Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$) Forum
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Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
I got off the Michigan waitlist yesterday with some merit aid, but I was overwhelmed when I received the call and stupidly forgot to ask them if the amount was per year or total. Either way, the scholarship package is small compared to BC's.
- My mom is financing my education. She would be able to pay for both schools, but cheaper is obviously better, especially because she wants to retire. She is insistent upon paying for law school, but I'm feeling guilty about choosing the more expensive school because she could easily pay for BC, but paying for Michigan will require pulling some strings and perhaps result in later retirement (by 1 to 3 years; my mom is currently 55 and wanted to retire at 56 due to poor health; may have to work till 57 or 60 if I choose Mich). Anyway, no loans in either case.
- My family (including mom) and friends are all 100% Michigan due to its higher ranking.
- I had already committed to BC, so I would lose my deposit and have to cancel my lease (if that's even possible).
- Ideally I want to work in NYC, especially for the first few years. Maybe in Hong Kong as well (bilingual). However, my partner will be in the military for 7 years, so I'm not sure where I'll end up when we settle down. Therefore the ability to place anywhere in the country is important to me.
- I'd rather not post my numbers, but I took the LSAT twice and I'm not a URM. Score is slightly below both BC and Mich medians, GPA is above both medians.
The general consensus from everyone that I've spoken to is that I should choose Michigan without a doubt, but I'd like to hear your opinions as well. The only things holding me back are my guilty feelings about the price tag and the shock of having to move all the way to Michigan (I live in the tristate area). I never thought I would actually get in so this has been both a giant shock and a dream come true. Thank you.
- My mom is financing my education. She would be able to pay for both schools, but cheaper is obviously better, especially because she wants to retire. She is insistent upon paying for law school, but I'm feeling guilty about choosing the more expensive school because she could easily pay for BC, but paying for Michigan will require pulling some strings and perhaps result in later retirement (by 1 to 3 years; my mom is currently 55 and wanted to retire at 56 due to poor health; may have to work till 57 or 60 if I choose Mich). Anyway, no loans in either case.
- My family (including mom) and friends are all 100% Michigan due to its higher ranking.
- I had already committed to BC, so I would lose my deposit and have to cancel my lease (if that's even possible).
- Ideally I want to work in NYC, especially for the first few years. Maybe in Hong Kong as well (bilingual). However, my partner will be in the military for 7 years, so I'm not sure where I'll end up when we settle down. Therefore the ability to place anywhere in the country is important to me.
- I'd rather not post my numbers, but I took the LSAT twice and I'm not a URM. Score is slightly below both BC and Mich medians, GPA is above both medians.
The general consensus from everyone that I've spoken to is that I should choose Michigan without a doubt, but I'd like to hear your opinions as well. The only things holding me back are my guilty feelings about the price tag and the shock of having to move all the way to Michigan (I live in the tristate area). I never thought I would actually get in so this has been both a giant shock and a dream come true. Thank you.
- jrthor10
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Michigan. Easy choice. Instead of looking at it based purely on the increased cost, you also need to consider the increased employment prospects. You might strike w/ big law at either school, but your chances of doing so at Michigan are substantially less. Thus, if you didn't get such a job, you might be leaning on your mom after law school. Keep that in mind.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
That's a good way to look at it. Thank you.jrthor10 wrote:Michigan. Easy choice. Instead of looking at it based purely on the increased cost, you also need to consider the increased employment prospects. You might strike w/ big law at either school, but your chances of doing so at Michigan are substantially less. Thus, if you didn't get such a job, you might be leaning on your mom after law school. Keep that in mind.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
- Ohiobumpkin
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Responding to bold.objctnyrhnr wrote:some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
This is not an issue here since the OP's mom is paying for LS. So this is not a typical "I got t-1 with $$$ but probably won't get biglaw, but I could do lower t-14 with $ but will need biglaw to pay off GINORMOUS debt."
Personally, I'm a very debt averse person. Despite that, I actually think Michigan is the right choice here. You will have much greater flexibility in where you can work, and you mentioned your significant other is in the military and could be deployed anywhere.
On a more personal level (you can take or leave this advice, since it's your business), you might want to really think hard about whether you should continue your relationship with your SO. It will be really hard going forward to follow him if he gets deployed to different locations nationally every few years. It's true going to Michigan will make it easier for you to move to take a job in a new place where your SO is stationed (and where presumably you have no ties), but if he gets transferred again, it will be very hard to break into a whole new market that might very well require admissions to another state's bar. (Sorry for run on sentence).
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
I was factoring living $ into the mix. From OP's original post, I took it that the parent was down to pay for the EDUCATION. I took it as a premise (obviously i might not have been correct) that the mom would be down to pay a certain amount of $ regardless. I therefore suggested that OP take the school with all the $$$, get some living money from her mom and LITERALLY graduate next to debt-free.Ohiobumpkin wrote:Responding to bold.objctnyrhnr wrote:some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
This is not an issue here since the OP's mom is paying for LS. So this is not a typical "I got t-1 with $$$ but probably won't get biglaw, but I could do lower t-14 with $ but will need biglaw to pay off GINORMOUS debt."
Personally, I'm a very debt averse person. Despite that, I actually think Michigan is the right choice here. You will have much greater flexibility in where you can work, and you mentioned your significant other is in the military and could be deployed anywhere.
On a more personal level (you can take or leave this advice, since it's your business), you might want to really think hard about whether you should continue your relationship with your SO. It will be really hard going forward to follow him if he gets deployed to different locations nationally every few years. It's true going to Michigan will make it easier for you to move to take a job in a new place where your SO is stationed (and where presumably you have no ties), but if he gets transferred again, it will be very hard to break into a whole new market that might very well require admissions to another state's bar. (Sorry for run on sentence).
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Sorry, let me clarify. My mom would pay for living expenses as well. I would be debt-free with either school. It's just less of a burden on our family to pay for the cheaper school, of course, but we would be able to pay for both.objctnyrhnr wrote:I was factoring living $ into the mix. From OP's original post, I took it that the parent was down to pay for the EDUCATION. I took it as a premise (obviously i might not have been correct) that the mom would be down to pay a certain amount of $ regardless. I therefore suggested that OP take the school with all the $$$, get some living money from her mom and LITERALLY graduate next to debt-free.Ohiobumpkin wrote:Responding to bold.objctnyrhnr wrote:some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
This is not an issue here since the OP's mom is paying for LS. So this is not a typical "I got t-1 with $$$ but probably won't get biglaw, but I could do lower t-14 with $ but will need biglaw to pay off GINORMOUS debt."
Personally, I'm a very debt averse person. Despite that, I actually think Michigan is the right choice here. You will have much greater flexibility in where you can work, and you mentioned your significant other is in the military and could be deployed anywhere.
On a more personal level (you can take or leave this advice, since it's your business), you might want to really think hard about whether you should continue your relationship with your SO. It will be really hard going forward to follow him if he gets deployed to different locations nationally every few years. It's true going to Michigan will make it easier for you to move to take a job in a new place where your SO is stationed (and where presumably you have no ties), but if he gets transferred again, it will be very hard to break into a whole new market that might very well require admissions to another state's bar. (Sorry for run on sentence).
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
aviators wrote:Sorry, let me clarify. My mom would pay for living expenses as well. I would be debt-free with either school. It's just less of a burden on our family to pay for the cheaper school, of course, but we would be able to pay for both.objctnyrhnr wrote:I was factoring living $ into the mix. From OP's original post, I took it that the parent was down to pay for the EDUCATION. I took it as a premise (obviously i might not have been correct) that the mom would be down to pay a certain amount of $ regardless. I therefore suggested that OP take the school with all the $$$, get some living money from her mom and LITERALLY graduate next to debt-free.Ohiobumpkin wrote:Responding to bold.objctnyrhnr wrote:some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
This is not an issue here since the OP's mom is paying for LS. So this is not a typical "I got t-1 with $$$ but probably won't get biglaw, but I could do lower t-14 with $ but will need biglaw to pay off GINORMOUS debt."
Personally, I'm a very debt averse person. Despite that, I actually think Michigan is the right choice here. You will have much greater flexibility in where you can work, and you mentioned your significant other is in the military and could be deployed anywhere.
On a more personal level (you can take or leave this advice, since it's your business), you might want to really think hard about whether you should continue your relationship with your SO. It will be really hard going forward to follow him if he gets deployed to different locations nationally every few years. It's true going to Michigan will make it easier for you to move to take a job in a new place where your SO is stationed (and where presumably you have no ties), but if he gets transferred again, it will be very hard to break into a whole new market that might very well require admissions to another state's bar. (Sorry for run on sentence).
oh, well in that case, if you will feel okay about yourself having your mom throw down that ridiculous amount of money (and i'm not saying that you shouldnt feel okay about it--it's a personal decision), then umich is the way to go. if you wouldn't feel okay about it, i maintain that bc with $$$ is still a really good option, even for NYC.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
I would retake and cop a 90K+ scholarship at a place like Cornell. Good placement in the northeast, less financial burden on the mom. Win/win.
- Ohiobumpkin
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Or go halfsies with your mom and do Michigan.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
This for sure. There has to be some happy medium where your mom is contributing (like she wants to) but doesn't have to retire three years later.Ohiobumpkin wrote:Or go halfsies with your mom and do Michigan.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
You should have a frank discussion with your mother about just how much money she actually has. Make sure she understands how much U Michigan will cost, and make sure she has planned out her retirement costs as well. Don't forget cost of living expenses. Maybe you could work out a loan with her for part of the amount if her retirement fund isn't as robust as one would hope.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
yea that's not a bad idea opNorCalLaw wrote:You should have a frank discussion with your mother about just how much money she actually has. Make sure she understands how much U Michigan will cost, and make sure she has planned out her retirement costs as well. Don't forget cost of living expenses. Maybe you could work out a loan with her for part of the amount if her retirement fund isn't as robust as one would hope.
that way you wouldn't feel so badly taking the money
if everything goes to plan you can repay her
if not, you're in a much better position than someone owing near-sticker to sallie mae
- chuckbass
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
I like the idea of possibly taking out some money to take some of the burden off of your mother, while still being able to attend Michigan. I think this is a much different case than the usual BC with $$$ vs. Michigan with $ considering your family has the money to pay for either school. In this case, I don't think it's worth saving the money to take lower career prospects. BC is a great school, but if it's not a huge financial burden on your mother (especially if you decide to take out a small loan to help) I think it would be crazy to take BC over Michigan.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Also, make sure she understands that there is a chance you won't be able to repay her back if that's the plan.NorCalLaw wrote:You should have a frank discussion with your mother about just how much money she actually has. Make sure she understands how much U Michigan will cost, and make sure she has planned out her retirement costs as well. Don't forget cost of living expenses. Maybe you could work out a loan with her for part of the amount if her retirement fund isn't as robust as one would hope.
- Dafaq
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Michigan is no sure shot to BL. According to LST the BC employment rate is not that much different from Mich…. certainly not $200,000 different.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
almost 20% diff employment rateDafaq wrote:Michigan is no sure shot to BL. According to LST the BC employment rate is not that much different from Mich…. certainly not $200,000 different.
23.3% diff biglaw+fedclerk
idk if i were in op's very unique situation i'd go with umich
- cron1834
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Overall employment rate almost 20 points higher, BL+FedClerk 24 points higher. And OP is not paying $200k for anything.Dafaq wrote:Michigan is no sure shot to BL. According to LST the BC employment rate is not that much different from Mich…. certainly not $200,000 different.
Read before you give advice bro.
ETA - scooped by Brut.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Wants to work in NYC......Considers school 600 miles away.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Huh? Michigan is definitely better for NYC big law than BC is.Informative wrote:Wants to work in NYC......Considers school 600 miles away.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
ImNoScar wrote:Huh? Michigan is definitely better for NYC big law than BC is.Informative wrote:Wants to work in NYC......Considers school 600 miles away.
NYU, Columbia, Penn, Cornell and arguably GULC or Fordham place better than Michigan or BC in NYC biglaw, all of which should be in the mix. You have a shot at NYC biglaw from Michigan, but it isn't so much better than BC that its worth significant extra debt. If the OP wants NYC biglaw, there are much better schools than Michigan or BC that the OP should be looking at.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Bold can't be right. BU has better placement, and they are less than 5 miles away, and certainly in same region.
objctnyrhnr wrote:some years ago, i was also considering BC with $$$ vs. some lower t14's. i love boston and i took bc with $$$ and never looked back. the beauty of taking a good school, especially the best one in its region (harvard exports most of its grads) with $$$ is the lack of pressure to do biglaw, in conjunction with the great network. IMO, the notion of not having to go into a certain career and being able to choose your own path without financial concern is priceless. i would imagine that your mom would throw you some living money if you go to a school that costs next to nothing and she wants to help out.
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
1) op doesn't have to go into debtInformative wrote:ImNoScar wrote:Huh? Michigan is definitely better for NYC big law than BC is.Informative wrote:Wants to work in NYC......Considers school 600 miles away.
NYU, Columbia, Penn, Cornell and arguably GULC or Fordham place better than Michigan or BC in NYC biglaw, all of which should be in the mix. You have a shot at NYC biglaw from Michigan, but it isn't so much better than BC that its worth significant extra debt. If the OP wants NYC biglaw, there are much better schools than Michigan or BC that the OP should be looking at.
2) op is clearly thinking of depositing for this cycle, he can't look at any schools he didn't already apply to
3) in no way should fordham be in the mix, outcomes are too grim below median
4) mich gets you back to ny more easily than bc
- Yea All Right
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Re: Michigan ($) vs. BC ($$$)
Pick Michigan but also do one of the following so that you don't feel so bad:
1) Accept the money from your mom while also agreeing to pay at least some of it back if you later have the ability to, or
2) Take out some loans so that your mom is not under such huge financial pressure.
1) Accept the money from your mom while also agreeing to pay at least some of it back if you later have the ability to, or
2) Take out some loans so that your mom is not under such huge financial pressure.
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