UNLV (full tuition) vs. WUSTL $$ Forum

[theunderestimator]

Hi all,

I'm getting a lot of different opinions thrown at me from friends/family/advisors, so I thought I'd see what TLS has to say as well.

I live in Vegas, own a house here, and my husband has a great job. Our immediate families also live here. UNLV Boyd is offering me a full tuition scholarship renewable each year provided I stay in good academic standing. My husband can provide for us while I'm in law school, so if I stay here I stand to graduate law school with zero debt, which is great since I'm pretty debt averse. HOWEVER - I don't want to live in Vegas forever. I could deal with maybe a few years after graduating, but that's about it. Not sure where I do want to end up living, but I know where I don't want to live (NV, anywhere on the East Coast).

Enter WUSTL. I visited for the ASD and loooooved the school and the city. My main hang-up, though, is that I'll need to take out roughly $50k in loans to pay for all three years there (I have a 28k/yr scholarship). Also of concern is the hassle of moving, finding a new job for my husband, and leaving all the family behind permanently.

Given my debt averse attitude, would I be insane to pass up a full ride in favor of 50k+ debt? Conversely, given my desire to not stay in NV, would I be crazy to pass up a school that has a significantly stronger national reputation? I am seriously stressing about making a bad decision, so any help/input you guys can provide will be tremendously appreciated.

For those who are interested: stats are 170/3.3, possible URM (still not sure if Colombian counts for anything), definitely NOT interested in Biglaw.

[well-hello-there]

I think you'll have a hard time finding a job anywhere outside of Las Vegas with a degree from Boyd.
If you move, will your husband be able to find a "great" job near WUSTL in the next 4 months? Will you be able to rent out your house and find another place to live in the next 4 months?

I say wait a year, go to a better school at sticker. If you're scared to take on a lot of debt, find out exactly where you want to live and go to the best regional school (on scholarship) feeding that area.

[TaipeiMort]

UNLV-- Learn Chinese on the side, get a joint degree in hospitality/hotel managment (one of the world's best programs), start work at a Vegas midlaw firm that has tons of casino clients, then work on cross-border work between Vegas, Macao, and China. After 10 years of this become a VP of a casino/entertainment company making 2 mil+ per year-- all with 0 debt.

[well-hello-there]

UNLV-- Learn Chinese on the side, get a joint degree in hospitality/hotel managment (one of the world's best programs), start work at a Vegas Midlaw firm that has tons of Casino clients, then work on cross-border work between Vegas, Macao, and China. After 10 years of this become a VP of an Casino/entertainment company making 2 mil+ per year-- All with 0 debt.

in sum,
1) Learn Chinese on the side
2) get degree in hotel mgmt.
3) Get law degree
4) Get job at firm with casino clients
5) ???
6) Do cross-border work between Vegas, Macao and China
7) ???
Become Steve Wynn
9) Build $4 Billion Casino/Hotel
10) PROFIT!!!!!

[TaipeiMort]

UNLV-- Learn Chinese on the side, get a joint degree in hospitality/hotel managment (one of the world's best programs), start work at a Vegas Midlaw firm that has tons of Casino clients, then work on cross-border work between Vegas, Macao, and China. After 10 years of this become a VP of an Casino/entertainment company making 2 mil+ per year-- All with 0 debt.

in sum,
1) Learn Chinese on the side
2) get degree in hotel mgmt.
3) Get law degree
4) Get job at firm with casino clients
6) While at firm do cross-border work between Vegas, Macao (world's new Vegas) and China (regulatory overseer)
7) Go in-house at large Casino, Become VP/ CLO/ General Counsel
Become Steve Wynn
9) Build $4 Billion Casino/Hotel
10) PROFIT!!!!!

Corrected

[CanadianWolf]

UNLV since this is not a good time to sell a home in Las Vegas or seek new employment in St. Louis. WashUStL may end up costing you a great deal more than $50,000 when moving expenses, unemployed spouse & loss on sale of your Las Vegas home are added in.
Ask WashUStL for more money, reapply to higher ranked law schools next cycle or attend UNLV on a full tuition scholarship without interrupting your family's current lifestyle.