Northwestern (10k) vs. Chicago (34k) Forum

[Leo]

***Starting a new thread because poll in my previous thread isn't working***

Schools I'm Considering (and COA)

• Chicago (34k)
• Northwestern (10k)

Financing
The COAs given above were calculated using LS22's awesome spreadsheet. Thanks LS22! The reason my COA is so low is a combination of scholarships, spouse's income, and parental assistance.

Location
Currently in Chicago and will probably stay in Chicago, but would love CA after this terrible winter. No ties to CA though...

Career Goals
Patent law because I am an engineer with several years WE. After some years in BigLaw, will probably go in-house. Wouldn't mind being CEO of a Fortune 500 after that

Other Factors

• Accepted to the Doctoroff Business Leadership Program at UChi. For those who haven't heard of it:

  The Doctoroff Program provides the platform for the Law School’s first-ever certificate-granting program, combining a business curriculum taught by many of the leading professors of Chicago’s acclaimed Booth School of Business; mentorship from alumni business leaders; and summer internships in business enterprises.

• Received some interesting (and discomforting) insight from a current UChi student who thinks NU is better for IP law. Here is what the student said:

  The issue about UChicago is the timing of its OCI. UChicago OCI is around end of August (NU's OCI is in early/mid-August) while PLIP (largest patent job fair) happens in end of July/early August. By the time UChicago OCI starts, most of the firms have already finished their callbacks for IP candidates. There are very few spots left for students seeking IP opportunities at UChicago OCI. Another reason is that UChicago traditionally does not have a reputation as an IP feeder school (unlike GW or George Mason, etc...). So firms/offices seeking IP candidates do not sign up for UChicago OCI. However, from what I have heard, there are a lot more IP firms going to NU.

[yossarian]

I've heard the Doctoroff connections are too good to pass up for $24k and still well under $50k debt. Difference of 4 months or 1 year of repayment at schools where 80% of the people who want it make north of $100k in a low COL city. I wouldn't be worried about that extra cost. Go where you want.

[rayiner]

U Chicago students are free to sign up for PLIP, and all the IP firms are there.

[aboutmydaylight]

Chicago. C'mon bruh don't rub these options in my face.

[IAFG]

Are you 100 % sure you want to do IP? Going inhouse after biglaw in IP is not a given.

If you were totally sure I would say NU because the opportunities will be very, very similar, but I sorta doubt you actually want that.

[croissantlover]

Chicago for sure. 24k is not much comparing to the benefits that UChi could provide.

[Leo]

Are you 100 % sure you want to do IP? Going inhouse after biglaw in IP is not a given.

If you were totally sure I would say NU because the opportunities will be very, very similar, but I sorta doubt you actually want that.

Thanks for your response, IAFG. I am 100% sure I want to do IP. I am much less sure I want to go in-house. Sorta just threw that out there because I know some successful people who followed that path (biglaw to in-house and back to biglaw).

[bearsfan23]

You really can't make a bad choice with that little debt at either school. Since you're in the city you should probably just visit both (if you haven't already) and decide which one you feel more comfortable at.

If you're socially awkward and/or extremely passive aggressive, Chicago would be a good fit

[WheninLaw]

You really can't make a bad choice with that little debt at either school. Since you're in the city you should probably just visit both (if you haven't already) and decide which one you feel more comfortable at.

If you're socially awkward and/or extremely passive aggressive, Chicago would be a good fit

I know you were choosing between Chicago and NU. Which did you choose? I assume the later, because NU students have really gone out of their way to slam UoC recently. The inferiority complex is fun to watch. If the former, then we should get a beer sometime. You sound fun.

[transferror]

This is stupid. Either is a ridiculously good outcome.

[09042014]

You really can't make a bad choice with that little debt at either school. Since you're in the city you should probably just visit both (if you haven't already) and decide which one you feel more comfortable at.

If you're socially awkward and/or extremely passive aggressive, Chicago would be a good fit

I know you were choosing between Chicago and NU. Which did you choose? I assume the later, because NU students have really gone out of their way to slam UoC recently. The inferiority complex is fun to watch. If the former, then we should get a beer sometime. You sound fun.

U sound mad

[KatyMarie]

This is stupid. Either is a ridiculously good outcome.

Seriously. wtf. Do whatever you want OP.

[WheninLaw]

You really can't make a bad choice with that little debt at either school. Since you're in the city you should probably just visit both (if you haven't already) and decide which one you feel more comfortable at.

If you're socially awkward and/or extremely passive aggressive, Chicago would be a good fit

I know you were choosing between Chicago and NU. Which did you choose? I assume the later, because NU students have really gone out of their way to slam UoC recently. The inferiority complex is fun to watch. If the former, then we should get a beer sometime. You sound fun.

U sound mad

No!!!!!

good luck on your choice OP. Either is great.

[Pulsar]

Not paying $24k more for UChi over NU is crazyperson talk. Perhaps IP placement at both schools is good enough that it won't matter, but I wouldn't be sure about that.

OP don't let yourself worry about the patent fair and OCI timing issue. You can always go to both the patent fair and OCI (though you might end up canceling on OCI if you already have an excellent offer from the patent fair, which isn't unheard of). Going to both is probably advisable anyway even if you do go to NU.

[IAFG]

I know you were choosing between Chicago and NU. Which did you choose? I assume the later, because NU students have really gone out of their way to slam UoC recently. The inferiority complex is fun to watch. If the former, then we should get a beer sometime. You sound fun.

1) Everyone has always slammed the UChi culture because it tilts awkward and gunnery. Of course it's not homogenous, and I know some very chill people from UChi, but it's not a baseless criticism. I assume it's only "recent" to you because you only recently noticed it.
2) NU students don't have an inferiority complex relative to UChi students. Inside of Chicago, firms treat us very similarly. There's really no opportunity for an inferiority complex to bubble up until you leave Chicago and by then people don't really talk about the law schools they graduated from because that would be weird.