Tier 1 vs. Tier 2 Forum

[dart88]

I have narrowed my choices to University of Arizona (ranked 42) and University of Oregon (ranked 79). Although Arizona is ranked better, Oregon seems to have better specialty programs and fellowship opportunities. Assuming tuition is not a factor, should I take overall rank over specialty?

Also, is it much more beneficial going to a T1 school over a T2 school?

Thoughts?

[franklyscarlet]

I have narrowed my choices to University of Arizona (ranked 42) and University of Oregon (ranked 79). Although Arizona is ranked better, Oregon seems to have better specialty programs and fellowship opportunities. Assuming tuition is not a factor, should I take overall rank over specialty?

Also, is it much more beneficial going to a T1 school over a T2 school?

Thoughts?

Do you want to work in Arizona or in Oregon? That's your factor.

[Lincoln]

Also, to you have pre-existing ties to either state?

[rinkrat19]

Specialty rankings are meaningless.

Schools outside the T14 are extremely regional. Neither of those degrees will travel much. Where do you want to work?

Arizona feeds into a somewhat larger legal market, I think.

Secondary markets can be quite insular. Do you have ties to either school's region?

UA's employment data isn't stellar, but it's considerably better than UO's.

[duckmoney]

T1 and T2 schools are both regional. You should go where you have preexisting ties and/or where you want to practice.

The differences in rankings and employment data mostly reflect the strength / competition in their respective markets. Oregon feeds into a smaller market with more competition from other schools, hence the lower rankings and worse employment numbers. Still, you're better off going where you want to practice.

[dissonance1848]

If you aren't from either Arizona or Oregon, its meaningless to consider either of these schools.

Retake, and apply to schools you have ties to.

[bk1]

Tier 1 vs Tier 2 isn't really a meaningful distinction. It isn't like school 50 is drastically better than school 51 or even that school 40 is drastically better than school 70. There are some spots in the rankings where arguably sharp divides exist (1-3 vs 4-14, 4-14 vs 15-18, 15-18 vs 19-35ish), but 1-50 vs 51-100 is not one of those divides.

As others have noted, both of these schools are very regional. If you go to UA you will be practicing in AZ. If you go to UO you will be practicing in OR. Furthermore if you are not from AZ or OR you will likely face issues even if you go to these schools since employers would likely prefer a UA kid who is actually from AZ or a UO kid who is actually from UO. I wouldn't recommend either of these schools outside of a full ride or close to it and would likely caution against them if you aren't from AZ or OR.

[splitbrain]

Tier 1 vs Tier 2 isn't really a meaningful distinction. It isn't like school 50 is drastically better than school 51 or even that school 40 is drastically better than school 70. There are some spots in the rankings where arguably sharp divides exist (1-3 vs 4-14, 4-14 vs 15-18, 15-18 vs 19-35ish), but 1-50 vs 51-100 is not one of those divides.

Just want to emphasize this; you're facing a regional choice over all else.