WUSTL/Illinois/Pitt versus T-14 gamble Forum

[TheSteelKid]

So I'm from Pittsburgh and am not sure exactly what I want to do with my law degree but I would like to have some national portability. Given that I'm not committed to doing BigLaw long term but I would like to give myself a chance and given the fact that I would like a good shot at working in a major market (Chicago, NYC, LA, DC), what do you guys think of these choices? I'm being strongly encouraged by my parents to go to WUSTL at 15k/year but have yet to visit and am not sure.

I have a 3.25 and a 170 on the December LSAT...Does anyone really think its worth it to defer and reapply ED to a UVA/NU/Michigan type school? If I defer I would retake in June. Any useful thoughts on this are more than welcome!

[OGR3]

As someone at Pitt, I'd strongly encourage you to take a year off and ED to T14 next year.

It'll always be possible for you to return to Pittsburgh but if you're from Pittsburgh and go to Pitt, it'll be extremely hard for you to go to any of those major markets.

[09042014]

COA for MVN is above 65K each. More like 70k.

[thelawyler]

Is this COA or cost of tuition?

[XxSpyKEx]

COA for MVN is above 65K each. More like 70k.

It'll probably be closer to $85K /year (or more) by the time OP is his last year of law school, assuming tuition continues to rise at three times the rate of inflation (i.e. around 10% /year increases) as it has for quite a while now.

[09042014]

COA for MVN is above 65K each. More like 70k.

It'll probably be closer to $85K /year (or more) by the time OP is his last year of law school, assuming tuition continues to rise at three times the rate of inflation (i.e. around 10% /year increases) as it has for quite a while now.

Yea at NW it's going up 4K, but only 2K is tuition. The other 2K is cost of living.

[TheSteelKid]

Sorry guys I meant this to be based on cost of tuition! My biggest worry about taking about 45k+ debt in tuition per year at a T14 is that if you decide you don't want to do BigLaw, after even 3 or 4 years, it can become really tough to pay off that debt! And considering I'm not someone who is dead set on BigLaw....this makes WUSTL/Illinois more attractive.

[bk1]

Sorry guys I meant this to be based on cost of tuition! My biggest worry about taking about 45k+ debt in tuition per year at a T14 is that if you decide you don't want to do BigLaw, after even 3 or 4 years, it can become really tough to pay off that debt! And considering I'm not someone who is dead set on BigLaw....this makes WUSTL/Illinois more attractive.

I'd say go to Illinois. I think WUSTL/Illinois are peers but I feel that there may be a slight edge to Illinois to getting a small Chicago firm.

[TheSteelKid]

I'm visiting both campuses next week so we'll see after I make my visits. I'm going to try to get as good a feel as I can for employment prospects from both schools, so we'll see.

[thexfactor]

This is one option:

sign up for a retake. pay deposit at one school. If your score is higher than 170, apply next year.

I would just reapply next year regardless.

[MyManKanye]

I'm in a similar situation and an undergrad at Illinois. I've seen both campuses, and the law campus at least is much nicer at WUSTL. Champaign is very much a college town with little around besides bars and football/basketball. WUSTL has St Louis, which has a bit more diversity.

Illinois is slightly cheaper to live, and COL stays pretty flat here. Illinois also has that guarantee to raise scholarships by the same amount as tuition. I don't know much personally about WUSTL employments, but the two students I know at Illinois who graduated were both in top 25% and both were initially put on delayed start of six months to a year at IP boutique firms in Chicago. If you want Chicago its available from Illinois, but I don't know if its more available than from WUSTL.

[XxSpyKEx]

Sorry guys I meant this to be based on cost of tuition! My biggest worry about taking about 45k+ debt in tuition per year at a T14 is that if you decide you don't want to do BigLaw, after even 3 or 4 years, it can become really tough to pay off that debt! And considering I'm not someone who is dead set on BigLaw....this makes WUSTL/Illinois more attractive.

With that in mind, I'd say go to Illinois. With cost of living (in Champaign), books, health insurance, etc you'll probably leave UIUC with around $75k in debt. That's not terrible for UIUC. I think UIUC is a better decision than WUSTL if you are interested in Chicago (Chicago is a really tight market right now, but it's not a ton better elsewhere either). Going to a t14 at sticker pretty much means you either have to get biglaw or work in qualifying PI. If you don't want biglaw, you'll have more options open to you leaving with low amounts of debt (and $75k for law school nowadays is peanuts). Also, if you really kick ass at UIUC, you'll have a shot at biglaw (but it's less of a gamble if you don't get it with only $75k of debt). That's my 2 cents.

[TheSteelKid]

Sorry guys I meant this to be based on cost of tuition! My biggest worry about taking about 45k+ debt in tuition per year at a T14 is that if you decide you don't want to do BigLaw, after even 3 or 4 years, it can become really tough to pay off that debt! And considering I'm not someone who is dead set on BigLaw....this makes WUSTL/Illinois more attractive.

With that in mind, I'd say go to Illinois. With cost of living (in Champaign), books, health insurance, etc you'll probably leave UIUC with around $75k in debt. That's not terrible for UIUC. I think UIUC is a better decision than WUSTL if you are interested in Chicago (Chicago is a really tight market right now, but it's not a ton better elsewhere either). Going to a t14 at sticker pretty much means you either have to get biglaw or work in qualifying PI. If you don't want biglaw, you'll have more options open to you leaving with low amounts of debt (and $75k for law school nowadays is peanuts). Also, if you really kick ass at UIUC, you'll have a shot at biglaw (but it's less of a gamble if you don't get it with only $75k of debt). That's my 2 cents.

Yes I hear you on that. Illinois is the safe play in terms of up front costs. I think I should get a pretty good vibe of what the campus is like and what it would be like living there when I go up next week. I'm going to be in St. Louis for 24 hours but U Illinois only for like 5 or 6, then I'm gonna go check out Chicago. Thanks for the help and the input..Going to Mich/UVA/NW sounds awesome but 45 k in debt/year does not sound that great. Either way I'll have to work hard to get where I want to go but the decision still must be made!

[FiveSermon]

I wouldn't defer without retaking. Your numbers won't make you a lock for any T14 schools even with ED unless you have VA residency.

[TheSteelKid]

I wouldn't defer without retaking. Your numbers won't make you a lock for any T14 schools even with ED unless you have VA residency.

Yes that is my plan. If I am to defer I will have to retake and increase my score. And I will only feel any sort of comfort with a 173+.