So my final decision has been made – this fall (God willing) I will be attending the Syracuse University College of Law. To be honest, it wasn’t what I was planning to do just a few weeks ago (see this recent post). I had made up my mind to attend the University of Akron. But then my wife and I sat down and had an extensive talk about our options, about the possibilities, about our goals. My goal is to stay in New York and/or New England after law school. Undoubtedly, the Syracuse University name will have FAR more name recognition in those areas than Akron. Secondly, as far as the 2006 rankings go, Syracuse was in the top 100 (i.e. the second tier), while Akron was firmly in the third tier. Unfortunately, Syracuse fell into the third tier in the recent 2007 USNWR rankings, but I think it’s temporary and it hasn’t changed my mind. Although Syracuse doesn’t have an IP program per se (and Akron does), according to all the research I’ve done that doesn’t play a very large part in the hiring process after law school. It seems to be all about “getting into the best law school you can” (A big thank you, by the way, to the person who left this comment and spurred me to think seriously about Syracuse). And thirdly, a new financial aid option made the $5,000 gap in Syracuse’s tuition scholarship more affordable.

There were a few other important factors as well. Our families are both in the area, and we liked the thought of being nearby. As well, my wife has a great job here and the thought of quitting it and trying to find a new one in Ohio was daunting. The hoops she would have to jump through would have been enormous. This way she can keep a job she loves without the very scary but real possibility of not finding a new one in another state.

This process, which I started almost a year ago, has been both extremely expensive and challenging. The twists and turns have taken us on a rollercoaster-ride of emotions. More than anything else, I must thank my wife who has been so incredibly supportive. She too went through the ups and downs of the LSAT and the application process. As of just a few weeks ago she was willing to leave a job she loves and everyone she knows so that I could follow my dream, and that means a lot to me. And I’m about 99% sure she’s not just doing it for a decent alimony check either, but because she loves me.

So enough about law school for now. I’ll be sure to keep you all updated on future developments and the many challenges to come, but I look forward to writing a little bit more about the E-man, who turns 1 year old in just a few weeks!!