Why Top 14? Forum

[fakehunter]

So this is kind of a strange question, but what about the top 14 that counts as the top echelon? Like, why 14? Why not 10 or 15? Maybe I'm just jaded because my top realistic choice is UCLA, the first one out of top 14 (if my US News list is correct), but after being on this forum I feel like if I get into Georgetown or somewhere higher, I should feel obligated to go there. Can someone elucidate me on why its top 14?

[JamMasterJ]

search wikipedia

[bk1]

Google.

Forum search.

[top30man]

In short, big law placement + a3 clerkship placement. There is a big divide in the opportunities after the t14.
However, that's not to say ucla isn't a good option. It's easily the third best in Cali, though more regional than any t14.

[flcath]

They've been the top 14 schools every year, just sometimes switched around therein. Some say--and there is just no way to verify which is correct--that it's the 14 schools that have been in the top 10.

There's no real dropoff in placement between 14 and 15 (anymore?)--there are more significant dropoffs within the top 14--but apparently the next schools down (Texas, UCLA, and Vandy) were more known for placing into their respective markets than placing nationally.

FWIW (and money aside, obviously) I would say go to the best school you can get into. So Duke beats UCLA, but UChi also beats Duke. It's not like the elitism stops at 14.

[flcath]

They've been the top 14 schools every year, just sometimes switched around therein. Some say--and there is just no way to verify which is correct--that it's the 14 schools that have been in the top 10.

And just so no dumbass 0L jumps on me for this, the latter definition is consistent with facts, while the former definition is not (I believe UCLA was in the top 14 one year, and GULC was out of it... I think it was the very first year of the USNews rankings).

On the other hand, the former definition is far more parsimonious and consistent with the plain meaning of the term.

[JamMasterJ]

They've been the top 14 schools every year, just sometimes switched around therein. Some say--and there is just no way to verify which is correct--that it's the 14 schools that have been in the top 10.

And just so no dumbass 0L jumps on me for this, the latter definition is consistent with facts, while the former definition is not (I believe UCLA was in the top 14 one year, and GULC was out of it... I think it was the very first year of the USNews rankings).

On the other hand, the former definition is far more parsimonious and consistent with the plain meaning of the term.

yeah, it was the first year of the rankings. And obv, Texas is tied for 14 currently.

[CanadianWolf]

"Jobs & portability" = the party line.