Let's Have Fun: Your top 5 law school selection factors

Comments

• 7 Likes

  LSATcantwin Alum Member Sage ⭐

  January 2018 13286 karma

  1.) Willingness to accept me
  2.) Programs
  3.) Ranking
  4.) Location
  5.) Yelp reviews (Just kidding)
• Alex Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 23929 karma

  @Brazil020511 said:
  Some ideas may be but not limited to scholarships, location, course variety and/or student life. Mines are:
  1. Scholarships
  2. Prestige
  3. Location (Urban area)
  4. Career Services
  5. Strong/close knit minority community

  This is an awesome thread idea!

  1. Prestige/US New's Ranking
  2. Location (East Coast metro areas/NYC)
  3. Employment
  4. $$$
  5. Preftige***
• LastLSAT Alum Member

  January 2018 1028 karma

  1) Employment
  2) Clerkship placement
  3) Curricular offerings (interdisciplinary certificates, clinics, externship, etc.)
  4) Journal & research opportunities
  5) Reputation for future academic job placement
• Eric25 Member

  January 2018 720 karma

  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4
• TheMikey Alum Member

  January 2018 4196 karma

  1. EmploymenTTTTT
  2. $$
  3. Clinics, programs, etc.
  4. Location
  5. Rankings, although I think this may go hand in hand with employment since better schools tend to have better employment numbers.
• 3 Likes

  LCMama2017 Alum Member

  January 2018 2134 karma

  @LSATcantwin said:
  1.) Willingness to accept me
  2.) Programs
  3.) Ranking
  4.) Location
  5.) Yelp reviews (Just kidding)

  You are hilarious... your no.1 is my no.1 : )
• 2 Likes

  pioneer321 Free Trial Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 328 karma

  1. USNWR Ranking
  2. Scholarship (though kinda feels like this is inversely proportional to rankings)
  3. Clinics and programs
  4. Location (California >>> East Coast)
  5. Fit/feel (beer quality during bar review is a surprisingly important factor here)
• 1 Like

  westcoastbestcoast Alum Member

  January 2018 3788 karma

  1. Acceptance
  2. Employment
  3. Scholarship
  4. Social life?? *probably not possible in 1L
• 1 Like

  Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 8392 karma

  1. Scholarship
  2. Employment/bar passage stats
  3. Location/placement in areas I want to live (west coast, Chicago, maybe DC)
  4. "Prestige" (mostly because if it's in an area I don't want to live, I need to know that the degree will get my a job where I do want to be)
  5. Collegial atmosphere
• 2 Likes

  JerryClarke242 Alum Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 602 karma

  1. Willingness to accept me.
  2. Clinical Programs
  3. Graduate Employment Rate
  4. Location
• 2 Likes

  scales_of_j Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 82 karma

  1. Location (NE or along the Atlantic seaboard)
  2. Scholarship
  3. Employment rate
  4. Clinics/Programs
  5. Atmosphere-- not too snobbish or insulated, decent restaurant and bar scene
• 1 Like

  10000019 Alum Member

  January 2018 3279 karma

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.
• TheMikey Alum Member

  January 2018 4196 karma

  @westcoastbestcoast said:
  4. Social life?? *probably not possible in 1L

  definitely possible. most of the 1L's I know are drunk half the time, haha.
• LastLSAT Alum Member

  January 2018 1028 karma

  @10000019 said:

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.

  Well, considering that the top three IP programs are Berkeley, Stanford, & NYU, and that @estouten25 mentioned general prestige as a concern as well, I think he'll be fine!
• Kermit750 Alum Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 2124 karma

  1. Location( East Coast/West Coast)
  2. Bar Passage & Employment Stats
  3. Prestige
  4. Clinical/Experiential programs
  5. Student body diversity
• 1 Like

  studyingandrestudying Core Member

  January 2018 5254 karma

  -Getting accepted with a good offer
  -Location
  -High rank
  -Friendly, helpful, active alumni network
  -School has good relationship with local legal community and beyond
• JPJ July2021 Core Member

  January 2018 1532 karma

  1.) Prestige
  2.) Location
  3.) Employment & Bar Passage Stats
  4.) Overall vibe of school
  5.) Financial Aid
• 10000019 Alum Member

  January 2018 3279 karma

  @BagelBiter said:

  @10000019 said:

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.

  Well, considering that the top three IP programs are Berkeley, Stanford, & NYU, and that @estouten25 mentioned general prestige as a concern as well, I think he'll be fine!

  Look at some of the other schools in the top ten.
• akistotle Member ⭐ 🍌🍌

  January 2018 9382 karma

  1.) Willingness to accept me
  2.) Programs/Clinics
  3.) Employment
  4.) Weather
  5.) Number of decent nearby sushi places
• stepharizona Alum Member

  January 2018 3197 karma

  1) Scholarship with Acceptance/Fin Aid Package
  2) ABA Reports - Bar Passage/Grad Employment
  4) OCI Firms
  5) Clinics/Special Programs

  Must be within 45 min of major airport w/ direct flight to home city... so only applied to schools that fit this criteria first.
• Seeking Perfection Alum Member

  January 2018 4428 karma

  1) Cost of Attendance (after scholarships, financial aid, interest on loans, and living expenses are factored in)

  2) Employment options with USNWR rank as a reasonable proxy within the Top 14.

  3) Schools PI related resources including career services connections and clinics.

  4) Location

  5) Personal fit (Is it pretty, can I see myself there, if I sat in on a class did I like it ect.)
• Eric25 Member

  January 2018 720 karma

  @10000019 said:

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.

  Granted it always depends on the applicant, but I believe going to a high ranking school with little to no IP program would be in my opinion a terrible choice for my career. I personally have a few friends that have gone to Franklin-Pierce (New Hampshire), which is a low ranking school but has an excellent and prestigious IP program, and they've had no problem finding big-law jobs. It's all a matter of opinion but I'm not going to X law school just because they "rank" better than Y if their IP program is inferior. I'm going to a school that teaches the hell out of IP because that is what sets me up best for a career in it.
• 7 Likes

  Adam Hawks Alum Member

  January 2018 990 karma

  1.) Like Splitters
  2.) They like me
  3.) They want me
  4.) I like them
  5.) It's ok to fall in love on the first date
• Brazil020511 Alum Member

  January 2018 429 karma

  @"Adam Hawks" said:
  1.) Like Splitters
  2.) They like me
  3.) They want me
  4.) I like them
  5.) It's ok to fall in love on the first date

  You make me want to rethink my top 5. LOL
• LCMama2017 Alum Member

  January 2018 2134 karma

  @estouten25 said:

  @10000019 said:

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.

  Granted it always depends on the applicant, but I believe going to a high ranking school with little to no IP program would be in my opinion a terrible choice for my career. I personally have a few friends that have gone to Franklin-Pierce (New Hampshire), which is a low ranking school but has an excellent and prestigious IP program, and they've had no problem finding big-law jobs. It's all a matter of opinion but I'm not going to X law school just because they "rank" better than Y if their IP program is inferior. I'm going to a school that teaches the hell out of IP because that is what sets me up best for a career in it.

  What is IP?
• studyingandrestudying Core Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 5254 karma

  Intellectual property--patent, trademark, copyright, and related topics.
• 4 Likes

  tylerdschreur10 Alum Member

  January 2018 1465 karma

  1. School mascot cuteness
  2. Arbys franchises per capita of the region
  3. Availability of bike rental or bike sharing program
  4. Dog friendly parks/beaches
  5. Weather, must be 50-75 degrees year round, non-negotiable

  Honorable mention: Famous alumni, not like legally speaking, but any YouTube personalities, models, or soap actors would be as plus.
• TexAgAaron Alum Member

  January 2018 1723 karma

  1. Money
  2. Employment %
  3. Location
  4. Prestige
• ElleWoods77 Alum Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 1184 karma

  1) Scholarships
  2) Location
  3) Friendly Environment and Alumni
  4) Prestige
  5) Employment
• Accounts Playable Live Sage ⭐

  January 2018 3107 karma

  1.) Rank (YHS only)
  2.) Scholarship
  3.) Employment Outcomes (vary well could be my #2)

  4.) Location (Big gap between this and #3). I would prefer to be somewhere where it does not get below 65 degrees.

  5.) Community (another big gap; laregly don’t care about this)
• 1 Like

  Trust But Verify Alum Member

  January 2018 432 karma

  1-5 debt
• 1 Like

  Alex Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 23929 karma

  @TheMikey said:

  @westcoastbestcoast said:
  4. Social life?? *probably not possible in 1L

  definitely possible. most of the 1L's I know are drunk half the time, haha.

  Let's go to NYU/Columbia together and follow suit, haha.
• 1 Like

  westcoastbestcoast Alum Member

  January 2018 3788 karma

  1. Retake. Jk haha
• 1 Like

  lTexlawz Free Trial Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 277 karma

  My criteria is tougher for the schools.

  1) Good trial advocacy program
  2) Conservative like Baylor or SMU and sets high academic standards where you receive the best legal education possible.
  3) Friendly down to earth people who are not snobs that mentor you in becoming a good lawyer.
  4) Any school that is not in California because I don't want to be shook out of bed due to earthquakes and no schools up north where you freeze to death.
  5) No schools where they are located in states where the state is financially in trouble.
  6) Has to prepare you for the real world and has a high bar passage rate.
  7) Prepares you to handle hard judges and opposing counsel who is tough.
• tringo335 Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 3679 karma

  1) Scholarship/Employment Numbers/Labor & Employment law ranking
  2) Labor & Employment ranking
  3) Prestige
  4) Location (diverse or urban area required)
  5) Campus/leadership environment
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 8392 karma

  @estouten25 said:

  @10000019 said:

  @estouten25 said:
  1) strength of IP program
  2) prestige in general
  3) location
  4) how many yrs of student loan payments will it take
  5) repeat of number 4

  Hey, not trying to tell you how to live your life but as someone going into a similar field I'd suggest you do some more search about the importance of the IP program of a school. From what I've been told by those who practice, being ranked #X in IP does you no good when you're out looking for a job.

  Granted it always depends on the applicant, but I believe going to a high ranking school with little to no IP program would be in my opinion a terrible choice for my career. I personally have a few friends that have gone to Franklin-Pierce (New Hampshire), which is a low ranking school but has an excellent and prestigious IP program, and they've had no problem finding big-law jobs. It's all a matter of opinion but I'm not going to X law school just because they "rank" better than Y if their IP program is inferior. I'm going to a school that teaches the hell out of IP because that is what sets me up best for a career in it.

  I think it all has to be balanced, but I can attest to schools like Southwestern, which overall is not great. But they have a fantastic entertainment/copyright program and I know extremely successful entertainment lawyers from there (and who've taught there). Sometimes just location matters a ton too - it's in the middle of LA which is a great place to be for entertainment, obviously. Similar with tech/IP, anything in the bay area or like UW being in Seattle is great for connections and internships. You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by getting a subpar education, but sometimes the individual programs do count for a lot.
• teamteamvicster Alum Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 774 karma

  1. Money money money. I would like to walk out without a bunch of debt
  2. Location (Columbia is nice but living in Manhattan is real pricey)
  3. Clinics, especially ones that lead to work abroad
  4. % employed after graduation
  5. Ranking-ish

  So basically....money/not being in tons of debt1-5?
• 8 Likes

  Jonathan Wang Yearly Sage ⭐

  January 2018 6869 karma

  Only in places like 7Sage would this exercise be considered "fun"
• stepharizona Alum Member

  January 2018 3197 karma

  Lol have to update mine...

  My list is 100% accurate for applying but I should have considered cost of living!!!!

  Have a few great scholarships and found out how much an apartment is ?
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 8392 karma

  @tylerdschreur10 said:
  1. School mascot cuteness
  2. Arbys franchises per capita of the region
  3. Availability of bike rental or bike sharing program
  4. Dog friendly parks/beaches
  5. Weather, must be 50-75 degrees year round, non-negotiable

  Honorable mention: Famous alumni, not like legally speaking, but any YouTube personalities, models, or soap actors would be as plus.

  Missed this one earlier lol. So are you exclusively applying to University of Washington? Checks all the boxes except unfortunately Arby’s per capita. The APC is dismal in Seattle and I’m still bitter about the one that closed a few years ago. God I could use a roast beef with a jamocha milkshake right now. Bike sharing is off the charts though and we have lovely dog beaches. Also Anna Faris is an alum so, even got your bonus category.
• LSATSurvivor Alum Member

  January 2018 228 karma

  1. Location (Canada > U.S., East coast > West coast)
  2. Ranking
  3. Tuition
  4. Good clinical programs
  5. Food
• tylerdschreur10 Alum Member

  January 2018 1465 karma

  @"Leah M B" Maybe I should apply UW! I'm a little off-put by the reputation for rainfall tho. Is it as bad as everyone says?
• Michael Ma Alum Member

  January 2018 186 karma

  1. COA
  2. Employment numbers
  3. Placement location
  4. Clinic/journal accessibility
  5. Culture/feel of campus.
• Sprinkles Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 edited January 2018 11542 karma

  1. Location/Rank
  2. Bar pass/employment rate
  3. Scholarship
  4. Clinics
  5. Vibe of campus/professors

  Technically more than five but that's my list.
• storm Member

  January 2018 261 karma

  1.scholarship
  2. rank
  3. clinics
  4. journals
  5. clerkship placement and overall career placement aid
• MayraSAR Member

  January 2018 20 karma

  @lsatplaylist I agree on your #5! Very important for me too
• Leah M B Alum Member ⭐

  January 2018 8392 karma

  @tylerdschreur10 said:
  @"Leah M B" Maybe I should apply UW! I'm a little off-put by the reputation for rainfall tho. Is it as bad as everyone says?

  Yes and no. Right now is the worst time of year. From January to at least April, it's very gray, rainy, and cold. Not gonna lie, I grew up in the Pacific NW, and around March or April every year I start to get pretty bad cabin fever.

  Summers make up for it though - crystal clear skies, 75 degrees, it's light until10pm. We have about 2-3 months of the most incredible weather on the planet and it's glorious. It's gorgeous and vibrant and feels like a block party all the time, everyone's outside as much as possible.

  In between those extremes, it's not so bad. The weather is just very fickle, alternates between sunny and light rain, generally pretty mild.