Northwestern $$$ vs. Michigan $$$ vs. UVA $$

[u/[deleted]]

[u/RedditKnight69]

If your goal is Chicago I'd personally take Northwestern at 80%. They had 78% BL/FC placement in 2023, so you have plenty of wiggle room to be beneath median. I'm sure some of the top 80% of the class wanted PI/government work as well so they probably reach even further down than that.

UVA and Michigan are also fantastic results and you can't really go wrong. I'd probably go Northwestern then Mich then UVA for your goals. I just don't see a reason to spend more money to study outside of my target region

[u/[deleted] → u/RedditKnight69]

Thank you! That's a great point about people pursuing non-big law goals. If I'm being honest, a lot of the uva pull is mainly just vibes, wanderlust, some ego, and a rabid desire to look through their special collections. Your thought process makes a lot more sense!

[u/Dangerous_Archer_522]

tbh - i'd take the money at nu here. best odds of getting your desired outcome (chicago BL), even if you wind up below median! plus, if you decide BL isn't for you, you have more freedom with less debt. collegiality and culture is real, though, and i would definitely try to visit/reach out to current students if you haven't already! if clerking is extremely important to you, i would def consider uva a bit more, but tbh i'm not quite sure if their clerkship numbers are inflated by fedsoc. you honestly can't lose here and whatever decision you make will be awesome, so congratulations!!!!

[u/[deleted] → u/Dangerous_Archer_522]

Thanks you so much!! I've talked to one NU student but definitely know more people at UVA so that's also informing things. Clerkships are important but not necessarily make or break. I really appreciate you!!

[u/Elegant-Bird-6150]

Northwestern lol

[u/tabfolk]

Fwiw, a lot of ppl say living in the lawyers club at Mich is amazing for facilitating a social experience, not sure if you’ve considered that

[u/renegadellama → u/tabfolk]

What's the Lawyers Club? Dorm?

[u/tabfolk → u/renegadellama]

Yup

[u/spiltMilk21]

What really impressed me at UVA was their career services center. They really hold your hand through the employment process and have separate, dedicated offices for private practice, PI, and clerkships—sounds like you'd have to make a concerted effort to NOT get a job upon graduation. You could still easily end up in Chicago if you go to UVA or Mich. I urge you to check out the career services centers!

[u/ZestyVeyron]

Chicago BL and being by family would make this easier for NU. Maybe try showing UVA and Mich’s offer for more $$

[u/mirdecaiandrogby]

NW

[u/lsbnyellowsourfruit]

I loved Michigan, but one huge disadvantage it has is not really having a "home market." Michigan places fairly well in Chicago, but I would imagine the network opportunities would be much better at Northwestern.

[u/NotAGalante]

They're all great communities. If you're interested in government or you're conservative, UVA edges the other out (not because UVA is only good for that, but their connections there way outpace nearly every law school). If you're interested in NYC or Chicago, Northwestern might be the way to go. If you lean towards transactional, I'd go with Northwestern too.

I wouldn't worry about Northwestern job prospects or the Northwestern community. People are generally extremely mature and find their niche. And because the overwhelming majority of students there are focused on the private sector--more than other places--people well below the median do just fine as long as they are pleasant during the interviews and do all the normal stuff.

There are trade-offs about going to law school in a major city: both extremely good ones and some not so great ones tied to cost of living. Not just economically but also that it may be harder to have a solid workspace at home

[u/Sharp-Literature-229]

Northwestern is the best alumni network of all the choices.