UGA vs. Bama Forum

[iosborn12]

So here is my fun situation: I am in at UGA which is looking like OOS sticker and in at Alabama with a $70k scholly with a top 40% stip (reduces to $10k a year if i fall below top 40%, with the possibility of getting instate tuition my 2nd year it could be roughly the same cost).

I am not originally from the south (from Massachusetts but have been living in Baltimore for the past 3 years) but went to undergrad in SC. I really want to work in Atlanta. Quite frankly I am dissapointed I didn't work there when I graduated, but it was 2009 and I jumped at the first opportunity I had. I am not opposed to working in some of the smaller towns in Georgia or Alabama, but I get the feeling from TLS that firms in those towns would be opposed to hiring me. Is it worth going to either school with that in mind? Is undergrad in South Carolina enough of a tie for smaller southern firms, or am I going to just be Atlanta biglaw or bust? I know Its possible at both schools, but certainly not something to bank on from either, with the chances obviously being better--but still not good--atUGA.

My numbers are 2.95/168. I transfered after two years at a small private school in new york where I did very poorly my Sophomore year and trended very far up once I moved, but obviously this is nothing more than a feel good soft. I am not opposed to retaking-I was prep testing in the 171-174 range-but I am not sure if that would make any differnce for UVA or Vandy.

Any advise/thoughts would be helpful. Thanks!

[rad lulz]

.

[flem]

I wouldn't go to either of these if not from AL or GA, which you're not. ATL isn't that parochial, but ATL is a freaking slaughterhouse. If you get in-state for years 2 and 3 and UGA, you wouldn't be making an atrocious decision, per se, but it has a pretty big risk of not getting you what you want.

All of this is credited.

Also, to be frank, have you been to these schools? They're going to HATE your Massachussetts ass. The south is retarded about stuff like that.

[Aberzombie1892]

I wouldn't go to either of these if not from AL or GA, which you're not. ATL isn't that parochial, but ATL is a freaking slaughterhouse. If you get in-state for years 2 and 3 and UGA, you wouldn't be making an atrocious decision, per se, but it has a pretty big risk of not getting you what you want.

All of this is credited.

Also, to be frank, have you been to these schools? They're going to HATE your Massachussetts ass. The south is retarded about stuff like that.

I'm not sure I would go that far. However, rad lulz is pretty much right on.

[kroakstool]

I wouldn't go to either of these if not from AL or GA, which you're not. ATL isn't that parochial, but ATL is a freaking slaughterhouse. If you get in-state for years 2 and 3 and UGA, you wouldn't be making an atrocious decision, per se, but it has a pretty big risk of not getting you what you want.

All of this is credited.

Also, to be frank, have you been to these schools? They're going to HATE your Massachussetts ass. The south is retarded about stuff like that.

I'm not sure I would go that far. However, rad lulz is pretty much right on.

I don't think people in law school will say anything about you being from Mass. I think the stigma that the south is xenophobic is questionable. You'll be fine, especially considering you've been in the south before and aren't just there to go to law school. If you want to make it your home, people will respect that.

[rad lulz]

.

[Gail]

I don't think people in law school will say anything about you being from Mass. I think the stigma that the south is xenophobic is questionable. You'll be fine, especially considering you've been in the south before and aren't just there to go to law school. If you want to make it your home, people will respect that.

My family integrated into one of the most southern of the southern states just fine. Regular bubbas now even despite the fact that they essentially came as carpet-baggers.


The south likes southerners, but I've never experienced "hatred".

[kroakstool]

I don't think people in law school will say anything about you being from Mass. I think the stigma that the south is xenophobic is questionable. You'll be fine, especially considering you've been in the south before and aren't just there to go to law school. If you want to make it your home, people will respect that.

You don't sound like you're from around here, boy.

lol @ "been in the south before"

I grew up in Georgia. Obviously there are some country bumpkins, but if you are working in Atlanta, you'll be around normal ppl.

[rad lulz]

.

[iosborn12]

I don't like his chances in Macon/Resaca/Valdosta/etc., in the event that ATL doesn't pan out, which is a real possibility, because seriously, the market is horrific there. It's not ATL I'm worried about.

This is my big concern. I think I would be screwed if I wound up outside the top 20% at UGA, which is obviously what I have to assume going in. The problem is I don't know where I could go where I wouldn't be screwed. BC/BU are pretty much out because, even if i retook and got a 17x, my GPA would keep me from getting scholarships necessary to go to either one. Maryland is a tough sell because there is so much competition in the immediate area, and although I've been here for 3 years, Baltimore is tough on ties because of the private school cliques that exist well beyond high school.

I am heading down to UGA next weekend and hopefully I will get a chance to talk to some out of state kids to see how everything has gone for them.

[RareAir]

Also, to be frank, have you been to these schools? They're going to HATE your Massachussetts ass. The south is retarded about stuff like that.

People have been moving south for the last decade. The south has been growing substantially over the last 20 years, while the northeast has seen fairly stagnant/negative growth. If the south was "retarded" about northerner's moving in, why are northerners coming in droves?

[caputlupinum]

The clear choice is Bama since it actually has (small but measurable) NLJ placement.... you should not really even consider UGA

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

[jarv1506]

I don't like his chances in Macon/Resaca/Valdosta/etc., in the event that ATL doesn't pan out, which is a real possibility, because seriously, the market is horrific there. It's not ATL I'm worried about.

This is my big concern. I think I would be screwed if I wound up outside the top 20% at UGA, which is obviously what I have to assume going in. The problem is I don't know where I could go where I wouldn't be screwed. BC/BU are pretty much out because, even if i retook and got a 17x, my GPA would keep me from getting scholarships necessary to go to either one. Maryland is a tough sell because there is so much competition in the immediate area, and although I've been here for 3 years, Baltimore is tough on ties because of the private school cliques that exist well beyond high school.

I am heading down to UGA next weekend and hopefully I will get a chance to talk to some out of state kids to see how everything has gone for them.

Dude, I'm an OOS 1L at UGA pm me with any questions you have.

[chiwachiwa]

The clear choice is Bama since it actually has (small but measurable) NLJ placement.... you should not really even consider UGA

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

Both have similar placement power in their markets. They are nearly identical schools. The NLJ stats from one year are a poor reason to make this decision.

[Sandro]

The clear choice is Bama since it actually has (small but measurable) NLJ placement.... you should not really even consider UGA

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

What terrible, terrible advice. You should be banned.

[iShotFirst]

There are students from different states here at UGA. No one cares. In general, a ton of people from other states are moving to Atlanta (80% of the population of Gwinnett county, one of the larger and richer counties near Atlanta, moved there since 1990).

I have no ties to Georgia except for working here on a project for a few months and going to UGA. I still got interviews from firms in Augusta, Macon, Savannah, etc (Top third). Georgia is much more welcoming to out-of-staters than Alabama(or almost any other state in the South, I would except North Carolina and Florida from this), come on.