It is true. Have you read any books on law school admissions written by formed law school deans of admissions of elite law schools ? I encourage you to do so if interested in this topic.
I wish folks who are unfamiliar with a topic would quit trying to discredit others who know the topic well.
Actually, I’m not interested in the topic you cited why would I be? But I am interested in common sense and my kids (if they pursued a legal path) would likely want to learn as much as possible in related fields.
Part of the issue is, you really don’t know why someone is accepted to law school beyond basic GPA and LSAT’s. Someone can write a book and claim they have the inside knowledge but it is going to be the same across all top schools. Highly doubtful. Talking heads are usually just that, people who think they can formalize information and neatly package it for gullible folks to digest. Deep thinkers always realize there are pros and cons to everything. Enough said.
Since you’re not interested and haven’t looked at any actual information about it, why are you giving advice? What you’re stating as a supposed “Deep Thinker” (?) is a hypothesis at best, and one easily disproven. Are you packaging your thoughts for the gullible? Seems that way from what I read.
Perhaps these last few posts present an interesting topic for a new thread?
For the OP, does anyone feel any of the 3-4 schools in consideration offer better preparation for law school admittance? I don’t see it but certainly don’t claim to be an expert. They all offer excellent academics, like-minded peers, opportunities for internships, strong alumni networks, etc… the priorities brought up by the OP.
I do see very different campus experiences due to size, location… as brought up earlier. When the OP gets back with more questions, hopefully posters can help with that. 
Not giving advice. Just refusing to accept as fact the belief that where you went to undergrad has zero bearing on Law school admissions. Why should I read additional info re: what someone suggests if I have zero interest?
I’m not giving advice at all. I think all decisions have pros and cons. I don’t need to read someone’s book to change that idea. I didn’t claim anything. Talking heads are a dime a dozen esp on CC. I’m not trying to talk anyone in anything just said I find it hard to believe. Maybe best to go back and read my response carefully, or not. You might be life me and have zero interest.
I stand by the idea that no one really knows why someone is accepted at a particular law school or not. But they can write books.
Med school deans told us (in sessions) they look for students from all sorts of undergrads because they are training doctors for all sorts of places/populations. I can confirm that students from my high school have gotten into med schools from all sorts of undergrads, small private to large public and this is true over the 20 years I’ve worked there.
I haven’t listened to any law school deans, nor read any books, but again, I know students from my high school who have made it in from all sorts of undergrads. I suspect the reason is similar to what the med school deans relayed.
For both one still has to be at or very near the top at the undergrad with good scores on the MCAT/LSAT (doubt either are going away soon). This can make it appear like higher level schools get more in, but that’s because they attract more higher level students to begin with. My son went to a Top 30 National. His friend/academic peer went to a Top 30 Regional. Both made it into med school, and there are several other examples I could reply with. It’s the student and what they do, not the undergrad that counts.
And in this particular case for the OP, any of these schools would be considered worthy by anyone. We’re not even talking a “regional” school.
I think decisions like these can and should be looked at in many ways. One angle is: if OPs son retains his interest in law school, will one school be better than another. Many posters argue no - all that matters are LSAT and GPA. But, another angle is: if OPs son, like many other students, wavers in his commitment to, in this case, law, which school provides the best opportunity? I know, with a hypothetical like this the answer may not be clear, but the question becomes a bit different. If his path changes, which school does he believe will provide him the widest range of opportunities. Where will he grow, where will he explore, where will he belong? To me, these are all questions of fit and they matter. Kids grow in college - or they don’t. If they find a place where they are comfortable and where they “fit”, I believe they are more likely to grow and explore. It isn’t just about which is best to “get me into law school”. It’s also about where will I learn, grow, find my path and confirm or reject my initial belief that law school is right for me.
Full disclosure - a long time ago I went to Georgetown (for undergrad) and it was just such a place for me. While - for many reasons - I cannot picture myself at any of the other 3 of the options being considered here, I strongly believe the OPs son needs to identify the best fit for him.
Georgetown is not (yet ?) an option for OP’s son.
Among the three options, the applicant put Wm. & Mary in last place and found Wash & Lee to be too remote. This leaves the University of Virginia. (UVa is “spread out” = a concern likely to dissipate once OP’s son learns more about the campus and location of his housing & classes. This is different than a location which is “too remote” as that is not correctable–and may become more of an issue at such a small school.)
It appears you’ve misquoted the OP. I sincerely hope that was unintentional, much like I hope your earlier post ignoring one of the schools in consideration was in error.
I hope well-intentioned posters hold personal biases in check or at least offer the common courtesy of full disclosure that they exist. We are all different and what one sees as a positive another views as a negative. Shouldn’t we do our best to provide OP with balanced opinions or personal anecdotes and allow them to make their own decisions without twisting words or narrative?
I don’t know why you are responding to me. You basically said that I am giving advice (below) when I was giving my opinion and my opinion does not need to read a book to be valuable. It’s an opinion.
I don’t disagree with your ideas re: med school. Not sure why you are continuing this conversation with me. Maybe just post your concepts on the thread for all to read.
Well said. Many kids don’t know about all of the venues to a career. They think they want to be a lawyer/doctor/engineer, then they discover that they could go into a related field that suits their interests. College is a time of discovery. Kids should definitely pick the place that suits them and where they think they will thrive.
How did I “misquote” anything ? (Seems that OP wrote “most remote” while I quoted “too remote”.)
You are being a bit too sensitive because you have a son or daughter at Wash & Lee & you think that I am discouraging OP’s son from an option that he deems 'too remote".
I think that you should disclose your bias before unfairly & inaccurately criticizing another.
OP’s quote;
“GT is a little hilly with tons of steps to navigate, UVA is spread out, W&L is the most remote. But thats being picky on each.”
Your quote #20 mentions all schools with the noted exception of the LAC. That seems dismissive of the OP’s question.
Your quote #47 misquotes and twists what the OP stated.
You have such valuable contributions to CC but an obvious bias against LACs. That is fine. Your opinion is as valuable as any other. I respectfully requested that you not allow the bias to lead to twisting words or presenting opinions as facts. Or at least disclose the bias and your personal reasons for it. That’s providing valuable food for thought.
I don’t believe I’m being sensitive or unfair. This is not the first time I’ve suggested to you that as a long-time poster on CC your words carry weight and could be more measured when the topic of LAC vs universities come up. You hated your LAC. You found what you needed at a university. The reasons for that were valid for you and your circumstances. You found the best “fit” for you.
The OP is well aware from previous communication that my kid is at W&L. So not sure why you think I would not follow my own advice. My comments in this thread have not shown any bias toward any of the schools in consideration. I have acknowledged the differences and asked for more information to help find the best fit for OP. I wouldn’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence by projecting my opinion on what that may be; they can make the decision that is best for them.
I’m happy to take this discussion to PM should you like to explore this further.
These are all excellent options for your academic goal.
Thomas Jefferson attended William & Mary and founded UVA. Both are flagship quality with very different cultures: UVA is the rah-rah big traditional flagship, while W&M has kind of a hybrid LAC/U feel like Tufts. I don’t think there’s much between them academically – both are excellent.
Washington & Lee is an immensely respected LAC in the middle of nowhere. Kind of like Williams or Hamilton but in the South.
And Georgetown is the urban option. Very strong academic rep there too, obviously.
I would toss prestige out the window – they are all prestigious – and concentrate chiefly on the following:
I have made frequent positive comments regarding Wash & Lee in several other threads. No need to discuss this further as my impression is that OP’s son is most likely to select Georgetown if accepted & if affordable, then Virginia is next in line. But, your interpretation may be different & that’s fine with me.
There’s a big difference between most remote and too remote.
Anyway, I think OPs dad understands now - al schools are great but they need to find the right one for them.
And since they are full pay, they should probably choose a SUNY 
They are from NY and he got into a couple.
I went to W&L over 20yrs ago. The Politics majors I went to school with are for the most part, extremely successful. Two of my closest friends from college are highly appointed political figures and several others are successful lobbyists, journalists, and diplomats. The Washington DC semester was a highly regarded program and many students were hired as congressional aides after completion. While Lexington is remote, it’s still a nice town and not far from UVA. Williams and Hamilton both seemed like smaller areas to me at the time. Obviously, all the schools on the OP’s list are excellent and Georgetown for the Foreign Service definitely, but thought I’d throw in a pitch for W&L.
I live in Virginia and a son went to UVA. His good friend 's wife went to W&L. I think Lexington is a nice town and doesn’t even seem all that remote to me in the scheme of things.
All 4 choices are great, but obviously different. Good luck to the OP with the decision.
I believe that the jury is still out on W&L. They have made some progress, but I am not sure if I would want the name Lee on my diploma in 2026.
Sure – I see your point. I should have qualified that: immense respect academically