Stanford, Columbia, or Michigan? Forum

[rgwen]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

[Kretzy]

SLS grad working in Denver here. Loved SLS. It's not worth $150,000 when Michigan is free, particularly for these goals. First, because there are lots of Michigan grads in Denver and the school has a solid network here that you can tap into. Second, because SLS isn't a guarantee of Denver - several students my year who bid Denver didn't get it. Third, the Denver market is saturated right now, and if you want to break in you may be looking at midlaw/lower AmLaw firms that pay closer to $140,000 than $190,000, and the fact you won't be making loan payments if you wind up at one of those firms (Holland & Hart, Polsinelli, Brownstein, DGS - big firms here in town with relatively larger classes) will be a big relief for you, given that cost of living continues to rise.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Second, because SLS isn't a guarantee of Denver - several students my year who bid Denver didn't get it.

I'm strongly team Michigan here, and this is a good point, but I think the placement argument for Stanford is that, if OP misses out on Denver, they're pretty much guaranteed one of the California markets as a fallback, and they're also rather more likely to be able to clerk and get a second bite at the apple.

Michigan is pretty safe for biglaw but it creates a real risk of having to to to NYC to get that biglaw. That's a big difference for someone like OP. It's just not worth >$200k, which, for example, is enough money to rent a nice Manhattan condo for the next 5 years.

[Necho2]

Was about to say SLS until I realized this is SLS for 150k v Michigan at +60k. 90k difference is justifiable, 210k isn't, particularly for your goals.

[Kretzy]

Second, because SLS isn't a guarantee of Denver - several students my year who bid Denver didn't get it.

I'm strongly team Michigan here, and this is a good point, but I think the placement argument for Stanford is that, if OP misses out on Denver, they're pretty much guaranteed one of the California markets as a fallback, and they're also rather more likely to be able to clerk and get a second bite at the apple.

Michigan is pretty safe for biglaw but it creates a real risk of having to to to NYC to get that biglaw. That's a big difference for someone like OP. It's just not worth >$200k, which, for example, is enough money to rent a nice Manhattan condo for the next 5 years.

Definitely a fair point. Nearly everyone in my class at Stanford had excellent backup options if their first market didn't work out - whether in SF/LA or in NY. I agree that those options aren't worth the extra cost here, and I'm a really big Stanford booster.

[tenpercent]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

I do have disability and I understand it’s a possibility to get benefits extended. Since it’s not guaranteed I’m trying to base my decisions off of a worst-case scenario.

[rgwen]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

I do have disability and I understand it’s a possibility to get benefits extended. Since it’s not guaranteed I’m trying to base my decisions off of a worst-case scenario.

That makes sense and I’m not really pushing for SLS for any particular reason. I just know a lot of guys that don’t fully understand their benefits (sounds like you do). I suppose there’s no way you can get a case a manger to review your situation prior to enrollment? You might lose a deposit fee, but if the vocational rehab program extension to 48 months covers your 3 years you’d be net positive (not factoring your UG debt because I don’t know it) at SLS and be receiving a higher monthly stipend on top of full tuition.

I’ll also add, for any other vets that may not know, as long as you have even a single day left of benefits going into a semester the VA covers tuition and housing for the entire semester. That little nugget is how I’m getting through all law school even after a previous masters. For those seeking the vocational rehab extension, just make sure to apply for it prior to running out of GI Bill.

Additionally, OP, you’re basically a shoe in for the Tillman scholarship.

Not arguing against Michigan by any means, but just putting some details out there for the greater audience.

[tenpercent]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

I do have disability and I understand it’s a possibility to get benefits extended. Since it’s not guaranteed I’m trying to base my decisions off of a worst-case scenario.

That makes sense and I’m not really pushing for SLS for any particular reason. I just know a lot of guys that don’t fully understand their benefits (sounds like you do). I suppose there’s no way you can get a case a manger to review your situation prior to enrollment? You might lose a deposit fee, but if the vocational rehab program extension to 48 months covers your 3 years you’d be net positive (not factoring your UG debt because I don’t know it) at SLS and be receiving a higher monthly stipend on top of full tuition.

I’ll also add, for any other vets that may not know, as long as you have even a single day left of benefits going into a semester the VA covers tuition and housing for the entire semester. That little nugget is how I’m getting through all law school even after a previous masters. For those seeking the vocational rehab extension, just make sure to apply for it prior to running out of GI Bill.

Additionally, OP, you’re basically a shoe in for the Tillman scholarship.

Not arguing against Michigan by any means, but just putting some details out there for the greater audience.

Thanks for the response! I knew that if you had a day left of benefits the VA would cover your tuition but I was unaware that they would also continue to give you BAH. Are you certain of that?

[rgwen]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

I do have disability and I understand it’s a possibility to get benefits extended. Since it’s not guaranteed I’m trying to base my decisions off of a worst-case scenario.

That makes sense and I’m not really pushing for SLS for any particular reason. I just know a lot of guys that don’t fully understand their benefits (sounds like you do). I suppose there’s no way you can get a case a manger to review your situation prior to enrollment? You might lose a deposit fee, but if the vocational rehab program extension to 48 months covers your 3 years you’d be net positive (not factoring your UG debt because I don’t know it) at SLS and be receiving a higher monthly stipend on top of full tuition.

I’ll also add, for any other vets that may not know, as long as you have even a single day left of benefits going into a semester the VA covers tuition and housing for the entire semester. That little nugget is how I’m getting through all law school even after a previous masters. For those seeking the vocational rehab extension, just make sure to apply for it prior to running out of GI Bill.

Additionally, OP, you’re basically a shoe in for the Tillman scholarship.

Not arguing against Michigan by any means, but just putting some details out there for the greater audience.

Thanks for the response! I knew that if you had a day left of benefits the VA would cover your tuition but I was unaware that they would also continue to give you BAH. Are you certain of that?

I'm a 0L so I still have five semesters of benefits and haven't hit up on this yet to have personal experience. Things change, but I'm pretty confident I'm right on this one and that they'll cover BAH as well as long as you don't surpass the 48 month mark (which would only happen with vocational rebab or another federal GI-Bill type program). After a quick search through the VA site I can't find an explanation of the exact scenario, but I do find support for the claim on multiple reddit threads and VA benefit guide sites. Just search something along the lines of "GI bill ending during semester + BAH." and you should see the same. If you get something different, maybe correct the thread for future readers.

Anecdotally, I completed a masters at one of these three schools last year and knew at least a couple guys that worked one of these angles (extension through vocational rehab, and benefits through semester with GI running out). These schools should have a university wide VA rep that you can get on the phone with and then follow up in writing to review this with you as well. Just like the military you'll want to feel out if they really understand what they are talking about, though.

[tenpercent]

Based on the level of analysis you’ve done you have probably already factored this in, but you don’t have a 10% or more service related disability per chance?

Decent shot at stretching the GI bill through the remainder of school if so.

I do have disability and I understand it’s a possibility to get benefits extended. Since it’s not guaranteed I’m trying to base my decisions off of a worst-case scenario.

That makes sense and I’m not really pushing for SLS for any particular reason. I just know a lot of guys that don’t fully understand their benefits (sounds like you do). I suppose there’s no way you can get a case a manger to review your situation prior to enrollment? You might lose a deposit fee, but if the vocational rehab program extension to 48 months covers your 3 years you’d be net positive (not factoring your UG debt because I don’t know it) at SLS and be receiving a higher monthly stipend on top of full tuition.

I’ll also add, for any other vets that may not know, as long as you have even a single day left of benefits going into a semester the VA covers tuition and housing for the entire semester. That little nugget is how I’m getting through all law school even after a previous masters. For those seeking the vocational rehab extension, just make sure to apply for it prior to running out of GI Bill.

Additionally, OP, you’re basically a shoe in for the Tillman scholarship.

Not arguing against Michigan by any means, but just putting some details out there for the greater audience.

Thanks for the response! I knew that if you had a day left of benefits the VA would cover your tuition but I was unaware that they would also continue to give you BAH. Are you certain of that?

I'm a 0L so I still have five semesters of benefits and haven't hit up on this yet to have personal experience. Things change, but I'm pretty confident I'm right on this one and that they'll cover BAH as well as long as you don't surpass the 48 month mark (which would only happen with vocational rebab or another federal GI-Bill type program). After a quick search through the VA site I can't find an explanation of the exact scenario, but I do find support for the claim on multiple reddit threads and VA benefit guide sites. Just search something along the lines of "GI bill ending during semester + BAH." and you should see the same. If you get something different, maybe correct the thread for future readers.

Anecdotally, I completed a masters at one of these three schools last year and knew at least a couple guys that worked one of these angles (extension through vocational rehab, and benefits through semester with GI running out). These schools should have a university wide VA rep that you can get on the phone with and then follow up in writing to review this with you as well. Just like the military you'll want to feel out if they really understand what they are talking about, though.

Very interesting. I will have to look into this. I have 4 semesters and almost a month left of benefits so this would be a substantial help to me. Thanks again!