Top Law Schools

I've recently received admissions to both uiuc (105k)and wisconsin law (60k)with scholarships. I am hoping to transfer after 1L ,and retaking LSAT or reapplying is not an option. I know that UIUC's ranking has recently went low(44th) while wisconsin is little higher (31th). So I have trouble deciding where to go. Also, I wonder which school s offer higher chance for me to work in Chicago.

tigerhill wrote:I've recently received admissions to both uiuc (105k)and wisconsin law (60k)with scholarships. I am hoping to transfer after 1L ,and retaking LSAT or reapplying is not an option. I know that UIUC's ranking has recently went low(44th) while wisconsin is little higher (31th). So I have trouble deciding where to go. Also, I wonder which school s offer higher chance for me to work in Chicago.

1. Don't going to law school with the intention of transferring. Lets say you get all B+s...you are MEDIAN. At median from these schools you can't transfer to even a T20.

2. Illinois is better for Chicago. UW has the benefit of not requiring a bar exam if you want to practice in WI.

You should never count on transferring. Only go to a school from which you would be comfortable graduating. That's way too much debt for UIUC, so I'd throw that out right away. I don't feel particularly comfortable with that amount of debt from Wisconsin, either. What are your career goals? Why can't you retake?

presidentspivey wrote:You should never count on transferring. Only go to a school from which you would be comfortable graduating. That's way too much debt for UIUC, so I'd throw that out right away. I don't feel particularly comfortable with that amount of debt from Wisconsin, either. What are your career goals? Why can't you retake?

I think the bracketed number is his/her scholarship awards from Wisconsin and UIUC. Judging by their employment numbers, UIUC is by far the best choice here, albeit not a particularly great one (still looking at 100k COA)

What are your career goals? Where do you want to work? LSAT/GPA?

And to echo everyone else: you can't go anywhere and plan on transferring. These schools are not good ideas at the current price, and depending on your goals, they may not be good choices at all.

cavalier1138 wrote:What are your career goals? Where do you want to work? LSAT/GPA?

And to echo everyone else: you can't go anywhere and plan on transferring. These schools are not good ideas at the current price, and depending on your goals, they may not be good choices at all.

35k/year award from UIUC is above their 75% scholarship offers.
You are saying UIUC is only worth going on a full scholarship. That's just ridiculous.

chicagoburger wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:What are your career goals? Where do you want to work? LSAT/GPA?

And to echo everyone else: you can't go anywhere and plan on transferring. These schools are not good ideas at the current price, and depending on your goals, they may not be good choices at all.

35k/year award from UIUC is above their 75% scholarship offers.
You are saying UIUC is only worth going on a full scholarship. That's just ridiculous.

I'm saying that taking out over $100k in debt for UIUC is a bad idea, given the likely salary outcomes for graduates. Didn't you get banned?

tigerhill wrote:I've recently received admissions to both uiuc (105k)and wisconsin law (60k)with scholarships. I am hoping to transfer after 1L ,and retaking LSAT or reapplying is not an option. I know that UIUC's ranking has recently went low(44th) while wisconsin is little higher (31th). So I have trouble deciding where to go. Also, I wonder which school s offer higher chance for me to work in Chicago.

Do you have in-state tuition at any of these options?

If the 105k scholarship is from UIUC and you have in-state tuition that is not terrible. If you want to work in Chicago, go to UIUC.

UIUC.

Illinois - cheaper and better job placement in Chicago

goldenbear2020 wrote:Illinois - cheaper and better job placement in Chicago

Thank you for your advice. 35k a year is not easy to turn down. My only worry is the ranking. Uiuc is currently 44th according to usnew. Wouldn't it affect job placement in the future? I've been seriously considering the option for almost a week now. I really need your help, guys
Lastly, how well should I do if I want to get into biglaw??

JD_Kingfish wrote:

tigerhill wrote:I've recently received admissions to both uiuc (105k)and wisconsin law (60k)with scholarships. I am hoping to transfer after 1L ,and retaking LSAT or reapplying is not an option. I know that UIUC's ranking has recently went low(44th) while wisconsin is little higher (31th). So I have trouble deciding where to go. Also, I wonder which school s offer higher chance for me to work in Chicago.

Do you have in-state tuition at any of these options?

No unfortunately not. Though the difference is just 10k.

tigerhill wrote:

goldenbear2020 wrote:Illinois - cheaper and better job placement in Chicago

Thank you for your advice. 35k a year is not easy to turn down. My only worry is the ranking. Uiuc is currently 44th according to usnew. Wouldn't it affect job placement in the future? I've been seriously considering the option for almost a week now. I really need your help, guys
Lastly, how well should I do if I want to get into biglaw??

Illinois placed 37% of their 2016 class into biglaw/federal clerkships, about twice as much as Wisconsin. So you should aim for around top 1/3 of the class.

tigerhill wrote:Uiuc is currently 44th according to usnew.

what part of the rankings make you think they are particularly important? have you looked at the methodology? rankings are stupid. UIUC is cheaper and has better Chicago placement (your goal). You have to do some serious mental gymnastics to think Wisconsin is a serious option for your goals.

If it makes you feel any better, here's a ranking where Illinois is higher than Wisconsin. Don't put much stock in rankings, thoughs.

goldenbear2020 wrote:

tigerhill wrote:

goldenbear2020 wrote:Illinois - cheaper and better job placement in Chicago

Thank you for your advice. 35k a year is not easy to turn down. My only worry is the ranking. Uiuc is currently 44th according to usnew. Wouldn't it affect job placement in the future? I've been seriously considering the option for almost a week now. I really need your help, guys
Lastly, how well should I do if I want to get into biglaw??

Illinois placed 37% of their 2016 class into biglaw/federal clerkships, about twice as much as Wisconsin. So you should aim for around top 1/3 of the class.

Thanks it really helps me alot.

Don't focus in the rankings. They don't mean shit when it comes to employment outcomes.
UIUC is the clear winner here for Chicago.

tigerhill wrote:Lastly, how well should I do if I want to get into biglaw??

Not sure how this got ignored.

You should do well enough to not be going to either school. If your only goal is biglaw, you need to shoot for Northwestern/Chicago (assuming you want to stay in town) or change your goals. UIUC is clearly the better choice for Chicago, but not if you're biglaw-or-bust.

tigerhill wrote:I've recently received admissions to both uiuc (105k)and wisconsin law (60k)with scholarships. I am hoping to transfer after 1L ,and retaking LSAT or reapplying is not an option. I know that UIUC's ranking has recently went low(44th) while wisconsin is little higher (31th). So I have trouble deciding where to go. Also, I wonder which school s offer higher chance for me to work in Chicago.

Hey tigerhill, I graduated from Wisconsin and got a biglaw job in Southern CA. Great school, really fun city, but you will have to outperform your classmates to be competitive. Additionally, where you want to practice post-grad is important in your decision. Feel free to PM me for more advice!

sk1130 wrote:Great school, really fun city, but you will have to outperform your classmates to be competitive.

Unless you have a magic bullet for that...

cavalier1138 wrote:

sk1130 wrote:Great school, really fun city, but you will have to outperform your classmates to be competitive.

Unless you have a magic bullet for that...

Haha if only!

cavalier1138 wrote:

tigerhill wrote:Lastly, how well should I do if I want to get into biglaw??

Not sure how this got ignored.

You should do well enough to not be going to either school. If your only goal is biglaw, you need to shoot for Northwestern/Chicago (assuming you want to stay in town) or change your goals. UIUC is clearly the better choice for Chicago, but not if you're biglaw-or-bust.

"How well should I do" questions are always disconcerting for two reasons: assuming that you can call a shot like Babe Ruth and aim for a specific level of performance (when everyone else comes in aiming for that same level) and assuming that said level is pre-determined. If you're going to UIUC, or any school outside of the very top of the T13, be prepared to work to the best of your ability (or even better, if possible). Period.