QuoteWake is probably one of the only non T-30's that's really underrated. It's inexpensive too.I'm curious: to what other non T-30s would you give that distinction?Hmm. Probably only Fordham, but I can see merit in arguments for UC Hastings since it used to be ranked in the top 20 in the early/mid 1990's.Also if you look at LSAT 25-75 ranges for the top 30-50, Fordham has the highest with 164-167, Wake has the second highest 162-166, BYU comes in third at 161-166, Hastings ties with several at 160-164 (and beats out Davis at 158-164). BYU has the highest 25th GPA in this group at 3.52, followed by Fordham at 3.37. So definitely Fordham. But Fordham is pretty expensive and cost of living is tremendous in New York City. If you don't have a desire to practice there, and like warm weather, and can't get into the top 20, I think Wake Forest definitely competes with Emory, William and Mary, and UNC. Hell, it has a higher LSAT range than those three.
Wake is probably one of the only non T-30's that's really underrated. It's inexpensive too.I'm curious: to what other non T-30s would you give that distinction?
How can you call Winston-Salem the middle of nowhere or a small "town?" Sheesh. Where'd you people grow up? NYC?Its population is almost 200,000 people. That's a pretty big medium sized city. But anyway, if being in the middle of nowhere was a negative factor, William and Mary, Washington and Lee, Notre Dame, etc. would all suck.As far as my contention that Wake compares to W&M, Emory, and UNC: within North Carolina, it's on par with UNC without a doubt. North Carolina law firms know that Wake grads tend to be non-southerners educated outside the state, which can be a tremendous benefit to the firm, while UNC law grads tend more often than not to be from the south, and often from within North Carolina itself (which can be a benefit but gives a sense of inbreeding). Outside of NC in the Southeast, Wake as an equal reputation to those schools for placement. I don't have any stats to back that up but there's no reason to suspect that Emory or William and Mary (which have danced in the 30's as well) are any more prestigious. UNC may have a better reputation, if only slightly.Outside of the south, you may get a slight edge from W&M or UNC, but it's probably negligible in the long run. Likely, all four place the same in D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, and Richmond. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for in a school, what type of city you want to live in, etc. If you want to be in a secluded place, W&M is the place to be. If you want cheaper tuition, go to Wake. If you want to be near a big city, go to Emory. If you like a public, college atmosophere, go to UNC. But more or less, academically, there isn't anything that really sets any of them into another "league" like, say, Vandy or GWU and Wake or Emory.
QuoteHonestly, I think UNC probably has a better reputation due to its sports teams. Everyone knows Chapel Hill; not everyone knows Wake. At least where I'm from. Sports teams, in general, have a tendency to influence reputation/perception.So UF, OSU > W&L, W&M?Heh. I think your point has some merit obviously, which is why ND has a good lay people rep, but Wake does have a good basketball (and now football) team that has a national reputation.
Honestly, I think UNC probably has a better reputation due to its sports teams. Everyone knows Chapel Hill; not everyone knows Wake. At least where I'm from. Sports teams, in general, have a tendency to influence reputation/perception.