Hey everyone I don't usually post here, but I've been an avid reader of this board for a while now.  I'm considering GW, and hopefully someone can clarify something for me about the school.

I still don't understand what prospective students mean when they say they visit a campus (in this case GW) and sense an "inferiority complex".  This term has been used to describe many schools.  What to do people mean by this?  Are the staff and admissions office literally bitter?  Is the school administration full of pseudo-used car dealers desperate to sell their school to prospective students?  Do the students have permanent chips on their shoulders?

Personally, I think its totally appropriate for a school like GW to "boast" about its notable programs, especially to students making choices between a large number of schools.

PreLawGeek, I'm an Emory grad who has been accepted to both Emory and UGA.  Same username on LSN.  I'll most likely be attending UGA with in-state tuition and a scholarship that won't cover more than my books.

I just saw someone post that ATL biglaw firms dig deeper for Emory grads.  I think that's probably true.  I also think that Emory has better name recognition (though it doesn't extend across the mississippi except for minor exceptions in st. louis and chicago).  I know that Emory will also have better technological resources, a better library, and prettier classrooms.  Emory's lawns will be manicured immaculately.  In general, the students that you meet who choose to attend Emory will be wealthier and more well-traveled.  They will boast more ethnic, regional and religious diversity than you have ever seen, and they will be shifted to the political left of UGA's class (though not by as large a gap as one may expect). Atlanta is more cosmopolitan than Athens, but Athens anchors a solid rotation of musical talent, boasts fine cuisine and provides a lower cost of living.  You're going to be able to go out for Thai, enjoy seasonal festivals, or see a professional weekday theatre production in both places.  A pure guess (from a lifetime resident) would put Athens' cost of living at 75% of Atlanta's.

But let me get to the meat.  I see, arguing for Emory, a married contributor from Boston, a contributor who is partially relying on a study that has some unavoidable flaws and an uncomfortably small sample size, and two individuals that ended their posts with "That's what I think" (this and "Here's what I think" at the beginning of a post both enrage me).  I probably have very little in common with these people except that I would like to go to law school.  Some of them may be smarter than I am and some may be dumber.  Hopefully they're all dumber ... but I won't bank on it, especially considering that it's easy for a fellow with a 163 on the LSD boards to feel like he should only speak when spoken to.  Congratulations to all of you HLS and yale and stanford folks.  I'll try to transfer up to a school that's almost as good as yours if I don't stay too drunk while I'm at UGA.

PLG, as a lifetime georgia resident who has spent a massive amount of time at both places (with the most time, by far, having been spent at Emory), I urge you to consider your options thoroughly.  If you go to Emory for law school, you will be surrounded by extraordinarily smart and unattractive people, many of whom maintain an attitude of baseless arrogance.  The only think that disgusts me more than an arrogant ugly person is a fat girl in capris.  You will receive an incredible education at Emory while never having the opportunity to see a D1 college sporting event.  I would argue that the profs at UGA will be as worthy a group of classroom teachers as those at Emory.  The Emory profs, I would contrarily argue, will be typically more highly regarded in their academic fields, especially in regards to their published works.  In Athens, you will be surrounded by good-looking and energetic young people in a college town.  In Atlanta and North Druid Hills, you will be surrounded by wealthy families in a beautiful residential neighborhood and the students will be more ambitious and professional than those at UGA.

Oh, and based on the new data, UGA = 57k.  Emory = 153k.

Take into account two things about me before you form an opinion on this post.  1.  I come from a middle class family.  2.  I spent four years at Emory and part of my decision is based upon just needing a change of pace.

If anyone wants to argue about a point in this e-mail ... including my aversion to the study mentioned above, fat girls in capri pants, or professorial quality at either school, please consider PMing me unless it is something from which you think all contributors to these boards may profit.

~ Hope that helps.