UConn [$54k] vs Clemson [$47k] [political science, pre-law]

I got into UConn and Clemson for poli sci and wanted some suggestions since I’m having a hard time deciding. I also got waitlisted to Wake Forest and Emory but those are a long shot.

UConn- (54k)
Clemson- (47k)

UConn includes the scholarship but Clemson doesn’t since you get it after sending the deposit. I also have like 10k in local scholarships that I can use in either one.

My goal is to major in poli sci with a minor/concentration in public policy and then pursue a JD in the future. I’ve heard UConn has a better program for this but there’s a lot of things I like about Clemson too. Anyway, my goal is to make a choice that will help me in the long run that I won’t regret, so if anyone can provide any info it would be very appreciated.

Go to the school where you want to spend the next four years. Both can get you where you want to go. Your post-graduation opportunities will be determined by what YOU accomplish during your college years rather than by which one of these colleges you attend.

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Define better - it’s pre law. The where is irrelevant. That includes Wake or Emory. Whether you go to Harvard Law or UVA or Cornell, they admit kids from well over 100+ schools for not so large classes, etc. So the college isn’t going to give you an edge vs. another.

Can you afford UCONN without the scholarship? What if you lose it?

It’s North vs. South, football vs. basketball, etc.

There is not one here better for your long run.

If you are interested in a DC semester at Clemson, you go through AU or GW. At UCONN, they have a separate program. Clemson, may, or may not, have access to the excellent U of SC DC Semester - you’d have to ask. My daughter was able to do it via College of Charleston - I think all public colleges in SC have access - but you may need to be in Honors.

Good luck.

Programs > Brochure > Experiential Global Learning

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Clemson merit scholarships are known before you put down a deposit, my daughter was offered twice as much from UCONN than Clemson (she graduates from Clemson next month).

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Have you visited both universities ?

Very different environments. The basketball versus football distinction pointed out above by another poster is real.

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Yeah that would make zero sense - the scholarship timing.

Three thoughts:

  1. UConn pre-law is really good if you know that is what you want to do.

  2. Location matters. UConn does a good job placing people in New York and Boston, two cities known for having a lot of lawyers, and there are quite a few lawyers in Connecticut too.

  3. One thing to look into, no matter where you go, is whether you can take accounting classes with a Poly Sci major. Accounting knowledge is really useful in law, and accounting is one of those disciplines where the text book is just like the real world, so even 2 or 3 classes go a long way.

There is no difference whatsoever between these two undergrads for the purpose of law school later. Go where you will get great grades and can afford the cost.

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This is not law school. This is undergrad.

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Not everyone goes straight from college to law school. The OP kind of implies she may take a break in the last paragraph (“then pursue a JD in the future”). UConn is a great place to build a network in the big financial and policy center cities in the northeast like Boston and New York.

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Neither is worth OOS fees for a JD wannabe. Law schools care only about two things: undergrad GPA and LSAT score. There are no law school bonus points for attending any of the schools that you have mentioned.

What is the cost of your instate public?

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Maybe, but not necessary.

Also, all, or almost all, law schools offer a course titled “Accounting for Lawyers” which covers just about everything a typical lawyer needs to know about accounting. Plus,many law schools permit law students to take several credits outside of the law school.

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Agree with Publisher. Perhaps more accurate to say that accounting knowledge is useful in some areas of the law (Securities, M&A, some areas of corporate litigation/white collar crime) and not needed in others (Immigration). But certainly no undergrad needs to worry about a lack of accounting knowledge when applying to law school!

As a client who works with many lawyers in the deal world, I would say that accounting is pretty important because most transaction documents have lots of calculations in them.

Corporate finance, M&A, Financing, Infrastructure, Securities and Real Estate pay most of the bills at major law firms. Accounting is pretty important in all of those areas.