Drexel 7k/yr vs Villanova Sticker for Philly. HELP! Forum

[drexelornova]

So, I was all set to go at Villanova. However, Drexel just emailed me to inform me that they would be able to give me a big enough scholarship that I would only be paying 7,200$ a year to go there. I have to keep a 2.67gpa to renew the offer. I'm paying full price at Villanova, and after many attempts at negotiating with them, I doubt this will change.

I want to work in Philadelphia, and although my chances are slim, my first choice is Philadelphia BigLaw. I know my chances are the best at Nova for BigLaw (16.7% in NLJ250 jobs last year), but still slim. After that, I'd either want to do PI work in Philly or small firm work probably. So assuming I don't hit the coveted number for BigLaw placement, is Villanova going to reap more benefits than Drexel?

COL is going to be irrelevant, because I can live it at home for either choice. I also plan on living at home, assuming I secure work in Philadelphia, to pay off debt as long as I need to as I'm planning on putting up almost my entire paycheck until the debt is gone. So I estimate 2-4 years for Villanova to break even.

Should I take the money and run, or stick with my guns at Villanova?

[sumus romani]

Man, it looks like Villanova is around $54,000 per year ($34,000 in tuition + $20,000 col). That's a lot of money. Is the difference then between $160,000 in debt for Villanova, and $21,000 in debt for Drexel? People don't rail against going to Drexel, they rail against going into significant debt at Drexel. You would not be doing that in this case.

[03121202698008]

Villanova. Drexel isn't completely accredited, has no alumni base, and no evidence how it will place anywhere let alone in Philly which is already over-served by law schools.

[03121202698008]

Man, it looks like Villanova is around $54,000 per year ($34,000 in tuition + $20,000 col). That's a lot of money. Is the difference then between $160,000 in debt for Villanova, and $21,000 in debt for Drexel? People don't rail against going to Drexel, they rail against going into significant debt at Drexel. You would not be doing that in this case.

It would only be an extra $75K or so for 'nova...he still has to pay to live at Drexel and both are in Philly ('nova is right outside it). I'd take the extra money for a known alumni base.

OP, did you get in at Temple? Way cheaper than 'nova and has the best placement in Philly outside of Penn.

[PoliticalJunkie]

Despite the evidence of Drexel's placements, admittedly self reported but nonetheless impressive for a new school, Villanova might be the safer/better choice for you. If you were interested in PI I would go the other way.

[sumus romani]

Ah yes, I understand the numbers now. The OP was giving only tuition with no col for either.

[drexelornova]

OP, did you get in at Temple? Way cheaper than 'nova and has the best placement in Philly outside of Penn.

I got waitlisted, and of course, they aren't going to their waitlist this year. They sent an email out saying that this morning.

Also, I'd live at home for my first year at either school, then probably move back in for 2L/3L.

[03121202698008]

I'm from PA and know a lot of lawyers in Philly. I'd go with 'nova. Have you visited? Their new building is pretty nice.

[kopper]

I can't see paying $37k at Villanova. I voted for Drexel. I am attending Temple in the Fall and would have given Drexel strong consideration if I had an offer like this. If Drexel is successful at implementing a co-op program similar to their Business and Engineering schools you will have access to comparable employment opportunities to Temple and Villanova.

[drexelornova]

I'm from PA and know a lot of lawyers in Philly. I'd go with 'nova. Have you visited? Their new building is pretty nice.

Yeah, I've been there a dozen times. I live like 20 minutes away. I'm actually set up with an apartment already, all guns are blazing for Villanova. Drexel just threw me this game changer, and I wanted to be sure to hear out some other opinions.

I can't see paying $37k at Villanova. I voted for Drexel. I am attending Temple in the Fall and would have given Drexel strong consideration if I had an offer like this. If Drexel is successful at implementing a co-op program similar to their Business and Engineering schools you will have access to comparable employment opportunities to Temple and Villanova.

According to Drexel's staff, getting an offer from a coop is very rare at this point... and almost never happens. Probably wont be any different during my 3 years.

[drexelornova]

What if I could up the Drexel offer to a full ride? Would that change anything for the Villanova people?

[manbearwig]

I'd say Nova, but that's just because of how new Drexel is. Philly's so insular, so I would think that a good alumni base really matters. If you really think you can pay off the debt within 5 years from Nova, I'd definitely go there. The extra money is worth the extra job security.

[drexelornova]

I'd say Nova, but that's just because of how new Drexel is. Philly's so insular, so I would think that a good alumni base really matters. If you really think you can pay off the debt within 5 years from Nova, I'd definitely go there. The extra money is worth the extra job security.

Well, I figure with a job that pays 60 before taxes, I'll get ~40. 40x4 = 160k, which should be more than enough to pay down my loans. If I'm missing something here, please tell me.

My favorite line on here describing the Philly legal market was "incestuous".

[manbearwig]

I'd say Nova, but that's just because of how new Drexel is. Philly's so insular, so I would think that a good alumni base really matters. If you really think you can pay off the debt within 5 years from Nova, I'd definitely go there. The extra money is worth the extra job security.

Well, I figure with a job that pays 60 before taxes, I'll get ~40. 40x4 = 160k, which should be more than enough to pay down my loans. If I'm missing something here, please tell me.

My favorite line on here describing the Philly legal market was "incestuous".

Even assuming you don't have to pay rent or even food, there's still transportation, spending money, and random other things. So, I'd look at closer to 6 years then food at the minimum. But even still, that's not bad. Depending on how old you are now, you could possibly be paid off by the time you're around 30 (especially considering pay raises).

You also have to consider not getting a job right away. However, if you can't get a job coming out of Villanova, you'd be completely screwed if you had gone to Drexel instead. If you have no income, it doesn't matter how small or big your debt is.



And the incestuous description of the Philly market totally makes me lol. : )

[Merr]

Man, it looks like Villanova is around $54,000 per year ($34,000 in tuition + $20,000 col). That's a lot of money. Is the difference then between $160,000 in debt for Villanova, and $21,000 in debt for Drexel? People don't rail against going to Drexel, they rail against going into significant debt at Drexel. You would not be doing that in this case.

It would only be an extra $75K $90K or so for 'nova...he still has to pay to live at Drexel and both are in Philly ('nova is right outside it). I'd take the extra money for a known alumni base.

OP, did you get in at Temple? Way cheaper than 'nova and has the best placement in Philly outside of Penn.

FIFY ($37K-$7K)*3=$90K

[03121202698008]

Man, it looks like Villanova is around $54,000 per year ($34,000 in tuition + $20,000 col). That's a lot of money. Is the difference then between $160,000 in debt for Villanova, and $21,000 in debt for Drexel? People don't rail against going to Drexel, they rail against going into significant debt at Drexel. You would not be doing that in this case.

It would only be an extra $75K $90K or so for 'nova...he still has to pay to live at Drexel and both are in Philly ('nova is right outside it). I'd take the extra money for a known alumni base.

OP, did you get in at Temple? Way cheaper than 'nova and has the best placement in Philly outside of Penn.

FIFY ($37K-$7K)*3=$90K

$34K in tuition at 'nova
$7K in tuition at Drexel
34-7=27
27*3=81
$81K

And yes i know my numbers don't match. It was a quick guesstimate. I don't think OPs numbers are correct.

[Merr]

Man, it looks like Villanova is around $54,000 per year ($34,000 in tuition + $20,000 col). That's a lot of money. Is the difference then between $160,000 in debt for Villanova, and $21,000 in debt for Drexel? People don't rail against going to Drexel, they rail against going into significant debt at Drexel. You would not be doing that in this case.

It would only be an extra $75K $90K or so for 'nova...he still has to pay to live at Drexel and both are in Philly ('nova is right outside it). I'd take the extra money for a known alumni base.

OP, did you get in at Temple? Way cheaper than 'nova and has the best placement in Philly outside of Penn.

FIFY ($37K-$7K)*3=$90K

$34K in tuition at 'nova
$7K in tuition at Drexel
34-7=27
27*3=81

$81K

And yes i know my numbers don't match. It was a quick guesstimate. I don't think OPs numbers are correct.

Where are you pulling the number 34K from? The OP says 37K and Nova's website says 36.69K-35.88K not to mention LS tuition tends to go up.

http://www.law.villanova.edu/Admissions ... Costs.aspx

[03121202698008]

Where are you pulling the number 34K from? The OP says 37K and Nova's website says 36.69K-35.8K

http://www.law.villanova.edu/Admissions ... Costs.aspx

The post I quoted said $34K so I went with it. He'd make some money during summers so wouldn't necessarily have ALL of that as extra debt since paying summer work is much more likely from 'nova than Temple. You can live in Bryn Mawr slightly cheaper than Philly as well.

[Merr]

Where are you pulling the number 34K from? The OP says 37K and Nova's website says 36.69K-35.8K

http://www.law.villanova.edu/Admissions ... Costs.aspx

The post I quoted said $34K so I went with it. He'd make some money during summers so wouldn't necessarily have ALL of that as extra debt since paying summer work is much more likely from 'nova than Temple. You can live in Bryn Mawr slightly cheaper than Philly as well.

The person who said 34K was wrong then I guess. On top of that COL and income don't change the tuition difference. Not that I particularly have any stake in either LS, but I like to see as close to accurate #s as possible.

[03121202698008]

Where are you pulling the number 34K from? The OP says 37K and Nova's website says 36.69K-35.8K

http://www.law.villanova.edu/Admissions ... Costs.aspx

The post I quoted said $34K so I went with it. He'd make some money during summers so wouldn't necessarily have ALL of that as extra debt since paying summer work is much more likely from 'nova than Temple. You can live in Bryn Mawr slightly cheaper than Philly as well.

The person who said 34K was wrong then I guess. On top of that COL and income don't change the tuition difference. Not that I particularly have any stake in either LS, but I like to see as close to accurate #s as possible.

It's hard to plan with $5-10K over 3 years. So many variables once you factor in tuition raises, summer income variances, etc.

[drexelornova]

Tuition/Fees: $36,690 ... I just rounded up to 37.

I think I'm going to go with my gut and stick with Villanova. Even though the debt is a heavy load, at least I won't be dealing with the unpredictability that still accompanies a Drexel J.D in the job hunt. At this point, I don't really want to play the lottery type odds that Drexel may give me. I'll pay my dues, work my ass off, and at least I'll end up where I "should" with my grades.