Well, looks like these two are my top two choices unless I get into GMU. Anyone have any experience with either, or have opinons I would love to hear about it. I would like to end up in DC, more specifically northern VA as I HATE DC, but all my family and friends live here.

These two are regional schools, not national like schools like Harvard, Columbia, Yale, UVa, etc. Bama is $18k per year and then $8k a year for instate. I am sure Bama is easy to obtain in-state residency in so that would be approximately be $35k for tuition. Pitt is $28k, but I have a $12k a year scholarship with no contingencies so it would be $16k per year for three years since PA is difficult to obtain residency bringing the total to $48k.

I like Bama because it has warm weather, but I think that is all that Bama has to offer. But Bama is in the south and I do not want to deal with any racial issues. On the other hand, Pitt is so damn cold and I hate cold weather more than doing a 20 page research paper. Pitt is also closer to DC. Also, Pitt is more like one of those city campuses whereas Bama is a traditional campus. It seems like they are so even, even with rankings as Bama has solidifed itself into a top 40 school whereas Pitt flirts in the high 40's low 50's.

Please, any information, advice, and anything else informative is greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance.

 

I don't know where Centreville is but in general, and although I don't support it, southern schools are frowned upon in the Northeast. They are seen as inferior.

 

In my experience almost everything in the south is seen as inferior my people in the NE. IMO that stems from ignorance that is actually little different from racism. That doesn

 

Pitt hands down. If you're staying NE how about NYU or Fordham? Fordham Law graduated some of the highest paid law students in the US.

 

I'd have to say Pitt as well. I don't believe the name of the school you attended means a whole lot. In that respect, I'd say grades, scores, research, and real world experience would be more preferable. Pitt becomes even more attractive when you factor in your scholarship. Less debt when you get out would be a wonderful thing! As far as the weather goes, I'm with you. I hate the cold despite living in PA for the bulk of my life, although Alabama gets BLASTED with the occasional hurricaine...

 

Uh, not in Tuscaloosa.

 

Go to school as close to where you want to work/live as possible. It'll help out a lot.
Those schools aren't ranked far enough apart to warrant rank to settle it. Just stay at the top of your class and you'll be fine!

 

Law school, like business school, is very much a ranking-dependent proposition when seeking employment upon graduation.

That being said, since both schools are in the 40-50 range (too close to weight either), you would do best to ask yourself a few questions, then do some research.

First, where do you want to live? You mentioned that you want to stay in the DC area. My guy feeling is that Pitt's name carries more weight in the Mid-Atlantic. Since both are regional schools, you'll have to work pretty hard to get a job outside of Alabama or Pittsburgh anyway. Talk to some attorneys in DC and ask for thier opinions of each school. You should be able to form an opinion after hearing from a few people.

Second, take a look at the recruiters who go to the school. I am sure that you can find that info somewhere on the school's website. If you see that there are a ton of firms from that region recruiting there, and zero firms from outside of the region recruiting there, you'll have a much harder time finding a job in DC. Its not impossible to secure jobs outside of the firms that recruit on campus, but its a lot more work. Law school students don't seem to have too much free time, so keep that in mind.

Finally, visit each school and see which culture fits you best. To be honest, you're going to spend a good part of the next 3 years of your life there, so you'd better like the location, the people, the professors, etc. As an example, a friend of mine was accepted to Notre Dame law. He went out there expecting to have a grand old time in South Bend, based entirely on his perception of Notre Dame lure. He hated South Bend (too rural) and transfered to Georgetown immediately because he wanted a more urban experience, wanted to work on the east coast, and decided he liked basketball more than football.

All in all, congratulations on having a choice of schools. Good work and good luck.