Should I be wary of Georgetown? Forum

[cylon_clone]

So, I've been accepted to GULC. I love DC and would love to work there after graduation. And my scholarship would allow me to live in Dupont Circle (dream location) while still keeping the total cost lower than any other school I'm seriously considering...so far (Duke's scholly offer will arrive in a few days and I'm still waiting to hear from a few other top choices).

But, I'm a bit concerned with the size of Gtown's graduating class and the competitiveness of DC's market. Obviously many people who go to Georgetown end up staying in DC and flooding the local market. This is on top of students from UVA, Duke and other t14 schools.

Is Gtown's only strength its proximity and placement in DC or does the school have strong roots in other market? Or, would I do better to go to a school like a Michigan or Duke to broaden my geographic net?

[kaiser]

I'd imagine that Georgetown is pretty self-selecting in that many people come there specifically because they want to work in DC, government, etc. jobs. So I'd imagine it doesn't have a huge alumni base on too many places outside DC. Whether or not you should go to a school that broadens your geographic reach depends entirely on what your desired region is.

[smokeylarue]

Me personally I'd be wary just because the numbers don't lie, it's the weakest performer of the T14 in terms of getting you into Big Law. However if DC for sure is your goal, I can't imagine Michigan being a better option.

[Mike12188]

I'd imagine that Georgetown is pretty self-selecting in that many people come there specifically because they want to work in DC, government, etc. jobs. So I'd imagine it doesn't have a huge alumni base on too many places outside DC. Whether or not you should go to a school that broadens your geographic reach depends entirely on what your desired region is.

While I agree with some self-selection as pertaining to government positions I don't know if you are talking biglaw or not but I'd imagine that there is a pretty big alumni base outside of DC. Most won't end up in DC because they are competing with every other T14 for a super competitive market. I'd imagine most of the NLJ250 percentage ends up in NYC. I'd be wary. In fact I am wary . 1L here.

[Aberzombie1892]

So I'd imagine it doesn't have a huge alumni base on too many places outside DC.

In terms of geographic placement, Georgetown is in the top 10 feeder schools for partners since 198X (I for got what the exact year was) in the NLJ 100 firms in all but one of the largest 10 legal markets (Dallas). The only T14 that was a top 10 partner feeder for all 10 legal markets was Harvard.

While it's true that the individual probability of a student getting big law from GTown is lower than other T14 law schools, GTown generally places more total students in big law each year than any other T14 school - and while GTown the institution benefits from this immensely, the students do not benefit from it quite as much (re: lower NLJ % placement).

[03121202698008]

Me personally I'd be wary just because the numbers don't lie, it's the weakest performer of the T14 in terms of getting you into Big Law. However if DC for sure is your goal, I can't imagine Michigan being a better option.

Really? I'm at Michigan and heard nothing but good things on callbacks. At the firm I'm summering at, Gtown is the least represented school of all of the T14. Most other firms I've heard of are the same. Firms don't want everyone from the same school. Sometimes being one of a smaller group gunning for a market is a good thing.

I'm one of two from Michigan in the DC office this summer. (UVA, Penn, Columbia, and Harvard combine to make up all but one of the slots.) Last year had a similar makeup. From talking to a few of the hiring people over dinner the other week, they go to Georgetown because they feel obligated but don't hire often from there because they think the "feel" of the students are different than other T14s.

This is a V50 as well...so it's not really prestige driving it.

[FlanAl]

giving us a feel for the amount of the scholarship would probably help us offer clearer advice. If you got a hefty scholarship, love DC and aren't big law or bust I think its a good choice over higher ranked schools w/out scholarships.

[cylon_clone]

Suppose it's a moot point now.
Duke offered me the same amount (1/2 tuition).

Lower CoL in NC, smaller class size and better weather.

[SehMeSerrious]

Congrats OP.

But just curious, for policy work/lobbying, would Georgetown really still be a bad choice? VS. let's say Michigan, UVa, or Penn.

[beachbum]

Suppose it's a moot point now.
Duke offered me the same amount (1/2 tuition).

Lower CoL in NC, smaller class size and better weather.

And just in time for March Madness. Good choice.

[cylon_clone]

Suppose it's a moot point now.
Duke offered me the same amount (1/2 tuition).

Lower CoL in NC, smaller class size and better weather.

And just in time for March Madness. Good choice.

Lifelong ANTI-Duke basketball fan (I consider them the Yankees of the NCAA). But I love the NC Tar Heels. But I can fake it for 3 years...(better than potentially going to Michigan and pretending to be anti-Ohio State).

[ahnhub]

There aren't enough Georgetown people on TLS.

Standard operating procedure is: People talk shit about school--> students come to its defense --> OP sorts through the mess.

But with Georgetown it's: People talk shit about school--> silence --> OP goes hmmmm....

Then again, maybe they don't care to defend their school, which is...bad.

(PS: Oh, and for OP--plenty of Georgetown people go to New York.)

[de5igual]

From talking to a few of the hiring people over dinner the other week, they go to Georgetown because they feel obligated but don't hire often from there because they think the "feel" of the students are different than other T14s.

not doubting you, but how does something like this even come up during a dinner conversation? just seems really tacky and classless for partners at an official firm event to trash talk part of their summer class.

[03121202698008]

From talking to a few of the hiring people over dinner the other week, they go to Georgetown because they feel obligated but don't hire often from there because they think the "feel" of the students are different than other T14s.

not doubting you, but how does something like this even come up during a dinner conversation? just seems really tacky and classless for partners at an official firm event to trash talk part of their summer class.

It wasn't an official event. They were in town for the 1L meet and greet and took those of us that are SA'ing out. Was just a few associates on the hiring committee and us. It came up while talking about how they do OCI...what schools they go to, etc. The people they selected are clearly what they felt was the exception at G-town...

[rad lulz]

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