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I would like to enter private practice after graduation but eventually transition into a high-level political career (open to both elected politics as well as federal government agency careers). I would be really grateful to get some helpful comments about the pro's and con's of Columbia or UVA with a 90k scholarship.

I would like to stay on the East Coast, but would not like to live in NYC for the long term.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

With that kind of money from UVA can you negotiate anything from Columbia?

I'd say go with UVA if you don't want to stay in NYC. Especially if you're fine being in DC or the Southeast; UVA does just as well if not better than Columbia.

On the other hand, I'd personally be happy with you turning down UVA's money and freeing up that much more in the scholarship pool so I have a shot at some cash there

Also, make a poll

if you want to stay in the east coast and do biglaw, columbia seems to be the answer. you seem to be okay on the financial front.

bayvcroberts wrote:if you want to stay in the east coast and do biglaw, columbia seems to be the answer. you seem to be okay on the financial front.

dunno how much OP wants to do biglaw tho, I'm guessing particularly if he wants elected politics he'd rather be able to say "I spurned a big check working for the fat cats" and went on to PI/academia than spend x years doing transactional corporate work.

OP: I'd say UVA. If you go to Columbia then probably most of the friends, connections, and job opportunities you make will be NYC-centric and you don't want to stay in NYC. UVA will give you an excellent shot in DC and could provide a good base of support if you wanted to stay there and run for office in VA

Do you want to entertain the option of west-coast careers?

B/c if you do, no one here knows what UVA is. No joke.

jeremysen wrote:Do you want to entertain the option of west-coast careers?

B/c if you do, no one here knows what UVA is. No joke.

+1

Yeah UVA prestige on the WC is nil.

jeremysen wrote:Do you want to entertain the option of west-coast careers?

B/c if you do, no one here knows what UVA is. No joke.

I don't know where this "no West Coast prestige" comes from. I've met people in foreign countries who know of UVa Law, let alone UVa. Consider also that UVa students from the West Coast do very well with West Coast employers--hell, Latham is one of the largest employers of UVa grads--my only conclusion is that the people you are talking to don't matter.

if you want short-term big law, I guess one distinction you should keep in mind is pre-screened vs. lottery OCI

showNprove wrote:

jeremysen wrote:Do you want to entertain the option of west-coast careers?

B/c if you do, no one here knows what UVA is. No joke.

I don't know where this "no West Coast prestige" comes from. I've met people in foreign countries who know of UVa Law, let alone UVa. Consider also that UVa students from the West Coast do very well with West Coast employers--hell, Latham is one of the largest employers of UVa grads--my only conclusion is that the people you are talking to don't matter.

Duno who you've been meeting dude. I have lived all over Cali, and no one knows UVa.

And my point wasn't that UVa doesn't place into Cali Biglaw - they do. My point is that if OP wants to do politics in Cali, that's a no-go.

jeremysen wrote:Duno who you've been meeting dude. I have lived all over Cali, and no one knows UVa.

And my point wasn't that UVa doesn't place into Cali Biglaw - they do. My point is that if OP wants to do politics in Cali, that's a no-go.

I've never heard of anyone running a campaign off the specific prestige of their school (e.g., "I went to Columbia Law, so vote for me in the California 47th.")

showNprove wrote:

jeremysen wrote:Duno who you've been meeting dude. I have lived all over Cali, and no one knows UVa.

And my point wasn't that UVa doesn't place into Cali Biglaw - they do. My point is that if OP wants to do politics in Cali, that's a no-go.

I've never heard of anyone running a campaign off the specific prestige of their school (e.g., "I went to Columbia Law, so vote for me in the California 47th.")

oversimplification & misinterpretation.