Top Law Schools

I am from the Philadelphia area and am not opposed to relocation whatsoever. One of the biggest factors in my decision by far is debt, I am very debt averse. I have an accounting/finance background and would like to work in the private sector preferably.

Each scholarship I listed is a yearly amount. Villanova has a 3.15gpa stipulation, Wake has a top 2/3 stipulation, and I am not sure of the BC stipulation, all that was mentioned was that it was "fully renewable".

I feel like the BC debt would be a lot for me to handle...and am not sure if the employment prospects really outweigh the lack of debt I would have at nova or wake. Plus I assume the competition related to class rank would be much more substantial. I am fine staying in NC or Philadephia is I decide on one of the other 2 schools...I haven't even visited Boston as of yet. I am also waiting back for a # on money from UNC at this time.

Any opinions/feedback would be much appreciated...

Villanova: 99k (ranked 84)

Wake: 91k (ranked 39)

BC: 130k (ranked 27)

I think its between Wake and BC based on debt/rank (don't pay more for less, Wake over Villanova)

Outta BC you get NY/Boston potential, definitely not so much outta Wake. If you don't want big city law, go wake. If you do, its well worth the 40k.

BC all the way. The difference between 90k and 130k is not that substantial for the increased prospects.

I say Wake Forest. I know BC is a better school, but Wake Forest is a really good option. Cost of Living is much cheaper both in school and when you get out of school and since you say you're debt averse that's great. Plus, with your finance background NC is a great place. Both Raleigh and Charlotte are cities that will continue to boom in the next 10-20 years as staples of "The New South" and both are overflowing with banks and financial service jobs.

Your chances at biglaw are almost non-existant from Nova and Wake. BC on the other hand places extremely well into BigLaw. I don't think there is enough of a cost differential here to justify not taking BC.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... 2483173162

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:Your chances at biglaw are almost non-existant from Nova and Wake. BC on the other hand places extremely well into BigLaw. I don't think there is enough of a cost differential here to justify not taking BC.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... 2483173162

I wouldn't say they're nonexistant at Wake, but obviously higher out of BC. I guess it just matters what you want. Remember though, that 160K big law job in Boston is the same as getting paid $100,000 in Charlotte and probably 90,000 in Raleigh. But the above poster is right,you'd get a shot at a big firm like Moore and Van Allen in NC but if that's your true goal than you should go to BC.

Thanks for the advice guys. I am leaning towards Wake/Nova, but will be visiting Boston College at some point this week. For me Nova seems like the safe choice if I want to stay in Philadelphia and avoid debt...I visited Wake Forest and it was really nice, but I am unsure of whether or not I can handle not being in a big city....I don't really know much about BC at all...being #27 doesn't seem to justify the 23-25k in tuition each year with expensive COL....

Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

Good idea. I will try to do this.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

I think V and W are higher risks. The BC scholly is probably unstipulated (most T30s are "good standing").
If you fall below the gpa threshold at the other schools you're in big trouble.
Furthermore, the LRAP covers you if you make 50K or whatever after graduation

You have 3x the chance of getting biglaw at BC compared to Villanova and Wake. Take BC.

JamMasterJ wrote:

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

I think V and W are higher risks. The BC scholly is probably unstipulated (most T30s are "good standing").
If you fall below the gpa threshold at the other schools you're in big trouble.
Furthermore, the LRAP covers you if you make 50K or whatever after graduation

Sorry if I sound dumb, but what is the LRAP?

nillumin wrote:

JamMasterJ wrote:

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

I think V and W are higher risks. The BC scholly is probably unstipulated (most T30s are "good standing").
If you fall below the gpa threshold at the other schools you're in big trouble.
Furthermore, the LRAP covers you if you make 50K or whatever after graduation

Sorry if I sound dumb, but what is the LRAP?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guide-to-lrap.html

JusticeHarlan wrote:

nillumin wrote:

JamMasterJ wrote:

Aberzombie1892 wrote:Yeah BC is a higher priced risk. The chances of reward are higher, but if you lose you are in pretty rough shape.

If it weren't for the stipulation, I would say Nova. Try to negotiate the stipulations away and a higher amount of scholarship by using your offer from BC.

I think V and W are higher risks. The BC scholly is probably unstipulated (most T30s are "good standing").
If you fall below the gpa threshold at the other schools you're in big trouble.
Furthermore, the LRAP covers you if you make 50K or whatever after graduation

Sorry if I sound dumb, but what is the LRAP?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tls-guide-to-lrap.html

thanks

If it doesn't have stipulations then bc for sure

If you are set on Nova, you should be getting a lot more $ from them if you got 18k/year from BC. I would contact the admissions team there asap and tell them about your other offers/ explain that some more $ might help. I did that there and they threw another 5k/year at me no questions asked and it seemed like if I said I still wanted more than that, they would have been open to it.