W&L v Wisconsin v Iowa Forum

[Regionality]

Hi all. Hoping for whatever advice you may have when comparing Iowa, Wisconsin and Washington and Lee. I'm out of state at Iowa and Wisconsin. Iowa said I'm nominated for a partial scholarship, but no offer has been made and I don't know how much it would be for.

To me Iowa's rank seems a bit overrated-- Wisconsin grads seem to have higher paying jobs with more national reach (plus degree privileges). W&L is great because it's in the mid Atlantic region but I'm not sure I could handle Lexington for 3 years...Midwest is a region I'd be happy with for a few years after school, though I wouldn't want to settle there.

What do people think?

[You Gotta Have Faith]

I think you're going to have to factor it all out for yourself, as you've begun to do, and weigh what is most important to you.

Although you don't seem particularly keen on Iowa, I can assure you it is a strong school. It's just not the first place the common layperson would think of. Even if you don't want to end up in the Midwest, they would try to help you get to the area you want to be in. With Wisconsin, ditto.

Wisconsin isn't bad, or at least I liked it when I visited last year. The salaries seem higher, however, because they are placing slightly more people in Chicago, etc. You make a little bit more, but the COL is also higher. Just a thought.

You like W&L because it's in the mid-Atlantic region. Well... I don't know where you want to be. But if that's the general area you'd be happier in, then you should think about it. Lexington is one thing. But in law school you won't be thinking too hard about where you are, most of the 1L year anyway, because you'll be busy studying and hanging out with classmates.

G'luck

[Simpler Times]

Speaking as a current Wisconsin student, Wisconsin is a much better choice than Iowa/Washington & Lee. You have to consider the fact that there are only two law schools in Wisconsin, one of which barely sneaks into the ranks of the T2s. Combine that with diploma privilege and a lot of pro Wisconsin Law instate bias and Wisconsin ends up facing very minimal competition. You should never go to school counting on being in the top 10-20 percent (It just doesn't work out that way 80-90 percent of the time), and this lack of competition really makes the mid ranges of graduates much more likely to get jobs. They may not be great jobs, but you have a pretty decent shot at SOME employment coming out of Wisconsin.

As for Washington & Lee, my undergrad room mate went there and is struggling with the political climate. If you are ok with 'incredibly conservative' Washington & Lee isn't a bad choice. That said, placing into a saturated economy (having to compete with Georgetown and UVA for jobs in Virginia is rough) is something I'd try to avoid.

I had to make a similar choice, and Wisconsin's near legal monopoly is what did it for me. Not to mention the badass football/basketball/hockey.

[ScaredWorkedBored]

Out-of-state to both Iowa & Wisconsin = Wisconsin. US News likes Iowa slightly more; NLJ250 recruiters like Wisconsin more. One of these pays you, one doesn't. Possibly in Iowa's favor is that it's at least possible to gain residency for 2L & 3L (the only one of the Big 10 schools where I believe you can do this).

Wisconsin v. W&L = Whichever feels like the best fit. It seems you have some cultural reservations about the latter and at least like the Midwest somewhat. I guess it comes down to if you like the huge public university atmosphere or not.

[gregw8705]

As for Washington & Lee, my undergrad room mate went there and is struggling with the political climate. If you are ok with 'incredibly conservative' Washington & Lee isn't a bad choice. That said, placing into a saturated economy (having to compete with Georgetown and UVA for jobs in Virginia is rough) is something I'd try to avoid.

W&L 1L here. I wouldn't classify W&L as "incredibly conservative" or even conservative, but I'll admit the balance of perspectives (i.e. more than one conservative and/or libertarian attends the school) can make it seem conservative to those coming from more liberal backgrounds. I find it politically balanced, and that's something you want in a law school. Either way, if W&L is conservative, it's not to the exclusion or shouting down of those with other viewpoints so it shouldn't necessarily make you uncomfortable.

W&L's not necessarily in a saturated market. Lots of UVA people go to primary and secondary markets or even to other regions to pursue big firm opportunities. GTown grads have tunnel vision focused on DC. W&L places well in NYC, DC, VA, and the entire atlantic seaboard from NY to GA/FL.

Either way, I think geography should be the deciding factor in this choice. Decide where you want to work and go to school in that region.

[Regionality]

Thanks for advice so far! bump!

[Panther7]

wisconsin is an extremely liberal college (in the democrat way), if that helps you at all.

[baboon309]

[quote="ScaredWorkedBored"]Out-of-state to both Iowa & Wisconsin = Wisconsin. US News likes Iowa slightly more; NLJ250 recruiters like Wisconsin more. One of these pays you, one doesn't. Possibly in Iowa's favor is that it's at least possible to gain residency for 2L & 3L (the only one of the Big 10 schools where I believe you can do this).

Nah. You are almost guaranteed to gain residency for 2L & 3L in OSU

[Simpler Times]

wisconsin is an extremely liberal college (in the democrat way), if that helps you at all.

The law school is no where near as liberal as the undergrad. Although we have a lot of legal realist professors who make fun of all that law and economics bullshit, the student body itself is pretty much centrist.

[Panther7]

wisconsin is an extremely liberal college (in the democrat way), if that helps you at all.

The law school is no where near as liberal as the undergrad. Although we have a lot of legal realist professors who make fun of all that law and economics bullshit, the student body itself is pretty much centrist.

i think nearly every law school is more centrist than the undergrad, i was just trying to give the feel you get when on campus.