William and Mary vs. NYU Forum

[heyman]

Keep in Mind I plan on going into Public Defense.

W&M is offering me $15,000/year which leaves only a tuition of $9,000/year. (Rank of 28)

NYU is offering me nothing but is well-known for its public interest. I would pay tuition of $47,000/year. (Rank 6)

I understand rank makes a huge difference when getting jobs and getting jobs for lawyers is tough lately, but is it really worth taking on that much more debt if I plan on going into public defense?

Extra info: My wife post-law school is going to be a Doctor and will not have any debt from her schooling.

[BlueDiamond]

NYU

[spondee]

Where is your wife going to school?

[heyman]

As of now UVA is her best acceptance. She has an interview with Johns Hopkins (Rank 3) and Emory coming up.

[heyman]

NYU

Why?

[spondee]

I asked because if either of your careers will lead you away from the Maryland/Virginia area, NYU will offer far, far more mobility.

[sven]

NYU

Why?

LRAP. http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... rsity.html

this one's easy. enjoy nyc.

[heyman]

Very true..thanks for the advice. --To Spondee

[Nogameisfair]

Shouldn't this thread be UVA vs. NYU? OP, are you still waiting on UVA?

[thecilent]

NYU

Why?

LRAP. http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... rsity.html

this one's easy. enjoy nyc.

+1 for real op.

[hokie]

uh..........definitely NYU.

[r6_philly]

NYU

Why?

LRAP. http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... rsity.html

this one's easy. enjoy nyc.

+1 for real op.

LRAP is not going to be in play because OP's wife is going to be a doctor.

[heyman]

Shouldn't this thread be UVA vs. NYU? OP, are you still waiting on UVA?

Yes still waiting on UVA.

[heyman]

LRAP is not going to be in play because OP's wife is going to be a doctor.

Exactly...

[r6_philly]

LRAP is not going to be in play because OP's wife is going to be a doctor.

Exactly...

I'd go with your wife's choice over yours since her career is more of a guarantee for you guys over yours. If she is set on UVa, write a LOCI to UVa explaining your situation. If you can get into NYU, I am sure you can get in UVa as long as they understand why you want to go there.

Penn?

[heyman]

I'd go with your wife's choice over yours since her career is more of a guarantee for you guys over yours. If she is set on UVa, write a LOCI to UVa explaining your situation. If you can get into NYU, I am sure you can get in UVa as long as they understand why you want to go there.

Penn?

I see that, but the same amount of debt problem would come into play. Going to William and Mary would be close to UVA anyway, so location for us is not a huge problem. We are willing to go to different schools, depending on what is the best decision.

[thecilent]

Oh I guess that changes things. But still, she has about what 8 years or so before she makes any money. And even at that point, you might still be in the bracket of paying only 50% back for a few years

Or maybe I'm wrong idk

[Nogameisfair]

I see that, but the same amount of debt problem would come into play. Going to William and Mary would be close to UVA anyway, so location for us is not a huge problem. We are willing to go to different schools, depending on what is the best decision.

UVA is probably the right answer. Your wife wont make a lot of money for quite a few years as a doctor, so you'd get UVA's LRAP (assuming you become a PD). PD jobs are pretty competitive, actually. Your chances of landing in a good office are way better from UVA.

[r6_philly]

I see that, but the same amount of debt problem would come into play. Going to William and Mary would be close to UVA anyway, so location for us is not a huge problem. We are willing to go to different schools, depending on what is the best decision.

When I was looking at schools last year, I was ok with doing a partial commute where I would come home every weekend. But the more I think about it, the more I wouldn't do it. So after a year (I am reapplying), that idea is out of my head, I would pay extra to move us and stay together. It's obviously your choice if you attend two different schools, but I don't think it's really worth the savings especially if you both have high income potentials. We have kids though so that may be the difference.

You can still probably get some $$ out of UVa. Doesn't hurt to try.

[r6_philly]

I see that, but the same amount of debt problem would come into play. Going to William and Mary would be close to UVA anyway, so location for us is not a huge problem. We are willing to go to different schools, depending on what is the best decision.

UVA is probably the right answer. Your wife wont make a lot of money for quite a few years as a doctor, so you'd get UVA's LRAP (assuming you become a PD). PD jobs are pretty competitive, actually. Your chances of landing in a good office are way better from UVA.

How much spousal input do they compute from UVa? Even if his wife is not making big money, 2 incomes will probably still ensure you won't get the max benefit.

[heyman]

I see what you guys mean. With her resident's salary we'll still get LRAP benefits for those 3 years.

[Nogameisfair]

I see that, but the same amount of debt problem would come into play. Going to William and Mary would be close to UVA anyway, so location for us is not a huge problem. We are willing to go to different schools, depending on what is the best decision.

UVA is probably the right answer. Your wife wont make a lot of money for quite a few years as a doctor, so you'd get UVA's LRAP (assuming you become a PD). PD jobs are pretty competitive, actually. Your chances of landing in a good office are way better from UVA.

How much spousal input do they compute from UVa? Even if his wife is not making big money, 2 incomes will probably still ensure you won't get the max benefit.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... ginia.html

Looks like the calculation is your income plus spouse's income (minus educational loan payments) divided by two.

Edit: As long as she isn't making more than he is as a PD, they will likely get full LRAP.

[r6_philly]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... ginia.html

Looks like the calculation is your income plus spouse's income (minus educational loan payments) divided by two.

Edit: As long as she isn't making more than he is as a PD, they will likely get full LRAP.

That's pretty decent. I vote UVa then.

[heyman]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guid ... ginia.html

Looks like the calculation is your income plus spouse's income (minus educational loan payments) divided by two.

Edit: As long as she isn't making more than he is as a PD, they will likely get full LRAP.

Problem with this is that we would only get LRAP for the IBR payment which is like nothing and would make the loan go on forever.

[Nogameisfair]

Problem with this is that we would only get LRAP for the IBR payment which is like nothing and would make the loan go on forever.

My understanding is that if you participate in IBR for 10 years in a PI or government job your loans are forgiven.

Edit: Here is information on IBR and other federal loan repayment plans: http://www.finaid.org/loans/ibr.phtml