Northwestern v. UF Levin (Tax)


drwc

Just got my Florida acceptance today. Now I need to make a decision. I know UF has a stronger program and is 20k+ cheaper, but the asian prestige side of me has me considering Northwestern (good recognizable name my father can tell his golf buddies about).

I'm taking the NY bar this summer, and want to practice in either Los Angeles or New York. Also, I've never lived in the South.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Just got my Florida acceptance today. Now I need to make a decision. I know UF has a stronger program and is 20k+ cheaper, but the asian prestige side of me has me considering Northwestern (good recognizable name my father can tell his golf buddies about).

I'm taking the NY bar this summer, and want to practice in either Los Angeles or New York. Also, I've never lived in the South.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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DRWC,

How did you hear? Email, letter, phone call?

DRWC,

How did you hear? Email, letter, phone call?

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drwc

Phone

Phone
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Congratulations! I'm actually in Chicago right now searching for apartments but still have not heard from Florida. I hope I get in so I can have that touch decision as well...Good luck! Let me know what you decide.

Congratulations! I'm actually in Chicago right now searching for apartments but still have not heard from Florida. I hope I get in so I can have that touch decision as well...Good luck! Let me know what you decide.
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Inactive User

I was in a similar position trying to choose between NYU, GULC, and UF.

Because I qualified for the Academic Common Market, UF will be much cheaper. I got caught up in the prestige of the names of the schools, but at the end of the day UF is a great program and the money difference was too big to ignore. However, I also want to end up working in the South.

I was in a similar position trying to choose between NYU, GULC, and UF.

Because I qualified for the Academic Common Market, UF will be much cheaper. I got caught up in the prestige of the names of the schools, but at the end of the day UF is a great program and the money difference was too big to ignore. However, I also want to end up working in the South.
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drwc

Deacon - Turning down NYU must have been tough. Although I would be paying out of state tuition, the cost of attending UF is much less than NU. It's hard to ignore. Thanks for the insight.

Deacon - Turning down NYU must have been tough. Although I would be paying out of state tuition, the cost of attending UF is much less than NU. It's hard to ignore. Thanks for the insight.
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Tax2012

Just got my Florida acceptance today. Now I need to make a decision. I know UF has a stronger program and is 20k+ cheaper, but the asian prestige side of me has me considering Northwestern (good recognizable name my father can tell his golf buddies about).

I'm taking the NY bar this summer, and want to practice in either Los Angeles or New York. Also, I've never lived in the South.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


I think people get a little too caught up with the "prestige" factor when deciding against UF. If you want to work in tax (I am assuming you do since you are going to a Tax LLM program), anyone you try to get a job with will be familiar enough with UF to know it's a great program. However, if you are trying to impress the ordinary Joe and Mary with a prestigious degree, then by all means go to Northwestern (or Harvard for that matter). If you want to spend $30k+ for that recognition, go for it.

I will say that I think that (other than NYU, which is THE option) schools other than UF have a wider network of alumni. For instance, I believe a lot (but not all) of UF's student body stays in the south. This has a lot to do with the acedemic common market (which I got!), and let's be honest here, getting a job is 90% connections. So in that regard, there may be some argument for Northwestern.

<blockquote>Just got my Florida acceptance today. Now I need to make a decision. I know UF has a stronger program and is 20k+ cheaper, but the asian prestige side of me has me considering Northwestern (good recognizable name my father can tell his golf buddies about).

I'm taking the NY bar this summer, and want to practice in either Los Angeles or New York. Also, I've never lived in the South.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</blockquote>

I think people get a little too caught up with the "prestige" factor when deciding against UF. If you want to work in tax (I am assuming you do since you are going to a Tax LLM program), anyone you try to get a job with will be familiar enough with UF to know it's a great program. However, if you are trying to impress the ordinary Joe and Mary with a prestigious degree, then by all means go to Northwestern (or Harvard for that matter). If you want to spend $30k+ for that recognition, go for it.

I will say that I think that (other than NYU, which is THE option) schools other than UF have a wider network of alumni. For instance, I believe a lot (but not all) of UF's student body stays in the south. This has a lot to do with the acedemic common market (which I got!), and let's be honest here, getting a job is 90% connections. So in that regard, there may be some argument for Northwestern.
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Voice.of.R...

Well, if you are going full time, you likely only have 9 months left before the big bad world takes your personal life away forever. Why not enjoy that 9 months in the sunshine all while taking in some good SEC football and tanned co-eds. And, the best part is that it is still a "cheap" US News top 3 program, right? No brainer in my opinion. Of course, admittedly, I live down here.

Well, if you are going full time, you likely only have 9 months left before the big bad world takes your personal life away forever. Why not enjoy that 9 months in the sunshine all while taking in some good SEC football and tanned co-eds. And, the best part is that it is still a "cheap" US News top 3 program, right? No brainer in my opinion. Of course, admittedly, I live down here.
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I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please

I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please
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Tax2012

I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please


US NEWS LLM TAX PROGRAMS:
1. NYU
2. Florida
3. Georgetown
4. Northwestern
5. Miami

***Most consider 1) NYU, 2) the rest of the Big 3 (UF and GU), 3) then everyone else. There's definitely a tiered ranking in the mind most people in the biz/education.

<blockquote>I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please
</blockquote>

US NEWS LLM TAX PROGRAMS:
1. NYU
2. Florida
3. Georgetown
4. Northwestern
5. Miami

***Most consider 1) NYU, 2) the rest of the Big 3 (UF and GU), 3) then everyone else. There's definitely a tiered ranking in the mind most people in the biz/education.
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Tax2012

I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please


I may have misread your post. Job placement percentage? I have no idea...

Even if there was a percentage number, most schools "doctor" their numbers so much that I wouldn't know what to believe.

<blockquote>I just got into UF also. Anybody have any insight on Florida's placements last year? Is UF better than northwestern? Help please
</blockquote>

I may have misread your post. Job placement percentage? I have no idea...

Even if there was a percentage number, most schools "doctor" their numbers so much that I wouldn't know what to believe.
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Thanks for the help. Im definitely leaning towards Florida. Im just nervous about Gainesville. Everybody I talk to raves about this program. Love the price.

Thanks for the help. Im definitely leaning towards Florida. Im just nervous about Gainesville. Everybody I talk to raves about this program. Love the price.
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arc871

I was accepted to both UF and NU...

I am an alumni of NU and was given 1/2 off tuition for their ll.m program. It is my understanding that NU grads are heavily recruited by the big 4 accounting firms.

At issue for me, however, is that my experience is in business litigation. I understand and want to practice litigation. UF seems a bit more leary as to recruitment but did state that the vast majority of their alumni goes into practice. Practice of the law is my main interest.

It is my understanding that graduation from UF is the best if one wants to reside in Florida. My main goal is to be a litigator. Big 4 accounting is not something that interests me. A job, however, is tantamount, which might make NU a safer choice.

Does anyone have any input on the faculty at UF v. NU? If one can create a strong bond with a faculty member that has a tremendous amount of pull...

So confused as to what to do....

I was accepted to both UF and NU...

I am an alumni of NU and was given 1/2 off tuition for their ll.m program. It is my understanding that NU grads are heavily recruited by the big 4 accounting firms.

At issue for me, however, is that my experience is in business litigation. I understand and want to practice litigation. UF seems a bit more leary as to recruitment but did state that the vast majority of their alumni goes into practice. Practice of the law is my main interest.

It is my understanding that graduation from UF is the best if one wants to reside in Florida. My main goal is to be a litigator. Big 4 accounting is not something that interests me. A job, however, is tantamount, which might make NU a safer choice.

Does anyone have any input on the faculty at UF v. NU? If one can create a strong bond with a faculty member that has a tremendous amount of pull...

So confused as to what to do....
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Voice.of.R...

Northwestern and UF are not NYU and Georgetown when you are discussing national prestige. Good schools, clearly. But, if you are concerned with national prestige, they do not equate to the schools with the high-ranking JD profiles. UF is respected not only in Florida, but also in the southeast (Texas to DC). Northwestern has its geography as well. However, if you want to practice litigation, then practice litigation. Do not rely on your school to make the decision for you.

Northwestern and UF are not NYU and Georgetown when you are discussing national prestige. Good schools, clearly. But, if you are concerned with national prestige, they do not equate to the schools with the high-ranking JD profiles. UF is respected not only in Florida, but also in the southeast (Texas to DC). Northwestern has its geography as well. However, if you want to practice litigation, then practice litigation. Do not rely on your school to make the decision for you.
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