Can't Choose: Rutgers-Newark or Michigan State? Forum

[Cristin23]

i am having an incredibly difficult time making this decision and here's what I have to consider:

-I have half tuition to Rutgers-Newark and full tuition to Michigan State.
-I know that I ultimately want to live in NJ or at least the East Coast, but I also either want to work for the government or do public interest, not be part of a firm.
-Rutgers is Tier II, Michigan State is Tier III

I've read that both are regional law schools - but does that matter less if you're looking to work for the government? I've gotten so much mixed advice, because it would be great to graduate with less debt, but I ultimately do want to make my way back east...
Would I screw myself over taking the Michigan State deal in terms of job prospects out east or job prospects in general because its a Tier III? Or is this a case of "it doesn't matter where you go but what you do?"

[eagles86]

Rutgers easily...you;ll get in state tuition after 1L and its not that bad to begin with.

[kaydish21]

Rutgers easily...you;ll get in state tuition [strike]after[/strike] 1L and its not that bad to begin with.

Wrong. You get in state all 3 years if you sign a 12 month lease or live in their campus housing apartments.

[Cristin23]

Sorry I didn't clarify earlier, but I already have in-state tuition. So my half-tuition is half of the in-state tuition. In total though, factoring in housing, etc., MSU ends up being 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of Rutgers for me.

[DerrickRose]

RU-N easy. For Jersey gov't work 1/2 tuition to the state school is a pretty decent deal.

Whoever advised you to go to Michigan freaking State should no longer be involved in your decision making process.

[keg411]

For NJ PI/gov't work, RU is the obvious choice. Maybe not as cheap as Michigan state, but it's still pretty cheap with a half school and in-state tuition .

[danquayle]

i am having an incredibly difficult time making this decision and here's what I have to consider:

-I have half tuition to Rutgers-Newark and full tuition to Michigan State.
-I know that I ultimately want to live in NJ or at least the East Coast, but I also either want to work for the government or do public interest, not be part of a firm.
-Rutgers is Tier II, Michigan State is Tier III

I've read that both are regional law schools - but does that matter less if you're looking to work for the government? I've gotten so much mixed advice, because it would be great to graduate with less debt, but I ultimately do want to make my way back east...
Would I screw myself over taking the Michigan State deal in terms of job prospects out east or job prospects in general because its a Tier III? Or is this a case of "it doesn't matter where you go but what you do?"

They're essentially the same school but different regions. MSU is tier 3, but its not too far off from Rutgers.

But thats irrelevant. They're both regional, local even. If you want to be on the East Coast, you should go to the East Coast school. Rutgers easily.