American or penn state law

Graduate School Law School
1

Here’s my deal. I’ve been accepted to both American university in Washington and Penn State and I just received my financial aid packages. American offered me $25,000 merit scholarship (tuition is close to $52,000) and Penn State offered me $35,000 of $43,000 which would cover most of my tuition. I have always wanted to go to DC and would ultimately like to work in international law in a diplomatic position. By going to American I would be at the center of it all, close to the government agencies and able to have several options for internships. In Pennsylvania on the other hand I’m a bit father away and making connections and networking would be a bit more difficult.

So what should I do? Take the almost full ride or chose to have more debt but be at the heart of government and politics?

My biggest concern is that I have read you should go to school where you want to practice and I know I don’t want to practice in Pennsylvania but I am wondering if at this time it’s a better option for me.

Thanks for the help!

2

No, you would be on the outside looking in.

DC and “international law,” such that it is, is extremely prestige-driven. And the top dog in DC is Georgetown, but even its top students are easily eclipsed by those at Harvard and Yale and Columbia…

And yes, if you don’t want to live and practice in PA, don’t go to PSU.

Retake, or don’t attend law school.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but your goals are just not achievable from anything other than a top tier school. (Those hot jobs are just too competitive.)