So I'll be a Gopher next fall!
Choosing the hometown law school, though it seems a no-brainer now, was a difficult choice. The 'finalists' were: Boston College, CU Boulder, and the University of Washington. For a few weeks, I thought I was headed to Colorado, but Minnesota came a-calling when I was home for my birthday a few weeks ago. I thought at first, as I spoke with the admissions person on the phone while sitting on my couch listening to my favorite Elvis Costello vinyl, that I couldn't possibly choose Minnesota over the other schools; it would be a cop-out, the predictable decision.
I didn't want nostalgia or family or friends or familiarity to get in the way of my law school decision. I wanted to stretch my legs and see what the world had to offer. Boulder, Boston, Seattle, Portland -- these were prime destinations. Each school had their own mix of favorable attributes, too, each different than the other, and difficult to choose between. Minnesota was the boring choice (and not even a choice until they admitted me!); I knew the city, knew people, had roots there, but it didn't seem like a daring choice.
I'm realizing now that what seems like the safe bet is sometimes the right one. While it would be fun to live in another city, law school will be so foreign and stressful, why not be surrounded by familiar things in a familiar city? Plus, I've lived in Bloomington my whole life -- not exactly the most culturally vibrant area, so actually living in Minneapolis city proper will be a new experience without the hassle of moving cross country.
Although the more diplomatic version of me would say that school rankings don't matter, they do to a lot of other people in the legal community. These people not coincidentally will be hiring me in three years, so it would be in my best interest to attend the highest ranked school I could. Minnesota is a perennial top-20 law school according to USNEWS rankings. Despite two other quality schools (and a more mediocre one) within ten miles of UMN, it is undisputedly the best school in the state, and even the Upper Midwest. Employers will look at the school I attended for the rest of my life, why not make sure their eyebrows raise for the right reasons. (For those curious, according to USNEWS rankings, CU Boulder is 45th, UW is 30th, BC is 26th)
Environmental law is undoubtedly my career path and UMN is not known for this discipline, at least not as much as CU Boulder (6th in Env. Law) and Lewis and Clark (2nd) are. They have a wide breadth to their environmental law curriculum that is very appealing. I'd love to go there. But just because they have a lot of opportunities doesn't mean that I could take advantage of all of them. The U has quality environmental law classes, professors, and clinics that I see myself becoming involved in. There are also a few dual degree options in natural resources science and management or public policy where I could earn a masters degree in an extra year to supplement my environmental policy education. But one UMN professor told me that first you must be a good lawyer to be a good environmental lawyer. Minnesota will make me a good lawyer.
So, in late-July, when I pack up my belongings and head home from DC, I'll be staying. I couldn't be happier and more excited for my decision and the new adventure I'm about to embark upon.
