UGA v Emory Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have applied to both UGA and Emory as a transfer student. My goal is to work in a mid to big law firm in the South. I have no particular interest in a city, but ideally I would like to be near the ocean.

I have also applied to Vanderbilt, which is likely as stretch as I have a 3.6 GPA from a TTT. Additionally, I will be working as a SA at mid size (90ish lawyers) firm, not sure if that factors in any.

[QContinuum]

Not sure what the question is. As between UGA and Emory, Emory's at least somewhat stronger, and COA should be similar as you'd be paying sticker at both as a transfer.

As far as whether you should transfer, that depends on how much merit aid you're currently getting, and whether there are any GPA stips to keep the aid. Neither UGA nor Emory are "BigLaw Secure" to the point that it'd be worth any price to attend.

[decimalsanddollars]

Cosign what QContinuum said above, and I want to emphasize that cost and location preference (which you haven't much narrowed down) should factor strongly into your transfer decision.

All else (including cost) equal, Vandy > Emory > UGA > TTT schools for what you're trying to do, which is work in a coastal city in the South. Southern coastal cities' legal markets generally have one or more of the following 3 problems: (1) insular legal markets; (2) not many jobs for young lawyers (or lawyers at all); and (3) extremely competitive because of people without ties (Miami and DC). Places like Mobile, Savannah, and Charleston are (1) and (2). Unless you have ties to one of those cities, it's really hard to make it there (or convince one of the few "mid to big" firms that may exist there to hire you). If you're committed to going to a city like that, cost reduction should be the main factor in your transfer decision---i.e., don't transfer. Would you get in-state at UGA? Does that make the cost difference less crazy than paying sticker at Emory?

Without any guidance other than working in the South, for a law firm that's kinda-big-kinda-not, somewhere near the ocean...it's hard to give advice between or beyond those options. If you're thinking of a place like Jacksonville, Miami, or Tallahassee, does your TTT already place there? Would it be worth it to you to transfer to a relevant Florida law school? Houston is also near the ocean, and there are plenty of national, market-paying firms there---you could try to transfer to UT or even UH?

[Eliberty]

UGA by far over Emory for what you say you want. UGA will be better for staying in the south and particular smaller or coastal cities. I know some of the larger firms in Savannah won’t even interview at Emory because it’s thought of as more of a “Yankee” school.

[ksm6969]

I’m not sure Emory is really considered stronger anymore. From what I understand, they had some administrative issues and went without a permanent dean for a while, may have been one of the reasons they have dropped in the rankings, while UGA has been rising. They are both equally ranked now, with UGA having less students, probably a bigger alumni base in the south, and being substantially cheaper both tuition wise and COL wise, I’d lean UGA