Should I transfer from Hastings to UCLA?
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:12 pm
So here's the deal:
In at UCLA. Want transactional biglaw in LA primarily, but not opposed to SF/SV. Also planning on applying to NY firms with large class sizes, but would prefer best coast.
10% at Hastings, don't know about law review yet. 14.5k need-based grant but no merit aid. Going to have to borrow 30k just to cover tuition for '12 - '13 (plus tuition and fees going from 46 to 49 for '13-'14), plus probably another 5 for expenses.
Haven't completed UCLA's financial aid paperwork yet, but admin tells me their need-based aid program is more generous, ranging between 1k and 20k. Tuition is also marginally lower, and if it doesn't rise for '13-'14, will be about 5k less than at Hastings. Assuming I got the max, or close to it, I'd have to borrow about 35k to cover tuition AND living expenses (currently living in the Bay Area for free).
Assuming finances come out to a draw, additional pros & cons:
- OCI is mainly preselect at Hastings, putting someone at 10% in a pretty good position to get a lot of interviews from the firms that come. Not sure how someone in my position would fare at UCLA's OCI/whether greater firm presence counterbalances transfer disadvantage.
- Diminished LR prospects at UCLA?
- Long distance with SO for either 1 or 2 years.
- Ineligible for Coif (but I think eligible for latin honors)
- BUT modest legal-community prestige bump and significant lay prestige bump. Particularly for someone wanting to work in LA.
Thoughts?
In at UCLA. Want transactional biglaw in LA primarily, but not opposed to SF/SV. Also planning on applying to NY firms with large class sizes, but would prefer best coast.
10% at Hastings, don't know about law review yet. 14.5k need-based grant but no merit aid. Going to have to borrow 30k just to cover tuition for '12 - '13 (plus tuition and fees going from 46 to 49 for '13-'14), plus probably another 5 for expenses.
Haven't completed UCLA's financial aid paperwork yet, but admin tells me their need-based aid program is more generous, ranging between 1k and 20k. Tuition is also marginally lower, and if it doesn't rise for '13-'14, will be about 5k less than at Hastings. Assuming I got the max, or close to it, I'd have to borrow about 35k to cover tuition AND living expenses (currently living in the Bay Area for free).
Assuming finances come out to a draw, additional pros & cons:
- OCI is mainly preselect at Hastings, putting someone at 10% in a pretty good position to get a lot of interviews from the firms that come. Not sure how someone in my position would fare at UCLA's OCI/whether greater firm presence counterbalances transfer disadvantage.
- Diminished LR prospects at UCLA?
- Long distance with SO for either 1 or 2 years.
- Ineligible for Coif (but I think eligible for latin honors)
- BUT modest legal-community prestige bump and significant lay prestige bump. Particularly for someone wanting to work in LA.
Thoughts?