****NOTE: I’ve decided to update my original post to clarify some questions.
I’ve been trying to weigh all the different factors but keeping going back and forth between the two schools.
Georgetown Pros:
-in D.C. (I lived in California for 12 years and went to undergrad at Berkeley so I would like a new environment. Also I would like to work in D.C. with maybe a policy slant towards international trade or economic law. I studied in D.C. and loved the city.)
-strong international law program
-impressive faculty
Berkeley Pros:
-Smaller class size
-Better grading system
-can be combined with Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (I got accepted into the China Studies program and was offered a fellowship)
-seems to have a stronger international reputation (I’d like to keep open the option of working in China in the future)
Myself:
Fluent in Mandarin with extensive experience living and interning in China
Financially sound
I have D.C. experience (studied and interned in a Senate Office in D.C. for six months)
Culturally I’m set, I just need some formal education for what I’d like to do.
Bottom line of confusion: whether getting a law degree from a D.C. school is better for a career working on legal issues between the U.S.-China or within China
whosonfirst’s feedback was very helpful and reminded me to factor in domestic politics. I’m not in the bit interested in campaigns or getting involved in partisan politics (learned this during my experience on the Hill). But I would not turn away from employment at partisan agencies if the issues were relevant.
I should add that cost is not as important of a factor for me as the ones I listed above. (although seeing the discrepancy like this might change that…)
The costs listed only cover tuition alone. Cost of living at Berkeley is likely around ~$15k/yr. Studios near campus are about $900/mo + food and extras.
I’m not as sure about D.C. but I would assume ~$20,000/yr.
Accrued interest from what exactly? Loans? I’m not in the habit of stating my financial situation but I most likely will not be taking any.
Also there is a reason I did not include cost of attending in my original list. If you can’t make a decision focusing on the considerations I listed above then don’t. Because you’re likely not placing the same kind of emphasis on the factors I consider the most important to me personally.
Yeah. I graduated last May and paid around 900 for my studio that was 4 blocks from campus (about 5 min walk). I pretty much searched for two weeks and then moved in a week after signing my lease.
My mistake on Berkeley tuition. $25,000 is for one semester, so one year tuition would put it over Georgetown. I knew I had to be off on that…
And no I can’t control how you respond but I would like some sort of opinion. Just pick one and tell me why (you can talk about cost if that’s how you want to justify your choice).
Choose Cal. Besides Georgetown being located in D.C, it offers no other benefits for you in your situation if you ask me. Besides, standing out in a class of 600 students is by no means easy. I would only pick Georgetown if you were sick of life at Berkeley. Also, most people on here are very debt averse which is why everyone wants to see the money and debt incurred. Both the schools you listed are notorious for not being generous for money (especially Georgetown this cycle), hence the heavy interest in understanding debt incurred. I should add, it would be hard to bank on getting international law anywhere that is not HYS, and I am not sure about in the legal field, but I know you are right that Berkeley has a much better reputation internationally in other fields.
Now, if you were focused on Gov’t work only, and solely wanted D.C. then I may pick Georgetown over Berkeley.
International trade or business law most likely. Either with an international org. or private company that does transnational business (U.S.-China). I’m pretty flexible, just looking for something that will combine my J.D., economics (assuming I do SAIS), and language skills.
You sound rich. Just go wherever makes you the most happy. YOLO bro. I mean that. You don’t have to worry about money so happiness should trump all other concerns.
You probably won’t do “international law” because from what I can tell that’s not really a thing.
Columbia>Berkeley>Georgetown the vast majority of the time.