"Tier 1" (low debt) or T10
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 1:29 pm
I know it’s a bit early, and I still want to talk to some professors and attorneys, but I’ve been wrestling with this in my head the past couple of weeks and want to at least have a general plan moving forward. I’m really only considering Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, Penn, UVA, and Duke.
Within top 5% at Wake Forest (ranked between 3-10); will probably emerge with $40K-$50K in debt, transferring to T14 would put be in about $140K-$150K in the hole; have strong ties to the Southeast as a region and the Upper Midwest, though the only major cities I have direct ties to are Minneapolis/St. Paul and San Antonio (obviously not huge legal markets); married, but wife’s job isn’t one she intends to keep long-term and it could be fairly easily replaced elsewhere; want to work in real estate/land-use/zoning—would consider a clerkship or academia further down the line, but I’m not dying to do either.
With both our families in the Southeast, my goal in coming to Wake was to graduate with manageable debt, get the best grades I could and get the best job I could in NC or the surrounding region. We like where we live and would be content staying here long-term, but we’re not so in love with it that we HAVE to be here long-term. Transferring didn’t even cross my mind until I got my grades back and realized that top schools actually take transfers, and now I’m wondering if transferring may be better long-term for my career. I am open to practicing just about anywhere, but long-term I prefer somewhere in the Southeast, Midwest, or Texas (so I’m not really considering Berkeley or Stanford, for instance).
I’m also considering UChicago’s ED program. Since they base their acceptance primarily on first semester’s grades, it seems this would be my best shot at a top 5 or maybe top 10 school (otherwise I risk dropping out of the top 10%, in which case my transfer and good job odds go down). My wife and I would also have MUCH longer to get things in order, search for her new job, etc. Trying to work that all out in a few weeks otherwise seems horrible. Though Chicago biglaw hasn’t been a personal goal or anything, I think it may give me a good shot in just about any city or region where I have ties, and I may have NYC/Chicago biglaw as a “backup” if I don’t get Minneapolis, Atlanta, Texas markets, etc. The negative being if I do equally well, I give up a shot at Harvard or other schools that may be a better fit for me (UVA/Duke?).
TL;DR: Should I stay, apply UChicago ED, or apply to regular decision elsewhere and keep my options open?
Thanks!
Within top 5% at Wake Forest (ranked between 3-10); will probably emerge with $40K-$50K in debt, transferring to T14 would put be in about $140K-$150K in the hole; have strong ties to the Southeast as a region and the Upper Midwest, though the only major cities I have direct ties to are Minneapolis/St. Paul and San Antonio (obviously not huge legal markets); married, but wife’s job isn’t one she intends to keep long-term and it could be fairly easily replaced elsewhere; want to work in real estate/land-use/zoning—would consider a clerkship or academia further down the line, but I’m not dying to do either.
With both our families in the Southeast, my goal in coming to Wake was to graduate with manageable debt, get the best grades I could and get the best job I could in NC or the surrounding region. We like where we live and would be content staying here long-term, but we’re not so in love with it that we HAVE to be here long-term. Transferring didn’t even cross my mind until I got my grades back and realized that top schools actually take transfers, and now I’m wondering if transferring may be better long-term for my career. I am open to practicing just about anywhere, but long-term I prefer somewhere in the Southeast, Midwest, or Texas (so I’m not really considering Berkeley or Stanford, for instance).
I’m also considering UChicago’s ED program. Since they base their acceptance primarily on first semester’s grades, it seems this would be my best shot at a top 5 or maybe top 10 school (otherwise I risk dropping out of the top 10%, in which case my transfer and good job odds go down). My wife and I would also have MUCH longer to get things in order, search for her new job, etc. Trying to work that all out in a few weeks otherwise seems horrible. Though Chicago biglaw hasn’t been a personal goal or anything, I think it may give me a good shot in just about any city or region where I have ties, and I may have NYC/Chicago biglaw as a “backup” if I don’t get Minneapolis, Atlanta, Texas markets, etc. The negative being if I do equally well, I give up a shot at Harvard or other schools that may be a better fit for me (UVA/Duke?).
TL;DR: Should I stay, apply UChicago ED, or apply to regular decision elsewhere and keep my options open?
Thanks!