Thats the best I could do with wording that question… Let me clarify: I have been accepted into University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University as an undergraduate student. I intend to move on to law school after graduating. I have read from many sources that which school I attend will have little for no impact on getting into law school because admissions focuses almost solely on GPA and lsat. And while what college you attend may hold some weight with admissions if its the difference between Harvard and a local school with an 95% acceptance rate, the difference between Vanderbilt and UVA would be negligible if anything. However, the ultimate goal is to get a good job, not get into a prestigious law school. Naturally, that raises the question: How much importance will law firms place on my college of undergraduate study? If there is any difference, which undergraduate university (Vandy or UVA) will impress an employer in New York (my home state) the most?
While i’m sure it probably varies by the employer, I think things like the presence of an alumni network in NY are certainly something to consider. Any input, comments are appreciated. Thanks
Seems like that primary factor in law employment for new law graduates is the ranking/name of one’s law school.
https://www.lstreports.com/national/
Your job prospects as a lawyer will be based on your law school, performance in law school, and relevant clerkships.
If your ultimate goal is to get a good job, you need to aim for the best possible law school. At this point in time…there are TONS of underemployed law school grads who have passed the bar.
It may get you a connection with a interviewer (“Hey, I went to UVA too”) but that’s about it. Between UVA and Vandy? No difference at all unless the interviewer hates UVA or was rejected himself from Vandy and holds a grudge. Nothing you can do about it, and nothing to worry about.
Zero. Plus those are equally good schools!
Ok, all I have is an anecdote. Someone I know went to Boalt for law school but says then when meeting clients the partners often manage to mention he went to Stanford undergrad. So at least some of the time undergrad does not disappear into the mists of time.
To suggest that your undergrad program has no impact whatsoever on your job prospects as a lawyer is a rather strong statement, don’t you think? One should never discount the importance of alumni networking, as both twoinanddone and mikemac have alluded to.
Yet sometimes that connection makes all the difference.
I would agree that the difference in terms of future legal career job prospects between undergraduate at Vanderbilt vs. UVA would be small. However, generally speaking, alumni networking is a factor in job prospects, whether regarding the law or any other career.
I recall seeing an article in my law school’s paper that stated that among students at my law school, law school grades had the most importance in law firm placement, but undergrad attended was second most important. I always viewed the impact of where you went to undergrad as helping people who had gone to HYP for undergrad vs. the rest of us, but otherwise not making much of a difference (e.g., Wake Forest vs. Emory wouldn’t matter).
In NYC, Vanderbilt vs. UVA wouldn’t make much of a difference because they’re both good schools (although Vanderbilt is more prestigious).
If for some reason you go to a law school that’s less prestigious than where you go for undergrad–which certainly happens–I’d say that where you went for undergrad can be very helpful if you went somewhere prestigious for undergrad. I’ve had a few work colleagues who went to top-5 Ivies for undergrad and then to top-100 (if that) law schools, and the fact that they went to Ivies for undergrad certainly offset concerns about their aptitude.
So I’d go to Vanderbilt-it’ll indicate to employers that you’re smart, and that’ll stick with you for the rest of your career.
Undergrad is a decent signaling mechanism to employers. Going to a better school indicates good things about you. Some firms even like to see undergrad transcripts. With that said, I don’t think the difference between UVA/Vanderbilt is all that great, so this would not likely be a case where it mattered.
if you are paying sticker, Vandy is a no-brainer. UVa is a wonderful college, but not at $60k, IMO? A top private offers just so much more – smaller classes, more research opportunities, advising, less bureaucracy, dorms – and, at nearly the same price?