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[Dreamcast11]

[bk1]

If you're not okay with an 80%+ chance of not ending up in LA, don't go to GW.

USC at sticker, especially with previous debt, is a bad idea.

No other options? I guess in your case I'd take GW and be okay with a high chance of working on the east coast.

[dpk711]

If you're really debt averse it doesn't really make sense to go to USC, I'm not really sure how Jeedub places in CA though.

[treeey86]

No question about it: Choose USC

GW is a great school. A big scholly like the one you got cannot be downplayed either. BUT, GW places in the east. Sure, some students make it out West, but it is hard.

USC is one of the top dogs in LA. Alums are all over the place hiring. You have the Trojan network on your side. And I believe USC has better biglaw placement than GW ( could be mistaken----im too lazy right now to look it up).

Even if you do not land biglaw, being in your target market for law school is huge. Gives you the chance to network your way into a job, or clerk your way into a midlaw or respectable small firm job.Lots of decent paying firms recruit via the clerk route during the school year.

If you dont land top of GW, you will have no big law and be stuck on the east coast.

If you dont land top of USC, are will have no chance of big law and will be stuck in LA ( where you want to end up).

Take the debt. Go to USC. USC is too good of a school for you not to get a decent paying job that will allow you to manage your debt.

[dpk711]

No question about it: Choose USC

GW is a great school. A big scholly like the one you got cannot be downplayed either. BUT, GW places in the east. Sure, some students make it out West, but it is hard.

USC is one of the top dogs in LA. Alums are all over the place hiring. You have the Trojan network on your side. And I believe USC has better biglaw placement than GW ( could be mistaken----im too lazy right now to look it up).

Even if you do not land biglaw, being in your target market for law school is huge. Gives you the chance to network your way into a job, or clerk your way into a midlaw or respectable small firm job.Lots of decent paying firms recruit via the clerk route during the school year.

If you dont land top of GW, you will have no big law and be stuck on the east coast.

If you dont land top of USC, are will have no chance of big law and will be stuck in LA ( where you want to end up).

Take the debt. Go to USC. USC is too good of a school for you not to get a decent paying job that will allow you to manage your debt.

OP, I'm not too sure if this is good advice -- and this is coming from a trojan.

[bk1]

If you're really debt averse it doesn't really make sense to go to USC, I'm not really sure how Jeedub places in CA though.

Actually if you're debt averse even GW seems lack a bad idea for OP. Factoring in the 105k scholly, the 25k undergrad debt, and GW's CoA... that's still about 150k worth of debt.

OP, you can't really be both debt averse and gunning for biglaw when your numbers aren't giving you a hefty scholarship to the lower T14. Once your numbers are lower than that, having a decent chance at biglaw and having low debt become almost mutually exclusive. If you're really debt averse and want LA, then I'd be looking for a decent scholarship to UCD/UCH. If you want to gun for LA biglaw then I would retake/reapply and settle for no less than T12 or so (but you would have massive debt).

[bk1]

USC is too good of a school for you not to get a decent paying job that will allow you to manage your debt.

This is false. The majority of USC kids aren't getting jobs that will allow them to manage 200-250k worth of debt.

[Dreamcast11]

[dpk711]

Thanks for the comments....I'm not entirely set on biglaw, but obviously thats the only way to pay off the $175K+ in loans plus interest I would have.

And yes, I agree biglaw and debt averse with my numbers are mutually exclusive.... but I'm leaning towards USC. I'm afraid of the crushing non-dischargeable debt, but I feel like USC is a tough opportunity to pass up.

If I improve my LSAT one or two points I could prob land GULC or Cornell but also at sticker, in which case I would still take USC at sticker in hopes of staying in LA.

Just remember, USC at sticker, although it can land you a nice paying biglaw-job, is still a huge gamble. Think of it as buying a $200,000+ lottery ticket with just over a 30% winning rate.

[bk1]

Just remember, USC at sticker, although it can land you a nice paying biglaw-job, is still a huge gamble. Think of it as buying a $200,000+ lottery ticket with just over a 30% winning rate.

This is how you should look at. Of course one needs to realize that you are more likely fucked with 250k+ debt and a job that pays something like 50k/year than not fucked.

[Dreamcast11]

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[bk1]

Any USC 2Ls out there that can shed some light on what the non-biglaw landing kids and non-public interest kids get? Or on my personal dilemma?

$50K salary jobs....that would be a nigthmare with $200K debt....but then again I'm assuming a lot of the USC class isn't paying sticker so it evens out?

It doesn't matter what they are paying, it matters what you are paying. You are going to have 250k debt (including undergrad, not including interest), can you stomach that you are more likely to end up with a job that pays 50k than with a job that pays 160k?

So yes, scholarships means that more of USC's class isn't screwed if they land low paying jobs, but that doesn't affect you in the least.

[Dreamcast11]

[dpk711]

Any USC 2Ls out there that can shed some light on what the non-biglaw landing kids and non-public interest kids get? Or on my personal dilemma?

$50K salary jobs....that would be a nigthmare with $200K debt....but then again I'm assuming a lot of the USC class isn't paying sticker so it evens out?

It doesn't matter what they are paying, it matters what you are paying. You are going to have 250k debt (including undergrad, not including interest), can you stomach that you are more likely to end up with a job that pays 50k than with a job that pays 160k?

So yes, scholarships means that more of USC's class isn't screwed if they land low paying jobs, but that doesn't affect you in the least.

What is the debt was only $175K? -- $50K tuition for 3 years + existing $25K....I should have enough money and support to cover all other expenses....so it comes down to is $175K of debt worth 30% biglaw shot? Jesus Christ.

Yeah, if you actually think about it it's actually scary -- at least you've thought about it before committing yourself to law school -- many others have regretted only after they graduate.

[bk1]

What is the debt was only $175K? -- $50K tuition for 3 years + existing $25K....I should have enough money and support to cover all other expenses....so it comes down to is $175K of debt worth 30% biglaw shot? Jesus Christ.

That is still pretty bad. Since you have about 75k to cover CoL, here is how I would phrase it.

Option A: Go to USC with 175k debt, most likely get a 50k job in LA, take about 20 years to repay your debt at 15k/year.

Option B: Go to GW with 75k debt, most likely get a 50k job on east coast, take about 10 years to repay your debt at 10k/year.

I'd estimate your chances of biglaw at USC are about the same as your chances of getting back to LA from GW.

[Curry]

The caveat to what bk said is your chances of getting ANY job in LA from GWU is the same as your chance of getting BIGLAW from USC. I know it was fairly clear but just reinforcing.

[bk1]

The caveat to what bk said is your chances of getting ANY job in LA from GWU is the same as your chance of getting BIGLAW from USC. I know it was fairly clear but just reinforcing.

Yup, that's what I meant. Looking at what I posted, I can see that it wasn't clear.