Getting accepted into law school by itself is very exciting! And if you are lucky enough to get multiple acceptances to schools of interest then you are going to have to narrow it down and make a decision. At the end of the day it may just be the one school that feels right to you is where you end up going. But if you haven’t experienced such a feeling here are some factors that you should consider when making a decision:
- Ranking. When we are applying it is easy to get caught up in the ranking of the school. While that is a factor that should be considered (after all employers do consider it), it is important to note that going to the best ranked school is NOT a great way to decide where you will spend the next 3 years. Instead rankings should be considered in tiers (ie: top 20 versus top 30). That way you can make sure you are looking at comparably prestigious schools without allowing it to consume your decision-making process.
- Cost. Law school is expensive and the cost just continues to go up. That means that anything that could possibly make it less expensive should definitely be a factor to be considered. Look into scholarships and do not be afraid to ask schools for money. Look at the general cost of tuition and ask about the anticipated cost of attendance for all three years.
- Location. This is pretty obvious factor to consider but it is important to keep in mind that you need to think about this not just for where you want to spend 3 years of law school but where you want to live after law school. Think about where you ultimately want to practice in the long run. While going to law school in New York does not mean you have to work in New York upon graduation, there are certainly going to be more opportunities with New York based employers. If you want to stay in CA, maybe a California school would be better than an east coast school. That being said there are plenty of people who find jobs in different cities, states, and countries upon graduation. Talk to the career services office at the schools you are interested to see how many graduates secure employment in the place you want to live.
- Future employment. How many students have employment secured upon graduation? What is the career services office like? How many employers come to the OCI’? Does the school provide a lot of networking opportunities? While future employment prospects may seem so far off and easy to ignore at the time being, this is something that is REALLY important in the grander scheme of things and should be a huge factor in your decision-making process.
- Environment. Would you prefer to be in a small class or a bigger one? Does the school have a more competitive or less competitive reputation and how will this affect how you perform as a student? Remember not only do you want to go to a school but, more importantly, you want to go to school where you will do well. It is better to go to a lesser ranked school and be top of the class than a better ranked school and be near the bottom. You need to consider the environment of the school (talk to students, look at retention rate from 1L to 2L year, etc.) and determine what environment will be best for you and allow you to thrive.
If you have any questions or need help deciding on a school you can contact us at prelaw@usc.edu!
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