BC (sticker) v Suffolk (full)--biglaw and/or fed clerkship Forum

[fenway]

where

[fenway]

bump (*please)

[Leeroy Jenkins]

BC

[najumobi]

where

it pains me to say this b/c i don't think bc is worth sticker but if your goal is biglaw and/or a fed clerkship, you'd have to go with bc. even before the recession. the % of suffolk grads getting biglaw was close to 0%. with bc you can land biglaw or a fed clerkship by being in the top 1/4 to 1/3 of your class. after your first year you can evaluate whether or not you're on track to getting either of those two and gauging whether it's worth it to continue law school at 60k to 70k/yr cost of attendance.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

even before the recession. the % of suffolk grads getting biglaw was close to 0%.

10-15%

[tram988]

even before the recession. the % of suffolk grads getting biglaw was close to 0%.

10-15%

show me nlj250 stats confirming this. I can show you 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008-- Suffolk was less than 5%. BC is usually around 45% but obviously in this economy it's not so high. 2009 was 35%.

BC sticker. The End.

[najumobi]

even before the recession. the % of suffolk grads getting biglaw was close to 0%.

10-15%

oh...woops. sorry.
i had been going off of this: http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/composite.pdf which shows 2.5%.

[tram988]

Just to let you know I turned down Suffolk full ride for BC. It was an easy choice.

[Grizz]

Somewhere else. BC is not worth sticker.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Somewhere else. BC is not worth sticker.

OP probably wants to stay in boston. He doesn't have a choice.

[najumobi]

Somewhere else. BC is not worth sticker.

OP probably wants to stay in boston. He doesn't have a choice.

suffolk isn't necessarily a bad choice if it's a full scholly without stipulation. it's just that his goals are quite high relative to his options. if he just wanted to see if he could attain just any legal job suffolk option would be a great one.

[Grizz]

Somewhere else. BC is not worth sticker.

OP probably wants to stay in boston. He doesn't have a choice.

Without knowing more, I stand by my original snap judgment.

[concurrent fork]

What are the conditions of the full ride? If it is guaranteed 3 yrs I would lean toward Suffolk. IMHO $120,000 is far too much of a gamble for the limited biglaw prospects of BU/BC ITE. If you want Boston, Suffolk does surprisingly well for itself despite its rank, but you will have to settle for a smaller firm or gov/PI.

If you are going in with a biglaw or bust mentality, the best thing you can do is retake and get into a T14.

[keg411]

If you are really BigLaw+FedClerkship or bust, you need to re-take and reapply for T14. BC placed about 30% in a good economy, but I don't know what they placed last year (talk to 2L's - maybe the Boston legal market OCI went okay; it's certainly possible).

If these are the choices, and OP really just wants to work in Boston, I'd pick BC at sticker over Suffolk. I don't care if it's a full ride, especially when there is a 99.9% chance it has some draconian stipulation on it. I also think the opportunities for BC grads are >>>>>>> than the opportunities for Suffolk grads post-graduation. However, OP, if you are very debt averse and have connections within the legal community in Boston (be it friends, relatives, etc.) then Suffolk isn't a terrible idea (though I would suggest you ask those connections first).

[tram988]

If you are really BigLaw+FedClerkship or bust, you need to re-take and reapply for T14. BC placed about 30% in a good economy, but I don't know what they placed last year (talk to 2L's - maybe the Boston legal market OCI went okay; it's certainly possible).

If these are the choices, and OP really just wants to work in Boston, I'd pick BC at sticker over Suffolk. I don't care if it's a full ride, especially when there is a 99.9% chance it has some draconian stipulation on it. I also think the opportunities for BC grads are >>>>>>> than the opportunities for Suffolk grads post-graduation. However, OP, if you are very debt averse and have connections within the legal community in Boston (be it friends, relatives, etc.) then Suffolk isn't a terrible idea (though I would suggest you ask those connections first).

BC placed about 46% alone in NLJ250 firms and another 10% or so in federal clerkships in a good economy. BC >>>> Suffolk

[romothesavior]

Neither. Change your career goals and go to Suffolk or pick a different school.

[tram988]

At least you have about a 20% chance at biglaw coming out of BC and another 10% chance of a clerkship. At Suffolk biglaw is almost nonexistent.

[romothesavior]

At least you have about a 20% chance at biglaw coming out of BC and another 10% chance of a clerkship.

Well sign me up!

[Grizz]

At least you have about a 20% chance at biglaw coming out of BC and another 10% chance of a clerkship.

Not worth sticker by a long shot.

[tram988]

it may even be greater I dont know. The most recent data we have shows 35%, in 2009. This coupled with about 10% in clerkships isn't too bad. In 2008 BC was placing around 46% in biglaw alone. It's still a risky bet if you have the biglaw or nothing mindset. I'm personally staying clear of biglaw and paying around half tuition. Sticker is tough, but I would avoid Suffolk at all costs.

[KMaine]

First of all, I would like to say congratulations. Your credentials are obviously strong to have both of those offers. Both are respected schools in Boston, and I am sure that your family is very proud.

Here is the problem with your goals. The offer at Suffolk will not get you Biglaw, though to graduate debt-free is awesome and you may very well be able to create a nice life for yourself.

BC is a very good school, but the debt you will have to take on is astronomical. Now, if you get Biglaw, you will be able to pay it off. However, there may only be a 20% chance of this happening. Think of all of the other people who were accepted at BC Law and how smart they are. You will have to do better than 4/5ths of them (ouch).

BUT, if you bring up your LSAT maybe 2 points, Vandy and Cornell come into the picture, maybe you double your chances at Biglaw. With another 2 after that, most of the lower T-14, etc. etc. etc. More points get you more money at all of those schools. Note: many here would not take any but the T-6 without money, others still limit this to HYS.

I think that Romo is right here. Neither of the two options is ideal for your goals. Of the two, I would probably take Suffolk (low risk, but low reward) or retake and reapply.

[tram988]

I assume you guys would hold the same opinion for BU/GW at sticker?

[tram988]

First of all, I would like to say congratulations. Your credentials are obviously strong to have both of those offers. Both are respected schools in Boston, and I am sure that your family is very proud.

Here is the problem with your goals. The offer at Suffolk will not get you Biglaw, though to graduate debt-free is awesome and you may very well be able to create a nice life for yourself.

BC is a very good school, but the debt you will have to take on is astronomical. Now, if you get Biglaw, you will be able to pay it off. However, there may only be a 20% chance of this happening. Think of all of the other people who were accepted at BC Law and how smart they are. You will have to do better than 4/5ths of them (ouch).

BUT, if you bring up your LSAT maybe 2 points, Vandy and Cornell come into the picture, maybe you double your chances at Biglaw. With another 2 after that, most of the lower T-14, etc. etc. etc. More points get you more money at all of those schools. Note: many here would not take any but the T-6 without money, others still limit this to HYS.

I think that Romo is right here. Neither of the two options is ideal for your goals. Of the two, I would probably take Suffolk (low risk, but low reward) or retake and reapply.

From the most recent statistics (2009), Vandy placed 47% in biglaw vs. BC's 36%. Not double, but definitely better.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... hbxlogin=1

[Grizz]

I assume you guys would hold the same opinion for BU/GW at sticker?

Yep.

[romothesavior]

I assume you guys would hold the same opinion for BU/GW at sticker?

Yep.

+1. I wouldn't even pay sticker for Cornell or Georgetown.