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Should I transfer to GW Law?

I am currently a top 20% student at a TT school with transfer acceptance to GW Law in DC. I have the GI Bill (I'm a veteran), so tuition is covered and cost of living is about the same in both places. Post graduation, I want to work in government, either in DC or in a smaller city not far from the TT.

TT School
- Academic year internship lined up already in local government
- Research Assistant position lined up for academic year: resume building more important to me than 4k per semester for two semesters
- Likely more alumni connections in city 2 hours away where I might want to live/work
- Top 20% in class solidified
- I know the people and familiar with the school

GW Law
- Better employment numbers
- Many opportunities in DC, but no academic year internship or research assistant position set up at this point
- Getting a job in DC would be easier from GW, whereas I could get a regional job just as easily from GW or the TT school.
- Potentially a better education: class variety and professor scholarship may or may not make me a better lawyer
- More prestige: possibly more flexibility in future employment with GW on the resume
- Write on to Law Review still possible
- GPA resets (good and bad)

Looks like you have a good thing going where you are. Don't really see a good enough reason to transfer.

Tough one. I am transferring to georgetown this fall, and love the idea of jumping to the better school, but it really does seem like you have a pretty good thing going.

As far as long term, it's possible that GW can help beyond, but idk by as much as you think. You'd have to work pretty damn hard to be over median (as I will also) Honestly kind of split for me. I guess if I was in this situation (tuition/finances covered, etc) I'd go, but that's coming from the mindset of somebody who's already transferring.

If you do decide to transfer, maybe I'll see you in D.C haha

Good luck!

Go to GW. I say this because costs are similar at both schools for you.

If you stay at your TT you're going to have that name on your resume your entire life. Plans change - a degree from GW is going to be significantly more portable than one from your TT. (unless, of course, you plan on staying in your TT town forever)

Prestige is the name of the game in law and although GW doesn't carry loads of it, its sure not going to act as a negative the way your TT degree will.

I'd echo the portability aspect of a GW degree vs the TT degree. Like the above posters have said, prestige is a huge factor in getting your foot in the door (while admittedly far from being the end all be all). If your plan is to work in government, the network at GW is likely more beneficial, unless you keep it local to your TT city. Either way best of luck with everything.

but it looks like op has paved for him/herself a solid path to getting employment. gw and the area is very competitive, and getting a job there is far from guaranteed. also screw prestige

I think you transfer. Cost is always one of the biggest considerations to take into account when transferring, so the fact that you have the GI Bill should weigh heavily in favor of GW. Other than that, I guess it comes down to whether you prefer DC > current location and how much you want the prestige boost from GW, which is significant. Congrats, and good luck with the decision!

perfunctory wrote:but it looks like op has paved for him/herself a solid path to getting employment. gw and the area is very competitive, and getting a job there is far from guaranteed. also screw prestige

...and you are still trying to get in there, right? (edited because dumb, dumb, dumb, I can't read)

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

perfunctory wrote:but it looks like op has paved for him/herself a solid path to getting employment. gw and the area is very competitive, and getting a job there is far from guaranteed. also screw prestige

...and you are still trying to get in there, right?

and what are you insinuating?

perfunctory wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

perfunctory wrote:but it looks like op has paved for him/herself a solid path to getting employment. gw and the area is very competitive, and getting a job there is far from guaranteed. also screw prestige

...and you are still trying to get in there, right?

and what are you insinuating?

Just that the reasons you've given make it sound like you think Georgetown is a bad choice, which doesn't fit well with statements like these:
[quote="perfunctory"]anyone hear anything today? please...i will bleed georgetown....[/quote]and
[quote="perfunctory"]For those admitted [to NU as transfers] and attending, could you please withdraw from Gtown? Thanks![/quote] (still completely wrong, sorry)

gw and gtown - in terms of oci - are quite different, and i don't have his/her goals? cmon what a bully

Oh shit, I completely apologize, I mixed up the schools. That was me being an idiot and I am truly sorry. (I thought the thread was about GT.) I take it all back, that was really dumb of me, I was just confused by what I thought were differing opinions while I was busy misreading everything.

I voted GW. At equal cost, I think it's the right move. Don't worry about internships and RA positions, you'll have opportunities to do that at GW. I think the GPA stuff will probably come out a wash. GW may be more rigorous, but lots of people check out after 1L anyways.

What TT, might actually matter in this respect?

Thanks all for the input. I've decided to transfer to GW. I'm also on the waiting list for Georgetown, but not holding onto much hope there.