R.R. Raskolnikov wrote:mich 13 wrote:blowhard wrote:They are peer schools are are indistinguishable in most of your criteria. I'd visit both and see which one clicks more. Personally, I found the students at Michigan to be way less douchey than at UVA. Both UVA and Michigan place extremely well in DC. If you think you may ever move around, Michigan has a larger alumni base throughout the nation for the most part. (Most of your grads spread out...so there are alumni in NYC, DC, Chicago, LA, Portland, Miami, etc.
Also, don't let the brochures fool you. Ending up in Gov, regulation or policy is more of a factor of what courses you take, where you intern, your previous experiences, etc.
Totally agree. If you have your eye on a certain kind of government employment the most important think you can do is intern at an appropriate place during your summers and do a clinic, externship, or pro bono with a similar kind of place. Being an hour and a half drive from DC during the school year isn't going to help. I really liked all the people I met at Michigan. Visit as many schools as you can and really take the time to watch a class or two and see how people interact. See where people look the happiest. You will get a better feel from that than what anyone on a message board can tell you.
That's fair. I appreciate the input. I'm coming to Michigan for Preview Weekend next month so that will be my one opportunity to check out the school for a few days. Do you think it's possible to get the same kind of feel for the school on Preview Weekend as you would from sitting in on classes and interacting with students on a normal day at the law school, or is PW really a unique experience?
PW is fine if you make the effort. Talk to students walking around, etc. I wouldn't rely on just what is shown to you during the admission office events. You'll be sitting in on my torts class I believe, so you'll get to see us interact some then.