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I was actually taken off guard to recently be accepted at Chicago, and now I'm trying to make what I think is a pretty touch decision. I know I want to work in the state I live in now, with my state school offering my a scholarship and coupled with some support my parents have agreed to give me for law school I will have approximately 40k of debt if I don't count working in the summers. However, I could attend Chicago and graduate with approximately 110-120K of debt when I graduate. My state school is T30ish and does quite well, but the idea of turning down Chicago seems difficult as well. Anybody had a similar dilemna?

If you know what state you want to practice in, and you're getting some good money from the best school in the state, I would just go there. I don't really see the point of going that much farther in debt when you get be at the state school building up a network in that state and going for relatively nothing, cost-wise.

I can't imagine turning down Chicago in this situation, but, to each is own.

Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

mistergoft wrote:I can't imagine turning down Chicago in this situation, but, to each is own.

I'm just worried that if I go to Chicago I'm going to take 80K more in debt end up in the same job that I would have gotten if I went to my state school.

I'm in similiar spot. In at tOSU and Northwestern...no word on funding yet, but presuming there will be a decent disparity. Also want public sector job and not biglaw, so definitely leaning toward OSU. 40k in debt is soo much more manageable than 100k+.

ohnoyoudidn't wrote:

mistergoft wrote:I can't imagine turning down Chicago in this situation, but, to each is own.

I'm just worried that if I go to Chicago I'm going to take 80K more in debt end up in the same job that I would have gotten if I went to my state school.

If you end up in the top 10% of your state school this might happen. But you can finish a lot lower at Chicago and still get that job.

Desert Fox wrote:Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

Penn is a state school these days?

Desert Fox wrote:

ohnoyoudidn't wrote:

mistergoft wrote:I can't imagine turning down Chicago in this situation, but, to each is own.

I'm just worried that if I go to Chicago I'm going to take 80K more in debt end up in the same job that I would have gotten if I went to my state school.

If you end up in the top 10% of your state school this might happen. But you can finish a lot lower at Chicago and still get that job.

I think it depends on the state school. I know people who went to T14 schools and had to fight hard against the locals to get the same jobs they were getting. Keep in mind, this wasn't a primary market, which is what a lot of T14ers are going for.

MF248 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

Penn is a state school these days?

I was joking of course. I thought the Penn State joke is fucked out.

Desert Fox wrote:Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

u mad northwesTTTern ?

homestyle28 wrote:I'm in similiar spot. In at tOSU and Northwestern...no word on funding yet, but presuming there will be a decent disparity. Also want public sector job and not biglaw, so definitely leaning toward OSU. 40k in debt is soo much more manageable than 100k+.

I think in this position I would take OSU.

Helmholtz wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

ohnoyoudidn't wrote:

mistergoft wrote:I can't imagine turning down Chicago in this situation, but, to each is own.

I'm just worried that if I go to Chicago I'm going to take 80K more in debt end up in the same job that I would have gotten if I went to my state school.

If you end up in the top 10% of your state school this might happen. But you can finish a lot lower at Chicago and still get that job.

I think it depends on the state school. I know people who went to T14 schools and had to fight hard against the locals to get the same jobs they were getting. Keep in mind, this wasn't a primary market, which is what a lot of T14ers are going for.

Good point. I think OP should try to find some lawyers at big firms in his market of choice and ask them.

Helmholtz wrote:If you know what state you want to practice in, and you're getting some good money from the best school in the state, I would just go there. I don't really see the point of going that much farther in debt when you get be at the state school building up a network in that state and going for relatively nothing, cost-wise.

This is what I plan to do

puppins wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

u mad northwesTTTern ?

NorthwesTTTern Illinois University.

Desert Fox wrote:

puppins wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Unless your state school is UVA, Michigan, or Upenn I would take t6.

Rancid anti Penn trolling

u mad northwesTTTern ?

NorthwesTTTern Illinois University.

NorthwesTTTern College of Sacajawea University School of Law

mistergoft wrote:

homestyle28 wrote:I'm in similiar spot. In at tOSU and Northwestern...no word on funding yet, but presuming there will be a decent disparity. Also want public sector job and not biglaw, so definitely leaning toward OSU. 40k in debt is soo much more manageable than 100k+.

I think in this position I would take OSU.

Yeah, not to mention northwestern = big move = sell house for loss (after improvements) + wife has to job search instead of making $

But being a TLS faithful lurker, it IS hard to turn down t-14

Oops -- I didn't see the anti-penn trolling note in fine print.

If your goal is biglaw, then the T6, no doubt. Hiring within the T14 is down dramatically, but many firms have just straight-up stopped hiring from T30 schools. Moreover, remember that it's a lot easier to lateral from big-market biglaw to your desired small market after a few years then to get into small market biglaw after missing out on it completely.

homestyle28 wrote:

mistergoft wrote:

homestyle28 wrote:I'm in similiar spot. In at tOSU and Northwestern...no word on funding yet, but presuming there will be a decent disparity. Also want public sector job and not biglaw, so definitely leaning toward OSU. 40k in debt is soo much more manageable than 100k+.

I think in this position I would take OSU.

Yeah, not to mention northwestern = big move = sell house for loss (after improvements) + wife has to job search instead of making $

But being a TLS faithful lurker, it IS hard to turn down t-14

I would take OSU in that situation, and I'm about to spend a quarter mil on Northwestern.

I have a 1L friend at OSU and she likes it.

homestyle28 wrote:

mistergoft wrote:

homestyle28 wrote:I'm in similiar spot. In at tOSU and Northwestern...no word on funding yet, but presuming there will be a decent disparity. Also want public sector job and not biglaw, so definitely leaning toward OSU. 40k in debt is soo much more manageable than 100k+.

I think in this position I would take OSU.

Yeah, not to mention northwestern = big move = sell house for loss (after improvements) + wife has to job search instead of making $

But being a TLS faithful lurker, it IS hard to turn down t-14

I know people who went to NU and came back to Ohio, I would recommend OSU for your goals. Even full tuition for Ohio residents is something like $20-25k/yr at OSU, you'll almost certainly be better off doing that, I probably don't need to tell you the strong reputation OSU has in Ohio.

Another thread zombified by the Bitter Pessimism virus.

I'd think Chicago would have greater opportunities and geographic spread if you ever decide to shop around, and a better shot at market salary. You'd be relying on hometown connection to overcome the local folks.

if it's UWashington, go there

but if you were me... Chicago

I transferred from Wisconsin to Chicago. It's worth it, and you're not even looking at the same level of debt increase that I was looking at. Furthermore, I already had the whole top 10% thing locked down. I sometimes regret doing Chicago ED, but I never regret transferring (it pulled through an OCI SA gig, which is more than some of the people at the top of Wisconsin's class can say.)

Go to Chicago.

If you know what state you want to practice in, and you're getting some good money from the best school in the state, I would just go there. I don't really see the point of going that much farther in debt when you get be at the state school building up a network in that state and going for relatively nothing, cost-wise.

Could not agree more. Take the money and run.