Top Law Schools

HI all,

Please bear with me here... I know the schools are random to be comparing.

Texas A&M - I have a full scholarship. Only COA would be living expenses.

Georgia State - I am interviewing for a Intellectual Property scholarship that will cover in state tuition. With the scholarship I also become an IP fellow my third year which comes with a 4k stipend. For the sake of comparison, lets assume that I get the scholarship and also get in-state tuition. I think I have some leverage to negotiate this and to be honest this is the only scenario in which I would consider Georgia State.

I live in Houston and like the DFW area and could definitely see myself living there. I have never been to Atlanta and have mixed feelings about it. However, I think I could definitely grow to like the area for a time.

I am interested in both programs because of their strong commitment to IP law. I have visited A&M and was impressed by their IP faculty. I know their ranking is pretty bad, but they rose 38 spots to number 111 in the most recent rankings and imagine that they will only continue to climb. On the other hand, Georgia State is has a longer history in IP law, not to mention much better in the rankings.

Any insight would be great! I know it may be like considering apples to oranges, but just want to hear if someone has an educated opinion.

Thanks,

These are both bad options. But, if you were from DFW, had strong ties to the area, and are okay with very modest outcomes, then A&M is plausible at full scholarship. Ft. Worth is a growing area, but SMU and **clears throat** Texas has a monopoly on the metroplex. You're from Houston, so the best advice is to retake and attend UH for free, UT with some $$, or a t14 with $$$.

Don't fool yourself with these specialty rankings; they mean next to nothing concerning outcomes. I will say, however, that A&M's water law program seems connected to the DFW area. I sat in on some symposiums and was very impressed. But remember, they are gonna prop up the one kid with a 4.X and get him a decent gig in the DFW market.

BasilHallward wrote:These are both bad options. But, if you were from DFW, had strong ties to the area, and are okay with very modest outcomes, then A&M is plausible at full scholarship. Ft. Worth is a growing area, but SMU and **clears throat** Texas has a monopoly on the metroplex. You're from Houston, so the best advice is to retake and attend UH for free, UT with some $$, or a t14 with $$$.

Don't fool yourself with these specialty rankings; they mean next to nothing concerning outcomes. I will say, however, that A&M's water law program seems connected to the DFW area. I sat in on some symposiums and was very impressed. But remember, they are gonna prop up the one kid with a 4.X and get him a decent gig in the DFW market.

You seem to know a lot about the DFW area. Thanks for the input. Can you now tell me why Georgia State is such a bad option?

engineer2law wrote: I am interested in both programs because of their strong commitment to IP law. I have visited A&M and was impressed by their IP faculty. I know their ranking is pretty bad, but they rose 38 spots to number 111 in the most recent rankings and imagine that they will only continue to climb. On the other hand, Georgia State is has a longer history in IP law, not to mention much better in the rankings.

As was already said, toss out the IP rankings. They don't matter. I'm an IP focused student at SMU, so I have my fingers on the pulse of the Dallas IP bar as much as any student can. A&M is lumped together with UNT by most people I talk to, and both are considered "interesting". I'd say that they view those schools as a novelty right now, but with the potential to grow into a serious recruiting pipeline in the future. I've not heard much at all from biglaw attorneys regarding those schools. I know a couple IP focused folks at A&M, and of course I know a bunch at SMU. The SMU students are getting all of the jobs. The equivalent A&M students are still scrapping for a job.

IP is hot, but A&M doesn't have the track record necessary to convince people to take a shot with their students. It's also because SMU is 10 minutes away from downtown Dallas, whereas A&M is much farther away. Networking cannot be underemphasized, and A&M is simply too far away to compete with SMU for networking with the Dallas bar.

Will it be better in 3 or 4 years? Probably. However, I don't think it's wise to take that risk right now.

I can't tell you anything about Georgia State.

engineer2law wrote:

BasilHallward wrote:These are both bad options. But, if you were from DFW, had strong ties to the area, and are okay with very modest outcomes, then A&M is plausible at full scholarship. Ft. Worth is a growing area, but SMU and **clears throat** Texas has a monopoly on the metroplex. You're from Houston, so the best advice is to retake and attend UH for free, UT with some $$, or a t14 with $$$.

Don't fool yourself with these specialty rankings; they mean next to nothing concerning outcomes. I will say, however, that A&M's water law program seems connected to the DFW area. I sat in on some symposiums and was very impressed. But remember, they are gonna prop up the one kid with a 4.X and get him a decent gig in the DFW market.

You seem to know a lot about the DFW area. Thanks for the input. Can you now tell me why Georgia State is such a bad option?

Because you are not from Georgia. I know absolutely nothing about Georgia State. There is reason for that. Stick to Texas law schools or T-14 if you want decent options. I know a fair bit about the DFW market because I'm from Dallas, but I attend UT. Again, I would retake and go to UH for free or UT with $ and in-state tuition. SMU is a strong option, if you're a Dallas native, but if not it's trickier. You're IP though, so you can overcome ties easier than most

Can you now tell me why Georgia State is such a bad option?

Because you are not from Georgia.

I have to agree with this. Folks' school lists are so strange to me. It's almost like they are based on some random listing that has nothing to do with anything really important. LOL

fliptrip wrote:

Can you now tell me why Georgia State is such a bad option?

Because you are not from Georgia.

I have to agree with this. Folks' school lists are so strange to me. It's almost like they are based on some random listing that has nothing to do with anything really important. LOL

I'm sorry to confuse you all. It is helps, my fiancé is from Mississippi and we wouldn't mind be a little closer to her family. Atlanta is the biggest market in the area. Is there something wrong with wanting to start school and a career in a new place? Georgia State does well in placing their patent students in Atlanta from what I know. Confused on why it is such a poor choice.

Okay, if you're willing to stay in Atlanta and what Basil said about IP limiting the importance of your ties, you would be fine at Georgia State. It's well respected in the city. Can't say too much beyond that.