Robespierre wrote:BC is clearly the better option overall. It's placing 33.5% of its grads in Biglaw according to the latest NLJ figures; BLS' percentage is not known (DON'T trust the school's own figures) but is probably something like 5%. A much smaller percentage of BCers than BLSers are "unemployed," "seeking another degree" or "unknown status" -- 7% vs. 18% if I'm reading the aliarrow research correctly.
But you have to discount that slightly because you want to work in NYC, and some of BC's placement might dissipates when you leave Boston.
So the question becomes, is the better BC placement worth the increased cost? To answer this you have to crunch the numbers and determine the exact cost of attendance for the two schools, and determine the difference in cost between the two. You need to use EXACT figures for family contribution and EXACT projections based on the different outcomes under the BLS scholarship stips. You've only spoken in general terms about money in this thread.
For what it's worth, I think BLS is being undervalued a bit in this thread. Sure, in the current environment it could leave you doing scut legal work upon graduation. But that's true of all non-T14s in the current environment. You just have to find a niche and network hard. Generations of BLS grads have done it and so can you. Further, it's important that we're not comparing 100K debt to 200K debt here. We're comparing X debt for BC to ZERO debt for BLS (assuming retention of the scholly). There's a lot to be said for financial freedom.
Assuming I retain the scholarship, CoA at BLS is going to be somewhere around 80K for the three years, and that's low-balling the figure. COL in BK Heights is going to be crazy high; I've lived in NYC for 7 years and can guesstimate pretty well. I think CoA at BC is going to be something like 180K/200K. 120K for tuition, plus an extra 50K for COL, plus books? I am very frugal with my parents' money (except with education, apparently...) and will be putting myself on a tight budget like any responsible person would in any case. My parents are paying for my tuition, so I won't necessarily be in debt, but I have to make sure I make my time at BC worth their money, you know?
I know BLS is being undervalued. I also know that I don't want to go to school in the city again for the 3rd time. It's very distracting, expensive, and honestly I don't think I'd be happy (or as happy as one could be) at BLS. But I'm still waiting to hear from the dean at BC about the aid situation. I'm going to seriously think about this and then I'll let everyone know the outcome ( because everyone is dying to know, right?
)
Anyway thanks again to everyone who contributed an opinion! Sometimes it's hard to hear the truth--not gonna lie. But at the end of the day it's the best kind of advice. Otherwise, what's the point? Am I right?
