UF vs UCI Forum

[aj15ufmd]

I am currently a California resident and I have been accepted to both UCI and UF. UCI has given me 1/3 off tuition and Florida has given me $8,000 a year. Although I have not really settled on what specialization I will pursue, I am leaning towards corporate, environmental, or sports law. As for where I plan to reside, I have grown up in Southern California for most of my life and I do enjoy living here. Nevertheless, I am certainly not tied down to staying in California if there are better opportunities elsewhere. My family may move to Florida in the near future, unrelated to my decision. Debt is not too big an issue for me at this point.

Obviously, UCI is a new school, and my family's primary concern has been the lack of alumni from UCI that are available to network through as well as whether UCI's name will hold enough prestige in the area when looking for internships, clerkships, jobs, etc. How are employers reacting to UCI's law school? On the flip side, UF is certainly the best law school in the state of Florida, but most of its graduates stay in Florida. For someone who is not sure yet where he plans to reside, where would the best opportunities be in the areas of law that I listed? Are either of them schools that are capable of landing me a biglaw job? The summer employment number I've seen for UCI law have been pretty impressive, but are they likely to hold up? Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Danteshek]

UF is the safer choice, I think. Have you applied to any other law schools?

[FeelTheHeat]

UF.

[aj15ufmd]

I have also been admitted to Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Marquette, and Indiana. But for the most part, I've narrowed it down to UCI and UF after visiting all the schools sans Marquette.

[FeelTheHeat]

Neither school is going to give you much mobility outside of their home state. You can receive in-state tuition at UF after a year, and while debt is not a major issue for you, limiting it is always an incentive.

UF, as you said, is the best and most respected school in the state, and even though FL is a bit of a toilet bowl right now, there are a good number of different markets (MIA, Tampa, Jax, Orlando, Tally...) that you will be at the forefront for, with your primary competition being the T14 and Emory.

[Stonewall]

go with UF. it may only be the best LS in FL by a hair, but def a better choice

[aj15ufmd]

Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated.

[keg411]

UCI, since it's where you grew up, where your family lives and where you currently have connections (whether you know it now or not). Unless you're certain your family is moving to FL, why give up the connections and pay OOS tuition at UF? If your family doesn't move, you will definitely be questioned by FL employers and you may lose out jobs to people with similar ranks (or possible lower ranks) who have always lived in FL, even if you are at the very top of the class (there is a TLS poster who went through something like this at UF).

The only reason you should go to UF is if you are 100% certain your family is moving and they move before you start law school. Otherwise, you are best to go to your own state school where you grew up and where you live now.

[FeelTheHeat]

UCI, since it's where you grew up, where your family lives and where you currently have connections (whether you know it now or not). Unless you're certain your family is moving to FL, why give up the connections and pay OOS tuition at UF? If your family doesn't move, you will definitely be questioned by FL employers and you may lose out jobs to people with similar ranks (or possible lower ranks) who have always lived in FL, even if you are at the very top of the class (there is a TLS poster who went through something like this at UF).

The only reason you should go to UF is if you are 100% certain your family is moving and they move before you start law school. Otherwise, you are best to go to your own state school where you grew up and where you live now.

This is also good advice.

[Danteshek]

I have also been admitted to Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Marquette, and Indiana. But for the most part, I've narrowed it down to UCI and UF after visiting all the schools sans Marquette.

I am not so sure UCI is a better choice than Pepperdine.

[aj15ufmd]

I have also been admitted to Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Marquette, and Indiana. But for the most part, I've narrowed it down to UCI and UF after visiting all the schools sans Marquette.

I am not so sure UCI is a better choice than Pepperdine.

Yeah, I have heard that as well from some people. One of the issues with Pepperdine is the lack of scholarship money, meaning I'd have to pay full tuition, and the cost of living up there in Malibu and the surrounding area.

[alexonfyre]

Lot of UCI hate in this thread, dunno why.
UCI has a superstar faculty and a one-of-a-kind law school experience. It doesn't have a ton of alumni, but it does have a lot of interest from the legal community. Out of 60 students in the inaugural class, 41 got OCIs, with over 70 employers participating. I wouldn't worry too much about job prospects from UCI, especially since they gave a pretty solid scholly. Caveat Emptor to UCI is that it is heavily (some might say exclusively) geared to public interest. If you don't want to do public interest, then don't go there. If you are interested in PI, then I would pick UCI hands down over UF.

[Danteshek]

I think the UCI "hate" stems from the fact/perception that UCI is trying to buy its way into the top tier of law schools on the public dime. I also question whether UCI's "commitment" to public interest is genuine, or simply a marketing ploy to get support from the state.

[sfxx]

, I am leaning towards corporate, environmental, or sports law.

retake score 180 and go to HYS

[gwuorbust]

, I am leaning towards corporate, environmental, or sports law.

retake score 180 and go to HYS

120

[gwuorbust]

OP, honestly I don't think either schools seem great for your situation. if forced, I would choose UCI simply because CA is where you family and connections are. you've not gotten into any of the other of the UC schools?

[alexonfyre]

I think the UCI "hate" stems from the fact/perception that UCI is trying to buy its way into the top tier of law schools on the public dime. I also question whether UCI's "commitment" to public interest is genuine, or simply a marketing ploy to get support from the state.

Even if that is true, what does any of that have to do with OP's career decision? You may want to give OP the facts and let him decide if he wants to reject a very good offer from UCI on principle.

[LettuceBeefRealTea]

uci

family
socal>florida
insane teachers
better money
class size
la nearby
being apart of shaping a new institution

i would think the sports/corporate market would be better too.

[aj15ufmd]

OP, honestly I don't think either schools seem great for your situation. if forced, I would choose UCI simply because CA is where you family and connections are. you've not gotten into any of the other of the UC schools?

Haven't heard back from the other UCs yet, but odds aren't too likely for those ones based on my numbers at this point. Also, UF's scholly requires a response by the beginning of April so I want to make a decision as soon as I can. I visited both UF and UCI within the past couple weeks. Both are great schools, but the faculty at UCI seemed more impressive to me. That seems to be the impression I've gotten from others as well during this process who say that the professors at UCI are so good that it outweighs the negatives of a new school such as lack of an alumni base, etc. It does seem likely that my family is going to move to Florida, so that is certainly something I've been considering as a major factor; however I've grown up in Southern California and I have more of an understanding of the legal community here, so I'm not sure how heavily to weigh that.

[aj15ufmd]

Just wanted to update this thread a bit. If I were to accept my admission to UF with the scholarship, it would need to be by April 1st. So obviously time is running out, fortunately they said I can fax the enrollment forms in so that means I have probably today and tomorrow to make the decision if I were to go to UF. I've talked it over with my family, and they are moving to Florida in the fall and that is something I have to consider. Things I've read about UCI seem to be mixed. Some practicing lawyers as well as other law professors seem to be very excited about UCI and its prospects. Whereas others are unsure of what to expect, and it seems on this forum UCI isn't held in the highest regard because of its bold claims that it expects to be a top 20 school. With UF, I know what to expect and I will receive a quality education and with the alumni network, job prospects are fairly positive. UCI is an unknown at this point. Clearly, they are going to try to get their new students jobs as quickly as possible to help further their reputation, but in a crowded Southern California market with schools like UCLA and USC so close by, what kind of weight will be the UCI name carry?

[alexonfyre]

Just wanted to update this thread a bit. If I were to accept my admission to UF with the scholarship, it would need to be by April 1st. So obviously time is running out, fortunately they said I can fax the enrollment forms in so that means I have probably today and tomorrow to make the decision if I were to go to UF. I've talked it over with my family, and they are moving to Florida in the fall and that is something I have to consider. Things I've read about UCI seem to be mixed. Some practicing lawyers as well as other law professors seem to be very excited about UCI and its prospects. Whereas others are unsure of what to expect, and it seems on this forum UCI isn't held in the highest regard because of its bold claims that it expects to be a top 20 school. With UF, I know what to expect and I will receive a quality education and with the alumni network, job prospects are fairly positive. UCI is an unknown at this point. Clearly, they are going to try to get their new students jobs as quickly as possible to help further their reputation, but in a crowded Southern California market with schools like UCLA and USC so close by, what kind of weight will be the UCI name carry?

I will put this little factoid here, as I did in the other thread, For the 3 years it has been open, the number of participants in OCIs has EXCEEDED the number of students. There were certainly some that didn't get any interviews, but most got multiple.

[Danteshek]

UCI is new kid on the block. Go to UF.