Top Law Schools

Already in debt 55k

Schools listed w/ total cost of attendance after scholarship (3 yrs)
UW Madison - 150k estimate (maybe $, but not expecting any)
UMN - 90k
Chi-Kent - less than 50k
Cardozo - less than 50k
waiting to hear from lower top14(s) but expecting wl. If accepted, likely will have to pay sticker

Not interested in big law. would like gov, pi, or maybe mid-law. Prestige not important, just decent first job
Would like to clerk, but am not sure the improved chances coming out of better schools worth bone crushing debt

Having a hard time justifying more debt just to be forced into big law

Thoughts or advice?
Which lesser of 2 evils: Kent placement in ailing Chi market or Cardozo in over saturated NYC?
Have family ties to NJ/NYC & Chi. Don't want to live in WI long term. MN worth the debt?

I would go lower t14 if accepted and probably UMN if not. Kent and Bozo are scary ITE. That 55k debt you're sitting on is rough though. Big decision coming up. Best of luck to you. What are your numbers?

FuManChusco wrote:I would go lower t14 if accepted and probably UMN if not. Kent and Bozo are scary ITE.

i think this is spot on.

160 167
3.4X

cost of lower t14 would destroy my life if doesn't pan out. that scares me a lot
Kent and Cardozo I would only need to cover COL
that is a big difference in risk
I know that T14 superiority is party line around here, but really? I am kind of surprised...

Also fiancee's job easier to transfer to IL or NJ than MN/WI/X

Still t14?

I have the same numbers- you will not get into the "t14." Therefore, do not worry about it.

Why do so many people think that decent non-biglaw gigs are more plentiful and easier to get than biglaw ones as a first job. ITE is a speeding freightrain heading for your head and you don't even know it. I for you, may G-d have mercy on your soul.

2 thoughts:
1)Veyron is right about the availability of pi/gov't gigs, especially in the current political climate. As states/localities/and the fed cut budgets, those jobs will become harder to get, so you have to factor that in.

2) LRAP is your friend and it's non existent (I think, too lazy to look it up) at your listed schools. Your 150k debt at a t14 w/strong LRAP might only be 50k out of your pocket a decade after graduation.

ibr

thanks

I wonder what people really mean when they say they are not interested in biglaw? Do they say it becuase they know that there is a good chance they won't get it, or that they would truly turn it down if it was offered to them?
If your response is the latter, go with dozo or kent.

Cardozo has a not bad LRAP--and it's cheap for you in a huge market for small and midlaw...?

deadpanic wrote:

FuManChusco wrote:I would go lower t14 if accepted and probably UMN if not. Kent and Bozo are scary ITE.

i think this is spot on.

If I had an alt, I would quote this again.

I would do UMN and hope for the best.
Wisconsin is certainly not worth that much more (if any) than Minnesota.

The T14 are out of the picture with those numbers. Of your choices, I'd probably go with UMN if you are fine with working in MN. I think your best bet would be to retake for a 170+ and go T14+LRAP or a better regional school with a scholly (e.g. GW/UIUC/etc).

37duncan wrote:160 167
3.4X

t14 will never happen. i have a 4.0 with that LSAT and i barely squeezed in