UBC or Osgoode - ANY input appreciated!

[shiraz]

Hi there!

Would like to preface by saying that I've read every post in this forum regarding UBC and Osgoode comparisons. However, I'm still at a huge crossroads and would still appreciate any input from the forum/any students or alum from either law school.

I was admitted to Osgoode in February, and admitted to UBC after a week of being waitlisted.  

My situation: I've lived in Vancouver for the past 12 years and attended UBC for my undergrad. Love the campus but definitely feel like it would be nice to get out of Vancouver. My specific interests in law are pretty broad right now, but I'm most interested in tech law / corporate. Potentially interested in venturing into Big Law for a few years and then opening my own practice. My priorities for law school are personal/professional growth, having the smoothest experience possible, and high quality education. Not 100% sure about where I'd like to practice, which makes this difficult, but want flexibility. Here are my pros / cons for both schools so far:

UBC: 

- PROS: I'm already established in Vancouver so the transition into law school would be the easiest at UBC. I have my living situation figured out and I'm familiar with the campus. I have family support here, and a car I can use to get to and from campus. In terms of ranking, I'd argue that it seems that UBC places slightly above Osgoode. Smaller class sizes (approx. 50 vs. 70 at Osgoode in first year, and approx. 200 vs. 290 at Osgoode) which signals to me potentially better quality of education (although that might not be totally accurate). Obviously UBC tuition is cheaper by about 10-12k a year, but I'm personally not too concerned about the financial differences between Osgoode and UBC (obviously nice to save money where I can, but don't mind paying more for the better choice). My JD experience would be smooth + somewhat comfortable, and I can focus entirely on doing well. 

- CONS: On the other hand, I've already had my whole undergrad experience at UBC and I feel like I've seen what Vancouver has to offer. Feels like there may be less progress/growth for me as an individual if I opt to stay. Also feel like the legal market in Vancouver is smaller than Toronto's, potentially less big name corporate opportunities and less opportunity for international mobility to NY, London... (maybe I'm mistaken). I don't think landing a job in Ontario would be impossible after grad, but my network would obviously be more limited to BC, the process would take longer with licensing, all of which might not be a great thing.

Osgoode:

- PROS: New city for me and a lot of opportunity for growth here. Osgoode seems like it has a really strong and established alumni network / community in Ontario and BC - so potentially lends itself to better networking opportunities and outcomes. Feels like it could open all necessary Big Law doors in Ontario and give me more mobility should I choose to practice outside of Canada later down the road. Legal clinics seem more interesting and niche than the ones at UBC. More diverse faculty. Great school obviously. I feel like I'd enjoy the bigger city vibe. 

- CONS: Transitioning / settling into law school might be more stressful and a bit inconvenient- orientation is coming up FAST so would need to figure out living situation asap which feels like a headache (would opt for off-campus housing in Toronto, which is all about 50 minutes transit away from campus). Virtually no experience living in Toronto, so I'm unfamiliar with the area. Worried I might end up hating Toronto. Commute might get annoying once it gets cold. Tuition more expensive. And obviously, I don't have my family near so I don't have the same support I would at UBC if/when things get stressful. 

 

Would appreciate any input! Feel free to let me know if I'm wrong / generalizing on any aspect. Thanks!

Edited June 14, 2023 by shiraz
adding

[dogsarecool]

Both are incredible schools, so congrats! I think some big things to consider are how important in this regard is financial savings and having your support network close by? For myself, those were two very important things for me. Law school was already a lot of money. Keep in mind as someone from the GTA, Toronto housing is also very expensive and has gone up a ton in the past year. An average small 1 bedroom condo downtown is over 2.5k, though you can find some cheaper non-condo options for around 2k or a bit less. If you do want to stay in Vancouver or at least BC, UBC may open more doors in terms of the networking that can come from that. In contrast, if you go to Osgoode, it may be more of a challenge to come back to BC. (not impossible by any means, but for example, the OCIs at Osgoode would be for Ontario, so landing a summer job in BC will mean some extra steps on your end/contact with the career office/networking, etc.) 

From what you've said, it sounds like UBC is a great choice, but this is coming from someone who is big on minimizing financial costs and also feel that social support is important when in school. 

 

[NewJd5726]

You didn't really make this clear in your post, but do you want to work in Toronto or do you want to work in Vancouver?

If you want to work in Toronto, Osgoode will will open more doors for you. Your concerns about adjusting and not having family in the city are moot if your intention is to work in Toronto at some point anyways. Better to lay roots now than to have to do so later.

On the other hand, if you want to work in Vancouver, it's not worth the added expense and hassle to go to Osgoode, unless you really want an opportunity to experience a new city for a couple of years.

If your goal is to eventually work at a firm in NY or elsewhere internationally, neither school is really going to confer a significant advantage over the other, and it'll be a challenge either way, so I wouldn't necessarily base your decision on that.

If you're not sure what your future intentions are (which is understandable), then it's really going to come down to whether you'd prefer the lower costs and family support or the experience of living in a new city, which is a personal decision you'll have to make. I do think you'd have an easier time entering the BC market from Osgoode than you would entering the Toronto market from UBC, but you wouldn't be closing that door at either school if you end up changing your mind during law school. But as dogsarecool mentioned, both are great schools and neither is the "wrong" decision.

Edited June 15, 2023 by NewJd5726

[shiraz]

14 hours ago, dogsarecool said:

Both are incredible schools, so congrats! I think some big things to consider are how important in this regard is financial savings and having your support network close by? For myself, those were two very important things for me. Law school was already a lot of money. Keep in mind as someone from the GTA, Toronto housing is also very expensive and has gone up a ton in the past year. An average small 1 bedroom condo downtown is over 2.5k, though you can find some cheaper non-condo options for around 2k or a bit less. If you do want to stay in Vancouver or at least BC, UBC may open more doors in terms of the networking that can come from that. In contrast, if you go to Osgoode, it may be more of a challenge to come back to BC. (not impossible by any means, but for example, the OCIs at Osgoode would be for Ontario, so landing a summer job in BC will mean some extra steps on your end/contact with the career office/networking, etc.) 

From what you've said, it sounds like UBC is a great choice, but this is coming from someone who is big on minimizing financial costs and also feel that social support is important when in school. 

 

Thank you so much! I appreciate this insight - I definitely should figure out what I'd like to value in the next few years.

[shiraz]

13 hours ago, NewJd5726 said:

You didn't really make this clear in your post, but do you want to work in Toronto or do you want to work in Vancouver?

If you want to work in Toronto, Osgoode will will open more doors for you. Your concerns about adjusting and not having family in the city are moot if your intention is to work in Toronto at some point anyways. Better to lay roots now than to have to do so later.

On the other hand, if you want to work in Vancouver, it's not worth the added expense and hassle to go to Osgoode, unless you really want an opportunity to experience a new city for a couple of years.

If your goal is to eventually work at a firm in NY or elsewhere internationally, neither school is really going to confer a significant advantage over the other, and it'll be a challenge either way, so I wouldn't necessarily base your decision on that.

If you're not sure what your future intentions are (which is understandable), then it's really going to come down to whether you'd prefer the lower costs and family support or the experience of living in a new city, which is a personal decision you'll have to make. I do think you'd have an easier time entering the BC market from Osgoode than you would entering the Toronto market from UBC, but you wouldn't be closing that door at either school if you end up changing your mind during law school. But as dogsarecool mentioned, both are great schools and neither is the "wrong" decision.

This is an interesting take! 

I'm not sure where I'd like to practice. The choice is made more difficult by having to look forward past graduation into the next 4-10 years, but I really can't confidently grasp where I would like to be at around that time... But you are definitely right that no doors are closed if I change my mind and I'm not necessarily too limited by location. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this. 

[traintogo]

I go to Allard and am working at a Big Law firm with someone who goes to Osgoode. Her experience is that going to Osgoode didn’t limit her chances whatsoever for getting a job in Vancouver.  The other 5 students who came from out of province said the same thing, and said it was the case ESPECIALLY because they were originally from Vancouver. In other words, they didn’t feel like going to Ontario/out of prov schools and not UBC hindered them like people said it would, and it was especially the case because they were originally from Vancouver, so firms understood why they were applying to come back. 
 

I think getting out of the city you’ve lived in for a decade is such a great idea, and an opportunity to live somewhere else in Canada can be a rare one. If I could go back, I would have picked to go to an Ontario school just for the experience of living out of BC:) 

And for whatever it’s worth, both schools are amazing. No matter where you go you’ll have a great career.

good luck! 

[SNAILS]

On 6/14/2023 at 7:43 PM, shiraz said:

I've lived in Vancouver for the past 12 years and attended UBC for my undergrad. Love the campus but definitely feel like it would be nice to get out of Vancouver. 

You said "any advice" so here it is. Pick UBC. Why? You love the campus and you do not need the extra work of adjusting to a new campus. Law school is not a time to explore a new city but rather a time to immerse yourself in the law school material. (Law school material will be all new to you).

After graduation UBC, every work option is as open to you as if you have graduated Oz.

[Patient0L]

On 6/14/2023 at 4:43 PM, shiraz said:

On the other hand, I've already had my whole undergrad experience at UBC and I feel like I've seen what Vancouver has to offer. Feels like there may be less progress/growth for me as an individual if I opt to stay.

If finances are no issue I would pick Osgoode for this reason.

 

On 6/14/2023 at 4:43 PM, shiraz said:

Transitioning / settling into law school might be more stressful and a bit inconvenient

On 6/14/2023 at 4:43 PM, shiraz said:

Virtually no experience living in Toronto, so I'm unfamiliar with the area. Worried I might end up hating Toronto.

This is just fear. You got this.

[Darrr]

Hii I know this is a post from a while ago, but interested in what your final decision was? I am currently in similar boat and would love your input! 🙂