Northwestern vs. GW $105,000 Forum

[rayiner]

[quote="Desert Fox
Not ITE.

ITE one would expect lower not higher.

Yea, my post was unclear. I mean 30% is too high ITE.

You think 2010 will be worse than 2009?[/quote]

2010 will be worse than 2007, which is when that data is for.

[09042014]

You think 2010 will be worse than 2009?

No but the class of 2009 did OCI in 2007. 30% was in 2007.

Damn Ray beat me.

[doyleoil]

NU (and bust your fucking ass as a 1L) or no law school.

Also, I should never be surprised, but always am, by the shockingly uninformed nonsense spewing out of the mouths of people on the verge of making decisions with gigantic consequences.

[mec30]

Right, but that is the number of people with a job after Sept. 30, 2009. I don't know how OCI offers work, but I assume they hire far fewer people then they actually need, and those who have offers can have their offer rescinded before they start work. If it's all based on OCI, the class of 2011 should have the worst numbers since they did it during the height of the recession.

[rejectmaster]

This is just based on my experience as an undergrad in DC but the main advantage GW would provide over NW is that its in DC and in undergrad a ton of people worked/interned for the government mostly because it was so accessible.

however GW isn't top dog in DC (2nd in the local pecking order based on what I've heard, 3rd if you want to include UVa) and law school apparently doesn't allow much extracurricular time.

[howcani111]

GW. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH 200K IS?

[sbalive]

GW. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH 200K IS?

Um, $100K is a lot too? Pretty much everyone at a T14 could have gotten that offer or better. A full ride might be something to consider, depending on what you want to do after graduation -- but that's not on the table here.

After reading OP's update, Northwestern's a good fit with a lot more exit options. Not a sure thing, but nothing really is right now (see massive job cuts going on in pharma right now, e.g.).

[09042014]

GW. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH 200K IS?

How much is the career earnings difference of someone who starts in shit law compared to big law?

[djgoldbe]

GW. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH 200K IS?

How much is the career earnings difference of someone who starts in shit law compared to big law?

My guess would be that 4-5 years out, GW versus NU grads salaries would converge greatly. Would like to see numbers on that though.

[caleng]

I've always wondered about that. I know the immediate earning potential is greater from Northwestern, but I assume that levels off after a few years once employers are more interested in your former jobs than the name of the school on your cv. However, since this assumes that the job one gets right out of law school has a significant bearing on all jobs down the line, it seems like the school will make a difference (since it leads to that initial job). So I've pretty much gone in a circle.

Also, DF, do you know where I would go about finding information on how deep in the class patent firms are willing to hire? I've been looking at the patent firms that interview at each school, but that only gives me an idea of interviews, not necessarily job offers.

[09042014]

I've always wondered about that. I know the immediate earning potential is greater from Northwestern, but I assume that levels off after a few years once employers are more interested in your former jobs than the name of the school on your cv. However, since this assumes that the job one gets right out of law school has a significant bearing on all jobs down the line, it seems like the school will make a difference (since it leads to that initial job). So I've pretty much gone in a circle.

Also, DF, do you know where I would go about finding information on how deep in the class patent firms are willing to hire? I've been looking at the patent firms that interview at each school, but that only gives me an idea of interviews, not necessarily job offers.

I haven't seen anything from after the economy crashed.

[djgoldbe]

I've always wondered about that. I know the immediate earning potential is greater from Northwestern, but I assume that levels off after a few years once employers are more interested in your former jobs than the name of the school on your cv. However, since this assumes that the job one gets right out of law school has a significant bearing on all jobs down the line, it seems like the school will make a difference (since it leads to that initial job). So I've pretty much gone in a circle.

Also, DF, do you know where I would go about finding information on how deep in the class patent firms are willing to hire? I've been looking at the patent firms that interview at each school, but that only gives me an idea of interviews, not necessarily job offers.

Yeah but how many people who leave biglaw jobs really go to similarly high paying jobs? The majority are going to be going to lower paying jobs. Meanwhile those who started making 55-60K most likely have gone to a better opportunity / have had a pay increase and are making more. Tons will end up practicing on their own (50%) or will end up in a small practice of 2-10 people (20%), where the school you went to (or the biglaw firm you worked at) is going to make far less of an impact, if any at all.

Not saying NU isn't worth attending of course - I love NU - but from a purely numbers prospective I doubt in the long run the average earning differs much from GW grads outside of the first 4-5 years.

[BioEBear2010]

Sorry that I'm late to the party, my engineering friend.

Anyway, what this really boils down to is risk-aversion. NU costs more now, but may have a higher future payoff. A NU degree will certainly move back west more easily than a GW degree, but after you work for a few years the degrees will hold essentially equal value.

A NU degree will be more valuable if you want to pursue patent litigation. Clients and litigation firms can be degree-whores.

I look forward to someday arguing against you in court. It will be a welcome change from Song's lectures.

[caleng]

Update: I chose Northwestern.

In the end, I went with the school I would regret NOT going to.

And yes BioEBear, as much as I loved intro to crosswords, court will be slightly more interesting.