William and Mary ($) vs. SMU ($$$) Forum

asuusa · Post by **asuusa** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:07 am

My numbers are 3.36, 167, URM (Mex. Am), and I'd like some opinions. I've been accepted into W&M with a $10,000/year scholly, and I'm Out of State. I'm hoping for $30,000/year at SMU. Given that my wife will be taking care of COL, and that I'm equally open to living in both areas and have no desire for BigLaw, what's my best bet? Take the less debt and go to SMU, or take out more debt for W&M?

Obviously, I haven't received $30,000 at SMU yet (come on, adcomms!), but I feel hopeful with my numbers that I will.

Any thoughts or something I'm missing?

Aqualibrium · Post by **Aqualibrium** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:16 am

1. This is stupid.

2. Go where you want to work. You'd be an idiot to go to W&M if Texas was your goal.

asuusa · Post by **asuusa** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:34 am

I'd be equally open to living in either area. I have no preference for Texas over Virginia. Edit: I don't live in either state. I have no real goal besides those two.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:35 am

Even if the offers were equal, SMU is the better option for one who wants to work in Texas.

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:36 am

Yeah, this will really come down to where you want to live/work. If Texas, SMU. If Mid-Atlantic region, W&M. If California, you're out of luck. There's no point in going to SMU if you want to work in the Mid-Atlantic and equally no point in going to W&M for Texas. If you absolutely are even on the two regions, visit the schools & areas and see what appeals to you. There isn't such a huge gap in quality or placement to make one option absolutely 'better' than the other, IMO.

brose · Post by **brose** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:38 pm

If you have no preference, then take the one that you would graduate with the least amount of debt with.

Stonewall · Post by **Stonewall** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:04 am

60k difference is a lot of dough.. Slight lean smu

asuusa · Post by **asuusa** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:55 am

That's what I was thinking. Plus, I've heard SMU's schollys are "good standing" stipulations, whereas I have to keep a 2.0 at W&M. That's not the harshest stip, but still. Point- SMU.

chihuahua12 · Post by **chihuahua12** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:35 am

As a URM I think you may be able to negotiate more money from WM. If you can get them to match SMU I say WM.

asuusa · Post by **asuusa** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:06 am

Do you really think they'd go for that? I've heard you can only negotiate with sister schools. I got $10,000 at W&L as well, so no wiggle room. If I'm already set on SMU though, that might be a good way to just see what I can get from W&M. I hadn't considered that- thanks!

vamedic03 · Post by **vamedic03** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:04 pm

asuusa wrote:That's what I was thinking. Plus, I've heard SMU's schollys are "good standing" stipulations, whereas I have to keep a 2.0 at W&M. That's not the harshest stip, but still. Point- SMU.

Um... This point is a wash. If you drop below a 2.0 then you're no longer in good standing. Hence, the requirements are the same.

asuusa · Post by **asuusa** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:08 pm

I didn't know that- mind blown. Thanks!

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