Top Law Schools

Another worthless stay or go thread. Why? All my friends are sick of hearing me complain.

At Davis now. Top 5%. 80% tuition covered. L. Rev.

In at Berkeley. Prob sticker price. Chance at L. Rev. and OCI.

Apps pending at other T14s. S long-shot. H holding out, but prob done for (good softs, GPA ~0.1 too low IMO)

I personally like Davis. I'm comfortable, have good connections with faculty (still butthurt about one grade ) can focus there, nice apartment, feel healthy and happy.

However, I think I want (at least a shot at) a clerkship/academia. I know Berkeley isn't YH, but whatever. Profs have come out of Berkeley.

Biggest reason to go is prestige, larger market.
Biggest reason to stay is money/less debt. OCI is for sure. Flexibility in life after graduation (if I decide to pursue more education for example)

I don't want to get sucked into working off debt at a firm I hate. Maybe I'm just being naive about that.

Thoughts/flames are welcome. Thanks!

Join me!!

Of course my decision was easier. Gave up 20% tuition assistance not 80...

Clerkship shot is much better at Berks.

Congrats on killing it 1L year

If you want clerkships, its going to be tough at either Berkeley or Davis. If you transfer to Berkeley, you have one year to develop 3 solid connections with professors for recommendations, which isn't going to be easy as a transfer student. If you stay at Davis, Davis has terrible clerkship placement statistics. You are probably a lock for Big Law at top 5% from Davis.

I don't envy your decision, especially because it seems like you enjoy being at Davis.

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I heard this quote last night while discussing my own options, "When I have a difficult decision between doing something and not doing something, I usually just do it because it's much harder to regret doing something than imagining what life would have been like if you took that chance."

In short, though to me it seems like you're leaning towards Davis, you need to ask yourself if you'd regret staying. I don't know what type if person you are, but with your aspirations I don't think you'd regret going to the Top 10 school that is only an hour away from where you are now.

These are just thoughts.

Thanks for the advice all.

The "regret" argument is a good one. Of course, I might regret leaving behind a good foundation and money for a riskier enterprise and debt

No risk no reward though

In my experience & in my opinion, law review is a separate law school learning experience. The certainty of law review, top 5% ranking & 80% tuition scholarship is a lot to give up. Can UC-Davis get you an Article III clerkship ? If likely, then stay. But, if you're serious about academia, then Berkeley may be the better school. Regardless, your real "problem" has yet to surface---a Harvard or Stanford admission---that will make this discussion moot.

The clerkship thing at Davis is tenuous. Certainly possible. Might require me to ball (really) hard the next few years. Or move up through the District Court. I can prob get a letter of rec from the U.S. Circuit Judge I'm working for now though.

One guy from Davis is on the 9th right now. Just graduated.