Ohio State 1L Taking Questions Forum

[bsc89]

Thanks for the replies guys... Would me being an Ohio resident help my application?
Ohio State is my first choice but my numbers are slightly lower than what I feel the school is looking for.

Again thanks for taking questions

[Duke Silver]

I thought I heard them say during orientation that our class is particularly diverse. Like lifestookquick said, there's a LOT of diversity groups. I mean, it's the Midwest, but it is slightly more diverse than I was expecting (again, for Columbus) which is great!

I know a 2L I went to elementary school with (from the Columbus area) landed an offer at a big New York firm, and there's definitely some people heading there. However, I don't know much more than that, as I think I'll stay in the Midwest. I'm SURE it's not easy, but I do know at least one person who did!

How is the diversity at the law school?

How are the women at the law school?

Any Portability to New York?

Thanks for taking questions.

Now that I've reached the light at the end of the memo tunnel, I can answer this

I'm actually pretty impressed with the diversity here! It's definitely a priority of the school and we have a number of diversity groups that are very active as well. I don't know what more you want to know here, but feel free to ask more questions.

...I'm a (straight) girl, so the second question isn't really my thing. But I happen to think the ladies of Moritz are awesome

TTH may be able to speak about portability a bit more...I'm a 1L and haven't had much experience with the job search process yet. I know that career services had a panel of 2Ls to talk to us 1Ls about what they did last summer and one of the girls worked in New York. Most people stay in Ohio, but I do know that some of that is self-selection. I'm gunning for DC myself actually.

I feel like I didn't really give you much, sorry! I'm happy to answer follow-ups or any other questions

The school definitely tries to prioritize diversity, but I haven't found it to be too particularly diverse racially. Considering it's a public law school in the midwest, though, I suppose it's good. LTQ is spot on about the different organizations.

Also a straight female, but I feel I can objectively say that the women, on average, are awesome.

Portability to New York...probably not so great. It's not impossible, but you really have to work for it. Most 2Ls I've spoken with have had trouble with their job search. It seems the top candidates have gotten Ohio Biglaw and Midlaw...including those trying for other markets. Top tOSU students do get interviews in those other markets, but it's just tough all around. I think general wisdom on TLS is that New York is the easiest market to crack outside your home market simply because there are actually jobs there and New Yorkers don't need to be convinced that people not from NY want to live there.
I'm personally hoping to get back to New York (which wasn't the plan when I chose tOSU...ah, life), but I'll be heavily relying upon my existing contacts. There's also a counselor in career services with New York contacts, but career services can only do so much.

TTH will likely have better perspective.

[charliep]

so what are the options available to students outside of top of the class

[bsc89]

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

[lifestooquick]

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

Well this one's easy...Ohio State is the best law school in the state. Period. That's a known fact to EVERY firm/judge/legal employer in Ohio. Ohio State has better reach throughout Ohio and is the probably the only one of the three that gives you somewhat of a chance to get OUT of Ohio if you ever want to.

For Case in particular, Case is private and expensive for an education that won't open nearly as many doors as a cheaper Ohio State education.

Other factors: the professors are better because they have more clout/recruiting power; Ohio State is in the capital and one of the largest legal markets in Ohio; Columbus is easily the best place to live of the Cleveland/Cincy/Cbus options.

[2014jd]

so what are the options available to students outside of top of the class

Ask me in a year or so. The general impression I get, though I haven't talked to many people, is that a lot of people are able to get smaller firm positions, government jobs, and positions with corporate legal departments.

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

There is certainly an argument to be made for both of those schools if you know for sure that you want the cincy or cleveland legal market. Cincy does have a smaller class size, which I could see being nice. Also, your cost of attendance could make a difference.

However, as lifestooquick said, OSU is clearly recognized as the top dog in Ohio even by employers with ties to other Ohio schools (from the few I've talked with anyway). You have an extensive national alumni network with OSU and Columbus is a great city to be in. Basically, the job prospects is what should sell you on OSU over case and cincy. But there are of course other factors that contribute to a positive law school experience and if you have more specific questions about OSU, I (and others I'm sure) would be happy to answer them.

[Duke Silver]

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

Well this one's easy...Ohio State is the best law school in the state. Period. That's a known fact to EVERY firm/judge/legal employer in Ohio. Ohio State has better reach throughout Ohio and is the probably the only one of the three that gives you somewhat of a chance to get OUT of Ohio if you ever want to.

For Case in particular, Case is private and expensive for an education that won't open nearly as many doors as a cheaper Ohio State education.

Other factors: the professors are better because they have more clout/recruiting power; Ohio State is in the capital and one of the largest legal markets in Ohio; Columbus is easily the best place to live of the Cleveland/Cincy/Cbus options.

Very true, esp. that Columbus is the best . Seriously, though, you have a way greater reach across the state with OSU. Instate tuition is cheap, and it's a great deal if you wanna stay instate.

[TTH]

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

Forgot about this thread.

The decision of Moritz vs Case is easy. Moritz is hands down the superior school. It's more highly ranked and cheaper. It places just as well (if not better) into Cleveland firms as Case, plus it destroys Case in Columbus. The only possible reason to consider Case over Moritz would be if they throw truckloads of money at you, thus bringing their total cost of attendance below Moritz, or you are trying to get into Western NY/Western PA. Case actually places well in Western NY and does a little better than Moritz in Pittsburgh (although neither school does well in Pittsburgh).

Moritz vs UC is a trickier question. Cincinnati is a notoriously provincial legal market. Cincinnati firms really look for Cincinnati people. I spoke with a partner at a big Cincy firm who is an alum, and he related to me that OSU always focused its placement efforts on Cleveland versus Cincinnati, and there's some resentment on the part of Cincy firms about it. So, if you are absolutely focused on working in Cincy after graduation, UC is a better bet (and in fact, if I were trying to get Cincy, I would consider IUB and NKU-Chase before OSU, maybe even UK). Also, Cincinnati is a cheaper school than Moritz with crazy small class sizes.

so what are the options available to students outside of top of the class

It varies significantly. The market is still sufficiently screwed that it's going to be hard getting one of the gold-plated firms without being at least t-15% + LR. However, there are a lot of mid-sized firms in the Columbus and Cleveland paying in the 70-90 range that are attainable by the top 25-35% of the class.

My advice if you come here and you know after first semester that you're not going to be t-15%, take the law review write-on deadly seriously. I finished first year in the top quarter but wrote on to law review. I think the reason I got a lot of the interviews I did was because I had LR.



w/r/t portability outside of Ohio, it's tough. I'd say maybe five or so kids from each class of ~220 wind up doing market-paying biglaw, but a lot of this too is self-selection. ITE, when Jones Day or Baker Hostetler offers someone in the top 5% of the class for Cleveland or Columbus, they usually take it.

[Notor]

Can anyone sell me on O State versus lets say a UC or Case?

No reason to go to Case over OSU, OSU is cheaper and better. Case's tuition is insane.

UC v. OSU is a little trickier because UC is cheaper, but ultimately it comes down to where you are from. If you aren't from Cincinnati, don't go to UC. Cincinnati is an ultra-insular market. If you weren't born and raised in Cincinnati, you pretty much have a close to zero shot at a firm job there(unless you are URM or IP background). That being said, if you are from Cincinnati, I would still go to OSU because its about the same price and gives you the ability to more effectively bid at OCI for employers in locations other than Cincinnati. Those same Cincinnati firms that go to UC are going to also go to OSU, but the Columbus/Cleveland firms that go to OSU probably aren't stopping at UC.

[bsc89]

Hmmmm... I was born in raised in Cincinnati, makes it interesting haha

Does Ohio State average LSAT scores or take your best one?

[lifestooquick]

Hmmmm... I was born in raised in Cincinnati, makes it interesting haha

Does Ohio State average LSAT scores or take your best one?

They take your best.

The real question is whether you want to stay in Cincy? A UC degree will definitely be powerful in Cincy, but not anywhere else. OSU will still be powerful in Cincy (to a slightly lesser degree) but will open up other market options for you.