Top Law Schools

As referenced above in the poll, USC will be offering $60,000 total with no gpa contingency and UCI will be offering $120,000 total with 2.0 GPA contingency.

Info:
-Want to work in socal, prefer LA > OC but honestly don't care if I end up working in the OC.
-Would like to work biglaw first 2-3 years and eventually open my own practice.
-If USC --> no housing costs (commuting is feasible); If UCI --> pay for housing.

Specifically, I am interested in what you think the significance of the additional $60,000 being offered by UCI is, if at all.

If you think any other information is necessary for you to contribute a vote, let me know.

Housing costs at UCI and none at USC? USC all the way.

These schools aren't even on the same level.

USC, and it's not close.

CA breakdown

Stanford>Cal>UCLA/USC>Retake>Hastings/Davis>UCI/Pepperdine/Loyola

Do NOT pick UCI in this scenario man. It doesn't make sense.

Seasaltcoffee wrote:As referenced above in the poll, USC will be offering $60,000 total with no gpa contingency and UCI will be offering $120,000 total with 2.0 GPA contingency.

Info:
-Want to work in socal, prefer LA > OC but honestly don't care if I end up working in the OC.
-Would like to work biglaw first 2-3 years and eventually open my own practice.
-If USC --> no housing costs (commuting is feasible); If UCI --> pay for housing.

Specifically, I am interested in what you think the significance of the additional $60,000 being offered by UCI is, if at all.

If you think any other information is necessary for you to contribute a vote, let me know.

2L at UCI here. After spring OCI, we have about 25 2Ls going to law firms. Bear in mind that, while this number is slightly below the 1/3 number boasted by USC, there are still quite a few UCI students who have no interest in big law. Also, at OCI last year we had probably equal number of LA firms as OC firms represent. My classmates received offers in LA from: Jones Day, Gibson, OMM, Milbank, Kirkland, Alston, etc. Those are just the ones that I know of personally; most people didn't talk about their offers, only where they accepted (we encourage a culture of not talking too much about grades/job offers/etc). There might be a few others that I am forgetting (and that doesn't include offers from V100s in OC, SF, and elsewhere).

EDIT: I faced a similar dilemma, though I had a full scholly from each.

PotLuck wrote:CA breakdown

Stanford>Cal>UCLA/USC>Retake>Hastings/Davis>UCI/Pepperdine/Loyola

Do NOT pick UCI in this scenario man. It doesn't make sense.

This needs to me copy-pasted for everyone choosing a LS in CA.

Assume 12,000/yr for housing...

USC would really be 96K v. UCI at 120k

usc no doubt

USC is a winner here since they gave you a decent scholarship and you are saving money on housing. If it was sticker @ USC vs $120K at UCI, that would be different.

What you should realize however is that neither of these schools give you a "great" chance of biglaw. Even if you choose USC, I would moderate your expectations and make sure you're "OK" with another type of presumably lesser paying legal work in the event you aren't in the top 1/3 of the class.

How do you know how many 2Ls or 3Ls got SA or permanent jobs ?? Do schools put out a list of people?? Any links?

Go to USC.

Also, for SoCal

Stanford>Cal>UCLA/USC>Retake>Hastings/Davis>UCI/Pepperdine/Loyola

FTFM

Stanford>Cal>UCLA>USC>UCI>Hastings/Davis>Pepperdine/Loyola

UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

LiquidJames wrote:UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

Dr Dre hasn't posted yet so what you talking about?

and he should consider UCI but pobably go with USC..

LiquidJames wrote:UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

Liquid, weren't you saying UCI is garbage three days ago? You should be telling OP to retake and reapply to chapman, since its miles ahead of UCI as the best school in OC, and will be a peer with USC.

Dmini7 wrote:

LiquidJames wrote:UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

Liquid, weren't you saying UCI is garbage three days ago? You should be telling OP to retake and reapply to chapman, since its miles ahead of UCI as the best school in OC, and will be a peer with USC.

+1
wtf

LiquidJames wrote:
so i think [Chapman] will be a peer school to USC/UCLA soon enough, and definitely better than UCI, which is a TTTT

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9#p6687809

Damn.. it doesn't look good for him now..

USC.

Cobretti wrote:

Dmini7 wrote:

LiquidJames wrote:UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

Liquid, weren't you saying UCI is garbage three days ago? You should be telling OP to retake and reapply to chapman, since its miles ahead of UCI as the best school in OC, and will be a peer with USC.

+1
wtf

+2 I remember this doode

The cost of USC is still pushing $200k with a $60k scholarship. I don't think OP should attend a school with a 31% chance at biglaw for around $200k. I would probably retake and reapply if only to get more scholarship money out of UCLA and USC next cycle.

Dr. Dre must be in the studio working on his new album Detox to have not posted yet in this thread. Dre-- what's up man? You have been working on Detox for like 13 years now.

LiquidJames wrote:UCI for the money
the hate here for UCI is ridiculous, u should consult other sources other than this forum

Shitty trolling + alting = nuking.

FIRE IN THE HOLE!



Target neutralized.

vanwinkle wrote: Target neutralized.

You're doing god's work

Thanks for the fine modwork. Back on topic: OP, I'm a big Irvine fan and I believe they're the real deal, but I think USC is the correct choice.

You want BigLaw, and USC is a bigger player in the SoCal market for that. In my research and conversations with students/faculty at UCI, they seem to be gunning more for clerkship and PI. Additionally, while on-campus housing at UCI is cheaper than expected, it ain't cheaper than free, which is what you'd have at USC.

Doorkeeper wrote:The cost of USC is still pushing $200k with a $60k scholarship. I don't think OP should attend a school with a 31% chance at biglaw for around $200k. I would probably retake and reapply if only to get more scholarship money out of UCLA and USC next cycle.

It would actually be less than $200k.
$50k~ tuition x 3 = $150,000~ - $60K scholly = $90K
This is pre-interest btw so obviously would be higher, but no where near the $200K mark.
I failed to mention that I wouldn't spend money out of pocket for misc fees (books, food, etc) so I am only taking into account the cost of tuition & housing.
I also should have stated the biglaw goal in a 3-pronged statement:
1. I want to attend the school that will maximize my chances of landing biglaw in Socal.
2. I want to work biglaw for 2-3 years post-grad.
3. I am fine with not getting biglaw, would be content with midlaw/reputable small law.

Thanks for your contribution everyone. Chose USC.

I'm not sure why UCI is even an option. USC all the way.