UCLA or NU Forum

[Anonymous User]

Currently attend a T1 in Cali.

Want to work in Cali, will NU give me a solid chance to get back to CA or should I just go to UCLA?

Will prob get a little more money at UCLA but unclear at the moment.

Any and all input welcome.

[reasonable person]

UCLA > NU for CA hands down.
Being in CA would also offer you tremendous networking opportunities and externships.
If you just wanted biglaw and wanted Chicago, I would have said NU.

Rank 12 vs 16 is meaningless with your goals. Don't be played by US News.

[igo2northwestern]

UCLA > NU for CA hands down.

I dunno about this... Every single person I knew who wanted CA Biglaw got it (we're talking like 20 people who I have personal knowledge about), even with below median grades. And 20 is a conservative estimate based on people who are friends/more than acquaintances.

There is a much smaller pool of competition here because people are going to chi, ny, tx, ca, etc. And apart from Gibson, which seems to be very grade selective here, all other CA firms are accessible. (I did not mention Munger or Irell because those are very very difficult at any school you choose.)

I know the natural answer is to say "UCLA is in California, so it must have an advantage in CA." I think this statement would be convincing if it were "UCLA is in LA, so it must have an advantage in LA.

For SF and Silicon Valley, I am pretty confident that NU outperforms UCLA. For Irell and Munger, (two of the most selective in the country, both LA), I'm pretty sure an NU student has a better shot, all else considered, but I don't think those two firms should be deciding factors when evaluating schools.

Eta: I think the things I have said are pretty compelling because I'm under the impression that UCLA students cannot get Biglaw unless they are top 33%. At NU, it's more like 60%. That said, OP go with the spot that makes things more financially feasible as well.
http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ ... yers/2013/
http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ ... yers/2013/

[eriedoctrine]

UCLA, no contest.

[Daft]

I actually just finished my first year at UCLA and am transferring to NU. I think those who say UCLA no contest are pretty mistaken.

I actually want to do the same thing in big law in CA. However from UCLA it really is the top 25% of the class and thats about it who have an opportunity and Ive spoken with students whove transferred into UCLA from places like Loyola with really high GPAs and have had no luck at OCI. NU as one poster says is easily in the 50% range. The competition coming from NU back west is nowhere near as great as competing against UCLA students. I spoke with a number of NU students who said it is very easy to come back to CA if you want.

Id say NU no question.

[reasonable person]

I actually just finished my first year at UCLA and am transferring to NU. I think those who say UCLA no contest are pretty mistaken.

I actually want to do the same thing in big law in CA. However from UCLA it really is the top 25% of the class and thats about it who have an opportunity and Ive spoken with students whove transferred into UCLA from places like Loyola with really high GPAs and have had no luck at OCI. NU as one poster says is easily in the 50% range. The competition coming from NU back west is nowhere near as great as competing against UCLA students. I spoke with a number of NU students who said it is very easy to come back to CA if you want.

Id say NU no question.

More like top 40%.
http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ucla/2013/

I also respectfully disagree.
I have at least half a dozen friends at UCLA Law, and many of them were at median (and 1 guy below median), and landed biglaw jobs in SoCal and the Bay Area.

[transferror]

Is UCLA's OCI pre-select, lottery, or a combo?

[ymcmb]

Is UCLA's OCI pre-select, lottery, or a combo?

OP here, UCLA's EIP is 70% lotterly, 30% pre-select.

Another factor to consider is that my stats coming from my school which is a T1 in Cali is top 25%. I wonder how that will affect my chances in either UCLA or NU.
Would transferring to a higher school then make me look even better and make up for my class rank at my previous school?

[igo2northwestern]

I actually just finished my first year at UCLA and am transferring to NU. I think those who say UCLA no contest are pretty mistaken.

I actually want to do the same thing in big law in CA. However from UCLA it really is the top 25% of the class and thats about it who have an opportunity and Ive spoken with students whove transferred into UCLA from places like Loyola with really high GPAs and have had no luck at OCI. NU as one poster says is easily in the 50% range. The competition coming from NU back west is nowhere near as great as competing against UCLA students. I spoke with a number of NU students who said it is very easy to come back to CA if you want.

Id say NU no question.

More like top 40%.
http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ucla/2013/

I also respectfully disagree.
I have at least half a dozen friends at UCLA Law, and many of them were at median (and 1 guy below median), and landed biglaw jobs in SoCal and the Bay Area.

Nu: 61.2%, Ucla: 37.3%

I think your personal experience cannot reflect the norm at UCLA, while mine really actually does. And the NU % doesn't even take into account the portion of people who decide to pursue very competitive business jobs; I'm certain they could have gotten Biglaw if they wanted (because they summered and decided not to do Biglaw).

[igo2northwestern]

Is UCLA's OCI pre-select, lottery, or a combo?

OP here, UCLA's EIP is 70% lotterly, 30% pre-select.

Another factor to consider is that my stats coming from my school which is a T1 in Cali is top 25%. I wonder how that will affect my chances in either UCLA or NU.
Would transferring to a higher school then make me look even better and make up for my class rank at my previous school?

Sry I have no idea. I have friends who ended up at really good firms but I dunno how they performed at their previous schools. Others should chime in on this.

[transferror]

Is UCLA's OCI pre-select, lottery, or a combo?

OP here, UCLA's EIP is 70% lotterly, 30% pre-select.

Another factor to consider is that my stats coming from my school which is a T1 in Cali is top 25%. I wonder how that will affect my chances in either UCLA or NU.
Would transferring to a higher school then make me look even better and make up for my class rank at my previous school?

I'm not sure how you swung NU at top 25%, but congrats. You should definitely take it.