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Where should I go next fall? / Re: Syracuse
« on: May 08, 2007, 04:34:26 PM »
I saw this thread, and thought I'd reply since I was in somewhat the same situation last year - I was debating between Villanova and Syracuse with about half a scholarship. I ended up going the Nova route because everyone stressed that its superior reputation and location was worth the extra money. Personally, I'm not sure if I made the right or wrong decision.
I have a friend who is graduating Syrcause, and he wasn't exactly #1 in his class, yet he got a $50,000 ADA job offer (albeit in upstate NY). He had to pay his own way, though for the tuition (his parents paid for his apartment), so he does complain about the debt @ $35,000 per year. I also went to an accepted students event in DC last year, and while I'm sure they only bring their most successful students along, all of the student reps. were pursuing great job options - I think one girl was working for an international law firm and had a summer associate position in Paris! From what it looks like, if you're in the top 10% of your class, you're pretty much in the same spot you'd be in if you were in the top 10% at some of the better schools - My friend noted that he knew some people who received six figure jobs offers from NYC firms while there are plenty of grads from 2nd tier NYC schools who are forced to take NYC document review jobs.
Also, with the scholarship, even if you don't end up in the top tier ranks of your school, you'll be in a much better financial position to take a small law job that pays $50k or less and then work your way up. One final thing I liked about the school is the ability to complete a number of different masters degrees (some in the usual three years), which can also enhance your job options.
That said, I definitely wouldn't go to Syracuse without a scholarship. It's just too much money with too few lucrative post-graduation options to make it worth the risk. Syracuse also has a curve which forces 5% of each individual class (i.e. civ pro, torts, etc.) to fall under a C, meaning they need to retake the class. This leads a number of people to leave after the 1L year even if they don't technically fail out. Furthermore, I'm pretty glad I don't have to live in Syracuse.
In the end, I think I'll probably have better job options coming out of Villanova with the ability to work anywhere from Boston to DC, and I rather have the Philly area as a networking hub than upstate NY. However, there are times I wish I was attending school at Syracuse's nicer facilities, didn't have any significant debt to worry about, and was able to pick up an MA in economics, which I consider to be far more interesting than law.
Good luck.
I have a friend who is graduating Syrcause, and he wasn't exactly #1 in his class, yet he got a $50,000 ADA job offer (albeit in upstate NY). He had to pay his own way, though for the tuition (his parents paid for his apartment), so he does complain about the debt @ $35,000 per year. I also went to an accepted students event in DC last year, and while I'm sure they only bring their most successful students along, all of the student reps. were pursuing great job options - I think one girl was working for an international law firm and had a summer associate position in Paris! From what it looks like, if you're in the top 10% of your class, you're pretty much in the same spot you'd be in if you were in the top 10% at some of the better schools - My friend noted that he knew some people who received six figure jobs offers from NYC firms while there are plenty of grads from 2nd tier NYC schools who are forced to take NYC document review jobs.
Also, with the scholarship, even if you don't end up in the top tier ranks of your school, you'll be in a much better financial position to take a small law job that pays $50k or less and then work your way up. One final thing I liked about the school is the ability to complete a number of different masters degrees (some in the usual three years), which can also enhance your job options.
That said, I definitely wouldn't go to Syracuse without a scholarship. It's just too much money with too few lucrative post-graduation options to make it worth the risk. Syracuse also has a curve which forces 5% of each individual class (i.e. civ pro, torts, etc.) to fall under a C, meaning they need to retake the class. This leads a number of people to leave after the 1L year even if they don't technically fail out. Furthermore, I'm pretty glad I don't have to live in Syracuse.
In the end, I think I'll probably have better job options coming out of Villanova with the ability to work anywhere from Boston to DC, and I rather have the Philly area as a networking hub than upstate NY. However, there are times I wish I was attending school at Syracuse's nicer facilities, didn't have any significant debt to worry about, and was able to pick up an MA in economics, which I consider to be far more interesting than law.
Good luck.