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I recently received offers for full tuition scholarships from both Drexel and Villanova, with Temple offering $20,000 after negotiation. As I have an extremely cheap place to live in the city, I am looking for opinions on whether to pick Drexel or Villanova. I have pretty much stopped considering Temple as their tuition will definitely raise for the second and third year of law school, so I would rather not have to worry about loans.
If I were to pick Drexel, the commute would only be around 10 minutes to school, where the Villanova commute would be around 40 minutes. Having not been to law school yet, I am not sure if that extra commute and the costs involved would be worth it, or if I should stick with Drexel.

Pretty sure it's almost soley dependant on which school is the better fit for you since employment statistics are pretty much the same for both schools. However, VIllanova has a higher Bar Passage Rate.

What are your career goals?

cavalier1138 wrote:What are your career goals?

I want to do something in criminal law at the moment, although I know that some students change their mind the first year. Criminal defense or something like a DA would suit me fine, although long term I am looking at politics so there is an edge towards prosecution

Decooler1 wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:What are your career goals?

I want to do something in criminal law at the moment, although I know that some students change their mind the first year. Criminal defense or something like a DA would suit me fine, although long term I am looking at politics so there is an edge towards prosecution

If "looking at politics" means running for office, then don't do law school. Get an MPP or just start working.

cavalier1138 wrote:

Decooler1 wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:What are your career goals?

I want to do something in criminal law at the moment, although I know that some students change their mind the first year. Criminal defense or something like a DA would suit me fine, although long term I am looking at politics so there is an edge towards prosecution

If "looking at politics" means running for office, then don't do law school. Get an MPP or just start working.

Sorry, made it very ambiguous and probably misleading when I said it that way. Meant more like judiciary politics, long term would be working to become a judge.

Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:Pretty sure it's almost soley dependant on which school is the better fit for you since employment statistics are pretty much the same for both schools. However, VIllanova has a higher Bar Passage Rate.

Villanova has much* better big firm placement. For the DA, though, I don't think nova would have much advantage. Maybe a slim one from being a longer established school.

*13% still isn't very good, but it is much better than 3%

Clemenceau wrote:

Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:Pretty sure it's almost soley dependant on which school is the better fit for you since employment statistics are pretty much the same for both schools. However, VIllanova has a higher Bar Passage Rate.

Villanova has much* better big firm placement. For the DA, though, I don't think nova would have much advantage. Maybe a slim one from being a longer established school.

*13% still isn't very good, but it is much better than 3%

You're absolutely correct. I failed to look at the Large Firm numbers and just looked at the overall employment score. Thanks!

Based on April 3 2017, PA Bar newletter (2015 Employment statistics):

Drexel: 113/128 employed
Villanova: 179/213 employed
Temple: 221/253 employed

D 88% in PA
V 59% in PA
T 79% in PA

D 41% in Firms
V 47% in firms
T 57% in firms

D 2-10: 24%
V 17%
T 8%

D 11-25: 6%
V 7%
T 6%

D 26-50: 2%
V 4%
T 5%

D 51-100 4%
V 4%
T 5%

D 101-250 2%
V 2%
T 4%

D 250-500 0%
V 2%
T 3%

D 501+ 0%
V 11% (found this interesting)
T 8%

D 59% Non firm employment
V 53%
T 57%

I'd go Villanova. The commute will suck more but I'd go with the more established school with better employment outcomes (let's just use biglaw as a proxy for placement power) since the cost is equal.

Rigo wrote:I'd go Villanova. The commute will suck more but I'd go with the more established school with better employment outcomes (let's just use biglaw as a proxy for placement power) since the cost is equal.

Agreed. The gap between these schools is bigger than I originally thought.

If you want DA/criminal law work, go to whatever is the cheapest option. Nobody cares where you went to school, as long as you have experience and dedication.

My personal anecdote. I went to Drexel as a criminal law gunner and I found the co-op to be a very useful experience--I did a bunch of jury trials for misdemeanors in my 2L summer and then 3L co-op year for a DA's office. I ended up getting a job out of it all, but I'm sure my experience from my co-op would've made me a good candidate for jobs had I needed to look.

Considering biglaw employment numbers as a factor in this decision is useless if OP wants to do DA/criminal law work.