<p>I went to the University of Southern California. wouldn’t do it again. Found it to be a very “faceless” commuter school atmosphere lost in the sea of Los Angeles. </p>
<p>If I could go in the way back machine and do it again, I’d either go to a small LAC such as Pomona, Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore or if it be a larger school, one that is located in a “college town” such as Michigan, Indiana…</p>
<p>I would have gone to Big State U in my state and Big State U Law School, and then settled down to a boring but stable law practice in my state. This is instead of going to National law school, which turned me into a corporate gypsy.</p>
<p>PackerFan, did your school choice determine your gypsy lifestyle? Is it possible for you to still choose a stable law practice in your state of choice? I hate to think that the choice of college maps out the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Actually yes. My state is one of those places that its good to be from there, but once you leave, you really cant go back. </p>
<p>Going to National law school took me out of the connections loop that would have been necessary to have my career there.</p>
<p>That’s kind of depressing, but good to be aware of. Thanks for sharing!</p>
<p>There’s the real world do-over and the fantasy do-over.</p>
<p>Real world. Everything is exactly the same as it was then but with what you know now. I would go back to Tulane but I would major in French and go jya to Paris even if it meant borrowing money. I wound up in Tulane Law School and in law school it doesn’t matter what you majored in, this obviating the “what are you going to do with that” question, plus civil law is based on the French civil code so for translating treatises and such it would have come in handy. Then in law school I would have done the summer in France program at Aix-en-Provence for 6 weeks. Not doing those things is the only stuff in my 50+ years I regret.</p>
<p>Fantasy world. I’m 18, money is no object. Here I’d go to U of Chicago and wallow around in the core and soak up every thing they have to offer. Only if in the fantasy I have my current brain it might explode from the mental effort of being there.</p>
<p>Of the schools I have recently visited, I’d want to go to Amherst. I’ve visited twice now, first with son in 2004 and more recently with daughters. Both times it just completely caught my fancy–the town, the buildings, the course catalog, the one central dining area, and the few people I met. All over town you’d see professors and students having coffee or meals together, and I’d overhear really fascinating conversations among students walking together. I always swore I could never take one more New England winter so maybe I’m deluding myself. </p>
<p>But, of course, so many people here are listing schools that sound wonderful, that I’ve never seen!</p>
<p>Whoa, that’s interesting PackerFan, because my D is considering law school.
Our state is one that you would immediately peg in the “need to go to the state law school” types. I think that it is, if you specialize in law that intersects with politics in any way, even for civil litigation in some instances. But, I know a sprinkling of attorneys in the big firms here with national law school credentials, and they generally do contract or other business related law.
If you don’t mind, I’d be interested in hearing a little more about the type of law you practice, and what types of practice you had to “give up” because the jobs weren’t available in your home state for an OOS trained attorney. PM me if you prefer.</p>
<p>patient-- I loved Amherst too. It was very high on S’s list, but he applied ED to a larger school. I think ‘my’ favorites appealed to me largely because of location (Ithaca, Williamstown, Amherst)-- all such beautiful areas. I think I could put up with the winters to live in some of those places 
A friend of ours just returned from a southern trip, and has now fallen in love with UNC and the surrounding area. I wonder if people ever end up finding their future/retirement homes on these college hunts?</p>
<p>lspf72–that’s funny, I do! I’m always thinking about college fit, then “could I retire here?” I just spent the day in Berkeley (baseball), and added another possibility to my list!</p>
<p>Haven’t made it to the West Coast yet-- maybe in a year or so for S2… I’m looking for an excuse to visit OR and WA!</p>