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I'm really torn. I'm currently living in Tuscaloosa, AL I just moved here for the law school and I really like it. But I've stayed on the Notre Dame waitlist just to see what will happen. I just got an e-mail that makes me think i have a very good shot at getting in. So here is my question. Which one should I go to. If I keep my Scholly at 'bama I will have a total cost of $5000, all told. If i go to Notre dame I will likely have to pay full price, so roughly 120k. my only real goal is to be gainfully employed, and i'm not sure which type or level of law i would like to practice. I'd like to have options.

to throw another wrench in the works I am married and i would need to have my wife find employment, can south bend employ another accountant? I also am not a fan of te cold, so how cold is south bend? What should i do?

Accountants can find a job anywhere if they have a CPA; that shouldn't even be a factor.

I still say Bama. Really solid school, no debt... good football. Can't beat it.

Add a poll.

Bama, not even close.

Are you asking a trick question? I would take Bama with full scholarship over Notre Dame at full pay any day. I can't even believe that you have to think about it. Having no debt will be an amazing benefit to your life. If you have 120K of debt from most places, you would really, really regret it. This way, if you need to, you can take a lower paid job in order to get vital legal experience, even with the government. If you have a 120K+ debt, you must take a high paying job in order to pay this off.

definitely Bama. do not pay sticker for notre dame

Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

do you have a better chance at big lawl at notre dame? i'd say your chances aren't great at either school so why plunge into an ass ton of debt?

paulinaporizkova wrote:

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

do you have a better chance at big lawl at notre dame? i'd say your chances aren't great at either school so why plunge into an ass ton of debt?

28.8 percent of ND grads went to NLJ 250 jobs, where as 7% of Bama grads did. 4x more likely

23.84% http://www.lawschooltransparency.com/tag/nlj-250/

bergg007 wrote:

paulinaporizkova wrote:

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

do you have a better chance at big lawl at notre dame? i'd say your chances aren't great at either school so why plunge into an ass ton of debt?

28.8 percent of ND grads went to NLJ 250 jobs, where as 7% of Bama grads did. 4x more likely

Only a 75% chance of being debtpwned? Where do I sign

paulinaporizkova wrote:

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

do you have a better chance at big lawl at notre dame? i'd say your chances aren't great at either school so why plunge into an ass ton of debt?

Actually, there is a rather large difference in the placement of Notre Dame and Alabama. Nevertheless, OP seems perfectly happy in Tuscaloosa and I would not pay sticker for a T25, even if it is Notre Dame.

Roll Tide.

I don't think NLJ250 employment statistics are that useful for looking at prospects out of Alabama because I'm willing to bet a lot of market-paying Alabama firms aren't NLJ250 but are still jobs that Alabama grads want. Just a guess, though.

Also:

dr123 wrote:Roll Tide.

Notre Dame is not as bad as people say it is. It gets a bad rep, but seems to place well and has a tremendous alumni base. However, 'Bama is not a bad school. 23 is only worth paying sticker if you don't have that kind of scholly anywhere in tier 2. COL in Alabama is also really low so if you stay there you don't need big law to live a good life. Indiana/Chicago is still expensive relative to a lot of America.

Dany wrote:I don't think NLJ250 employment statistics are that useful for looking at prospects out of Alabama because I'm willing to bet a lot of market-paying Alabama firms aren't NLJ250 but are still jobs that Alabama grads want. Just a guess, though.

Very correct. The Birmingham market is actually very strong. I'm at a firm here that hired almost 50 summers (split between 1Ls and 2Ls, but still...). Most firms aren't NLJ250, but still pay a decent salary.

flexityflex86 wrote:Notre Dame is not as bad as people say it is. It gets a bad rep, but seems to place well and has a tremendous alumni base. However, 'Bama is not a bad school. 23 is only worth paying sticker if you don't have that kind of scholly anywhere in tier 2. COL in Alabama is also really low so if you stay there you don't need big law to live a good life. Indiana/Chicago is still expensive relative to a lot of America.

I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

ndirish2010 wrote:

flexityflex86 wrote:Notre Dame is not as bad as people say it is. It gets a bad rep, but seems to place well and has a tremendous alumni base. However, 'Bama is not a bad school. 23 is only worth paying sticker if you don't have that kind of scholly anywhere in tier 2. COL in Alabama is also really low so if you stay there you don't need big law to live a good life. Indiana/Chicago is still expensive relative to a lot of America.

I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

Credited.

ndirish2010 wrote:I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

Welcome to TLS. There are people who think anything outside HYS is bad.

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

Yes. And in some way, Alabama gives you more career options since you won't need biglaw to pay off debt.

ndirish2010 wrote:

flexityflex86 wrote:Notre Dame is not as bad as people say it is. It gets a bad rep, but seems to place well and has a tremendous alumni base. However, 'Bama is not a bad school. 23 is only worth paying sticker if you don't have that kind of scholly anywhere in tier 2. COL in Alabama is also really low so if you stay there you don't need big law to live a good life. Indiana/Chicago is still expensive relative to a lot of America.

I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

+1. Just ignore flex, he's an idiot.

OP, Bama by a lot.

cinephile wrote:

bergg007 wrote:Even with virtually no chance at big law from bama?

Yes. And in some way, Alabama gives you more career options since you won't need biglaw to pay off debt.

This.

Low chance at biglaw from Alabama? No big deal. You only have $5k in debt. There are plenty of great firms in Alabama.

Slightly higher but still low chance at biglaw from ND? You have sticker debt, so if (when?) you don't get biglaw things are going to get rough.

Dany wrote:

ndirish2010 wrote:I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

Welcome to TLS. There are people who think anything outside HYS is bad.

Check my post count, I've been here for a while. Not too many people on here would say T25s are bad. They would advise to avoid them for sticker or close to it. I would avoid Cornell and Georgetown (especially GULC) at sticker as well.

ndirish2010 wrote:

Dany wrote:

ndirish2010 wrote:I'm really confused...who says NDLS is bad? Only a bad investment for sticker price (which is true arguably anywhere outside the T6).

Welcome to TLS. There are people who think anything outside HYS is bad.

Check my post count, I've been here for a while. Not too many people on here would say T25s are bad. They would advise to avoid them for sticker or close to it. I would avoid Cornell and Georgetown (especially GULC) at sticker as well.

Nice, dude.

lol