Simply put, assuming all cost is relatively equal and reputation of the overall program is relatively equal, you have two options.
vs.
the school with the better job prospects
The reputation of the program is not so relevant. It’s more about the reputation of the school.
Also, I PM’d you.
this, and it’s not even close.
The overall consensus is that the rating of individual fields within a school doesn’t matter that much. For example, even though Lewis and Clark has a top enviro program, you would be getting a lot better offers for enviro if you went to Georgetown which is not known for their enviro program.
I am a 0L though, but that’s what I have heard from pretty much anyone I have asked about a particular rating of a program within a school
Are we still talking about law school?
OP, you are really asking the wrong questions. The program, curriculum, etc. shouldn’t even be more than a blip on your radar. Job prospects are the most important thing to consider. And happiness is important, so don’t discount it as a factor for law school. But the experience at most law schools will be fairly similar and you should be able to make friends no matter where you go, so it is a much smaller factor than jobs.
You know what seems to make most people pretty happy during 2L and 3L? Being employed.
Word. One of my best friends from 1L year is like a distant memory to me because he struck out at OCI. Constantly depressed and never goes out.
.
At that level, it comes down more to personal preferences. But for similarly situated schools, you’re still talking jobs. What region do you want to be in? Which school places better there? If you want to end up in say Atlanta, then going to Vanderbilt is obviously a much better choice than going to USC or Boston College or something.
Unless it’s Vermont Law School which is the #1 enviro program which I think is more in line with OP’s conundrum. Although I think that only extends to environmental law and it matters much less if you’re talking about say Tax or whatever other program.
Then you’re just splitting hairs and your mama should slap you over the head for that foolishness.
What do you mean by “program”?
Yeah, but in most cases you’d still be an idiot for going to Vermont over just about any T1 school.
Even then, does it really matter? No disrespect to vermont law school, but is an enviro firm going to be giddy to get an applicant from Vermont over any local state school in the top 100?
I am more asking than trying to prove you wrong because like I said I am a zeroL and just know what people have told me.
Your hunch is right. Grades and school prestige will get you a lot further for environmental jobs than some environmental program at Vermont.
I think we’re downplaying a bit how unhappy s/he would be elsewhere, even if it’s a much better program. In terms of employment, it’s prob best to go to the more prestigious school rather the better PROGRAM at a lower ranked school. However, if this is a situation where your bf/gf is at the less-prestigious school or in the area, and you’d be miserable without him/her, I would stay regardless. Guess my point is that we don’t know why she would be so happy at School X vs. School Y, so it’s premature to assume better job prospects trump higher personal satisfaction.
oh god… no. everything about this, just no. no no no no no.
Lawyers are so likable.