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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:42 pm
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NU.
Not saying it is better for SoCal per se, but I think it will do better for biglaw in Cali (probably need to be top 40-50% of class to have a shot v. top 30ish% at USC would be my guess), and probably as good or better in many non-biglaw positions. There may be some areas USC will do better in, i.e. particular firms or certain local government jobs. But because NU really is a 'national school' and has placement power better than its rank suggests (I think so anyway), I would go there. And it sounds like you are a transfer, so that also weighs in favor of NU as well I think, because transfer OCI is pretty unpredictable and NU will give you a better overall shot at a job.
Edit: when I first wrote this I didn't notice it was in transfer thread. My opinion is basically the same, although you will be judged on 1L school and grades, so really it is more of a toss up where you go. Probably won't matter too much either way, and possibly living in Cali could demonstrate commitment there. But NU still has better overall recruiting going on there...