Michigan v UVA Forum

[ChasslessApps]

I am super torn choosing between these two schools. I visited both, really enjoyed my time in each city, and can see myself at either school. I felt like slightly more in-tune with the Michiganders but not enough to make me deposit right there.

My goals are clerkship/biglaw and eventually fed government. I would like to end up in DC or Chicago (assume I'd be just as happy in either), but I'm fine with NYC if my grades aren't enough to get me to the former. Michigan's career numbers scare me a bit and their career services people seemed... not especially helpful. UVA's numbers are better and their career services people are (seemingly, at least) more put-together.

Are these schools basically the same outcome-wise? Am I just pissing away 30k if I go to UVA over Michigan here?

[Antetrust]

You shouldn't be concerned about career prospects at either of these schools. Personally, I'd save the $30k. Congrats and good luck!

[talons2250]

The schools are basically the same so go to the one that is cheaper.

[mandrewsf]

Idk if this is also true at UVA but at Mich you could teach undergrads as a TA for full tuition + salary, plus the law school will pay up to 12k of your scholarship to you as cash. I think something like 1/5 of the law school do this gig (it's not that competitive, most people probably don't want it/have journals or other competing obligations) and it's basically a Darrow for 10-15 hours a week during the semester.

In terms of jobs, at Mich if you put in the legwork you are gonna be fine. The career office is atrocious but you don't need the career office to get biglaw. In terms of geography I would assume that Mich places far better than UVA in Chicago; it's the 3rd biggest sender to that market after the two local T14s. Plenty of people end up in DC biglaw as well, myself being one of them.

[ChasslessApps]

You shouldn't be concerned about career prospects at either of these schools. Personally, I'd save the $30k. Congrats and good luck!

The schools are basically the same so go to the one that is cheaper.

Idk if this is also true at UVA but at Mich you could teach undergrads as a TA for full tuition + salary, plus the law school will pay up to 12k of your scholarship to you as cash. I think something like 1/5 of the law school do this gig (it's not that competitive, most people probably don't want it/have journals or other competing obligations) and it's basically a Darrow for 10-15 hours a week during the semester.

In terms of jobs, at Mich if you put in the legwork you are gonna be fine. The career office is atrocious but you don't need the career office to get biglaw. In terms of geography I would assume that Mich places far better than UVA in Chicago; it's the 3rd biggest sender to that market after the two local T14s. Plenty of people end up in DC biglaw as well, myself being one of them.

Thank you all for assuaging my fears! I have real connections to the Midwest so it just makes more sense to head to Michigan. I figure I'll be in the library so much I won't much care about the cold anyway... I'm excited to head to Michigan!