To be honest, I shouldn't probably start this discussion, because it doesn't much apply to me, but after going over the class of 2011 data, I've had to review a lot of my thoughts about the two. I thought discussing it might be helpful in a general way, and set my mind at ease.

General wisdom has been that UCLA and USC are essentially identical, with the margin going to UCLA. However, class of 2011 stats would suggest that USC has more than a marginal margin edge in almost every way. What am I missing?

neither

Well, I'm not hoping to discuss if either is worth it at cost, or worth it at all, only if USC truly outperforms UCLA to such a degree that it is clearly the better option. Let's face it, at a 9K total difference, it isn't a hard conversation to have.

Say, full boat to both. Any reason to select UCLA over USC?

Yes, UCLA is better.

Both are highly ranked seriously overpriced Los Angeles law schools currently producing fairly catastrophic outcomes for about half their graduates.

Other than that they don't have a lot in common.

Seriously, look at these stats:

UCLA class of 2011:

344 grads

64 grads employed in Feb 2012 by the school. 55 of these in short-term part-time "jobs."

23 people flat unemployed.

50 working for 2-10 lawyer firms.

27 in "business and industry." Probably not in-house for Disney.

USC

207 grads

Ten in law school funded jobs. Eight were short-term part-time.

29 (14% of the class) completely unemployed (two grads couldn't even be found so this is probably 15%).

4 working as solos and 28 for firms of 2-10

15 in business and industry.

Seven went back to school.

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/07/when-the ... aw-school/

Also, UCLA law school is apparently rat infested.

This is a legit concern.

The difference is negligible. So, no, this is not a valid reason.

I'm curious to hear more about people's thoughts on this, since i was just pulled off the WL at UCLA and have been planning on going to USC for the past 4 months. Costs will be about the same and I want BigLaw in SoCal, which USC seems to place better. Yet conventional TLS wisdom says to go with UCLA, so needless to say it's a tough decision.

Conventional TLS wisdom says they're essentially the same so go to the cheaper one. At equal costs, just go to the one you like better after visiting both. Also keep in mind UC tuition hikes.

+1000