Alabama vs. Texas Forum

[PearsonSpecter]

The University of Alabama: #21
Tuition (out-of-state): $32,920
Tuition after Scholarship: $7,920
(Conditional on staying in top 40% of class, if not scholarship drops to $10,000 per year)
Three Year Tuition: $23,760

The University of Texas: #15
Tuition (in-state): $32,376
Tuition after Scholarship: $20,376
Three Year Tuition: $61,128

I am from the Dallas area but I am currently an undergrad at Alabama.
I would like to be in the Southeast or Texas after graduation.
Interested in corporate biglaw.

Main question: Is Texas worth about 3x as much as Alabama?

[WokeUpInACar]

That stipulation sucks, UT for sure.

[Ti Malice]

Main question: Is Texas worth about 3x as much as Alabama?

This isn't even your calculation. You can't take it for granted that you'll keep a scholarship with that awful stip.

But even if the scholarship carried no stips, Texas would easily be worth the ~$37,000 premium over Alabama. No contest.

[laxbrah420]

Yea look at the absolute price not the "3x" relative shit. Add 60k for COL + books and shit to each and you'll also see it's not gonna cost you 3x.

[patrickd139]

Yea look at the absolute price not the "3x" relative shit. Add 60k for COL + books and shit to each and you'll also see it's not gonna cost you 3x.

This.

Also worth considering: You're from Texas. UT pretty much dominates the entire state, which holds two of the 10 largest legal markets in the United States in Houston and DFW, along with strong secondary markets in San Antonio and Austin. Alabama has...Montgomery? Birmingham? Mobile? I'm honestly not sure where Bama law grads call their 'home market,' but I'd wager that it's not nearly as extensive as the entire state of Texas.

ETA: I'm not sure I'd go to UT for ~$120k total COA. But I'd rather go there than 'Bama for $90k, when I'm not from Alabama.

[untar614]

You're from Texas, UT is the best school in the state, Bama has stips on the scholarship, and Texas has a far better market than Alabama. UT for sure.

[BigZuck]

That's kind of the upper bound of what I would pay to go to UT but it is by far your better option. Alabama should not even be a consideration in my opinion.

[allamerican73]

UT has a far better national reputation FWIW.

[txdude45]

I'm not 100% on if BigLaw even recruits Alabama. I am 100% that Dallas BigLaw is crazy about UT/SMU grads.

[cm2015]

I'm not 100% on if BigLaw even recruits Alabama. I am 100% that Dallas BigLaw is crazy about UT/SMU grads.

wow, .6% in 501+ I did not realize it was that low... Pretty good fed clerk numbers for what it's worth though

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... =employers

Definitely UT, based on the numbers above alone, plus that Alabama stip is pretty tough.

[Real Madrid]

Texas, hands down. They may only be "ranked" six spots apart, but there's a world of difference between the two. Top 20% of the class at Texas could probably get NY big law jobs, whereas I'm not even sure if #1 in the class at Alabama could do that. Alabama is only worth going to if you are totally fine with spending the rest of your life in the state of Alabama as a lawyer.

[CanadianWolf]

Texas is the better choice based on your geographic preferences, career goals & reasonable COA.

[Skye]

The coolest thing about Tuscaloosa is Dreamland. After that, point your car toward Texas.

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edit for bigger pic.

[patrickd139]

The coolest thing about Tuscaloosa is Dreamland. After that, point your car toward Texas.

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That looks phenomenal.

[sinfiery]

You have driftwood and Lockhart right near Austin. Sorry Alabama, Texas is the better state school.




ignore college football

[IAMGenius]

The comments here are hilarious. It seems as though the stereotype of Alabama carries over into the legal world. Here is my first hand experience/opinion:

- It is true that Alabama grads tend to stay in Alabama.
- Birmingham is a great secondary market. There are many Big Law jobs available. The size of the market will surprise most anyone. It completely surprised me.
- Alabama's national image is growing. I have friends and know former graduates who were able to land Biglaw jobs in many Major markets from Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. Atlanta seems to be the first choice for my friends but I do know first hand graduates in other markets at Biglaw.

[sabanist]

You can get Dreamland shipped.
I vote UT, considering the fact that you have Texas ties. If you were from AL, this would be tougher.

Also,

I am currently an undergrad at Alabama.

sup

[Real Madrid]

- It is true that Alabama grads tend to stay in Alabama.

By necessity, not by choice.

- Birmingham is a great secondary market. There are many Big Law jobs available. The size of the market will surprise most anyone. It completely surprised me.

It's not terrible. The low COL is definitely a big advantage, but Houston and Dallas also have low COLs and their big law jobs pay considerably more.

- Alabama's national image is growing. I have friends and know former graduates who were able to land Biglaw jobs in many Major markets from Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. Atlanta seems to be the first choice for my friends but I do know first hand graduates in other markets at Biglaw.

What are you basing the first sentence on? It's new USNWR ranking? Is there honestly a single law firm from a major big law market - outside of Atlanta - that goes to Alabama's OCI? I do not know the answer to that, but would be interested in finding out.

Also, everyone has anecdotes, but anecdotes are just that - anecdotes. Also, the current legal market is not what it was, and I'm guessing some of your friends graduated and got those jobs before 2007. Top of the class at UA can definitely get you Atlanta, but I'd be SHOCKED to find any current UA students with, say, a Chicago big law offer.

[allamerican73]

The comments here are hilarious. It seems as though the stereotype of Alabama carries over into the legal world. Here is my first hand experience/opinion:

- It is true that Alabama grads tend to stay in Alabama.
- Birmingham is a great secondary market. There are many Big Law jobs available. The size of the market will surprise most anyone. It completely surprised me.
- Alabama's national image is growing. I have friends and know former graduates who were able to land Biglaw jobs in many Major markets from Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. Atlanta seems to be the first choice for my friends but I do know first hand graduates in other markets at Biglaw.

Not sure what Alabama is doing to "goose" the USNWR rankings, but I doubt the national perception is that they are any "better" than other top 50 Regional schools. Certainly not even close to UT. Doubtful that Chicago biglaw is going to hire 'Bama grads out of law school unless they are #1 in the class...

[BmoreOrLess]

Definitely negotiate with Alabama. They are very receptive to negotiation both for money and for stips. You should be able to get a full ride or close to it with a Texas acceptance/$$, and should be able to get at least a top 50% stip.

As to where you should go, I don't really have any advice.

[Paul Campos]

The comments here are hilarious. It seems as though the stereotype of Alabama carries over into the legal world. Here is my first hand experience/opinion:

- It is true that Alabama grads tend to stay in Alabama.
- Birmingham is a great secondary market. There are many Big Law jobs available. The size of the market will surprise most anyone. It completely surprised me.
- Alabama's national image is growing. I have friends and know former graduates who were able to land Biglaw jobs in many Major markets from Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. Atlanta seems to be the first choice for my friends but I do know first hand graduates in other markets at Biglaw.

I have some trouble understanding why at this point anybody relies on anecdotes when (due to the ceaseless efforts of LST and others) the actual numbers are now available for all schools.

14 of 172 2012 Alabama grads got jobs with firms of 100+ lawyers. Four more got jobs with firms of 50-100 if you want to stretch the definition of Big Law that far.

[Doorkeeper]

Absolutely UT.

[natalia44]

I'd probably take vince young's texas squad against this years bama contingent... All-time.. Might be a different story. Go w Texas though.

[Gunnar Stahl]

Absolutely UT.

[de5igual]

The coolest thing about Tuscaloosa is Dreamland. After that, point your car toward Texas.

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That looks phenomenal.

not as phenomenal as Franklin's