University of Washington vs. William and Mary Forum

[kalvano]

Seattle is about eleventy-billion times better than D.C. / Virginia.

[General Tso]

Seattle is about eleventy-billion times better than D.C. / Virginia.

honestly, this sums up the only reason UW is dominating this poll

[kalvano]

Seattle is about eleventy-billion times better than D.C. / Virginia.

honestly, this sums up the only reason UW is dominating this poll

Well, that and let's list all the schools that compete for the D.C. / Virginia / mid-Atlantic business -

W&M
W&L
UNC
GeorgeTTTown
Wake
GW
UVA
Duke
American
George Mason
Any of the T14 schools that want to come to that region




The schools that compete for the Seattle / Washington area business -

UW
Seattle U
Maybe L&C a little bit
Any T14 person that wants to come out that way.




I'd rather take my chances at UW.

[General Tso]

true but there is almost no biglaw to be had in Seattle. I love the city as well, but it's pretty much the WA equivalent of Denver or San Diego.

if you aren't top 15-25% at UW you are going to be looking at pretty meager job offerings, despite the lack of competition.

[kalvano]

The way the competition shakes out with W&M, if you aren't top 20% or so, you're probably looking at not-so-great options, too.

And there is lots more competition for the DA / PD / etc. jobs.

Plus, you're still not in Seattle. Which is awesome.

[njgal]

Williamsburg sucks.....it is not DC it is the middle of nowhere. Since you don't care where you work pick UW cause three years in seattle will be way more entertaining than williamsburg (I am very familiar with both areas)

[alimary]

Keep in mind, I'm from Idaho--In fact, a smaller town setting might even be more comfortable for me.

rue but there is almost no biglaw to be had in Seattle. I love the city as well, but it's pretty much the WA equivalent of Denver or San Diego.

And that's what I'm afraid of. Sure, less competition, but less jobs.

[lisjjen]

It sounds like you just want to go to William and Mary. You have to be ready to admit that you're going to be locked in one region of the country for about 5-10 years at either of these schools until you've built enough of a resume to go elsewhere. Relative to the other schools, you can be locked in a cage with tigers at W&M or with kittens at UW. Eat or get eaten.

Also, the C of I connections you have in the Northwest shouldn't be underestimated. You're a little fish again in Virginia, having to start over new. Even the connections you have in VA are from your undergrad.

[MoS]

I'm from Idaho, debating whether to attend UW (in Seattle,WA) or William and Mary (in Williamsburg, VA) in the fall. I'd like to practice international law, and I don't really care where; I just hope it's an awesome job. Both places would cost me about the same amount of money. Which do you think has the better reputation that will get me a better job, and give me more opportunities in the realm of international law?

Other factors:
I love the west coast, but I love the east coast as well, and it's also very enticing.

Another thing I value is professors--which school has better profs that I'll be able to actually get to know?

PS: I have to decide by July 10th. Help!

This is just humorous. UW

[alimary]

Hey all, thanks for all of the input! Despite the poll results, I've decided to attend W&M. I'm super grateful for everyone's input and it definitely helped me make my decision! Honestly though, I need to get out of the northwest. It's a new development that this forum helped me realize...I want to practice on the east coast. With this and a few other personal preference factors, I think W&M will be a better option for me!

PS: Sorry I said you were wrong...I think I had already made up my mind somewhat, and I didn't want anyone telling me to go to UW.

[094320]

..

[Grizz]

Hey all, thanks for all of the input! Despite the poll results, I've decided to attend W&M. I'm super grateful for everyone's input and it definitely helped me make my decision! Honestly though, I need to get out of the northwest. It's a new development that this forum helped me realize...I want to practice on the east coast. With this and a few other personal preference factors, I think W&M will be a better option for me!

PS: Sorry I said you were wrong...I think I had already made up my mind somewhat, and I didn't want anyone telling me to go to UW.

Hope you're not paying anywhere near sticker. Good luck.

[A'nold]

OP only made his decision b/c of W&M's specialty ranking in international law and b/c he wants to "get out of the NW" and go on an adventure. Those sound like great reasons to choose W&M over UW!

Well, good luck op and congrats on your acceptance to W&M.

[Grizz]

OP only made his decision b/c of W&M's specialty ranking in international law and b/c he wants to "get out of the NW" and go on an adventure. Those sound like great reasons to choose W&M over UW!

Well, good luck op and congrats on your acceptance to W&M.

I can't wait until my tax dollars pay for her 25 yr. IBR.

[ccs224]

Everyone from the NW, or really from anywhere, needs to leave for awhile. There's no reason to keep your horizon's limited to where you are, even if where you are is better than where you might go. If OP ends up wanting to go back West, s/he can work a few years and head back, having grown as a person for seeing more of the world. I don't care how much of a mossback you think you are, it benefits you in the long run to have known more of this country than less.

[lisjjen]

OP only made his decision b/c of W&M's specialty ranking in international law and b/c he wants to "get out of the NW" and go on an adventure. Those sound like great reasons to choose W&M over UW!

Well, good luck op and congrats on your acceptance to W&M.

+1 for sexism. He is a she.

[MrKappus]

Well, both universities will give me out-of-state tuition for the 2nd and 3rd years...so it'll be about the same price overall.

...and yes, I must admit, I probably have a romanticized view, but mostly I just want to have the ability to get a job that I love.

And why is everyone picking UW? Better national reputation?

I meant in-state. Oops.

I sure hope you took a long hard look at the Code of Virginia 23-7.4 before you committed to W&M, b/c I'm pretty sure you're going to have difficulty w/ the part of subsection (B) that states:

Domiciliary status shall not ordinarily be conferred by the performance of acts which are auxiliary to fulfilling educational objectives or are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the Commonwealth. Mere physical presence or residence primarily for educational purposes shall not confer domiciliary status. A matriculating student who has entered an institution and is classified as an out-of-state student shall be required to rebut by clear and convincing evidence the presumption that he is in the Commonwealth for the purpose of attending school and not as a bona fide domiciliary.

[PDaddy]

Seattle Seattle Seattle. Your quality of life will be so much better. The Burg would make me commit suicide.

[MrKappus]

Seattle Seattle Seattle. Your quality of life will be so much better. The Burg would make me commit suicide.

+1. Williamsburg sucks so badly. Stripmalls, highways, depressing tourist BS, and it's in a freaking swamp.

[PDaddy]

Keep in mind, I'm from Idaho--In fact, a smaller town setting might even be more comfortable for me.

rue but there is almost no biglaw to be had in Seattle. I love the city as well, but it's pretty much the WA equivalent of Denver or San Diego.

And that's what I'm afraid of. Sure, less competition, but less fewer jobs.

(One cannot have less of a plural thing)

That aside, UW rules Seattle and its grads will always do well there.

[legalease9]

I think each person has to make their own decision based upon what is important to them. So OP, if you want to go to William and Mary, it is probably the best choice for you. And I don't mean that flippantly. I do understand your desire to get out of the region you have always lived in. And I do understand your concern regarding the small legal market in the Pac NW. So if you want to go to W&M and you are set on that decision, it is probably a good decision.

But for others who will read this thread in the future, William and Mary is NOT going to give you east coast law and it is not going to get you international law. It's going to give you Virginia Law.

OP, I think you need to do some more research regarding international law. There really isn't any (slight exaggeration, but not much). I don't know where you got your conclusion otherwise, but I would double/tripple check your sources.

And in regards to sources, avoid actually listening to the law schools. They are trying to SELL their school, not give you a realistic picture of the legal market.

[legalease9]

Well, both universities will give me out-of-state tuition for the 2nd and 3rd years...so it'll be about the same price overall.

...and yes, I must admit, I probably have a romanticized view, but mostly I just want to have the ability to get a job that I love.

And why is everyone picking UW? Better national reputation?

I meant in-state. Oops.

I sure hope you took a long hard look at the Code of Virginia 23-7.4 before you committed to W&M, b/c I'm pretty sure you're going to have difficulty w/ the part of subsection (B) that states:

Domiciliary status shall not ordinarily be conferred by the performance of acts which are auxiliary to fulfilling educational objectives or are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the Commonwealth. Mere physical presence or residence primarily for educational purposes shall not confer domiciliary status. A matriculating student who has entered an institution and is classified as an out-of-state student shall be required to rebut by clear and convincing evidence the presumption that he is in the Commonwealth for the purpose of attending school and not as a bona fide domiciliary.

Oh and this.

[alimary]

For future reference, W&M students CAN get residency in 2L and 3L years: --LinkRemoved--. It's the same process for UW-out-of-staters. As soon as you get there, open a bank account, get a WA/VA driver's license, register your vehicle, and register to vote. Also, make sure you talk with admissions and financial aid when you arrive to ensure you're covering all of your bases.

There is also an out-of-state fellowship which W&M offers to 1L's, covering $5,000-$8,000 of the out-of-state tuition.

Hope this helps someone in the future!

[MrKappus]

For future reference, W&M students CAN get residency in 2L and 3L years: --LinkRemoved--. It's the same process for UW-out-of-staters. As soon as you get there, open a bank account, get a WA/VA driver's license, register your vehicle, and register to vote. Also, make sure you talk with admissions and financial aid when you arrive to ensure you're covering all of your bases.

There is also an out-of-state fellowship which W&M offers to 1L's, covering $5,000-$8,000 of the out-of-state tuition.

Hope this helps someone in the future!

What part of "Your primary purpose in moving to Virginia must have been to establish yourself as a resident of Virginia" confuses you?

[alimary]

It's the same in Washington. Yet, there are ways to get around it. Out-of-state students can testify.