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I am approved at an apartment complex in Bloomington, IN, and I need to sign a lease ASAP to get the model I want. The only thing stopping me is that Berkeley hasn't given me a decision. If I get waitlisted, I will be withdrawing. What should I do?

Edited to add details:

- full ride at IU
- preferred market: Chicago
- completely love both the LS and campus at IU
- rejected or WLed at all other T14s I applied to
- no interest at living in CA after graduation
- never been to California before
- fiancee will be living in IL

Halibut6 wrote:I am approved at an apartment complex in Bloomington, IN, and I need to sign a lease ASAP to get the model I want. The only thing stopping me is that Berkeley hasn't given me a decision. If I get waitlisted, I will be withdrawing. What should I do?

Numbers?

Numbers and when did you send your app in?

If you sign the lease you will be legally obligated to fulfill the terms, which may mean that you are on the hook for the entire term, unless you are able to sublet.
If you break the lease there is a possibility that the LL or agent will not chase you, and will merely keep your security deposit, but if they can't rent the unit they won't be so understanding.
Most LLs are going to squeeze you and not let you walk.
Unless the place is wonderful, I would suggest waiting a bit, especially if you think that you have a shot at Boalt.

worldtraveler wrote:Numbers and when did you send your app in?

Numbers are in profile: 165/3.92

Sent in app on 10/31. See my LSN for more details.

You probably have a shot at Berkeley (don't they like high GPAs?)...and I would think they would place better in Chicago than IU does...I would wait, but that's just me...

wait for Cal...your post-grad opps will be incomparably better coming from Berktown

ndirish2010 wrote:You probably have a shot at Berkeley (don't they like high GPAs?)...and I would think they would place better in Chicago than IU does...I would wait, but that's just me...

I agree with the placement stats argument, but going to a T30 school for free is so enticing.

I would almost be kind of disappointed if I got into Berkeley at this point because I am so dead-set on going to IU.

I would wait . . . there will always be more decent apartments . . . the better law school could change your life. Also, are you certain the apartment manager isn't jerking you around? Is it really that urgent you sign the lease, or could the guy just be trying to hustle you into it? Just something to consider if you haven't/.

Halibut6 wrote:

ndirish2010 wrote:You probably have a shot at Berkeley (don't they like high GPAs?)...and I would think they would place better in Chicago than IU does...I would wait, but that's just me...

I agree with the placement stats argument, but going to a T30 school for free is so enticing.

I would almost be kind of disappointed if I got into Berkeley at this point because I am so dead-set on going to IU.

If you want to go to IU that much, you should go, but it would be hard for me to pass up Berkeley. Free is great though, haha.

I forgot to ask . . . are you waiting on the faculty committee decisions at Berkeley, or haven't heard anything since you applied?

amputatedbrain wrote:I forgot to ask . . . are you waiting on the faculty committee decisions at Berkeley, or haven't heard anything since you applied?

I'm not sure. I get a lot of law school emails, as I am sure most of you do, and I seem to remember getting something along the lines of that, but I am not 100% and I don't have the email anymore, if I got it at all.

Dude, loosing your dream apartment is not as bad as loosing your dream school. Its not like you can't find another building mon.

Veyron wrote:Dude, loosing your dream apartment is not as bad as loosing your dream school. Its not like you can't find another building mon.

This apartment is not really my dream apartment, and Berkeley is definitely not my dream school. I just don't want to have to shop around for apartments anymore. I've already visited this one.

A FULL ride to IU? You want to work in Chicago?

Berkeley is great (read: awesome), but a full-ride to a school that will do well for you in the region you want to work in? Take it and run.

Halibut6 wrote:

Veyron wrote:Dude, loosing your dream apartment is not as bad as loosing your dream school. Its not like you can't find another building mon.

This apartment is not really my dream apartment, and Berkeley is definitely not my dream school. I just don't want to have to shop around for apartments anymore. I've already visited this one.

A weekend spent apartment hunting is still a really bad reason to pass up a shot at a T-14, especially since it is Berk that you are holding out for and your GPA is up there.

Halibut6 wrote:I am approved at an apartment complex in Bloomington, IN, and I need to sign a lease ASAP to get the model I want. The only thing stopping me is that Berkeley hasn't given me a decision. If I get waitlisted, I will be withdrawing. What should I do?

Edited to add details:

- full ride at IU
- preferred market: Chicago
- completely love both the LS and campus at IU
- rejected or WLed at all other T14s I applied to
- no interest at living in CA after graduation
- never been to California before
- fiancee will be living in IL

This apartment is not really my dream apartment, and Berkeley is definitely not my dream school. I just don't want to have to shop around for apartments anymore. I've already visited this one.

It seems like you have already made up your mind...

Anecdotal, but I have personally withdrawn from a lease after signing a lease and nothing happened except I lost my deposit, but it's a risk you will have to take if you sign.

Is there a way to submit the deposit in order to "hold" the apartment for awhile but not sign the lease yet?

Veyron wrote:

Halibut6 wrote:

Veyron wrote:Dude, loosing your dream apartment is not as bad as loosing your dream school. Its not like you can't find another building mon.

This apartment is not really my dream apartment, and Berkeley is definitely not my dream school. I just don't want to have to shop around for apartments anymore. I've already visited this one.

A weekend spent apartment hunting is still a really bad reason to pass up a shot at a T-14, especially since it is Berk that you are holding out for and your GPA is up there.

I'm with you, but a weekend spent apartment hunting in Indiana is a significant event when you live in North Carolina.

Halibut6 wrote:

ndirish2010 wrote:You probably have a shot at Berkeley (don't they like high GPAs?)...and I would think they would place better in Chicago than IU does...I would wait, but that's just me...

I agree with the placement stats argument, but going to a T30 school for free is so enticing.

I would almost be kind of disappointed if I got into Berkeley at this point because I am so dead-set on going to IU.

Look into job placement ITE and you might not be so ready to go to IUB.

IUB didn't even place well in Chicago in the boom years.

Setting aside the full-ride IU vs. T14 debate, at the very least you should have all your options in front of you before making a decision this big.

IU obviously wants you. If you forego this apartment, I'm sure the IU admissions department would bend over backwards to help you locate another decent place.

Desert Fox wrote:

Halibut6 wrote:

ndirish2010 wrote:You probably have a shot at Berkeley (don't they like high GPAs?)...and I would think they would place better in Chicago than IU does...I would wait, but that's just me...

I agree with the placement stats argument, but going to a T30 school for free is so enticing.

I would almost be kind of disappointed if I got into Berkeley at this point because I am so dead-set on going to IU.

Look into job placement ITE and you might not be so ready to go to IUB.

IUB didn't even place well in Chicago in the boom years.

what does the chicago job placement numbers for IUB ITE look like?

I don't really care that much about how IUB places into biglaw, as I don't really want that. About 20 percent of IU's grads end up in Chicago - not sure about how many of those are biglaw.

Halibut... go with the apartment and IU. The reason is:

Berkeley >>> IU + Full Scholarship

but

IU + Full Scholarship + Fiancee in IL >>> Berkeley. Thus if I were you, I would consider staying at IU even if I eventually got into Berkeley. Plus you don't want Biglaw and want to work in Chicago.

Given your other reasons and the fact that you don't want biglaw (tipping factor, not that it really exists now anyway...) there's no reason to go to Berkeley since it's probably going to cost you over 220k of debt when you take into account the tuition and high COL. OOS tuition for your 1L year alone would be 53k.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/r ... y09/j2.pdf

I love Berkeley and am dying for them to let me in, but for you I would take what you clearly want and not look back.

Sure, Berk>>>IUB+ full ride, but if you throw in your SO's location, desire for Chicago, lack of biglaw desire etc I don't think it's crazy to go for IUB.

Adding in OOS tuition (even if it is only for one year) and the higher COL -- now it's not even a contest.