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Hey guys,

so i got into Northwestern off the wait list and i have to make a decision about where i want to go. I would like biglaw but it is not life or death for biglaw.

I am from the south and even if i retook with my GPA i would always be at sticker with the T14

Rank the following

Living the rest of your life in Minnesota
Living the rest of your life in Alabama
Living the next 20 years of your life on PAYE

Congrats on NU!

Id probably say Bama since thats where you have ties and the COA is very manageable. Biglaw would be a long shot but you wouldnt need it. UMN is only the better option w/ some midwestern connection and if your committed to working in the twin cities. I couldnt stomach sticker debt at NU, but some do it.. Have you tried to get any $ with your other offers?

havent tried anything with NU yet havent even received my financial aid letter yet but im going to assume its at cost. I actually have better ties in chicago than i do anywhere else.

dstars823 wrote:havent tried anything with NU yet havent even received my financial aid letter yet but im going to assume its at cost. I actually have better ties in chicago than i do anywhere else.

Sorry I assume your ties were southern since thats what you stated. Bama is still your safest choice if your from the deep south.

Your debt figure for sticker at NU is way low. How are you financing it? If loans, its more like $275,000, not 225.

Can you show how you're calculating COA for all three?

I wish they would do the same for me.


Northwestern for sure though! Don't go to Alabama. NU is T14 and you know you're in for trouble if you go to a law school that has a really good college football team.

DaRascal wrote:I wish they would do the same for me.


Northwestern for sure though! Don't go to Alabama. NU is T14 and you know you're in for trouble if you go to a law school that has a really good college football team.

This advice troubles me on several counts

For one, Mich and NU are both Big10 schools with good football teams

Also just because a school is T14 doesnt make it a better choice than a strong regional at significant discount. Dont project your mistakes onto others

bagelboy, check the voting! I'm starting to think you're on Northwestern's waitlist...

DaRascal wrote:bagelboy, check the voting! I'm starting to think you're on Northwestern's waitlist...

Right

Because thats very much a possibility after simply clicking on my profile

Lots of people vote aimlessly on the best school on the list. Then people like you vote. And I didnt vote, because Im not certain. The comments are more valuable, marginally.

NU might be OPs best option if they arent particularly debt averse. Far from a clear choice IMO

Hmm yeah guess I was wrong, bagel. Wooops. But still I'm not the best decision maker and I know this is like having a choice between a ferrari and a volkswagen!

Go to NU, baby!! Go for it!!

DaRascal wrote:Hmm yeah guess I was wrong, bagel. Wooops. But still I'm not the best decision maker and I know this is like having a choice between a ferrari and a volkswagen!

Go to NU, baby!! Go for it!!

Can't tell if this is sarcastic or not..

Suralin wrote:

DaRascal wrote:Hmm yeah guess I was wrong, bagel. Wooops. But still I'm not the best decision maker and I know this is like having a choice between a ferrari and a volkswagen!

Go to NU, baby!! Go for it!!

Can't tell if this is sarcastic or not..

Its not. Look at the kids post history, lol.

1. Try to negotiate with Northwestern with your scholarships. It's not unheard of for someone to get a small scholarship when being accepted off of the waitlist.

2. If your goal is biglaw, you have to go Northwestern here. Sticker is just the life of a splitter.

225 is because i have some savings and my parents would cover some things for me. My parents wouldnt have to cover anything at bama with a 84k scholly and minnesota with 111k since the loan value is so low.

anyone with advice on how i would go about negotiating scholly with NU i feel i cant use the same strategy i used with like wash u, bama and minnesota

edit never mind

No one can give you meaningful advice if you don't say where you want to work.

Lighten up, rickgrimes! Do you know what I'd do to be in his position right now? (If only the LSAT hadn't had so many trick questions) Getting into a T14 is an amazing accomplishment and it's not something he should pass up.

dstars823 wrote:225 is because i have some savings and my parents would cover some things for me. My parents wouldnt have to cover anything at bama with a 84k scholly and minnesota with 111k since the loan value is so low.

This is why we need to see how you're calculating your COA. Your numbers aren't adding up. With an $84K scholarship and no parental contribution, your indebtedness at repayment from Bama is also right around $84K, not $50K, assuming you're not a resident. (If you were a resident, debt at repayment would be $36K.) With a $111K scholarship from UMN and no parental contribution, total debt at repayment is $95K, not $75K.

To get the most helpful advice, please read the link at the top of the forum (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299) and provide any remaining information.

so updated

Northwestern (275k)
Minne (95k)
Alabama (75k)

Generally financing it all with loans

I am from the carolinas, dont really mind where i work to be honest but would prefer atlanta, charlotte, chicago, birmingham, NYC. Dont have too many "great" ties other than in NC and in chicago.

I am a massive splitter with a sub 3 GPA and i have taken the LSAT once, not sure if a retake is worth it since my GPA may keep any T14 from giving me scholly

dstars823 wrote:so updated

Northwestern (275k)
Minne (95k)
Alabama (75k)

Generally financing it all with loans

I am from the carolinas, dont really mind where i work to be honest but would prefer atlanta, charlotte, chicago, birmingham, NYC. Dont have too many "great" ties other than in NC and in chicago.

I am a massive splitter with a sub 3 GPA and i have taken the LSAT once, not sure if a retake is worth it since my GPA may keep any T14 from giving me scholly

sounds like you dont know what you want. Figure that out before going to LAWL school

I would take Bama. All the options seem to have roughly the same upside and Bama would be the least risky. As long as you're okay with practicing in Birmingham for a while.

Depending on how much you prefer biglaw vs non biglaw and how debt averse you are, it is between Bama or NU.

Bama is the better financial option but you would have to accept you likely won't get a biglaw job.

..

Northwestern just for the prestige.