WUSTL vs Vanderbilt (Must decide by tomorrow) Forum

[njdevils2626]

Just an update: Vanderbilt has decided not to increase my scholarship package. The difference, purely in tuition dollars, is ~$50,000. My parents would be willing to pay the difference up front without me needing to take out loans, but I would be repaying them this amount, so total COA at repayment would be equivalent to the $50,000. Does this change anyone's opinions? Still undecided, with 7 hours to go

[jk148706]

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[DecisionTime999]

Since no one else seems to be chiming in, I'll go ahead and say that I'd take a debt-free WUSTL degree over Vandy @$50k in a heartbeat.

Full disclosure: I've framed this as a hypothetical, but this is actually fairly similar to the situation I faced this cycle, and I went with WUSTL. Not sure if that means you should value my opinion less (because I'm not disinterested and might be suffering from pro-WUSTL bias) or more (because I've demonstrated via action that I really, truly believe what I'm saying).

[CanadianWolf]

In my opinion, WashUStL for free versus Vanderbilt for $50,000 is a toss-up. Neither is a good bet to get you to Boston or NYC biglaw. (Although consulting firms may be a good non-law option for one with your background.) Your accounting background should help when applying to law firms, especially if you're a CPA. Of course UToronto would be a far better option than either for getting NYC/Boston biglaw with great Canadian options, but your low GPA makes that option unlikely.
If you decide to wait a year & continue to work, then try for admission to Northwestern, Cornell, Virginia in order to get better career options in US biglaw.

[jk148706]

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[njdevils2626]

wut did u choose

Less than an hour left and I am furiously perusing the Vandy admission info and looking to see if apartments are available and stuff. I may pull the trigger here, but one hour is just not enough time for me to make a call right now D:

[cron1834]

Wait a year, apply to NU/Cornell/UVA/GULC. A Canadian going to Vandy for M&A work is highly dubious.

ETA - this is a pretty huge commitment to make on short notice if you're at all unsure. Vandy will still exist next year, too...

[rahulg91]

Credited answer is to reapply with your baller new LSAT. But I'm gonna put my final answer as Vandy for 50k more. Yeah I made the same decision and it mostly came down to stats, I really don't think there's a "marginal" difference between the schools (especially if you want FedClerk) and getting NYC/DC seems to be easier from Vandy than WUSTL.

The only way WUSTL is better is if you have Midwest ties or want PI, neither of which apply to your situation.

[Nomo]

The more I think about this the less I think it makes sense for you to go to school. WUSTL for free and Vandy for 50k are generally great options. But not for you. You've got to get into a school that gives you a greater than 50% chance (ideally a much greater than 50% chance) of getting a big law firm that can get you a work visa. Either that or go to school in Canada.

[ManoftheHour]

Couldn't he just marry an American?

[njdevils2626]

Thank you everyone for the input, it was an extremely tough decision and I still don't know if I made the right one (probably never will, I guess). I've considered all options, even from those who said I should re-apply (though I still don't feel confident that I would have received anything better than WUSTL for free). In the end, however, I have decided not to take out loans and will be remaining at Washington University in St Louis

[jk148706]

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[ManoftheHour]

Thank you everyone for the input, it was an extremely tough decision and I still don't know if I made the right one (probably never will, I guess). I've considered all options, even from those who said I should re-apply (though I still don't feel confident that I would have received anything better than WUSTL for free). In the end, however, I have decided not to take out loans and will be remaining at Washington University in St Louis

With those COAs, I don't think there was a bad choice. There was a good choice and a better one. I think you picked the better one.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Why not stay in Canada? I'd rather go to Univ of Toronto or something than either of these.

[njdevils2626]

Why not stay in Canada? I'd rather go to Univ of Toronto or something than either of these.

So would I, but my GPA holds me back from any of the Canadian schools I'd consider (who really just don't care about the LSAT), including U of T

[Nomo]

Why not stay in Canada? I'd rather go to Univ of Toronto or something than either of these.

So would I, but my GPA holds me back from any of the Canadian schools I'd consider (who really just don't care about the LSAT), including U of T

Can you transfer into a Canadian school after 1L. That might be a good option for you.

[lacrossebrother]

Dude Nash would have been way more fun. Easily 22k a year more fun than poop Louis. Chicks are hotter, school is better, town is way more fun.

[cron1834]

Dude Nash would have been way more fun. Easily 22k a year more fun than poop Louis. Chicks are hotter, school is better, town is way more fun.

Is this a schtick? If so, it's a dumb one.

[BigZuck]

Dude Nash would have been way more fun. Easily 22k a year more fun than poop Louis. Chicks are hotter, school is better, town is way more fun.

Is this a schtick? If so, it's a dumb one.

It's Laxbrah/hipsterbutathletic, a consensus t5 most helpful poster. Or t3. Something like that.

[cron1834]

Dude Nash would have been way more fun. Easily 22k a year more fun than poop Louis. Chicks are hotter, school is better, town is way more fun.

Is this a schtick? If so, it's a dumb one.

It's Laxbrah/hipsterbutathletic, a consensus t5 most helpful poster. Or t3. Something like that.

Explains everything.