GWU OR EMORY ? Forum

[Yuzc]

Hi, guys. I get an offer from GWU with 114k scholarship and another with 144k from Emory.
As an international students, D.C. is more attractive to me for its culture and various opportunities. However, it can be much more expensive. The estimated COA of GWU is 150k, and the COA of Emory is 66k. My parents sponsor me so I don't need to ask for a loan.
I haven't decide where to work, its hard to imagine the difference between D.C. and Atlanta based on information from wiki or ABA report. But I plan to focus on legal affairs related to international business after law school, especially between U.S. and China.
By the way, I will not retake. Would you please give me your advice? Thank you very much!

[UVA2B]

Are you willing to return to China (assuming you're from China since you want to work on international business deals in those countries) if you don't get a job from a U.S. firm that will sponsor an H1B? Neither of these schools give you a great shot at getting work in firms that will be doing U.S.-China business deals. You won't have debt, but you'll also be letting your parents pay a buttload of money for a 30-40% chance of getting the type of job you want. It's a gamble, and only you (and your parents) can decide whether or not a gamble on 30-40% chance of realizing success is a worthwhile gamble. I would never say it is, but I have no idea what kind of money you're coming from.

[bitter_melon]

Are you willing to return to China (assuming you're from China since you want to work on international business deals in those countries) if you don't get a job from a U.S. firm that will sponsor an H1B? Neither of these schools give you a great shot at getting work in firms that will be doing U.S.-China business deals. You won't have debt, but you'll also be letting your parents pay a buttload of money for a 30-40% chance of getting the type of job you want. It's a gamble, and only you (and your parents) can decide whether or not a gamble on 30-40% chance of realizing success is a worthwhile gamble. I would never say it is, but I have no idea what kind of money you're coming from.

I suspect that this is too pessimistic. Yeah, maybe not a ton of firms work in China, but someone who speaks fluent Mandarin would have a huge advantage when it comes to getting in at firms that do. Dentons is a good example of a firm that has offices in both DC and Atlanta and has an enormous China presence.

[Mullens]

Are you willing to return to China (assuming you're from China since you want to work on international business deals in those countries) if you don't get a job from a U.S. firm that will sponsor an H1B? Neither of these schools give you a great shot at getting work in firms that will be doing U.S.-China business deals. You won't have debt, but you'll also be letting your parents pay a buttload of money for a 30-40% chance of getting the type of job you want. It's a gamble, and only you (and your parents) can decide whether or not a gamble on 30-40% chance of realizing success is a worthwhile gamble. I would never say it is, but I have no idea what kind of money you're coming from.

I suspect that this is too pessimistic. Yeah, maybe not a ton of firms work in China, but someone who speaks fluent Mandarin would have a huge advantage when it comes to getting in at firms that do. Dentons is a good example of a firm that has offices in both DC and Atlanta and has an enormous China presence.

Sure and they probably hire like 3-5 associates per year who fit that description in total among the hundreds of Chinese law students in the US.

To be frank, international students struggle to get biglaw jobs. In fact, I would think it's fair to say they do markedly worse than US students at their same law schools at OCI. Many firms require perfect english skills (itbvdorm suggested this in his thread) and will ding candidates who are unable to show proficient English writings and speaking skills. Combine that with the current administration and OP is realistically looking at less than a 30-40% chance of getting a job in the US.

[UVA2B]

Are you willing to return to China (assuming you're from China since you want to work on international business deals in those countries) if you don't get a job from a U.S. firm that will sponsor an H1B? Neither of these schools give you a great shot at getting work in firms that will be doing U.S.-China business deals. You won't have debt, but you'll also be letting your parents pay a buttload of money for a 30-40% chance of getting the type of job you want. It's a gamble, and only you (and your parents) can decide whether or not a gamble on 30-40% chance of realizing success is a worthwhile gamble. I would never say it is, but I have no idea what kind of money you're coming from.

I suspect that this is too pessimistic. Yeah, maybe not a ton of firms work in China, but someone who speaks fluent Mandarin would have a huge advantage when it comes to getting in at firms that do. Dentons is a good example of a firm that has offices in both DC and Atlanta and has an enormous China presence.

Did I say anywhere the OP wouldn't be working for a firm in China if things didn't work out in the U.S.? Being fluent in Mandarin and working for a U.S. based firm is very much a possibility for the OP that would never require an H1B. My point was that GWU and Emory don't place very well in Biglaw firms generally for that type of cost, but if the OP is willing/wanting to return to China for this type of work, the calculus could change. I finished by saying I wouldn't be comfortable letting my parents pay that kind of money for that opportunity (assuming in a vacuum that the statistics will hold true here, which is the financially prudent thing to do), but I'm also not in their position and I have no idea what kind of impact this investment will mean to the OP's family.

Coming to the U.S. for law school with the exclusive intent of returning to China to practice seems a little suspect to me. Coming to the U.S. to study at a place that won't positively place you in a position in China for your goals is too. Hence, I'm assuming the OP wants to do this type of corporate work in the U.S. It's unlikely to work out that way from GWU and Emory, but if the OP is considering returning to China to practice, then maybe it'll make (more) sense.