UCLA vs. Emory Forum

[WhatShouldIDo2]

Alright, so my girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that UCLA will give me a better chance at being admitted to a nice law firm. She says all along the East Coast and Atlanta, Emory would be better for getting a job. I really disagree with her, but I thought I would turn to you guys since many of you have done more research than I have in this.

I got into UCLA, I still haven't heard back from Emory but I expect to get in.

Which would you pick and why?

Thank you very much.

[Yanky91]

Alright, so my girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that UCLA will give me a better chance at being admitted to a nice law firm. She says all along the East Coast and Atlanta, Emory would be better for getting a job. I really disagree with her, but I thought I would turn to you guys since many of you have done more research than I have in this.

I got into UCLA, I still haven't heard back from Emory but I expect to get in.

Which would you pick and why?

Thank you very much.

It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to be. UCLA is super expensive (same with Emory). Without a scholarship, I do not think it is worth it. Both UCLA and Emory are great schools, and you have a good shot at getting a job at a big firm (if that's what you mean by nice firm) from both. Your chances of getting a Biglaw job out of UCLA are higher though. Last year 37.9% of the graduates were employed in law firms consisting of more than 500 lawyers (Which is pretty high. That's like American's overall employment). Emory on the other hand had 23.5% of the class get jobs at firms that employ more than 500 lawyers. In addition, the median private sector starting salary for UCLA is $145,000 whereas for Emory it's $90,000. Overall, you have a better shot at a Biglaw job with a much higher salary coming out of UCLA. In my opinion you should try to squeeze a scholarship out of one of them. Emory is obviously better for a job in Atlanta. I would not pay sticker for either.

[AT9]

East coast or west coast? Southern CA or Atlanta? Cost aside, that seems to be the clear determining factor to me.

[Nucky]

Alright, so my girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that UCLA will give me a better chance at being admitted to a nice law firm. She says all along the East Coast and Atlanta, Emory would be better for getting a job. I really disagree with her, but I thought I would turn to you guys since many of you have done more research than I have in this.

I got into UCLA, I still haven't heard back from Emory but I expect to get in.

Which would you pick and why?

Thank you very much.

It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to be. UCLA is super expensive (same with Emory). Without a scholarship, I do not think it is worth it. Both UCLA and Emory are great schools, and you have a good shot at getting a job at a big firm (if that's what you mean by nice firm) from both. Your chances of getting a Biglaw job out of UCLA are higher though. Last year 37.9% of the graduates were employed in law firms consisting of more than 500 lawyers (Which is pretty high. That's like American's overall employment). Emory on the other hand had 23.5% of the class get jobs at firms that employ more than 500 lawyers. In addition, the median private sector starting salary for UCLA is $145,000 whereas for Emory it's $90,000. Overall, you have a better shot at a Biglaw job with a much higher salary coming out of UCLA. In my opinion you should try to squeeze a scholarship out of one of them. Emory is obviously better for a job in Atlanta. I would not pay sticker for either.

Just want to add to the above by saying that UCLA has a higher starting salary but when you're discussing SoCal I think COL has to play a role in your decision making process as well.

Either way, congrats on getting into UCLA! Two great options are not a bad thing to have. Good luck with your decision!

[WhatShouldIDo2]

East coast or west coast? Southern CA or Atlanta? Cost aside, that seems to be the clear determining factor to me.

East Coast for sure. I hate California. I'm ok with going to school here, but I don't want to stay. My heart is for the east coast.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

Alright, so my girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that UCLA will give me a better chance at being admitted to a nice law firm. She says all along the East Coast and Atlanta, Emory would be better for getting a job. I really disagree with her, but I thought I would turn to you guys since many of you have done more research than I have in this.

I got into UCLA, I still haven't heard back from Emory but I expect to get in.

Which would you pick and why?

Thank you very much.

It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to be. UCLA is super expensive (same with Emory). Without a scholarship, I do not think it is worth it. Both UCLA and Emory are great schools, and you have a good shot at getting a job at a big firm (if that's what you mean by nice firm) from both. Your chances of getting a Biglaw job out of UCLA are higher though. Last year 37.9% of the graduates were employed in law firms consisting of more than 500 lawyers (Which is pretty high. That's like American's overall employment). Emory on the other hand had 23.5% of the class get jobs at firms that employ more than 500 lawyers. In addition, the median private sector starting salary for UCLA is $145,000 whereas for Emory it's $90,000. Overall, you have a better shot at a Biglaw job with a much higher salary coming out of UCLA. In my opinion you should try to squeeze a scholarship out of one of them. Emory is obviously better for a job in Atlanta. I would not pay sticker for either.

Thank you very much for your response. UCLA is giving me about half of tuition in grants. I don't know what's going on with Emory yet. Thank you very much for your response.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

Alright, so my girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that UCLA will give me a better chance at being admitted to a nice law firm. She says all along the East Coast and Atlanta, Emory would be better for getting a job. I really disagree with her, but I thought I would turn to you guys since many of you have done more research than I have in this.

I got into UCLA, I still haven't heard back from Emory but I expect to get in.

Which would you pick and why?

Thank you very much.

It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to be. UCLA is super expensive (same with Emory). Without a scholarship, I do not think it is worth it. Both UCLA and Emory are great schools, and you have a good shot at getting a job at a big firm (if that's what you mean by nice firm) from both. Your chances of getting a Biglaw job out of UCLA are higher though. Last year 37.9% of the graduates were employed in law firms consisting of more than 500 lawyers (Which is pretty high. That's like American's overall employment). Emory on the other hand had 23.5% of the class get jobs at firms that employ more than 500 lawyers. In addition, the median private sector starting salary for UCLA is $145,000 whereas for Emory it's $90,000. Overall, you have a better shot at a Biglaw job with a much higher salary coming out of UCLA. In my opinion you should try to squeeze a scholarship out of one of them. Emory is obviously better for a job in Atlanta. I would not pay sticker for either.

Thanks! The COA in UCLA isnt too bad. They're paying half my tuition and I can live my parents (sigh, but free rent woo) since I went there for my undergrad.

Just want to add to the above by saying that UCLA has a higher starting salary but when you're discussing SoCal I think COL has to play a role in your decision making process as well.

Either way, congrats on getting into UCLA! Two great options are not a bad thing to have. Good luck with your decision!

[sublime]

..

[unodostres]

If you don't want to stay in California, you should not go to UCLA. You should retake if you want biglaw.

By the way, do you mind sharing your numbers? I'm looking at LA and SC.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

If you don't want to stay in California, you should not go to UCLA. You should retake if you want biglaw.

By the way, do you mind sharing your numbers? I'm looking at LA and SC.

Sure, my numbers weren't all that great to be honest.

GPA: 3.9
LSAT: 163

I kind of lucked out eh?

[sublime]

..

[californiauser]

Both are regional schools NOT located in the region you want to practice...where else did you apply?

[ManoftheHour]

You have a 3.9? Retake dude and go to Vandy for free or Duke with $$$.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

If you don't want to stay in California, you should not go to UCLA. You should retake if you want biglaw.

By the way, do you mind sharing your numbers? I'm looking at LA and SC.

Sure, my numbers weren't all that great to be honest.

GPA: 3.9
LSAT: 163

I kind of lucked out eh?

Wow. Expected higher for half at UCLA

(No disrespect, of course)

None taken.

[unodostres]

URM?

Some awesome $$$ for those numbers.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

@California: I applied to 16 schools in the top 25.

@Man: I already delayed too much. I just can't anymore ...

@unodos: No URM

[unodostres]

@California: I applied to 16 schools in the top 25.

@Man: I already delayed too much. I just can't anymore ...

@unodos: No URM

Cool! Thanks man.

Speaking of delaying. You have to trust these forums when delaying for another year could mean the difference b/w hundreds of thousands of dollars both in saving money and making.

[WhatShouldIDo2]

@California: I applied to 16 schools in the top 25.

@Man: I already delayed too much. I just can't anymore ...

@unodos: No URM

Cool! Thanks man.

Speaking of delaying. You have to trust these forums when delaying for another year could mean the difference b/w hundreds of thousands of dollars both in saving money and making.

Yes ... very true. It's something I'll think about tonight.

[BigZuck]

Retake. UCLA is a non-starter and you can do much better than Emory, especially if "East Coast" means the Northeast.

[mr.hands]

You would be crazy (i mean that in the real sense of the word) to go to UCLA. If you want to be in the Northeast, go to school up there.

You aren't getting to the Northeast from either of those schools. Use the UCLA scholarship to leverage money from another school.

[03152016]

@Man: I already delayed too much. I just can't anymore ...

How long did you study? How rigorously?

Unless you really can't eke out a higher score, you're wasting an amazing GPA. Half-ride to UCLA is great, but you could be going to a much better school with much more money.

[cron1834]

Half-ride for a 163

[treeey86]

I'm an in-house attorney that went to Emory.

UCLA for west coast.

Emory for east coast.

Emory doesnt place that well in big law.

If I wanted to maximize chance of big law between those two options I would choose UCLA, but knowing full well I'll end up out west.

Honestly, unless your gf has some sort of amazing job go to UCLA and make her follow. Most relationships in law school do not last anyway, go where you will be hired.

[arklaw13]

I wouldn't spend three years at a Cali law school if I wanted to be on the east coast. The real answer is to retake.