Top Law Schools

Berkeley at full price, UVA at full price, Michigan with a $20,000 scholarship a year, or USC with a full ride.
Michigan is also in Ann Arbor so it's cheaper living expenses.
I will be financing my own education and am leaning towards public interest or government work. I also would consider running for office one day and am from Michigan. I would like to work in New York or DC though after graduation.
I'm not considering retaking the LSAT at this point.
Anyone have any thoughts?

Wow.

rpupkin wrote:Wow.

Really though, this isn't nearly enough info. USC's fully is the only decent option there, but it isn't super likely to put you in NY or DC. Don't do any of these at sticker, and that's too expensive for Michigan. Have you negotiated?

If you are 100% set on PI (as in you would not consider big law even w/ a gun to your head)

Go to a school in the state you want to do PI (or in Cali, go to Boalt if you want NorCal)

Big Law:

NYC --> Mich

DC --> UVA (arguably if you want Fed PI this is your best choice)

Cal --> USC (probably rules out SF, but that market is tough as shit, and Boalt at sticker for big law is a scary proposition)

Why are you not considering retaking the LSAT? What was your score? How many times have you taken it? Those are not particularly great options for your goals. Are you in-state at Michigan? It's the only school you listed that comes even close to making sense, but is still too expensive.

What type of public interest? Are you open to biglaw?

This sounds like you have not done enough research into law school and the legal profession.

Your post badly needs the following:
In order to receive the best feedback in this forum, please provide as much of the following information in your original post as possible:

-The schools you are considering
-The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each. COA = cost of tuition + fees + books + cost of living (COL) + accumulated interest - scholarships. Here is a helpful calculator.
-How you will be financing your COA, i.e. loans, family, or savings
-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any)
-Your general career goals
-Your LSAT/GPA numbers
-How many times you have taken the LSAT

Has OP met Brianiac?