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Hi guys, I would love your input on my situation.

Background: PhD in bioanalytical chemistry, bilingual (was born in China), passed patent bar recently, and may be doing a summer intern in an IP firm before 1L
Ties: very strong in Utah, some small ones in NC, DC and CA.
Goals: medium to big sized firms and no immediate location preference, but in the long run, would like to go to either coast maybe in 10-15 ish years.

Schools in consideration (family contribution: 20k/year):
UMN: full-ride......COA: 0
ND: 16k/year....COA: 135k
W&M: 13k/year....COA: 90k
GW and UWashington: sholly are still pending (sorry here)
Wake Forest: 25k/year... COA: 70k

Thank you for your time!

anna8506 wrote:Hi guys, I would love your input on my situation.

Background: PhD in bioanalytical chemistry, bilingual (was born in China), passed patent bar recently, and may be doing a summer intern in an IP firm before 1L
Ties: very strong in Utah, some small ones in NC, DC and CA.
Goals: medium to big sized firms and no immediate location preference, but in the long run, would like to go to either coast maybe in 10-15 ish years.

Schools in consideration (family contribution: 20k/year):
UMN: full-ride......COA: 0
ND: 16k/year....COA: 100k
W&M: 13k/year....COA: 66k
GW and UWashington: sholly are still pending (sorry here)
Wake Forest: 25k/year... COA: 58k

Thank you for your time!

Did you factor cost of living expenses into your COA?

Mullens wrote:

anna8506 wrote:Hi guys, I would love your input on my situation.

Background: PhD in bioanalytical chemistry, bilingual (was born in China), passed patent bar recently, and may be doing a summer intern in an IP firm before 1L
Ties: very strong in Utah, some small ones in NC, DC and CA.
Goals: medium to big sized firms and no immediate location preference, but in the long run, would like to go to either coast maybe in 10-15 ish years.

Schools in consideration (family contribution: 20k/year):
UMN: full-ride......COA: 0
ND: 16k/year....COA: 100k
W&M: 13k/year....COA: 66k
GW and UWashington: sholly are still pending (sorry here)
Wake Forest: 25k/year... COA: 58k

Thank you for your time!

Did you factor cost of living expenses into your COA?

Yes, I did.

Given that your scholarship offers at GW and UW are pending, I'm not sure what kind of feedback you're looking for. But if you want us to assume that GW and UW will be at sticker, then the easy answer is UMN for free.

Minnesota.

Thank you (CanadianWolf, rpupkin) for commenting.

Maybe a more specific question: where are the rest of IP markets besides DC, CA and Chicago?

Thanks again!

UMN. Its a no-brainer.

anna8506 wrote:Thank you (CanadianWolf, rpupkin) for commenting.

Maybe a more specific question: where are the rest of IP markets besides DC, CA and Chicago?

Thanks again!

For someone with a bio PHD, the Boston market is relatively active for someone who want to do patent prosecution or litigation. But it's not an easy market to crack.

Nomo wrote:UMN. Its a no-brainer.

Thank you, Nomo...
I understand that UMN is a fairly regional school. This may be a stupid question, but do you think it has a decent enough IP market?

rpupkin wrote:

anna8506 wrote:Thank you (CanadianWolf, rpupkin) for commenting.

Maybe a more specific question: where are the rest of IP markets besides DC, CA and Chicago?

Thanks again!

For someone with a bio PHD, the Boston market is relatively active for someone who want to do patent prosecution or litigation. But it's not an easy market to crack.

Gotcha!

Consider letting GW know of your full tuition offer from Minnesota if GW is your first choice school.

CanadianWolf wrote:Consider letting GW know of your full tuition offer from Minnesota if GW is your first choice school.

Yes, I will. I am attending an admitted student gathering with GW people tomorrow.
Thanks!

anna8506 wrote:

Nomo wrote:UMN. Its a no-brainer.

Thank you, Nomo...
I understand that UMN is a fairly regional school. This may be a stupid question, but do you think it has a decent enough IP market?

UMN 3L here. From what my friends have experienced, IP jobs (assuming you have a solid science undergrad degree) are not hard to get, even if you're in the bottom 25%.

Generally, the job market's not great here, but IP Secure holds true.

kd5 wrote:

anna8506 wrote:

Nomo wrote:UMN. Its a no-brainer.

Thank you, Nomo...
I understand that UMN is a fairly regional school. This may be a stupid question, but do you think it has a decent enough IP market?

UMN 3L here. From what my friends have experienced, IP jobs (assuming you have a solid science undergrad degree) are not hard to get, even if you're in the bottom 25%.

Generally, the job market's not great here, but IP Secure holds true.

Thank you . Are the IP jobs only in MN or out of state as well?

anna8506 wrote:

kd5 wrote:

anna8506 wrote:

Nomo wrote:UMN. Its a no-brainer.

Thank you, Nomo...
I understand that UMN is a fairly regional school. This may be a stupid question, but do you think it has a decent enough IP market?

UMN 3L here. From what my friends have experienced, IP jobs (assuming you have a solid science undergrad degree) are not hard to get, even if you're in the bottom 25%.

Generally, the job market's not great here, but IP Secure holds true.

Thank you . Are the IP jobs only in MN or out of state as well?

Both. 3M and Mayo generate a lot of IP business in Minnesota. Fish & Richardson, one of the biggest IP-only firms in the country (they do not even interview you without a masters/PhD), has their headquarters in MN.

You have a PhD. Unless you indicate that you're a fuckup during 1L, you will get an IP job from a T-25 school.

Thanks, Tanicius!
That makes UMN a much much more appealing choice.

Tanicius wrote:
Both. 3M and Mayo generate a lot of IP business in Minnesota. Fish & Richardson, one of the biggest IP-only firms in the country (they do not even interview you without a masters/PhD), has their headquarters in MN.

The bolded is not true, by the way. But Tanicus's advice is otherwise generally sound.

rpupkin wrote:

Tanicius wrote:
Both. 3M and Mayo generate a lot of IP business in Minnesota. Fish & Richardson, one of the biggest IP-only firms in the country (they do not even interview you without a masters/PhD), has their headquarters in MN.

The bolded is not true, by the way. But Tanicus's advice is otherwise generally sound.

Okay, this might depend on the interview program then. At Boalt's OCI they required a grad degree.

Tanicius wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Tanicius wrote:
Both. 3M and Mayo generate a lot of IP business in Minnesota. Fish & Richardson, one of the biggest IP-only firms in the country (they do not even interview you without a masters/PhD), has their headquarters in MN.

The bolded is not true, by the way. But Tanicus's advice is otherwise generally sound.

Okay, this might depend on the interview program then. At Boalt's OCI they required a grad degree.

Thanks guys. Very informative

Negotiate and I'm sure GW will offer u $$$

iskim88 wrote:Negotiate and I'm sure GW will offer u $$$

Yes, I will definitely try that. Thank you!

anna8506 wrote:

iskim88 wrote:Negotiate and I'm sure GW will offer u $$$

Yes, I will definitely try that. Thank you!

I think GW is pretty good and they usually start to grant $$ from May.
Would you want to share your LSAT score?

GW if they give you $$ or if money doesn't matter. I went to GW (2012 grad) and work in big law firm doing patent litigation. Your goals will be best met at GW but cost may be a factor. I had a similar decision and chose GW at full sticker because money mattered less to me than quality of life. DC beats Minneapolis, St. Louis, etc. You will have to decide if this matters to you. Three years is a long time.

rpupkin wrote:

Tanicius wrote:
Both. 3M and Mayo generate a lot of IP business in Minnesota. Fish & Richardson, one of the biggest IP-only firms in the country (they do not even interview you without a masters/PhD), has their headquarters in MN.

The bolded is not true, by the way. But Tanicus's advice is otherwise generally sound.

Also incorrect about Fish...Fish is HQ'd in Boston and has it's second largest office in DC.

IP at GW is legit unlike most specialties. Find out to what extent GW is willing to compete on price and get back to us.