Top Law Schools

Okay, so I was accepted at USC and just now waitlisted at UCLA. I don't know anything about $$$ at USC yet, but I'm trying to look into the major differences between the two to see if it is even worth getting on the WL at UCLA or if I should just withdraw now. Are there any huge benefits to going to UCLA over USC? Is there any edge at getting big law or anything like that? Hypothetically, if I decided to go to USC only to find out that I was accepted off the WL at UCLA, would it be worth packing up and jumping ship at the last minute?

Conventional TLS wisdom will say they are peer schools, and for the most part the NLJ 250+Art III numbers will back that up. People say UCLA has more national reach than USC, but both don't carry that far outside of SoCal anyways. With the UC tuition hikes I believe they cost about the same too.

However, the area around UCLA (Westwood) >>>> than USC (Downtown) so that is a major edge in UCLA's favor if the location around the school is important to you.

Green Glass Windows wrote:Okay, so I was accepted at USC and just now waitlisted at UCLA. I don't know anything about $$$ at USC yet, but I'm trying to look into the major differences between the two to see if it is even worth getting on the WL at UCLA or if I should just withdraw now. Are there any huge benefits to going to UCLA over USC? Is there any edge at getting big law or anything like that? Hypothetically, if I decided to go to USC only to find out that I was accepted off the WL at UCLA, would it be worth packing up and jumping ship at the last minute?

I think people at these schools consider them to be peers. And at least in the NLJ250 "go-to" schools from last week USC was ranked higher

They're most definitely peers.

Pick the one that offers you the most money (including possible need-based aid), but you'll also be able to weigh other [soft] factors in your decision as well.

Have you visited both?

Did undergrad in LA here. (wont specify).

Revolver066 wrote:Conventional TLS wisdom will say they are peer schools, and for the most part the NLJ 250+Art III numbers will back that up. People say UCLA has more national reach than USC, but both don't carry that far outside of SoCal anyways. With the UC tuition hikes I believe they cost about the same too.

However, the area around UCLA (Westwood) >>>> than USC (Downtown) so that is a major edge in UCLA's favor if the location around the school is important to you.

I want to comment on these two points, which are BY far the most important, since Revolver is VERY correct in saying that the reach is limited outside of SoCal (Though it is VERY good IN SoCal).

1) UCLA is MUCH more expensive than USC. ~54K vs. ~48K

2) UCLA is MUCH nicer than USC (at least in terms of law facilities). USC law is the ONLY SHITTY BUILDING ON CAMPUS (and I hate that that is a pattern at a lot of schools); it looks like a concrete correctional facility. Also, downtown LA is pretty much the dumps of the whole US, and though traffic is bad everywhere, it is worse downtown than in Westwood, where UCLA is. On that note, westwood is actually a very cool area with lots of bars and some hookah places and a, as it were, VIBE. Downtown is decrepit, that is all.

And the worst part of all of it is that the cost of living in each area is enormous, though fairly similar.

*****I would be very wary of going to either school without $$$. UCLA is unlikely to give you any off the waitlist, so i might rule that out in the end (unless money is no issue).

Ill rant more if you want me to. ..PM

Also USC is a private institution, not a state school. So conventional wisdom says that tuition hikes will affect you much more at UCLA rather than USC. Another thing to keep in mind though is residency. The price of attending USC will not decrease if you become a CA resident.

I visited both last spring. I liked both of them a lot but they definitely have different qualities and a different feel. I would suggest visiting if you have a chance and see which one fits you better.

T00L wrote: 1) UCLA is MUCH more expensive than USC. ~54K vs. ~48K

OOS, yes. IS, UCLA is slightly cheaper @ 45k. As long as USC's tuition is 48k, I think UCLA's tuition hikes will be held in check.

moneybagsphd wrote:

T00L wrote: 1) UCLA is MUCH more expensive than USC. ~54K vs. ~48K

OOS, yes. IS, UCLA is slightly cheaper @ 45k. As long as USC's tuition is 48k, I think UCLA's tuition hikes will be held in check.

yes, I forgot to mention this. OP, correct if wrong, but I believe you are out of state, right?

BUT -

THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY - especially the school system. I'm not an expert, but I dont think USC's tuition offers much protection for UCLA students

moneybagsphd wrote:As long as USC's tuition is 48k, I think UCLA's tuition hikes will be held in check.

Until California's state government is like "lol, nope" to UCLA's funding (which seems to be the national trend).

Ah, OP is out of state, so yes USC will be cheaper. USC also has a smaller class size and supposedly a much more active alumni base.

And yeah, both the USC campus and the UCLA campus are very nice but the USC law building is pretty damn ugly, especially compared to the rest of the campus.

Visit both and see what you like.

USC= Cheaper, better NLJ ratings (at least recently), smaller class size, active alumni base

UCLA= Much nicer surrounding area, law building.

Wow, thanks for all the awesome responses. I will be visiting in a couple of weeks, so I think that will help immensely. You are correct, I am OOS, so I guess, yeah, at ticket USC is cheaper. I'm not set on LA or California at all yet, although I'm not a fan of the midwest and want to get out pretty badly at some point.

Do you guys think it's even worth riding out UCLA's waitlist? I'm already on Michigan's, and I'm not keen to join many more.

Green Glass Windows wrote:Wow, thanks for all the awesome responses. I will be visiting in a couple of weeks, so I think that will help immensely. You are correct, I am OOS, so I guess, yeah, at ticket USC is cheaper. I'm not set on LA or California at all yet, although I'm not a fan of the midwest and want to get out pretty badly at some point.

Do you guys think it's even worth riding out UCLA's waitlist? I'm already on Michigan's, and I'm not keen to join many more.

Would you really take UCLA at sticker? That's what it would be off the waitlist. I withdrew within an hour of receiving my UCLA waitlist notification. It's nice.... its not that nice

pdeturk wrote:

Green Glass Windows wrote:Wow, thanks for all the awesome responses. I will be visiting in a couple of weeks, so I think that will help immensely. You are correct, I am OOS, so I guess, yeah, at ticket USC is cheaper. I'm not set on LA or California at all yet, although I'm not a fan of the midwest and want to get out pretty badly at some point.

Do you guys think it's even worth riding out UCLA's waitlist? I'm already on Michigan's, and I'm not keen to join many more.

Would you really take UCLA at sticker? That's what it would be off the waitlist. I withdrew within an hour of receiving my UCLA waitlist notification. It's nice.... its not that nice

No, probably not, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something glaring.

Just because you got the WL doesn't mean you won't get money. Could be YP, or $$$ could free up later.

Lord Randolph McDuff wrote:Just because you got the WL doesn't mean you won't get money. Could be YP, or $$$ could free up later.

I suppose that's true. It's not YP, but I guess getting $$ off the WL isn't unheard of. I think I'm gonna ride it out for now, especially seeing as USC hasn't given out any $$ yet, and I guess I could end up getting none.

Stay on UCLA's waitlist (because it couldn't possibly hurt you) and attend whichever one ends up being cheaper, unless of course you get into Michigan.

Peer schools. UCLA has more national reach--except in South Carolina, of course.

CanadianWolf wrote:Peer schools. UCLA has more national reach--except in South Carolina, of course.

oddly specific

USC=Southern Cal & the University of South Carolina. And USC rules in South Carolina.

chimp wrote:Stay on UCLA's waitlist (because it couldn't possibly hurt you) and attend whichever one ends up being cheaper, unless of course you get into Michigan.

Same for Georgetown? Just found out I'm on the preferred waitlist there.

Almost went to the other USC for undergrad. It's a beautiful school. Law school? eh, not so much.

Green Glass Windows wrote:

chimp wrote:Stay on UCLA's waitlist (because it couldn't possibly hurt you) and attend whichever one ends up being cheaper, unless of course you get into Michigan.

Same for Georgetown? Just found out I'm on the preferred waitlist there.

Almost went to the other USC for undergrad. It's a beautiful school. Law school? eh, not so much.

I would stay on the waitlist at Gtown. How could it hurt?

chimp wrote:

Green Glass Windows wrote:

chimp wrote:Stay on UCLA's waitlist (because it couldn't possibly hurt you) and attend whichever one ends up being cheaper, unless of course you get into Michigan.

Same for Georgetown? Just found out I'm on the preferred waitlist there.

Almost went to the other USC for undergrad. It's a beautiful school. Law school? eh, not so much.

I would stay on the waitlist at Gtown. How could it hurt?

I just meant would you definitely go to Gtown over USC or UCLA as well?

Green Glass Windows wrote:

chimp wrote:

Green Glass Windows wrote:

chimp wrote:Stay on UCLA's waitlist (because it couldn't possibly hurt you) and attend whichever one ends up being cheaper, unless of course you get into Michigan.

Same for Georgetown? Just found out I'm on the preferred waitlist there.

Almost went to the other USC for undergrad. It's a beautiful school. Law school? eh, not so much.

I would stay on the waitlist at Gtown. How could it hurt?

I just meant would you definitely go to Gtown over USC or UCLA as well?

Me personally? No. Not unless Gtown ended up being significantly cheaper. But I'm a socal native and want to practice here, so that definitely informs my opinion.

chimp wrote:
Me personally? No. Not unless Gtown ended up being significantly cheaper. But I'm a socal native and want to practice here, so that definitely informs my opinion.

Fair enough. Thanks for the input.

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