UIUC ($$$) vs. IU ($$$) vs. ND ($) Forum

[GurglingEmu]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[yossarian]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

[thebobs1987]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

I'm a 1L at UIUC, but even I say retake for Northwestern or Chicago. I say you need more money from ND. UIUC and ND both give you a 1 in 4 chance of big law in Chicago. Indiana gives you less than 10% so they're out. If you are big law or bust retake and get money from Northwestern, Michigan, or UChi. If you are cool with Chicago any law and debt averse then UIUC is fine

[Ramius]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

I'm a 1L at UIUC, but even I say retake for Northwestern or Chicago. I say you need more money from ND. UIUC and ND both give you a 1 in 4 chance of big law in Chicago. Indiana gives you less than 10% so they're out. If you are big law or bust retake and get money from Northwestern, Michigan, or UChi. If you are cool with Chicago any law and debt averse then UIUC is fine

Forgive me if this is at all disrespectful or in any way a derail, but what makes you say this? Is it based off regret, differing goals, or some combination thereof? The reason I ask is because it's too early for you to be truly jaded by the job search, so having this opinion must come from somewhere. Are you really just wishing you'd retaken for uchicago, NU, or umich?

[GurglingEmu]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

I'm a 1L at UIUC, but even I say retake for Northwestern or Chicago. I say you need more money from ND. UIUC and ND both give you a 1 in 4 chance of big law in Chicago. Indiana gives you less than 10% so they're out. If you are big law or bust retake and get money from Northwestern, Michigan, or UChi. If you are cool with Chicago any law and debt averse then UIUC is fine

Sorry, I should have phrased my original post better. I'm not adamant about big law - I would just prefer it. I think that I'd still be happy to end up somewhere in corporate or IP.

[Yanky91]

I don't think you can go wrong with a full ride to UIUC. So far that is your best bet. Regis Philbin went to Notre Dame.... YUCK! (granted it was the undergrad, but still)

[Mack.Hambleton]

retake

[Ramius]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

I'm a 1L at UIUC, but even I say retake for Northwestern or Chicago. I say you need more money from ND. UIUC and ND both give you a 1 in 4 chance of big law in Chicago. Indiana gives you less than 10% so they're out. If you are big law or bust retake and get money from Northwestern, Michigan, or UChi. If you are cool with Chicago any law and debt averse then UIUC is fine

Sorry, I should have phrased my original post better. I'm not adamant about big law - I would just prefer it. I think that I'd still be happy to end up somewhere in corporate or IP.

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

[GurglingEmu]

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.

[thebobs1987]

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.

My reply post didn't go through.

OP, if you're in IP then you'll be fine at UIUC even for big law. Are you an engineer or have a Phd in a hard science?

[GurglingEmu]

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.

My reply post didn't go through.

OP, if you're in IP then you'll be fine at UIUC even for big law. Are you an engineer or have a Phd in a hard science?

I'm not either of those things. I don't have any real background in the hard sciences. If it counts for anything, I do have a couple years of part-time job experience in IT - but it was entry level work.

[Ramius]

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.

My reply post didn't go through.

OP, if you're in IP then you'll be fine at UIUC even for big law. Are you an engineer or have a Phd in a hard science?

I agree that relevant engineering experience or a higher level degree can help, and combined with a full ride is downright tempting, but what are you basing this off of? I'm not trying to discount what you're saying, but just want to make clear that a phd in EE is different than a BS in CE or biology. Some may be "IP secure" while others may delude themselves with these notions of having a guaranteed job at graduation.

[thebobs1987]

Hello everyone,

I'm from Chicago and would like to practice here, but I have no local significant ties. I would prefer to go into Big law. In the event that I do not get into my waitlists, what would you guys suggest?

Schools that I'm considering:
University of Illinois (UIUC): Full tuition
University of Indiana (Maurer): Full tuition
Notre Dame: $90,000

I'm also waitlisted at Northwestern and University of Michigan.

My LSAT is 165 and my GPA is 3.85.

NU >>>>> Mich >> ND > UIUC > IU for Chicago biglaw. Debt aversion and willingness to take a non big law job will have to be the deciding factors for you.

I would probably take UIUC here especially if you could negotiate up to a stipend (seems unlikely). ND is okay at that price, but most people would probably tell you you need more money.

BUT retake

I'm a 1L at UIUC, but even I say retake for Northwestern or Chicago. I say you need more money from ND. UIUC and ND both give you a 1 in 4 chance of big law in Chicago. Indiana gives you less than 10% so they're out. If you are big law or bust retake and get money from Northwestern, Michigan, or UChi. If you are cool with Chicago any law and debt averse then UIUC is fine

Forgive me if this is at all disrespectful or in any way a derail, but what makes you say this? Is it based off regret, differing goals, or some combination thereof? The reason I ask is because it's too early for you to be truly jaded by the job search, so having this opinion must come from somewhere. Are you really just wishing you'd retaken for uchicago, NU, or umich?

And I posted a reply before this, but it didn't go through.

The question is a little disrespectful, but that is ok. I love it at UIUC and am actually doing really well and I am sure I will be fine at OCI if big law is what I want. But it is all about personal choices. For me I wanted to keep debt low and didn't care about big law and just wanted to be in Illinois. OP said he wanted big law. And while ND and UIUC give you a decent chance at it, not nearly as good NU, UMichi or UChi. If you are ok with any law in Chicago or Illinois then UIUC at a full ride is a great deal and same with ND if they were more generous with scholarships. But if someone were to be big law or bust, then I would tell them go for those three or HYS.

[thebobs1987]

Not trying to be a huge downer, but the chances of doing "IP or corporate" outside of big law is hugely problematic. I'm basing this off data, but from what I've seen, you can't really get corporate or IP work without either relevant work experience in the field (like a phd or masters) or big law experience related to it. Not saying you can't get it, but the data doesn't support you having much chance.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.

My reply post didn't go through.

OP, if you're in IP then you'll be fine at UIUC even for big law. Are you an engineer or have a Phd in a hard science?

I agree that relevant engineering experience or a higher level degree can help, and combined with a full ride is downright tempting, but what are you basing this off of? I'm not trying to discount what you're saying, but just want to make clear that a phd in EE is different than a BS in CE or biology. Some may be "IP secure" while others may delude themselves with these notions of having a guaranteed job at graduation.

First, OP then you don't count for IP.

Second, I am basing it off all the people I know that are in law school or law firms. Most firms will take bachelors of engineering, but not other bachelors in sciences. But they'll all take Phds in hard sciences.

[AMilfordMan]

Another UIUC 1L here. I more or less agree with thebobs. I'm very happy to be at Illinois, but it is clear that Northwestern and UChicago offer a much better shot at biglaw. OP, while you might not think that you are biglaw or bust, given the discussion I've read so far, you sound like your goals can be most easily realized via the biglaw route, and that route is statistically more likely at a t14. Plain and simple.

With a 3.8x, retaking the June test, getting 4-5 more points, and applying early would put you in an excellent position for NU with $$ and probably UChicago with some $.

Otherwise, if you are dead set on attending this fall, then UIUC is the clear winner to me.