UT-Austin ($) vs. Vanderbilt ($$) vs. WUSTL($$$) Forum

[chris_young]

International student. No special geographic preference. Hope to work in the US after graduation. Many thanks for your thoughts.

[Grizz]

What is the total cost of attendance of each.

[najumobi]

wow....haven't posted in a while...here goes...

Vanderbilt is giving you more money and places better than UT, so Texas should be eliminated first.

You have to ask yourself whether the difference in placement is worth 40k. Vanderbilt's big law placement for the past 2 years is about 2/3 more than washU, ~40% to ~23%. So ~50% more tuition for ~67% more biglaw placement. Which makes vandy more favorable.

[chris_young]

What is the total cost of attendance of each.

All round the same I think, maybe Vandy is a little bit higher. Thanks.

[chris_young]

wow....haven't posted in a while...here goes...

Vanderbilt is giving you more money and places better than UT, so Texas should be eliminated first.

You have to ask yourself whether the difference in placement is worth 40k to you. Vanderbilt's big law placement for the past 2 years is about 50% more than washU, ~40% to ~25%. So 50% more tuition for 50% more biglaw placement.

Many thanks. Tough choice for me.

[Rock Chalk]

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[tea_drinker]

What is the total cost of attendance of each.

This. We may need estimated figures to give good response. Plus, where do you want to work after graduate? Any geographical preferences?

[chris_young]

Sorry that I misunderstood. Here are the COAs:

UT: 160K
Vandy: 130K
WUSTL: 75K

Thanks to all.

[thexfactor]

sometimes you have to pay to play. I would take vandy over wustl.

[chris_young]

What is the total cost of attendance of each.

This. We may need estimated figures to give good response. Plus, where do you want to work after graduate? Any geographical preferences?

I prefer to work in NY or other big law market, which probably will provide more chances to an international student. But it looks like none of the three schools are geographically favorable in this regard.

[Rock Chalk]

.

[Nicholasnickynic]

Vandy. Vandy and UT-Austin are pretty much peers, and 30k can be a big difference, especially since, for me anyway, 120k is about the limit.

[HeavenWood]

Vandy. Vandy and UT-Austin are pretty much peers, and 30k can be a big difference, especially since, for me anyway, 120k is about the limit.

They're peers in terms of placement, but Vandy has much more national reach.

[Grizz]

Vandy. Vandy and UT-Austin are pretty much peers, and 30k can be a big difference, especially since, for me anyway, 120k is about the limit.

They're peers in terms of placement, but Vandy has much more national reach.

National reach may not help OP because he is international and I assume (perhaps erroneously) that he does not have ties to other markets. That said, I'd probably still take Vandy. $30k to me is persuasive.

[HeavenWood]

Vandy. Vandy and UT-Austin are pretty much peers, and 30k can be a big difference, especially since, for me anyway, 120k is about the limit.

They're peers in terms of placement, but Vandy has much more national reach.

National reach may not help OP because he is international and I assume (perhaps erroneously) that he does not have ties to other markets. That said, I'd probably still take Vandy. $30k to me is persuasive.

Isn't Vandy better for NYC than Texas?

[Grizz]

Vandy. Vandy and UT-Austin are pretty much peers, and 30k can be a big difference, especially since, for me anyway, 120k is about the limit.

They're peers in terms of placement, but Vandy has much more national reach.

National reach may not help OP because he is international and I assume (perhaps erroneously) that he does not have ties to other markets. That said, I'd probably still take Vandy. $30k to me is persuasive.

Isn't Vandy better for NYC than Texas?

Texas does a good job in NYC, more people just want to stay in Texas. Someone who gives a crap (not me) could probably look at how many NY firms recruit at each school which would provide a rough estimate.

[chris_young]

Thanks to all who voted or replied. I'd like to add some of my personal information, which might be relevant. I am a female asian and I have practised law in my country for around three years. So I guess it would be better for me to work for an international firm that has existence in my country. I saw very limited chances of having such a job in a city other than big cities like NYC, Washington, Chicago, Boston and etc.

I also have some other admits on hand, GW, UIUC ($$$), BU (?) and Fordham (?). Fordham has the location, but would that make up for the ranking difference (as I am an international student, forgive me if I put too much weight on ranking)? Many thanks.

[najumobi]

Thanks to all who voted or replied. I'd like to add some of my personal information, which might be relevant. I am a female asian and I have practised law in my country for around three years. So I guess it would be better for me to work for an international firm that has existence in my country. I saw very limited chances of having such a job in a city other than big cities like NYC, Washington, Chicago, Boston and etc.

I also have some other admits on hand, GW, UIUC ($$$), BU (?) and Fordham (?). Fordham has the location, but would that make up for the ranking difference (as I am an international student, forgive me if I put too much weight on ranking)? Many thanks.

if you don't have a geographical preference, and are only looking at job prospects and tuition costs, both texas and vandy (even without any money) are better choices than those four.

washu is a better option than uiuc. if it is the case you are definitely not getting anything from gw, washu would be the better choice.
i think if you get below a 2/3 scholly from fordham then you should pick washu over it.
if you get at least a 2/3 scholly from bu then you should go there. if you get below a 1/2 scholly from bu then you should go with washu. between 1/2 and 2/3, it's a coin flip.

[chris_young]

Thanks najumobi for being so specific. Really appreciate your advice.