Hi y'all!

I hope everyone is doing great. I'll cut straight to the chase: I'm having a hard time choosing between Northwestern and UCLA... I've received great scholarships from both. Therefore, the cost of tuition is pretty similar.
My goal after the LL.M is to take the bar exam (NY or Cali, not sure yet) and find a job there. I know it's a hard thing to do, but I'm going to try anyway!
Do you guys have any advice on choosing the school? I mean, I wish I could go to both but I can't haha

Good luck to y'all and may the odds be with us for an in-person Fall semester!
Ophelie.

It probably depends on what type of job you are looking for... 

Northwestern is in the Top 5 for big law placement across multiple rankings, whereas UCLA is in the Top 15-20 range. UCLA may be a better choice if you are certain that you want to write the CA bar, but you should consider that it may be more difficult than the NY bar to pass. Also both UCLA and Northwestern have great corporate law programmes, but if you'd like to practice public law UCLA may be the better choice.  

All the best. 

Thank you very much for your answer! I guess I'll have to decide which bar I want to take ^^

I would recommend you to also consider living expenses and the city. 

LA is way more expensive but you have many great beaches, hikings and sunny days! Chicago has also great life and its cheaper but is really cold almost all year long. Try to budget the living expenses in both places and weight the other factors such as your career path, etc.

I would also recommend you to try to make your schedule and see which one has more appealing classes to you! 

Hope this helps!

Thank you for your advice. I have indeed looked at housing options in both cities. LA is expensive, true. But Chicago isn't that cheap either haha. I'm gonna try to budget the other living expenses! Same for the schedule thing. Thanks again :)

I did a list of pros and cons earlier: 

NW pros = better ranking, beautiful city, cost of living is cheaper. NW cons = no campus :(, freezing during winter haha, I'll have to move out afterward because I can't take the Illinois bar, so maybe it'll be harder to create a network? 

UCLA pros = beautiful campus, sun, I don't have to move out afterwards= better to make connexions? UCLA cons= cost of living and the rest of tuition are higher, and it's out of the T14 LS, bad public transportation? 

Why is it so hard to choose? ^^ Did y'all decide where you wanna go? 

If you arent really that much into public law (which is arguably the only segment where UCLA would be stronger. But then again, American University is ranked 4 for international law, yet everyone would rather go any T14 even if they wanna specialize in international public law) or LA itself, this should be no brainer.
On the other hand, if you are coming because of the sun, you should apply to some cheaper California schools, get sun and pass the bar.

Otherwise, go to the top school. Your cons are questionable- NW has one of the best networking systems. While a nice campus is cool, the campus should be important to undergrad students.

You are not the first and certainly not the last that moved. Everyone will be moving to NY except those studying in NYC.

Plus, u don't really have to move. Why would you? Stay in Chicago. Prepare the bar and go to NYC 2 days before the exam.

I would only bear in mind instead of the rankings "the name". While Northwestern is extremely prestigious in the USA, it might easily happen that in your country UCLA is much better known. If you plan to go home, think about that brand name.

[Edited by Bry on Mar 18, 2021]

If you arent really that much into public law (which is arguably the only segment where UCLA would be stronger. But then again, American University is ranked 4 for international law, yet everyone would rather go any T14 even if they wanna specialize in international public law) or LA itself, this should be no brainer.
On the other hand, if you are coming because of the sun, you should apply to some cheaper California schools, get sun and pass the bar.

Otherwise, go to the top school. Your cons are questionable- NW has one of the best networking systems. While a nice campus is cool, the campus should be important to undergrad students.

You are not the first and certainly not the last that moved. Everyone will be moving to NY except those studying in NYC.

Plus, u don't really have to move. Why would you? Stay in Chicago. Prepare the bar and go to NYC 2 days before the exam.

I would only bear in mind instead of the rankings "the name". While Northwestern is extremely prestigious in the USA, it might easily happen that in your country UCLA is much better known. If you plan to go home, think about that brand name.

If you arent really that much into public law (which is arguably the only segment where UCLA would be stronger. But then again, American University is ranked 4 for international law, yet everyone would rather go any T14 even if they wanna specialize in international public law) or LA itself, this should be no brainer.
On the other hand, if you are coming because of the sun, you should apply to some cheaper California schools, get sun and pass the bar.

Otherwise, go to the top school. Your cons are questionable- NW has one of the best networking systems. While a nice campus is cool, the campus should be important to undergrad students.

You are not the first and certainly not the last that moved. Everyone will be moving to NY except those studying in NYC.

Plus, u don't really have to move. Why would you? Stay in Chicago. Prepare the bar and go to NYC 2 days before the exam.

I would only bear in mind instead of the rankings "the name". While Northwestern is extremely prestigious in the USA, it might easily happen that in your country UCLA is much better known. If you plan to go home, think about that brand name.

Hi y'all!





I hope everyone is doing great. I'll cut straight to the chase: I'm having a hard time choosing between Northwestern and UCLA... I've received great scholarships from both. Therefore, the cost of tuition is pretty similar.


My goal after the LL.M is to take the bar exam (NY or Cali, not sure yet) and find a job there. I know it's a hard thing to do, but I'm going to try anyway!


Do you guys have any advice on choosing the school? I mean, I wish I could go to both but I can't haha





Good luck to y'all and may the odds be with us for an in-person Fall semester!


Ophelie.

[Edited by Dslaw on Mar 20, 2021]

 Hey! 

Funny things, I have to make the same decision !

I have almost the same pros and cons. 

Have you made your mind ? If so, which one and why?