Top Law Schools

I posted this thread as a hypothetical three months ago and really appreciated the responses/advice I received, but today things just got real. I'm hoping for more perspectives. I was accepted to Northwestern a few hours ago. I have one week to make a decision between UPenn and NU. I honestly feel like I'm split 50/50 right now. Please help me out. Relevant information:

* Assume both schools at sticker.
* I'm from Cleveland, and have no desire to come back to Ohio.
* My number 1 goal is a BigLaw job, or a job that pays market.
* Interested in tax/securities law.
* I would rather live and work in Chicago than NYC post graduation (though I wouldn't mind NYC, and I have many friends in both Chicago and NYC.
* I visited both schools and cities, and really liked them both. I could see spending 3 years in either.

I plan on doing my research over the next few days, but any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much to everyone ahead of time.

I think it'll be easier for you to get Chicago big law out of NU, and NYC biglaw out of Penn? If that's the deciding factor then... ya.

ahduth wrote:I think it'll be easier for you to get Chicago big law out of NU, and NYC biglaw out of Penn? If that's the deciding factor then... ya.

Yeah, but will I be hurting my chances at BigLaw overall if I went with NU? I think that's pretty much the root of the issue.

Anyone that voted care to weigh in with why? Thanks again.

Upton Sinclair wrote:Anyone that voted care to weigh in with why? Thanks again.

I voted NU because go Wildcats. But have you tried this method of deciding?

Bumi wrote:

I have got to try this sometime.

Bumi wrote:

Upton Sinclair wrote:Anyone that voted care to weigh in with why? Thanks again.

I voted NU because go Wildcats. But have you tried this method of deciding?

That's pretty cool.

I think part of what makes this so hard is that I had no business getting into Penn, so it feels like I shouldn't turn it down.

Chicago or NYC ?

Upton Sinclair wrote:That's pretty cool.

I think part of what makes this so hard is that I had no business getting into Penn, so it feels like I shouldn't turn it down.

I'm going to start posting it in all of these threads.

Looks like the poll is going to shape up to be a close win for Penn, which is legitimate. But the closeness of the results should indicate to you that you don't HAVE to take the Penn offer - some TLS posters might think that, but it's far from consensus. So carefully consider what you want and what you care about before you decide. Choose Penn because of what it gets you and the experience you'll have there, not because you think you have to.

No srsly come to NU, it'll be awesome, who cares about jobs when you could be in Chicago

Are both at sticker?

Upton Sinclair wrote:

ahduth wrote:I think it'll be easier for you to get Chicago big law out of NU, and NYC biglaw out of Penn? If that's the deciding factor then... ya.

Yeah, but will I be hurting my chances at BigLaw overall if I went with NU? I think that's pretty much the root of the issue.

i don't think so? in past years NU has blown everyone out of the water (minus columbia maybe) for biglaw stats. you really can't go wrong with either

Flips88 wrote:Are both at sticker?

What gave it away? The first bullet point that says, "Assume both schools at sticker?"

Flips88 wrote:Are both at sticker?

Yeah, the email said no scholly $ available.

paulinaporizkova wrote: i don't think so? in past years NU has blown everyone out of the water (minus columbia maybe) for biglaw stats.

Yeah, but you know what they say about NU's employment stats. They are inflated because most NU grads were super awesome before they even get to campus.

bfaiken wrote:

Flips88 wrote:Are both at sticker?

What gave it away? The first bullet point that says, "Assume both schools at sticker?"

hey there, i bet you're a fun one

Bumi wrote:

paulinaporizkova wrote: i don't think so? in past years NU has blown everyone out of the water (minus columbia maybe) for biglaw stats.

Yeah, but you know what they say about NU's employment stats. They are inflated because most NU grads were super awesome before they even get to campus.

This is something else that worries me. My work experience pales in comparison, I'm sure. I don't want that to hurt me at OCI.

Upton Sinclair wrote:

Bumi wrote:Yeah, but you know what they say about NU's employment stats. They are inflated because most NU grads were super awesome before they even get to campus.

This is something else that worries me. My work experience pales in comparison, I'm sure. I don't want that to hurt me at OCI.

Pssh, I was mostly kidding. I have no idea if it's a real thing.

Upton Sinclair wrote:

Bumi wrote:

paulinaporizkova wrote: i don't think so? in past years NU has blown everyone out of the water (minus columbia maybe) for biglaw stats.

Yeah, but you know what they say about NU's employment stats. They are inflated because most NU grads were super awesome before they even get to campus.

This is something else that worries me. My work experience pales in comparison, I'm sure. I don't want that to hurt me at OCI.

I've had this concern too a bit. I'm only 1 year out of UG and the three things I've done for work in that time aren't terribly impressive. I honestly don't think it will hurt much if at all for OCI. If you were good enough to get into Northwestern, then your resume should at least be pretty good.

Thanks for all the responses so far. Anyone pro-Penn care to explain why?

Probably because they are on NU's waitlist.

If you don't have Chicago ties and prefer Chicago to NYC, go to NU. Given your background, it will be much easier to get Chicago biglaw out of NU than Penn. At the same time, NU doesn't exclude you from NYC either if you change your mind.

They're both great schools, and I honestly suspect people on this board may be voting for Penn because you're looking at Top 10 school vs. non Top 10 school. If you had no Chicago preference or if you had ties I would honestly probably vote Penn given a lack of a a strong preference for either school. However, I do think NU is a better fit for you here.

(Plus, let's be honest, NU's law school location > Penn's law school location :/ )

czelede wrote:If you don't have Chicago ties and prefer Chicago to NYC, go to NU. Given your background, it will be much easier to get Chicago biglaw out of NU than Penn. At the same time, NU doesn't exclude you from NYC either if you change your mind.

They're both great schools, and I honestly suspect people on this board may be voting for Penn because you're looking at Top 10 school vs. non Top 10 school. If you had no Chicago preference or if you had ties I would honestly probably vote Penn given a lack of a a strong preference for either school. However, I do think NU is a better fit for you here.

(Plus, let's be honest, NU's law school location > Penn's law school location :/ )

Thanks, this was a really helpful response.

Upton Sinclair wrote:Thanks for all the responses so far. Anyone pro-Penn care to explain why?

Better for biglaw over all if that is more important to you than biglaw in chicago.

Anyone have links for NLJ stats for the past few years? I'm swamped at work or I'd go searching. TYIA.

NLJ 250 Stats

Year; NU; Penn -- Margin of placement
2007; 73.5%; 69% -- NU +4.5%
2008;62.9%;67.7% -- Penn +4.8%
2009;55.9%;50.8% -- NU +5.1%
2010;44.4%;53.3% -- Penn +8.9%

Over the past 4 years Penn and Northwestern have alternated spots in NLJ 250 placement.

I think the real reason that people think Penn has much better biglaw placement is that the very top NYC firms tend to recruit more heavily from Penn than from NU. Wachtell interviews and hires at Penn, but doesn't come to NU OCI.

If those are jobs that you don't care about and you would rather work in Chicago, come to NU.