Berkeley v. Penn v. UChicago ($) Forum

[ddsbutler]

Avid lurker trying to make a last minute decision.
165 (one take), 3.94, 2 yrs WE

I'm from the PNW and ultimately would long-term like to be back on the west coast, but I'd be happy to spend some time on the east coast for school/work for several years. I have a healthcare background, and I'm really interested in either health care or tech/IP law. Not obsessed with getting a job in biglaw/NYC, just want to be in a good place making good skrilla after graduating

COA:
Berkeley at sticker, Penn at sticker, UChicago $15k total.

I've visited Berkeley and Penn and loved both schools. I liked UChicago, but not thrilled on Chicago as a city. Of the three, would much rather live in Philly since Berkeley is so freaking expensive. But, CA weather is a plus. My SO would much rather be in Philly because of work/grad school opportunities, but she's willing be in Berkeley or Chicago for a few years. At this point I'm solidly on the fence between Berkeley and Penn. Thanks for the help, and yeah I know it would be unconscionable for me to not retake the LSAT

[acr]

Thanks for the help, and yeah I know it would be unconscionable for me to not retake the LSAT

[rpupkin]

retake the LSAT

[acr]

retake

[Clemenceau]

retake

[TheRealSantaClaus]

.

[somethingElse]

You guys ^ didn't shorten the sentence

[Clemenceau]

You guys ^ didn't shorten the sentence

Word count was running low

[somethingElse]

REDO?? DUH!

But seriously, OP: Most everyone is very jelly of your GPA. With that high of a GPA, the world is your oyster. BUT, remember: it (the world) doesn't owe you anything. Make the retake count.

[Clemenceau]

reték

[HYPSM]

reték

[Glacial]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

[Clearly]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

[acr]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

[Clearly]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

This is some of the worst advice I've ever seen on this website, and I've been here for a while. Please resist the temptation to give absolutely shitty advice going forward.

Specifically, people who are older than 26 tend to absolutely slay at OCI. I was older than 26 at OCI, so I pay attention to these things. The WORST thing you can be at oci is a 21 year old with no experience. I guarantee if you broke down T14 strikeouts by age you would find very few between 26-32.

You wanna know a better way to pay off your debt? Retake a simple multiple choice test, and DON'T HAVE ANY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Seriously, god forbid people are stupid enough to listen to shit advice as like this, you could really wreck someones life.

[Glacial]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

This is some of the worst advice I've ever seen on this website, and I've been here for a while. Please resist the temptation to give absolutely shitty advice going forward.

Specifically, people who are older than 26 tend to absolutely slay at OCI. I was older than 26 at OCI, so I pay attention to these things. The WORST thing you can be at oci is a 21 year old with no experience. I guarantee if you broke down T14 strikeouts by age you would find very between 26-32.

You wanna know a better way to pay off your debt? Retake a simple multiple choice test, and DON'T HAVE ANY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Seriously, god forbid people are stupid enough to listen to shit advice as like this, you could really wreck someones life.

Did you start school at 26? How about 29 or 32? Age discrimination is real in Biglaw. Grow up!

[Clearly]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

This is some of the worst advice I've ever seen on this website, and I've been here for a while. Please resist the temptation to give absolutely shitty advice going forward.

Specifically, people who are older than 26 tend to absolutely slay at OCI. I was older than 26 at OCI, so I pay attention to these things. The WORST thing you can be at oci is a 21 year old with no experience. I guarantee if you broke down T14 strikeouts by age you would find very between 26-32.

You wanna know a better way to pay off your debt? Retake a simple multiple choice test, and DON'T HAVE ANY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Seriously, god forbid people are stupid enough to listen to shit advice as like this, you could really wreck someones life.

Did you start school at 26? How about 29 or 32? Age discrimination is real in Biglaw. Grow up!

If you're 40 maybe, but dude 26-30 year olds do better than 22 year olds at OCI. Also, why not address how retaking isn't the right play?

[acr]

lol where is 26 even coming from?

I don't have many posts but I've stalked this website regularly for 5 years and I've never seen a more arbitrary distinction than 26 being too old for big law.

[rpupkin]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

Almost every sentence of this post is wrong.

[Glacial]

This is probably the best piece of advice for future associates (besides grades and school reputation):
"-Thin people are more likely to get hired than fat people
-Attractive people (especially very attractive people) are more likely to get hired than unattractive people
-Young people are more likely to get hired than old people
-Sharp dressed people are more likely to get hired than frumpy people
-Socially withdrawn nerds are less likely to get hired than social types"
http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900044 ... Law-Firms/

[Glacial]

...26 being too old for big law.

What makes you say that? That's not what I said.

[Glacial]

Depends on your age - unless you are under 26, a year more counts (a lot). Remember: the older you graduate the harder it is to find a decent job (and pay off your debt).

Berkeley at sticker plus living in the Bay area is ridiculously expensive for a lower T14 school. Not an option, IMO.

Between Chicago and Penn you can't go wrong either way. Employment-wise they are peer schools. Academically, Chicago is marginally better depending on the courses your're interested in (personally, I'd go to Penn for health law), but lower living expenses in Philly could justify attending Penn at sticker. Flip a coin or ask your SO to decide.

Almost every sentence of this post is wrong.

OK then, which sentence(s) do you agree with? why?

[rpupkin]

This is probably the best piece of advice for future associates (besides grades and school reputation):
"-Thin people are more likely to get hired than fat people
-Attractive people (especially very attractive people) are more likely to get hired than unattractive people
-Young people are more likely to get hired than old people
-Sharp dressed people are more likely to get hired than frumpy people
-Socially withdrawn nerds are less likely to get hired than social types"
http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900044 ... Law-Firms/

LOL. I like this quote from the article:

"I see people from Harvard Law School, Yale and other schools all the time who cannot get jobs.

Yeah, I'm sure lots of Yale Law School grads are using the services of this hack recruiter.

[bearsfan23]

This is probably the best piece of advice for future associates (besides grades and school reputation):
"-Thin people are more likely to get hired than fat people
-Attractive people (especially very attractive people) are more likely to get hired than unattractive people
-Young people are more likely to get hired than old people
-Sharp dressed people are more likely to get hired than frumpy people
-Socially withdrawn nerds are less likely to get hired than social types"
http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/900044 ... Law-Firms/

Somehow I don't think the difference between 26 and 29 qualifies as "young" and "old".

The rest of the advice seems rock solid. I attribute all my success to my super attractive looks rather than on irrelevant things like actual school and grades

[Glacial]

... irrelevant things like actual school and grades

Why are you saying this?