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I have been accepted into both Seton Hall Law and Rutgers-Newark with no scholarship from either school. I will shortly be moving to Hoboken, and realize SHL would be a shorter commute, but for significantly more money in tuition, I am able to get over the commute pretty easily. This is a very tough decision for me because I have visited both places several times and love both. My dilemma stems from the fact that both are extremely similar. Given the cost, prestige, and all other variables, I’m leaning toward RNL.

Am I missing something though?

Why is Seton Hall a shorter commute? The schools are only about 1/4 mile apart?

merfman wrote:Why is Seton Hall a shorter commute? The schools are only about 1/4 mile apart?

SHL - Walkable from the PATH

RNL - You have to take the Lightrail (meaning another monthly expense)

I am trying to make a choice between Rutgers and Seton Hall too, but in your situation I would absolutely go with Rutgers Newark. I got 35,000 to Seton Hall, so SHU will save me money now, but if I were you it would be no contest. Over 3 years you would save almost $60,000 going to Rutgers and in all my research and talking to attorneys in the area, there honestly isn't a huge difference between them at all. You will make your own fate at either of them depending on the grades you earn. So with that being said, you should go with the cheaper option.

(My debate is considering the risk of losing my scholarship and paying sticker at SHU, and trying to figure out which really is the better fiscal option.)

Its not even a debate..you should go to Rutgers.

Seton Hall COA off-campus: $67,800x3=$203,400.
Rutgers COA off-campus: $45,730x3=$137,190.
Difference -------------------------- $66,210.

Both are pricey, but Rutgers is significantly less than Seton Hall. Rutgers isn't cheap though and you should be looking into ways to control and repay your future debt right now. Only a select few Rutgers graduates will make it into BigLaw and a slightly larger group will make it into MidLaw. However, you will likely being working for an average salary with unbearable loans. Now if you're interested public interest work or criminal prosecution/public defender work, there are plenty of programs to help you out with your debt. Just be smart, you don't want to end up in trouble.

OP, how do you plan on paying off 150k from either school?

I would select Rutgers-Newark law school, as the school has a good legal position within New Jersey and New York City as well.

Also, having taken the Newark Light Rail for the past three years and until May, i would say it is also quite cheap.

The fare is .70 cents from Newark Penn Station to Washington Street, and .70 on the way back. The only time you must pay the full fare is when you come to Washington Street between 4 and 6pm.

In addition, should you have a monthly rail, or bus pass with at least one zone printed, the light rail is free.

From Hoboken, the path should not be that expensive, as i would figure a monthly fare would be $52 dollars, and add the light rail and you have a cheaper commute.

Furthermore, you can take the campus shuttle to Penn Station for free after 4pm, and as a student there is again no charge.

mrtoren wrote:Its not even a debate..you should go to Rutgers.

Seton Hall COA off-campus: $67,800x3=$203,400.
Rutgers COA off-campus: $45,730x3=$137,190.
Difference -------------------------- $66,210.

Both are pricey, but Rutgers is significantly less than Seton Hall. Rutgers isn't cheap though and you should be looking into ways to control and repay your future debt right now. Only a select few Rutgers graduates will make it into BigLaw and a slightly larger group will make it into MidLaw. However, you will likely being working for an average salary with unbearable loans. Now if you're interested public interest work or criminal prosecution/public defender work, there are plenty of programs to help you out with your debt. Just be smart, you don't want to end up in trouble.

Rutgers is the better choice, but that does not make it a good choice.

HeavenWood wrote:

mrtoren wrote:Its not even a debate..you should go to Rutgers.

Seton Hall COA off-campus: $67,800x3=$203,400.
Rutgers COA off-campus: $45,730x3=$137,190.
Difference -------------------------- $66,210.

Both are pricey, but Rutgers is significantly less than Seton Hall. Rutgers isn't cheap though and you should be looking into ways to control and repay your future debt right now. Only a select few Rutgers graduates will make it into BigLaw and a slightly larger group will make it into MidLaw. However, you will likely being working for an average salary with unbearable loans. Now if you're interested public interest work or criminal prosecution/public defender work, there are plenty of programs to help you out with your debt. Just be smart, you don't want to end up in trouble.

Rutgers is the better choice, but that does not make it a good choice.

Both of the Rutgers law schools place really well in NJ. If that's where the OP wants to work after graduation, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good choice. Unless, of course, you're whoring over the rankings...

voltage88 wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:

mrtoren wrote:Its not even a debate..you should go to Rutgers.

Seton Hall COA off-campus: $67,800x3=$203,400.
Rutgers COA off-campus: $45,730x3=$137,190.
Difference -------------------------- $66,210.

Both are pricey, but Rutgers is significantly less than Seton Hall. Rutgers isn't cheap though and you should be looking into ways to control and repay your future debt right now. Only a select few Rutgers graduates will make it into BigLaw and a slightly larger group will make it into MidLaw. However, you will likely being working for an average salary with unbearable loans. Now if you're interested public interest work or criminal prosecution/public defender work, there are plenty of programs to help you out with your debt. Just be smart, you don't want to end up in trouble.

Rutgers is the better choice, but that does not make it a good choice.

Both of the Rutgers law schools place really well in NJ. If that's where the OP wants to work after graduation, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good choice. Unless, of course, you're whoring over the rankings...

This has nothing to do with the rankings. This has everything to do with the fact that Rutgers' career prospects are NOT worth 140k.

HeavenWood wrote:

voltage88 wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:

mrtoren wrote:Its not even a debate..you should go to Rutgers.

Seton Hall COA off-campus: $67,800x3=$203,400.
Rutgers COA off-campus: $45,730x3=$137,190.
Difference -------------------------- $66,210.

Both are pricey, but Rutgers is significantly less than Seton Hall. Rutgers isn't cheap though and you should be looking into ways to control and repay your future debt right now. Only a select few Rutgers graduates will make it into BigLaw and a slightly larger group will make it into MidLaw. However, you will likely being working for an average salary with unbearable loans. Now if you're interested public interest work or criminal prosecution/public defender work, there are plenty of programs to help you out with your debt. Just be smart, you don't want to end up in trouble.

Rutgers is the better choice, but that does not make it a good choice.

Both of the Rutgers law schools place really well in NJ. If that's where the OP wants to work after graduation, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good choice. Unless, of course, you're whoring over the rankings...

This has nothing to do with the rankings. This has everything to do with the fact that Rutgers' career prospects are NOT worth 140k.

TBF, with tuition increases and interest on loans, that number is going to be much higher than 140K.

If these were my only options I would not go to law school.

Bump

gwuorbust wrote:OP, how do you plan on paying off 150k from either school?

Student loans, for which all you need is a pulse. Careful consideration and judiciousness, however, are only optional.

Matt, have you considered taking a year off and reapplying for their PT programs? With employment (if you could find something you'd enjoy), you'll be able to pay for housing pretty easily, and Rutgers in state tuition for their PT program is only 16k/yr. You could use your money to pay for other miscellaneous expenses like books, fees, and obviously food. Just another direction you could go in. Would save you a ton of money off loans.

NO CONTEST; RUTGERS - N, it has a much better reputation then seton hall outside of NJ, trust me I know I live in Boston, and the Rutgers brand in NJ is pretty hard to beat. Don't sweat the rankings, Rutgers is poised to bounce back, a brand new facility and I hear they are raising money to really start competing. Go with Rutgers it has the weight of the State and a much larger alumni pool behind it! This is an easy decision, have fun at RUTGERS!

This one comes down to price since there are SH and RU grads all over the state in private practice, the public sector, and on the Federal and state benches. Street reputation-wise people think SH is more private sector oriented and RU is more public sector oriented but that just may be a function of the differing debt levels of graduates from both institutions.

It's also important (which I think this thread has made very clear) about what you're getting into with both schools. I am NOT telling you they're not both good schools, that you should retake, or that you should not consider becoming an attorney. But don assume any of the following: That attending either place is going to present you with a definite shot at NYC biglaw (that's pretty much restricted to the top 5-7% of each class), that you will get an awesome public sector job (ie. Manhattan DA's office, DoJ (yes there are Rutgers alums there)) and that high grades will be easy to come by because the schools are ranked in the 70-80 range and you'll be the only smart and motivated person there. If you know that and can accept that and worst-case scenarios you should be fine at either place.

As an RU student, I know the place is severely under-ranked. Tuition is low, education-quality is high, students are respectful and not cutthroat (although we do have those 2-3% of consistent assholes) and the school is diverse. The job prospects are what you make them to be. It's not an automatic death sentence, but it's also not a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination.