GULC (sticker) vs. UMich (sticker/WL) vs. UCLA (WL) Forum

[tarheelz]

Hey guys, wondering if some of you wouldn't mind weighing in:

Among these schools, I'm only in at GULC and that is for sticker price as far as I know. I'm waitlisted at UMich but am reserving hope of getting in; however, the question is would it be worth it??

UMich = not the most desirable place being in the lackluster (no offense) state of Michigan, which can be cold and dreary. I heard Ann Arbor is a nice enough college town, but DC has all the amenities of a decent-sized city that isn't too urban that has far better weather than Michigan. The real advantage of UMich then to me is the ranking -- but is the ranking THAT much better to justify going to a school that I'm less interested in for all these superficial reasons.

As far as UCLA is concerned, it's a good school and the appeal of it for me is the location - I'd love to live in SoCal some day and the apparent near-auto feed into LA and SoCal firms. So superficially it's probably got the most appeal. My concerns are the fact that Cali as a state is BANKRUPT and the question of whether UCLA has the national placement that Georgetown does.

My current take on it is Georgetown > UCLA, and UMich roughly = Georgetown. That being said, Georgetown is the only sure thing at this point. Is Umich worth the waiting game at this point? I mean come the next month or so, I feel liek I need to make housing plans and whatnot.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

[DerrickRose]

you must have more choices than that of schools that you are actually admitted to.

GULC at sticker makes me jittery.

[apper123]

GULC at sticker makes me jittery.

oh please

[DerrickRose]

GULC at sticker makes me jittery.

oh please

oh please what?

[dk8]

GULC at sticker makes me jittery.

oh please

it's definitely a risk going to GULC at sticker.

what i don't understand are the people who say they would definitely not go to GULC at sticker but would easily take MVP at sticker. According to the latest placement stats I've seen they place a little over 10% more of their class into the NLJ 250 than Georgetown. This doesn't take clerkships and other variables into account, but I still don't understand it.

EDIT: That said, if I were the OP, I'd probably go to Mich if I got off of the waitlist.

[holydonkey]

Seriously?

Do you want to work in California? If so, Michigan.
Do you want to work in New York? If so, Michigan.
Do you want to work in Chicago? If so, Michigan.
Do you want more options? Michigan.
Do you want a lower COA? Michigan.
Do you like sports? Michigan.

Do you plan to do public interest? If so, GULC may have the better LRAP.
Do you want to do anything besides public interest? If so, Michigan has a better LRAP.

Do you want to work in DC? Meh, toss up, but I'll give it to GULC.

[CanadianWolf]

Georgetown appears to be your only option as well as your preferred law school among the three; and you don't seem to be bothered by paying full price.

[Rock Chalk]

.

[JollyGreenGiant]

I've heard that Michigan's WL is next to impossible to get off of. However, I dunno if this is true or not.

[Rock Chalk]

.

[apper123]

why is it such a risk going to GULC sticker?

anyone?

[nedberg]

UMich roughly = Georgetown

just downright wrong

[DerrickRose]

why is it such a risk going to GULC sticker?

anyone?

Because they place 40% of their students into Biglaw (less ITE) and the total cost would be upwards of $200k. The only reason people consider it a sound investment is because no one ever thinks they are going to be below median.

Well guess what OP, if you are going at sticker, there are at least 20-30% that are walking in there with better LSAT's and GPA's than you, paying less money than you, and they have no intention of finishing below median either.

But that's the proper word, "risk". Its not like it is financial suicide. GULC is a great school (don't listen to all this "T13" crap) and there is a decent chance you'll get a good job, and a very good chance you'll get some sort of legal job that won't have you in debtors prison.

But all things considered I would take GW w/$$$ long before I went to GULC at sticker. Law school tuition is out of control and has no relation whatsoever to rational views of employment prospects. Unless you get a substantial scholarship that is, then the risk/reward starts looking a lot better.

Michigan would be a somewhat different story because of their smaller class size and their friendly LRAP, but cross that bridge if you come to it.

[VerdiShmerdi]

What about for someone who knows they want to practice in D.C.? I think GULC competes quite well in such a scenario.

[night06]

The only reason people consider it a sound investment is because no one ever thinks they are going to be below median.

Or because they're planning on going into public interest and GULC has one of the best LRAPs in the country. (that's why I'm currently considering it at sticker)

[apper123]

The only reason people consider it a sound investment is because no one ever thinks they are going to be below median.

Or because they're planning on going into public interest and GULC has one of the best LRAPs in the country. (that's why I'm currently considering it at sticker)

boom credited

[DerrickRose]

The only reason people consider it a sound investment is because no one ever thinks they are going to be below median.

Or because they're planning on going into public interest and GULC has one of the best LRAPs in the country. (that's why I'm currently considering it at sticker)

boom credited

Hey, you want to go after prestigious PI, go get 'em. But its no easier to get than Biglaw (sometimes harder) and if you don't get that, you'll be working a gig you could have gotten from GW only now the money you would have put in your 401(k) will be going towards the LRAP.

[apper123]

The only reason people consider it a sound investment is because no one ever thinks they are going to be below median.

Or because they're planning on going into public interest and GULC has one of the best LRAPs in the country. (that's why I'm currently considering it at sticker)

boom credited

Hey, you want to go after prestigious PI, go get 'em. But its no easier to get than Biglaw (sometimes harder) and if you don't get that, you'll be working a gig you could have gotten from GW only now the money you would have put in your 401(k) will be going towards the LRAP.

actually your latest post was pretty reasonable and i was gunna quote that too, but im a 1L in teh middle of exams so im drinking beer

[DerrickRose]

Yeah, look, I'm not slighting GULC. I think its a great school, better than a lot of people on TLS think it is.

By beef is with the price tag.

[holydonkey]

I've heard that Michigan's WL is next to impossible to get off of. However, I dunno if this is true or not.

OP, Georgetown is a great option, and you should be proud if that's where you end up going.

+1 GULC is a great school.