Mercer 2011 Forum

[txag10]

I couldn't find a topic for Mercer concerning this cycle. I've been complete since 1/7 and its starting to become an annoyance.

[BamaGrad09]

I was accepted in December about a week after going complete. If I don't get in at Georgia State, I'm likely heading to Macon next fall.

[EthanMcleod]

I was accepted in December about a week after going complete. If I don't get in at Georgia State, I'm likely heading to Macon next fall.

I would choose Mercer over Georgia State, but to each their own. In today via email 157/3.6.

[millardtime]

Did anybody else do the Woodruff essay? If I could pull a full ride, I'd definitely choose Mercer.

[txag10]

Did anybody else do the Woodruff essay? If I could pull a full ride, I'd definitely choose Mercer.

+1

[BamaGrad09]

I was accepted in December about a week after going complete. If I don't get in at Georgia State, I'm likely heading to Macon next fall.

I would choose Mercer over Georgia State, but to each their own. In today via email 157/3.6.

It's more about the city than the school in this case. Both are good schools if you plan on staying in Georgia, and I do. My girlfriend and I would both prefer to live in Atlanta. Mercer is definitely second on the list though.

[ggocat]

I recently graduated from Mercer Law; happy to answer questions.

[WVUguy11]

How are the job prospects?

[ggocat]

How are the job prospects?

For biglaw, you have a decent chance if you are in the top 15%--pretty much guaranteed some interviews. Some students outside the top 15% (perhaps top 25%?) received biglaw offers my year. But many of the biglaw SAs for the class of 2010 were no-offered. From what I understand, this problem was not limited to Mercer. Most of the no-offered students found employment elsewhere before passing the bar.

The smaller and mid-sized firms seemed to fare better in the economic downturn, and they continued to hire and make offers at normal rates. Many students end up at these firms. The pay varies greatly, and size of the firm is not controlling. (Of the people I felt comfortable discussing salary with, the lowest was $55K, and the highest was $70K).

A number of students end up in government and public interest organizations--a devotion to this type of work seems to be more important than grades. Classmates who obtained ADA and APD jobs had varying grades.

Students in the top 5% generally received interviews with federal judges, but only a few people end up clerking for federal judges each year. I'm clerking for a state appellate judge (outside Georgia), and I am very happy with how things turned out job-wise.

Generally, about 50-60% of the class is employed at graduation. Quite a few people find employment while studying for the bar and after passing the bar--many JD jobs require bar passage. Unfortunately, the nine-month employment rate dropped significantly in the past few years (96% for class of 2007 to 83% for class of 2009). This probably reflects the economic downturn--to the extent you don't see this drop at other schools, it's probably because they juke the stats (e.g., GULC hiring 60 grads in fellowships, SMU paying firms to hire grads, BCLS hiring grads directly). I anticipate that the rate for 2010 will be better.

[JayHo7284]

I went complete at Mercer 9/24 & got accepted 10/8. Still waiting to hear if I got any scholarships, especially the Woodruff. Hopefully I do. My numbers were 156 & 3.56.

[taraknits]

Anybody gotten called re: woodruff yet??

[JayHo7284]

Anybody gotten called re: woodruff yet??

Not here. I'm going to email the financial aid office & see about it & other scholarships, too, because I've heard back from some of my other schools about getting scholarships, but nothing from Mercer.

Has anyone been awarded any scholarships yet?

[millardtime]

I emailed last week about scholarships, and this was the response:

"The decision for Woodruff Finalists will be made by the end of this week.

Generally, most of our scholarships are awarded by the end of February. There is a chance that additional awards will become available, but there is no way to know for sure. Hope this has been somewhat helpful."

[txag10]

How can they make decisions on Woodruff if they have hardly accepted anyone?

[taraknits]

I got $20,000/yr- letter came about a month after my acceptance...lawschoolnumbers shows several people that were offered $25,000/yr... Damn! Disappointed about Woodruff...guess if we weren't contacted last week we are out of luck, huh?

[txag10]

Emailed today concerning Woodruff. Didn't get it. Oddly enough, my status checker is still sitting at complete for over a month now.

[millardtime]

Also didn't get the Woodruff. I'm withdrawing. Good luck, everyone.

[kitchuel]

I get an e-mail talking about the Woodruff scholarship today. I have not been admitted yet should I take this e-mail as a good sign? I have only been in completed status since 1/27.

[JayHo7284]

Got emailed last Monday about the Woodruff too...didn't get it either. I also emailed Marilyn Sutton about negotiating scholarships because I've already gotten scholarships to a few other schools. Her reply didn't really make any sense. She said that Mercer's scholarships are going to be all awarded by the end of February & that no school can make you accept their offer until the seat deposit deadline. She didn't even answer any of the questions I asked...totally useless woman.

[txag10]

Complete since 1/7 and no movement, aside from not getting the Woodruff. This is getting annoying.

[jsimp]

Been complete since 1/12....What's the hold up Mercer?

[txadv11]

Complete since 12/1. Accepted yesterday by status checker!

[WarEagle3]

Been complete since 1/7 and still no movement.. this is getting ridiculous!

[taraknits]

Got invites via email to Admitted Students Reception at King & Spalding on March 22nd and to Scholarship Recipient Reception on the 25th (with paid travel and hotel)...Mercer, I wish you would have given me a smidgen more money and this would be a no-brainer!

ETA: Has anyone tried negotiating scholarships with Mercer?

[txag10]

Been complete since 1/7 and still no movement.. this is getting ridiculous!

+1 exact date too. Annoyance.