Notre Dame vs University of Illinois Forum

[CanadianWolf]

OP: Illinois is the better choice for you based on your posts.

[givemea170]

OP: Illinois is the better choice for you based on your posts.

Thanks for the opinion.

Just curious here, but what type of law I want to study doesn't really have any factor in this decision, right? I'm not even sure yet.

[donzoli]

go to ND (unless your parents are like...lower-middle class or lower)

Lolwut

I am starting to feel like I will be happy with either decision. I just wish I had a clear reason to make one seem like the obvious correct choice.

Are you Catholic? Would you rather go to a small, undergraduate focused, religious school, or a large secular school? The schools are likely polar opposites.

[CanadianWolf]

Type of law is not relevant in your, or in most, situations. Where you want to work geographically should be a major consideration as well as total COA.

[givemea170]

Still unsure to be honest.

[givemea170]

ND seems to offer an 18K per year fellowship, does that matter? Not sure if it is guaranteed or how that works.

[rma]

ND seems to offer an 18K per year fellowship, does that matter? Not sure if it is guaranteed or how that works.

If guaranteed, I think ND is the clear choice. Will give you just as good opportunities in Chicago than UofI would (if not better). And if you change your mind, ND gives you more national reach.

Given that money wasn't a huge factor for you to begin with, and now that you have significant money from ND, I think ND is the clear choice.

Congrats!

[givemea170]

ND seems to offer an 18K per year fellowship, does that matter? Not sure if it is guaranteed or how that works.

If guaranteed, I think ND is the clear choice. Will give you just as good opportunities in Chicago than UofI would (if not better). And if you change your mind, ND gives you more national reach.

Given that money wasn't a huge factor for you to begin with, and now that you have significant money from ND, I think ND is the clear choice.

Congrats!

Thanks! I don't know too much about fellowships though... do you know how the majority of them work?

[CanadianWolf]

If offered an $18,000 per year fellowship at Notre Dame, then the better choice is probably Notre Dame due to its superior national reputation. However, if Northwestern accepts you from hold/waitlist status, then you'll need to repost or redeposit.

For Chicago placement, however, ND & Illinois are probably equals.

[2014]

Given equal cost (which they are for you...zero) I'd choose Notre Dame. If you feel guilty about your parents paying extra for basically no tangible increase in job prospects then go to Illinois, but given equal job prospects at least ND has lay prestige.

[blurbz]

Given equal cost (which they are for you...zero) I'd choose Notre Dame. If you feel guilty about your parents paying extra for basically no tangible increase in job prospects then go to Illinois, but given equal job prospects at least ND has lay prestige.

At least you recognize that there's not a tangible increase in job prospects...

[flcath]

If money's not an issue then choose ND.

I gotta tell you, a lot of $$$ is being spent on this decision (maybe not your money, but still) that would be much better used elsewhere (as in, not for law school). ND's sticker price--like tuition at pretty much every school outside of the top 3 to 6--is outrageous, and not commensurate with the expected value of the degree.

Of course, there are always personal reasons to go to LS; I'm just talking about numbers.

[zozin]

If you got 33% out-of-state tution from Illinois and $18K from ND, Notre Dame is now cheaper. You seemed to like it more anyway, so now it seems like a no brainer.

[givemea170]

Last time I'm revisiting this subject...

if I'm 100% positive I want to work in Chicago... at equal cost, where would YOU go?

[flem]

Last time I'm revisiting this subject...

if I'm 100% positive I want to work in Chicago... at equal cost, where would YOU go?

Northwestern

Just kidding, Illinois. Then again, I actually have no idea what markets ND feeds into. I'm guessing it's one of those quasi-national schools that will let you return to a home market or something, but I don't think it would open up doors to any new markets like Illinois would. Illinois obviously feeds a good portion of grads into Chicago.

[givemea170]

Last time I'm revisiting this subject...

if I'm 100% positive I want to work in Chicago... at equal cost, where would YOU go?

Northwestern

Just kidding, Illinois. Then again, I actually have no idea what markets ND feeds into. I'm guessing it's one of those quasi-national schools that will let you return to a home market or something, but I don't think it would open up doors to any new markets like Illinois would. Illinois obviously feeds a good portion of grads into Chicago.

lol, if only. Still on their wait-list. Thanks for backing up the sentiment I have. It seems like ND would be the better choice if I wanted to work in California or the North East... I'm pretty sure I want to be in Chicago though.

[SpiteFence]

I still say ND for Chicago. We're probably about equal in terms of OCI, but no one beats our alumni. If you're willing to put in an ounce of effort into networking, choose ND.

[Ludo!]

I still say ND for Chicago. We're probably about equal in terms of OCI, but no one beats our alumni. If you're willing to put in an ounce of effort into networking, choose ND.

Why would the alumni thing benefit him in Chicago though? The benefit of the ND alumni network is in being able to get other markets. I'm sure ND has some great alumni in Chicago, but Illinois has ALL of our alumni in Chicago, and in that city Illinois places better. In the class of 2010 only 29 of 172 ND students went to work in the state of Illinois. So even if all things were equal (which they're not, he's got a better scholly at Illinois), if he knows he wants Chicago then Illinois is a better choice in terms of job prospects.

[givemea170]

I still say ND for Chicago. We're probably about equal in terms of OCI, but no one beats our alumni. If you're willing to put in an ounce of effort into networking, choose ND.

Why would the alumni thing benefit him in Chicago though? The benefit of the ND alumni network is in being able to get other markets. I'm sure ND has some great alumni in Chicago, but Illinois has ALL of our alumni in Chicago, and in that city Illinois places better. In the class of 2010 only 29 of 172 ND students went to work in the state of Illinois. So even if all things were equal (which they're not, he's got a better scholly at Illinois), if he knows he wants Chicago then Illinois is a better choice in terms of job prospects.

I think you're right. Well, the numbers say you are right, I"m sure some ND grads self select away from Chicago but I wouldn't think it'd make THAT big of a difference. I'm coming to Illinois. ND is a great school though and I'm sure I'll even visit up there since my brother and dad are big ND fans and go to games sometimes.

[blurbz]

If you want Chicago, Illinois.