Top Law Schools

Hi all,

So my cycle is nearly complete (13 of 14 and Columbia most likely won't be a gamechanger) and it's looking like I've narrowed my decision to Yale and Stanford. Obviously, they are both exceptional schools but I'm having a tough time making the decision (and of course their ASW's are the same weekend).

The criteria swaying me one way or another are

I have a strong interest in academia, clerkships and politics which obviously is a big push towards Yale but I am far from sure about either and not ready to make my decision solely on that.

I want a more relaxed and collegial environment and conventional wisdom seems to point towards Stanford on this but I feel like YLS 1st semester pass/fail could pay off in this regard

I would be more interested in practicing on the East Coast but am certainly open to WC practice.

I've heard that law education at YLS is, how should I say it, ethereal and SLS is a pretty grounded and excellent education.

There are other factors but mostly I was just wondering if anyone with a similar experience could enlighten me to their decision making process and what made them choose their specific school

Is there a problem with my post that deserves eye rolling? There's a HLS v. SLS thread here already and I wanted to get feedback.

arewehavingfunyet wrote:Is there a problem with my post that deserves eye rolling? There's a HLS v. SLS thread here already and I wanted to get feedback.

Yes. Yale is the obvious answer, and I'm sure you know it too.

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arewehavingfunyet wrote:Is there a problem with my post that deserves eye rolling? There's a HLS v. SLS thread here already and I wanted to get feedback.

For the other thread, there was no answer based on the OP's interest. In your case, your described interests point directly to Yale as the obvious choice. The main reasons to choose Stanford over Yale is IP, patent, and location.

Saw this adage on here a while back: Yale turns you down; you don't turn down Yale.

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Saw this adage on here a while back: Yale turns you down; you don't turn down Yale.

Something like 20% of accepted students do...so it's not set in stone.

Doorkeeper wrote:

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Saw this adage on here a while back: Yale turns you down; you don't turn down Yale.

Something like 20% of accepted students do...so it's not set in stone.

I thought the hyperbole was self-evident. Didn't know this is srs bsns

MrPapagiorgio wrote:

Doorkeeper wrote:

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Saw this adage on here a while back: Yale turns you down; you don't turn down Yale.

Something like 20% of accepted students do...so it's not set in stone.

I thought the hyperbole was self-evident. Didn't know this is srs bsns

Teh internet is always srs bsns.

Visit both and go where you'll thrive. Keep in mind that visiting when ASW is not going on can actually be preferable to visiting for ASW.

Nevermind, I was just looking for any advice or input about either school but thank god you heroes caught me bragging! What will I do without internet validation? Thanks for not helping.

arewehavingfunyet wrote:Nevermind, I was just looking for any advice or input about either school but thank god you heroes caught me bragging! What will I do without internet validation? Thanks for not helping.

I love party down!!!!

Look up a few professors whose work interests you, try to connect with a couple of current students (outside of TLS), and visit both regardless of ASW dates.

With all of that concrete information, make the decision that is best for you. Don't let others make the decision for you. As you know, they are both incredible schools and will give you relatively similar opportunities in life.

caputlupinum wrote:

arewehavingfunyet wrote:Nevermind, I was just looking for any advice or input about either school but thank god you heroes caught me bragging! What will I do without internet validation? Thanks for not helping.

I love party down!!!!

+1. Amazing show.

arewehavingfunyet wrote:Nevermind, I was just looking for any advice or input about either school but thank god you heroes caught me bragging! What will I do without internet validation? Thanks for not helping.

There's no wrong answer. But Yale is the right answer.

If you really want academia and/or a clerkship, I think Yale is the clear choice. Other than that I think the opportunities are still better at Yale for things like gov and public interest, but lifestyle and student experience might play more of a factor if you're not totally decided on what you want to do. Also I think students at Stanford are probably a little more stressed below median for biglaw but obviously biglaw is very likely at both. I don't know, as I write this I would still take Yale, and I LOVE California, Stanford and all things warm.

Since you're interested in academia, remember that Stanford's LRAP doesn't cover academic jobs and Yale's does.

With your interests, YLS seems to make more sense. More students there are interested in academia and politics, and you will get a stronger East Coast network than SLS can provide. While I can attest to the collegiality of SLS, when I visited YLS I got a similar vibe. And I can promise you wouldn't receive a second-rate education at YLS.

That being said, you can and should visit both schools, and then let your gut decide. I know a number of students who made the decision two years ago, and each self-selected into the school where they felt most at home. All are happy and have lined up great summer jobs.

kulshan wrote:Since you're interested in academia, remember that Stanford's LRAP doesn't cover academic jobs and Yale's does.

Definitely a valid point.

arewehavingfunyet wrote:I have a strong interest in academia, clerkships

arewehavingfunyet wrote: YLS 1st semester pass/fail

arewehavingfunyet wrote:more interested in practicing on the East Coast

With these interests Yale is as close to a no brainer as you can get.

TITCR:

moneybagsphd wrote:There's no wrong answer. But Yale is the right answer.

Also, you shouldn't care that Yale's style is "ethereal." You want clerkships and academia...Yale is built around clerkships and academia.

For the ultimate in exclusivity, I think TCR is to withdraw from Yale, and the frame and hang the acceptance letter/withdrawal next to each other. There are more Yale grads than there are those who rejected Yale.

lsatcrazy wrote:For the ultimate in exclusivity, I think TCR is to withdraw from Yale, and the frame and hang the acceptance letter/withdrawal next to each other. There are more Yale grads than there are those who rejected Yale.

Hahaha, yes. I would flip if I saw that on some professor's wall.

Girl, if you visit Stanford and don't fall in love, there is something wring with you.

Koala says Stanford. Plus think of all the frequent flier miles you'll get during callbacks!

There are a few reasons to choose SLS over Yale, but you don't seem to fit into any of those categories.

SLS is better for:

Biglaw jobs
Work on the West Coast (esp. if you're not from the West Coast)

Yale is better for :

Academia
Government
Work on East Coast

As far as atmosphere, I've heard from an SLS student that its pretty intense but Yale is just as intense, if not worse. You can't go to a school that only accepts 3.9+, 99.9% LSAT, lifelong overachieving applicants and then expect students to all be relaxed.

bdubs wrote:As far as atmosphere, I've heard from an SLS student that its pretty intense but Yale is just as intense, if not worse. You can't go to a school that only accepts 3.9+, 99.9% LSAT, lifelong overachieving applicants and then expect students to all be relaxed.

I think for the OP that this is really going to be the crucial issue. I have friends at both SLS and YLS and the student body at both seem to be somewhat different from one another. You have to remember that a lot of people who chose SLS self-selected into the school versus going to H...that brings with it a certain culture to the student body that, from what I've been able to gather, is quite different from H and Y (SLS kids feel free to contradict me if you think I'm off base here). I really think the OP should make sure to go to both ASWs and get a flavor of each campus. You're going to do great coming out of both, so the question becomes whether the OP wants to spend 3 years.