UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT Forum
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- Posts: 129
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UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
Hi,
I'm trying to decide between the two schools mentioned above. I'd like to go into IP Law (probably a boutique), and practice in Atlanta after graduation. I'm in-state, so UGA will run me about $10k in tuition a year, plus expenses, which means I'll have virtually no debt (or if I do, a very manageable 10-20k).
GULC, on the other hand, will be tricky - the only way the debt load is manageable is if I find a job in DC while going to school (which may be possible...). As I posted in another thread, here are the pros that I can think of for each school:
Pros of Georgetown:
1. Great reputation
2. DC's a really fun city
3. Better IP coursework than UGA
4. Better career opportunities than UGA
5. I won't get killed when I yell "To Hell with Georgia" (I went to Georgia Tech for undergrad).
Pros of UGA:
1. Costs a hell of a lot less money
2. Much closer to family
3. Good for working in Atlanta (though how does UGA play with boutique IP law firms like Finnegan and Fish?)
4. No summer school
5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
Does anyone have any thoughts around this? Any and all feedback is appreciated.
I'm trying to decide between the two schools mentioned above. I'd like to go into IP Law (probably a boutique), and practice in Atlanta after graduation. I'm in-state, so UGA will run me about $10k in tuition a year, plus expenses, which means I'll have virtually no debt (or if I do, a very manageable 10-20k).
GULC, on the other hand, will be tricky - the only way the debt load is manageable is if I find a job in DC while going to school (which may be possible...). As I posted in another thread, here are the pros that I can think of for each school:
Pros of Georgetown:
1. Great reputation
2. DC's a really fun city
3. Better IP coursework than UGA
4. Better career opportunities than UGA
5. I won't get killed when I yell "To Hell with Georgia" (I went to Georgia Tech for undergrad).
Pros of UGA:
1. Costs a hell of a lot less money
2. Much closer to family
3. Good for working in Atlanta (though how does UGA play with boutique IP law firms like Finnegan and Fish?)
4. No summer school
5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
Does anyone have any thoughts around this? Any and all feedback is appreciated.
- jks289
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:42 pm
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
How certain are you about Atlanta? I think if you are 100% sure you want to end up there then UGA is the right decision, less debt and the chance to network professionally. If you think there is even a small chance you want to be anywhere outside GA, then GULC is a better bet. Also, if you have some kind of IP background (engineering, computers, biomed) then I think UGA no brainer, because you'll have no trouble playing into a IP job with that background. If you want to break into IP without a relevant background then the GULC name may be more helpful. Good luck.mebeSajid wrote:Hi,
I'm trying to decide between the two schools mentioned above. I'd like to go into IP Law (probably a boutique), and practice in Atlanta after graduation. I'm in-state, so UGA will run me about $10k in tuition a year, plus expenses, which means I'll have virtually no debt (or if I do, a very manageable 10-20k).
GULC, on the other hand, will be tricky - the only way the debt load is manageable is if I find a job in DC while going to school (which may be possible...). As I posted in another thread, here are the pros that I can think of for each school:
Pros of Georgetown:
1. Great reputation
2. DC's a really fun city
3. Better IP coursework than UGA
4. Better career opportunities than UGA
5. I won't get killed when I yell "To Hell with Georgia" (I went to Georgia Tech for undergrad).
Pros of UGA:
1. Costs a hell of a lot less money
2. Much closer to family
3. Good for working in Atlanta (though how does UGA play with boutique IP law firms like Finnegan and Fish?)
4. No summer school
5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
Does anyone have any thoughts around this? Any and all feedback is appreciated.
Full disclosure, I'm on the GULC Pt waitlist, and would love to go. But that is my honest opinion.
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- Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:49 pm
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
What's you degree in, EE? Anyway, I think given the circumstances UGA is the best option. You want to practice in Atlanta, which is UGA's primary market and also less saturated than the markets G-town places into.mebeSajid wrote:Hi,
I'm trying to decide between the two schools mentioned above. I'd like to go into IP Law (probably a boutique), and practice in Atlanta after graduation. I'm in-state, so UGA will run me about $10k in tuition a year, plus expenses, which means I'll have virtually no debt (or if I do, a very manageable 10-20k).
GULC, on the other hand, will be tricky - the only way the debt load is manageable is if I find a job in DC while going to school (which may be possible...). As I posted in another thread, here are the pros that I can think of for each school:
Pros of Georgetown:
1. Great reputation
2. DC's a really fun city
3. Better IP coursework than UGA
4. Better career opportunities than UGA
5. I won't get killed when I yell "To Hell with Georgia" (I went to Georgia Tech for undergrad).
Pros of UGA:
1. Costs a hell of a lot less money
2. Much closer to family
3. Good for working in Atlanta (though how does UGA play with boutique IP law firms like Finnegan and Fish?)
4. No summer school
5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
Does anyone have any thoughts around this? Any and all feedback is appreciated.
Best case scenerio at GULC you end up high in your class and get a market job in Atlanta to pay off the 200k debt.
Best case scenario at UGA is you end up high in your class and get a market job in Atlanta with little to no debt.
Worst case scenario at GULC, below median, strike out, and end up selling your degree on Craigslist to pay off your loans.
Worst case scenario at UGA, shit law, or solo practice with little to no debt, hell you even have the fall back option of going back into engineering if it doesn't work out.
- atlantalaw
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:37 am
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
i hear atlanta is pretty good for ip. plus, hard to turn down that kind of tuition ITE, so i vote uga. i know you mentioned summers so maybe it wouldn't take you an extra year PT, but if that is not what you are talking about then you would also have to factor in an extra year of living expenses for GULC which i imagine would be even more costly.
full disclosure: slightly biased since i attend uga.
full disclosure: slightly biased since i attend uga.
- Holly Golightly
- Posts: 4602
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:30 am
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
If you're serious about not being able to do PI from Georgetown, you're crazy. Their LRAP is absolutely amazing.
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/finaid/lrap/index.htmlGULC wrote: As a result of the two programs, Georgetown Law students who work for U.S.-based government agencies or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for 10 years after graduation in a legally related capacity (JD degree must be preferred or required), and whose incomes remain less than $75,000*, can borrow the entire cost of attending law school in the form of federally-guaranteed loans and have all of their loan repayments reimbursed by Georgetown Law and the remaining principal balance forgiven by the federal government. Georgetown Law benefits would continue on a diminishing basis for incomes exceeding $75,000.
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- jks289
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:42 pm
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
Holly Golightly wrote:If you're serious about not being able to do PI from Georgetown, you're crazy. Their LRAP is absolutely amazing.
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/finaid/lrap/index.htmlGULC wrote: As a result of the two programs, Georgetown Law students who work for U.S.-based government agencies or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for 10 years after graduation in a legally related capacity (JD degree must be preferred or required), and whose incomes remain less than $75,000*, can borrow the entire cost of attending law school in the form of federally-guaranteed loans and have all of their loan repayments reimbursed by Georgetown Law and the remaining principal balance forgiven by the federal government. Georgetown Law benefits would continue on a diminishing basis for incomes exceeding $75,000.
PI? I didn't see anyone mention public interest work above. I think OP means IP, Intellectual Property. But yes, GULC has the mother of all LRAPs. (Maybe this is a massive reading comp fail, on my part)
- Holly Golightly
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Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
jks, I was responding to this:
mebeSajid wrote: 5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
- jks289
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:42 pm
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
Ah yes, RC fail.Holly Golightly wrote:jks, I was responding to this:
mebeSajid wrote: 5. If I decide I want to do something not related to biglaw, like PI, than I can do so without having to worry about the debt burden. I'd imagine that even with Georgetown's LRAP, that would be an issue.
- malfurion
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:40 pm
Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
As a fellow Tech alum, I vote Georgetown because of the above.mebeSajid wrote: "To Hell with Georgia"
But seriously, if you want to stay in Atlanta, I think it's hard to justify paying sticker at Georgetown when you can go to Athens for such a cheap price. If you're not totally sure you want to stay, Georgetown obviously gives you more options. Their LRAP is awesome, but if you aren't leaning towards public interest now, chances are you won't be when you graduate either.
Did you apply to Emory? If Emory gave you some money that would make it in between the price of UGA and GULC then it might be a good choice, as it's slightly better in Atlanta and carries a bit farther than UGA but the debt wouldn't be as overwhelming as paying full price at GULC.
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Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
+1malfurion wrote:But seriously, if you want to stay in Atlanta, I think it's hard to justify paying sticker at Georgetown when you can go to Athens for such a cheap price.
Even if you eventually decide you want to leave Georgia, you'll be able to do so, it will just be somewhat more difficult. A sizable percentage of the class does leave Georgia each year, after all, and UGA has a solid reputation in the South. If you're fairly certain you want to stay in Atlanta, why waste all that money?
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Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
To comment on some of the responses:
1. I was a Computer Engineering major, but have been working in consulting for several years (more IT-related than anything else).
2. I did apply to Emory, but they didn't give me any money, and I didn't care for the school when I visited.
3. I would like to work in Atlanta, but want the option of being able to work in NYC, DC, or Chicago after law school if I'd like to. For me, at least, ATL takes priority.
I am on the waitlist at Penn, Vandy and UCLA - if I get into Penn, I'll definitely go. Vandy and UCLA, probably not.
Thanks for all the responses - they've helped me clarify my thoughts somewhat.
1. I was a Computer Engineering major, but have been working in consulting for several years (more IT-related than anything else).
2. I did apply to Emory, but they didn't give me any money, and I didn't care for the school when I visited.
3. I would like to work in Atlanta, but want the option of being able to work in NYC, DC, or Chicago after law school if I'd like to. For me, at least, ATL takes priority.
I am on the waitlist at Penn, Vandy and UCLA - if I get into Penn, I'll definitely go. Vandy and UCLA, probably not.
Thanks for all the responses - they've helped me clarify my thoughts somewhat.
- nealric
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Re: UGA w $ (and in-state) vs GULC PT
As someone who is about to graduate from GULC (and started PT),I would say you are crazy to seriously consider UGA.
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