UF or Emory Forum

[billxcarter]

Greetings all,

I’m pretty sure I know the answer based on what I’ve read here thus far. But I figure I’ll ask anyway. I want to work at a large firm in Atlanta preferably but I’d be willing to work in Soflo. I’ve been admitted to both Emory (at sticker) or UF (in state tuition). I like Emory more as an institution but in terms of my goals which would make me more competitive for a large salary in the southeast or DC area post grad?

[decimalsanddollars]

Depends on a lot of things. What's the total difference in cost of attendance for the two schools? How strong is your preference for Emory? I'm guessing that "I like Emory more as an institution" means that your preference is stronger than, say, the sum of all practical considerations (being in Atlanta, higher-ranked school, etc.) for choosing Emory over UF.

Emory will open more doors and make an eventual DC play easier, and it places much better in Atlanta biglaw. It's worth noting that DC is tough/competitive even for T14 people with good grades, let alone non-T14 transfer students without ties to DC. South FL is hard without ties also, but Emory places pretty well there. You've got a lot of variables to solve for here, but the main question is not whether Emory would give you more and better options for your goals (it will) but whether the increased/improved options are worth the extra money.

[Dcc617]

So about a third of the class at Emory gets biglaw/fed clerkship at all. I'm pretty sure a good portion of those students go to NY, where most of the biglaw jobs are.

If your goal is Atlanta biglaw, then you need to recognize that Emory doesn't seem like it gives you a great shot unless you're in the top of the class, and there's no guarantee that you'll be in the top of the class.

At best, you're talking about taking out like a quarter of a million dollars for a 35% chance at any biglaw, and probably less of a chance for Atlanta, since it's a small market.

You should SERIOUSLY think about that.

[billxcarter]

So about a third of the class at Emory gets biglaw/fed clerkship at all. I'm pretty sure a good portion of those students go to NY, where most of the biglaw jobs are.

If your goal is Atlanta biglaw, then you need to recognize that Emory doesn't seem like it gives you a great shot unless you're in the top of the class, and there's no guarantee that you'll be in the top of the class.

At best, you're talking about taking out like a quarter of a million dollars for a 35% chance at any biglaw, and probably less of a chance for Atlanta, since it's a small market.

You should SERIOUSLY think about that.

Well I think that the sentiment about being in the top of the class is true of most if not all law schools in terms of big law placement, that’s not unique to Emory. I’d be surprised to find out that they do not place well, if not the best in Atlanta. Where are you getting that information?
Are you saying that you would likely go to UF over Emory?

[billxcarter]

Depends on a lot of things. What's the total difference in cost of attendance for the two schools? How strong is your preference for Emory? I'm guessing that "I like Emory more as an institution" means that your preference is stronger than, say, the sum of all practical considerations (being in Atlanta, higher-ranked school, etc.) for choosing Emory over UF.

Emory will open more doors and make an eventual DC play easier, and it places much better in Atlanta biglaw. It's worth noting that DC is tough/competitive even for T14 people with good grades, let alone non-T14 transfer students without ties to DC. South FL is hard without ties also, but Emory places pretty well there. You've got a lot of variables to solve for here, but the main question is not whether Emory would give you more and better options for your goals (it will) but whether the increased/improved options are worth the extra money.

In terms of my preference, it’s mostly my love for the city as opposed to Gainesville as well as my experience during visits. However Emory will cost 35k more.

[billxcarter]

I am a AA male if that helps at all

[Dcc617]

So about a third of the class at Emory gets biglaw/fed clerkship at all. I'm pretty sure a good portion of those students go to NY, where most of the biglaw jobs are.

If your goal is Atlanta biglaw, then you need to recognize that Emory doesn't seem like it gives you a great shot unless you're in the top of the class, and there's no guarantee that you'll be in the top of the class.

At best, you're talking about taking out like a quarter of a million dollars for a 35% chance at any biglaw, and probably less of a chance for Atlanta, since it's a small market.

You should SERIOUSLY think about that.

Well I think that the sentiment about being in the top of the class is true of most if not all law schools in terms of big law placement, that’s not unique to Emory. I’d be surprised to find out that they do not place well, if not the best in Atlanta. Where are you getting that information?
Are you saying that you would likely go to UF over Emory?

Lst Score Reports for employment info. https://www.lstreports.com/

Generally, if the goal is biglaw then you should shoot for T14, since biglaw is achievable from median.

Biglaw is also very tough from UF. I think it's like 25% of the class. They being said, if you end up around median then you probably won't get biglaw or Atlanta biglaw from either school, but your debt level will be wya different.

If you're paying sticker, then basically the only job that can cover that is biglaw.

So you should look at your goals, debt load, and likely employment outcomes to see if they match.

[Dcc617]

If you're biglaw or bust then probably retake for T14, and understand that the vast majority of biglaw jobs are in NY.

[billxcarter]

If you're biglaw or bust then probably retake for T14, and understand that the vast majority of biglaw jobs are in NY.

I’m a transfer

[Dcc617]

If you're biglaw or bust then probably retake for T14, and understand that the vast majority of biglaw jobs are in NY.

I’m a transfer

Oh, sorry, that wasn't clear at all from the OP. Then you're in an entirely different position.

I'm that case I'd look at what firms go to each OCI (especially now, given covid), and how each school works for transfers.

[decimalsanddollars]

Idk if Emory is $35k more total over the two relevant years or per year, but if it's total, I think Emory is the better choice. If it's per year, much harder decision---and I would probably say UF is a marginally better economic choice, but choosing Emory for personal reasons would be defensible.

[Dcc617]

Yeah, but OP is a transfer student with presumably good grades at their current law school. The analysis should swing on how many more firms/how interviews OP can get from Emory vs UF. If it's largely the same, then the extra money may not be worth it.

OP needs to research OCI at both schools.