Top Law Schools

hi everyone, just wanted some of your brilliant opinions about this choice.

here are the factoids:

- $45k from michigan is over the 3 yrs
- CA resident, would like to keep the option open of transferring back to CA if I happen to do amazingly. this is a VERY big "if" and I would be perfectly happy staying at M/P for all 3 yrs. due to family health problems in CA, I do want to choose a school that would give me the best shot at the transfer.
- don't know where exactly I want to practice, most likely CA early on, but maybe the east coast later in life.
- don't know what exactly I want to practice. right now I'm leaning towards IP/M&A/contracts. biglaw or corporate counsel would be nice to shoot for, but I won't go cry in a corner if it doesn't work out.
- would love to make top-law-schools.com as stress-free as possible (easy housing, dining plans, transportation, etc. would be great - this is a main reason why michigan's lawyers club is a huge plus)

I keep going back and forth with this in my head and it's driving me nuts. any advice you can give me will be much appreciated!

PS. if you'd take michigan over penn because of the money, how much do you think penn would have to offer to sway your vote?

They're peer schools, so I'd take Michigan. From what I've read on here (big disclaimer), Mich seems to do better in Cali (or at least has more grads out there) than Penn does. Also, the new NLJ #'s indicate Michigan > Penn for Biglaw.
Has Penn even begun giving out $$, though? You should wait and see if they offer you something.

ashleigh wrote:if you'd take michigan over penn because of the money, how much do you think penn would have to offer to sway your vote?

Are you assuming that Penn is a better school that Michigan? Michigan actually places better in California, so the extra money is just icing on the cake. Michigan all the way.

They are peer schools, but wait until Penn informs you of scholarship information.

As far as returning to CA, it really doesn't matter. Your connections to the state will get you back there no matter which one you pick (so it's irrelevant which one has more alumni there/does better there).

Aberzombie1892 wrote:They are peer schools, but wait until Penn informs you of scholarship information.

As far as returning to CA, it really doesn't matter. Your connections to the state will get you back there no matter which one you pick (so it's irrelevant which one has more alumni there/does better there).

Connections to CA would help, but I wouldn't say placement is irrelevant, since Michigan gets a lot of CA firms at OCI.

1) try for a Penn match
2) go to Michigan anyway
3) ????
4) profit

We are in the exact same situation (even the same scholarship). I visited Penn and loved it but I am going to ASW next month at Michigan. I am 50/50 right now because I want NYC and Penn does really well there (although Michigan may have less in NYC due to self-selection), but Michigan just seems like a happier place to me.

ann arbor > philadelphia,

45k > 0

boo jersey shore wrote:

dgouzoul wrote:ann arbor > philadelphia,

45k > 0

Wolverines >>>>>> Nittany Lions

Nobody caught the joke the first time...

And i hope the wolverines are greater than the nittany lions in football soon. Probably not much hope for that

JetstoRJC wrote:And i hope the wolverines are greater than the nittany lions in football soon. Probably not much hope for that

None bro

To me, the only concern ITE is that Penn State's class size is smaller. I hope I have to make this decision. I have no idea which I'd go with.

Peer schools = TTMAR. Michigan is supposed to be the best of MVP in Cali which is your target market. Plus COL in AA is probably cheaper than in Philly.

Core wrote:Also, the new NLJ #'s indicate Michigan > Penn for Biglaw.

I love how good those new numbers make UVA look in relation to other top schools, but the truth is there are a couple of reasons why that relative breakout by school may be somewhat anomalous and might not look the same in the future. The bottom line is that they are peer schools and stressing over a couple of percentage points really shouldn't make a big difference.

This should come down to football, and we all know Joe Pa wins hands down.

Stringer Bell wrote: This should come down to football, and we all know Joe Pa wins hands down.

fail

boo jersey shore wrote:

JetstoRJC wrote:

boo jersey shore wrote:

dgouzoul wrote:ann arbor > philadelphia,

45k > 0

Wolverines >>>>>> Nittany Lions

Nobody caught the joke the first time...

Gonna haf to be more forceful.

PENN!!! HAHAHAHA GET IT? IT'S LIKE PENN STATE!!!

e: oh my god I just saw two other ones, and this thread is only 19 posts long:

JetstoRJC wrote:And i hope the wolverines are greater than the nittany lions in football soon. Probably not much hope for that

Stringer Bell wrote:This should come down to football, and we all know Joe Pa wins hands down.

this is seriously the most overused/unoriginal joke on TLS.

boo jersey shore wrote:

ughOSU wrote:this is seriously the most overused/unoriginal joke on TLS.

Why thank you, originator of all things funny! Its good to know what is ok to laugh at, and what is not.

In related news, suck my balls.

bwahahaha 179

boo jersey shore wrote:

ughOSU wrote:this is seriously the most overused/unoriginal joke on TLS.

Why thank you, originator of all things funny! Its good to know what is ok to laugh at, and what is not.

In related news, suck my balls.

Well someone couldn't get in.

I apologize you have an underdeveloped sense of humor and think it's funny to see a joke on a message board and reuse it whenever the word "Penn" comes up. Oh wait, no, you're right, that is really funny. I just got. It took a while for me to understand the sophistication of your humor. Also, were you attempting to be ironic by using two more overused-to-the-point-of-cliche phrases in your final sentence? You're right, you are funny.

Earth to "boo jersey shore", go fuck yourself.

*ahem*

Michigan, if they give you dough. But for the record, it's in Michigan.

thank you all for your thoughts! sorry to have triggered some penn (state) anger.

Core and Aberzombie1892, you're right, I should wait if/until penn makes some type of offer. although that'll make this choice much harder...!

rockchalk86, it's good to know of someone facing this same decision!

Wait to see what Penn offers. If one offers more take that one. If you prefer city to... whatever Ann Arbor is... take Penn and vice versa. They have very different vibes even though they are similarly ranked. If the money is the same, visit them both and see where you feel happier

boo jersey shore wrote:

ughOSU wrote:

boo jersey shore wrote:

ughOSU wrote:this is seriously the most overused/unoriginal joke on TLS.

Why thank you, originator of all things funny! Its good to know what is ok to laugh at, and what is not.

In related news, suck my balls.

Earth to "boo jersey shore", go fuck yourself.

I've tried, not physically possible. Still going to joke around, still don't care if you think its funny or not.

Penn State, JoePa, Nittany Lions, Big 10, etc.

DIAF

I'm really just jealous I didn't think of the joke first. Just got over it.

OP, I love Penn, but would probably take michigan if they offered me 45k. You may be able to get Penn to match it/make a competitive offer if you want to though.