Help Me Choose - T-14 Sticker or Top 30 with $

[chatterb]

Hi All,

I got in at Penn, and I will not receive any financial aid from them. UCLA came through with full-tuition. I really hate debt and would need 150k+ to pay for Penn. Thoughts?

Thanks!
chatterb

[TheodoreKGB]

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[cron1834]

Everyone is going to tell you that more info is needed, and they're not wrong. Do you have any connection to CA? Do you want to work in CA? 80% of UCLA's job successes are in CA. If you're down with this, free-tuition @ UCLA is pretty decent. 39% Biglaw+Fedclerk is not Penn territory, but with only COL for expenses, that sunshine sounds pretty tempting ...

[CO2016YEAH]

UCLA for free is a no brainer. Provided you are happy with studying and most likely working in Southern California. But really, why the hell wouldn't you be? My opinion is biased, as I decidedly moved from the brisk winters of the north east to sunny So Cal. But really, they are a leader in the market, have had solid employment placement despite a lousy legal job market, and it won't cost you a dime. I understand the T14/Ivy thing, but, really, for me it wouldn't even be a question.

[rebexness]

Penn is going to cost you a lot more than $150K, unless you have some other source of funding.

[Nova]

What are your career goals?

Do you want biglaw? if yes, how bad?

[cron1834]

Penn is going to cost you a lot more than $150K, unless you have some other source of funding.

Yeah, this needs to be emphasized. The actual COAs, assuming no funding sources we're not hearing about, are more like $75k UCLA, $250k Penn, no?

[sublime]

..

[Pneumonia]

yeah OP your goals are pretty relevant here. CA? Ties? Biglaw?

[Optimist Prime]

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[BigZuck]

UCLA isn't a no brainer if the OP has never been to CA before and wants a job in NY or something. The school has very little pull outside of CA.

We need to hear a lot more about his/her goals and personal situation before we can offer advice one way or another.

[Tiago Splitter]

UCLA for free is a no brainer. Provided you are happy with studying and most likely working in Southern California.

So then it's not a no-brainer is it?

Penn is going to cost you a lot more than $150K, unless you have some other source of funding.

And UCLA is going to cost a lot more than zero.

UCLA is a defensible option if the OP really wants to end up in LA, but if not there may be a middle ground that makes more sense. A retake is likely the best way to avoid debt and improve job prospects, but I imagine OP already has already decided that won't be happening.

[cotiger]

Patience, young grasshopper. If you got a full-ride from UCLA, you'll be getting money from T14. Money from T14 is most likely where you want to be.

Though we still need more info to really be able to help.

[TheodoreKGB]

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[objecion]

If your grades are good enough for a full ride at #15 it stands to reason #7 would step up with some kind of concession. These schools maybe in different spheres but they are not worlds apart either. What are your stats?

[Tiago Splitter]

All the OP wants to know is Penn worth the extra $150,000+ over UCLA. It's that simple. S/he didn't ask should I retake? S/he didn't open the floor for a discussion on his/her dreams. This isn't a medical examination--especially in this case. Stop making the thread one big digression. Don't worry about whether the OP had Cheerios or Special K this morning.

Is Penn worth the additional boatload amount of money? Do the OP a favor and answer the question.

The answer is that it depends.

[Big Dog]

All the OP wants to know is Penn worth the extra $150,000+ over UCLA. It's that simple.

Actually, no it is not that simple. If the OP hates NYC, and really wants SoCal, then .....

Patience, young grasshopper. If you got a full-ride from UCLA, you'll be getting money from T14. Money from T14 is most likely where you want to be.

Correct.

[BigZuck]

If your grades are good enough for a full ride at #15 it stands to reason #7 would step up with some kind of concession. These schools maybe in different spheres but they are not worlds apart either. What are your stats?

There's a pretty sizeable chasm. And while what you said doesn't not make sense, I don't think schools really look at things this way.

Besides, isn't Penn on the stingier side anyway? It wouldn't surprise me if Penn gonna Penn on this one.

[cron1834]

All the OP wants to know is Penn worth the extra $150,000+ over UCLA. It's that simple. S/he didn't ask should I retake? S/he didn't open the floor for a discussion on his/her dreams. This isn't a medical examination--especially in this case. Stop making the thread one big digression. Don't worry about whether the OP had Cheerios or Special K this morning.

Is Penn worth the additional boatload amount of money? Do the OP a favor and answer the question.

What is your problem, exactly? You're inventing a fight when there isn't one to be had. The question obviously can't be answered with incomplete information. You seem desperate to prove a point for some reason.

[objecion]

If your grades are good enough for a full ride at #15 it stands to reason #7 would step up with some kind of concession. These schools maybe in different spheres but they are not worlds apart either. What are your stats?

There's a pretty sizeable chasm. And while what you said doesn't not make sense, I don't think schools really look at things this way.

Besides, isn't Penn on the stingier side anyway? It wouldn't surprise me if Penn gonna Penn on this one.

You may be right. It’s just that if #15 is ready to throw down [est.] $100k it must be because of the OLs outstanding GPA and/or LSAT. I would guess #7 needs those kind of stats if they want to break into the T6 (or not be leapfrogged). Something here doesn’t sync.

[kartelite]

I'm also interested in this as I anticipate having a similar choice. CA resident with full scholarship at UCLA. No T14 acceptances yet but hoping they're on the way.

[Tiago Splitter]

I'm also interested in this as I anticipate having a similar choice. CA resident with full scholarship at UCLA. No T14 acceptances yet but hoping they're on the way.

With a 3.8/176 you'll get plenty of money in the T-14. It's hard to see how it would make sense for you to go to UCLA unless you just can't leave Los Angeles.