Temple Law or Villanova Law Forum

[PennStateBoy]

I am trying to decide between Temple and Villanova for law school. I want to work in Philly and do patent law, I am not obsessed with big law like most people on TLS, but I would like to keep that option open. As far as scholarships go:

Villanova- ($20,000/year)
Temple-(in-state)-(2,500/year)

so basically they come out very close to each other with Temple still being a little cheaper,but the difference is not a big deal because I have no undergrad debt and my parents are covering most of my non-tuition expenses. Personally I am having a hard time deciding, I am currently leaning towards Temple because I feel they are more selective. I actually was a little more impressed with Temples facilities, but I can't deny that I am a little nervous about the area Temple is in, even if I am not going to be living in that area of Philly. Your input and opinions are much appreciated.

[HeavenWood]

I am trying to decide between Temple and Villanova for law school. I want to work in Philly and do patent law, I am not obsessed with big law like most people on TLS, but I would like to keep that option open. As far as scholarships go:

Villanova- ($20,000/year)
Temple-(in-state)-(2,500/year)

so basically they come out very close to each other with Temple still being a little cheaper,but the difference is not a big deal because I have no undergrad debt and my parents are covering most of my non-tuition expenses. Personally I am having a hard time deciding, I am currently leaning towards Temple because I feel they are more selective. I actually was a little more impressed with Temples facilities, but I can't deny that I am a little nervous about the area Temple is in, even if I am not going to be living in that area of Philly. Your input and opinions are much appreciated.

Given that the cost difference is negligible, just pick the one you like more.

[seespotrun]

I am trying to decide between Temple and Villanova for law school. I want to work in Philly and do patent law, I am not obsessed with big law like most people on TLS, but I would like to keep that option open. As far as scholarships go:

Villanova- ($20,000/year)
Temple-(in-state)-(2,500/year)

so basically they come out very close to each other with Temple still being a little cheaper,but the difference is not a big deal because I have no undergrad debt and my parents are covering most of my non-tuition expenses. Personally I am having a hard time deciding, I am currently leaning towards Temple because I feel they are more selective. I actually was a little more impressed with Temples facilities, but I can't deny that I am a little nervous about the area Temple is in, even if I am not going to be living in that area of Philly. Your input and opinions are much appreciated.

Given that the cost difference is negligible, just pick the one you like more.

+1

Also, if you want to practice patent law, you'll have to do so in a large firm (in most cases).

[paul7lee]

I say Temple. I'm actually at Temple right now visiting. Will be at Nova tomorrow for their admitted students day. To me, I got a really honest and straight-shooter vibe from Temple. After my student day was over, I was speaking with the former dean/current prof for 45 min. It was pretty awesome.

I guess I'll have to give a more holistic answer after I visit Nova.

Also if it's worth anything, Temple jumped 11 spots to 61 on USNews while Nova dropped 17 or so to 84.

[HeavenWood]

Also if it's worth anything, Temple jumped 11 spots to 61 on USNews while Nova dropped 17 or so to 84.

It's not.

[seriously????]

I am trying to decide between Temple and Villanova for law school. I want to work in Philly and do patent law, I am not obsessed with big law like most people on TLS, but I would like to keep that option open. As far as scholarships go:

Villanova- ($20,000/year)
Temple-(in-state)-(2,500/year)

so basically they come out very close to each other with Temple still being a little cheaper,but the difference is not a big deal because I have no undergrad debt and my parents are covering most of my non-tuition expenses. Personally I am having a hard time deciding, I am currently leaning towards Temple because I feel they are more selective. I actually was a little more impressed with Temples facilities, but I can't deny that I am a little nervous about the area Temple is in, even if I am not going to be living in that area of Philly. Your input and opinions are much appreciated.

what do you mean more selective? because their median lsat may be 1 pt higher? temples numbers are similar to all other T2 numbers, just OK stats across the board. and if they were selective, they would have taken me instead of the waitlist (170, 2.7). And yeah, I am pretty confident that I could dust most of the class with a 161 lsat.
but aside from that, you wanna live in philly or a suburb of philly? that's the only real question to resolve

[phillaw]

i don't think nervousness about Temple's campus is a valid factor. if you think it is, you'll probably feel nervous in any part of a major city. you'll feel nervous at city hall and nervous at the U.S. district court. that means you shouldn't practice in center city, unless you can afford to only ride in cabs or chartered cars. being on temple's campus is no different than being in suburban or market east station. if you can't take temple's campus, you can't take public areas in philadelphia.

if you are nervous, then go to villanova. it will keep you in the suburbs, plus their alumni network is strong in the suburbs. there are a few biglaw branches out there with some patent people.

[HeavenWood]

And yeah, I am pretty confident that I could dust most of the class with a 161 lsat.

This is a bold (and baseless) assumption.

[HeavenWood]

if you are nervous, then go to villanova. it will keep you in the suburbs, plus their alumni network is strong in the suburbs. there are a few biglaw branches out there with some patent people.

Villanova places in the city just as strongly as Temple, and while I agree that Temple's campus is safe enough, the immediately surrounding areas are not.

[Big Shrimpin]

Also, if you want to practice patent law, you'll have to do so in a large firm (in most cases).

TCR. In Philly, there are a few, but not many, patent firms. Caveat emptor.

[BarbellDreams]

If CoA is equal I think Temple is better than Nova.

[HeavenWood]

If CoA is equal I think Temple is better than Nova.

I disagree with this. Some firms have "favorites," but for the most part, Temple and Villanova grads have equal access to the Philadelphia legal market.

[phillaw]

if you are nervous, then go to villanova. it will keep you in the suburbs, plus their alumni network is strong in the suburbs. there are a few biglaw branches out there with some patent people.

Villanova places in the city just as strongly as Temple, and while I agree that Temple's campus is safe enough, the immediately surrounding areas are not.

for the city, you're right. but i think nova has a stronger alum network in the suburbs. so if you want to stay in the suburbs, nova might be a better choice.

who goes to the "immediately surrounding areas" of temple anyway? no one. so i think that really is a non-issue, unless you're supersensitive to being in public generally.

[HeavenWood]

who goes to the "immediately surrounding areas" of temple anyway? no one. so i think that really is a non-issue, unless you're supersensitive to being in public generally.

One would probably have to travel through them to get to campus. Still, I agree that one should be fine so long as he/she has common sense.

[phillaw]

who goes to the "immediately surrounding areas" of temple anyway? no one. so i think that really is a non-issue, unless you're supersensitive to being in public generally.

One would probably have to travel through them to get to campus. Still, I agree that one should be fine so long as he/she has common sense.

if by "travel through", you mean in a car or in a train. is it really that scary to drive on n. broad st. or ride the subway? come on, you're in a car or on a train full of students. if it is scary, have fun not going anywhere in philadelphia.

[HeavenWood]

who goes to the "immediately surrounding areas" of temple anyway? no one. so i think that really is a non-issue, unless you're supersensitive to being in public generally.

One would probably have to travel through them to get to campus. Still, I agree that one should be fine so long as he/she has common sense.

if by "travel through", you mean in a car or in a train. is it really that scary to drive on n. broad st. or ride the subway? come on, you're in a car or on a train full of students. if it is scary, have fun not going anywhere in philadelphia.

Drive? No. Subway? Maybe. I've heard some horror stories.

I love Philadelphia, but even I'll admit that outside of Center City and University City (along with the inner limits of Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, South Philly, and other surrounding areas), the city is dangerous, or at the very least blighted and unappealing.

[bjsesq]

And yeah, I am pretty confident that I could dust most of the class with a 161 lsat.
but aside from that, you wanna live in philly or a suburb of philly? that's the only real question to resolve

Holy shit. Seriously?

[beach_terror]

This thread has way too many baseless assumptions. If you don't know the Philadelphia market, don't start speaking out of your ass. Leave it to current students at both schools and those that know the market, ffs.

[HeavenWood]

This thread has way too many baseless assumptions. If you don't know the Philadelphia market, don't start speaking out of your ass. Leave it to current students at both schools and those that know the market, ffs.

I'm looking forward to this thread exploding with more baseless assumptions.

[voltage88]

If any current Temple or Villanova students wanna chime in with their $.02 with regards to each school's reputation/reach within the city, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say.

[paul7lee]

And yeah, I am pretty confident that I could dust most of the class with a 161 lsat.

This is a bold (and baseless) assumption.

Yeah seriously. 170? That's it? What happened to the other 10 pts? Hahaha. Good luck with your dust buster!

[claudenm]

who goes to the "immediately surrounding areas" of temple anyway? no one. so i think that really is a non-issue, unless you're supersensitive to being in public generally.

One would probably have to travel through them to get to campus. Still, I agree that one should be fine so long as he/she has common sense.

if by "travel through", you mean in a car or in a train. is it really that scary to drive on n. broad st. or ride the subway? come on, you're in a car or on a train full of students. if it is scary, have fun not going anywhere in philadelphia.

Drive? No. Subway? Maybe. I've heard some horror stories.

I love Philadelphia, but even I'll admit that outside of Center City and University City (along with the inner limits of Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, South Philly, and other surrounding areas), the city is dangerous, or at the very least blighted and unappealing.

Temple's campus is the second safest police district in Philadelphia. Safer than Center city. I've heard some horror stories about villanova.

[BarbellDreams]

If any current Temple or Villanova students wanna chime in with their $.02 with regards to each school's reputation/reach within the city, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say.

This will turn into Temple students saying they place better and are more respected and Nova students saying the same.

[HeavenWood]

Temple's campus is the second safest police district in Philadelphia. Safer than Center city. I've heard some horror stories about villanova.

You completely missed my point. I repeatedly said that while Temple's campus is fine, I could understand why people aren't thrilled with its location (and the horror stories I was referring to had to do with the subway, not the campus. What horror stories could you possibly have heard about Villanova?)

[JD2014]

Are there any stips on the Nova scholarship? If there is any risk of losing the scholarship, Temple is the clear choice.