel better. Both are great options, and there are plenty of people out there that would kill to be in your situation.

[lawlife2010]

GW. It sounds like you were happy in this school environment and its a place that will push you to work super hard. =)

[Cupidity]

If you are interested in public interest the increased debt of GWU just doesn't make sense.

[doinmybest]

I'd take American. I attended GW's preview weekend and sat in on the clinicals student panel and the current public interest students are not happy with how the administration is treating them. I say take the money and run. I don't think you'd get too much help getting public interest jobs from GW, the best way to make sure that you can is to be debt-free.

As a current GW student that is still considering public interest, I'd like to toss a few thoughts out there.

First off, I don't know what to say about the student panel. Our clinics at GW are by no means a representation of what all of the public interest-oriented students are like. While many of these students may be dead set on public interest, there are plenty out there who are not involved in clinics and will do public interest, and just as many that are doing a clinic but will work for a firm.

GW just hired a new dean for public interest this year, and I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen to be honest. While there are definitely a lot of people at GW set on biglaw, to say that public interest students are ignored by the administration is just dead wrong. In addition to having connections with virtually any govt agency you can think of, many of the adjunct professors work in govt agencies or public interest (although some are in firms as well). We also have a public-interest OCI program with G'town, and also a public interest resume collection through the CDO. GW pumped up the funding for public-interest stipends this year, which is a trend that I can only see continuing. One drawback for that is the deadline was pretty early, like mid-March, and many public interest jobs haven't finished hiring by then, but it's a good sign nonetheless.

The debt issue is definitely one that shouldn't be ignored, both schools are expensive, and the PI scholly at American is great. GW isn't that keen on matching scholarships, but they might throw you a little more money if you tried, it never hurts to ask. Also I've heard that Obama is trying to overhaul LRAP for public-interest students, not too sure about the specifics, but your debt might be a moot point if you're 100% committed to a public-interest career.

American has awesome study abroad opportunities such as their human rights program at the Hague, but GW also has an int'l human rights program at Oxford that I've heard nothing but great things about. Neither of these should sway your decision though, because you could participate in either as a student at either school.

For me, other than the $$, this would come down to regional preference. If you are dead-set on staying in Washington, American isn't a bad choice, but if you aren't, I really do think GW will open many more doors for you. In the end, my best advice would be to visit both schools, meet w/the respective deans for public interest, and see where you feel better. Both are great options, and there are plenty of people out there that would kill to be in your situation.

You dug up a thread from 3 years ago to address this issue?

[sapereaude2012]

I'd take American. I attended GW's preview weekend and sat in on the clinicals student panel and the current public interest students are not happy with how the administration is treating them. I say take the money and run. I don't think you'd get too much help getting public interest jobs from GW, the best way to make sure that you can is to be debt-free.

As a current GW student that is still considering public interest, I'd like to toss a few thoughts out there.

First off, I don't know what to say about the student panel. Our clinics at GW are by no means a representation of what all of the public interest-oriented students are like. While many of these students may be dead set on public interest, there are plenty out there who are not involved in clinics and will do public interest, and just as many that are doing a clinic but will work for a firm.

GW just hired a new dean for public interest this year, and I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen to be honest. While there are definitely a lot of people at GW set on biglaw, to say that public interest students are ignored by the administration is just dead wrong. In addition to having connections with virtually any govt agency you can think of, many of the adjunct professors work in govt agencies or public interest (although some are in firms as well). We also have a public-interest OCI program with G'town, and also a public interest resume collection through the CDO. GW pumped up the funding for public-interest stipends this year, which is a trend that I can only see continuing. One drawback for that is the deadline was pretty early, like mid-March, and many public interest jobs haven't finished hiring by then, but it's a good sign nonetheless.

The debt issue is definitely one that shouldn't be ignored, both schools are expensive, and the PI scholly at American is great. GW isn't that keen on matching scholarships, but they might throw you a little more money if you tried, it never hurts to ask. Also I've heard that Obama is trying to overhaul LRAP for public-interest students, not too sure about the specifics, but your debt might be a moot point if you're 100% committed to a public-interest career.

American has awesome study abroad opportunities such as their human rights program at the Hague, but GW also has an int'l human rights program at Oxford that I've heard nothing but great things about. Neither of these should sway your decision though, because you could participate in either as a student at either school.

For me, other than the $$, this would come down to regional preference. If you are dead-set on staying in Washington, American isn't a bad choice, but if you aren't, I really do think GW will open many more doors for you. In the end, my best advice would be to visit both schools, meet w/the respective deans for public interest, and see where you feel better. Both are great options, and there are plenty of people out there that would kill to be in your situation.

You dug up a thread from 3 years ago to address this issue?

wow I didn't even notice that. oversight on my part. Sorry

[StephHall]

Unless money is a big issue, I would go to GW. You're going to have way more opportunities there because it's a better school with a much better reputation. A friend of mine goes to GW and back when I was applying, he told me that American is kind of looked at as the red headed bastard child of the DC law schools. If you can afford it, go to the better school. You'll be more marketable when you graduate. That being said, I'm also a little biased. I got into GW (which was where I really wanted to go), but they didn't give me any money and there was no way I could afford it. I also got yield protected at American, so they're not exactly my favorite place right now either. That being said, however, I was always told that you shouldn't settle for the 3rd or 4th best law school in the state (or district, in this case) if you also got in to a better school in that state. Good luck!