Chicago Kent 20k/yr @ 3.25 or Rutgers 10k grant w/ 8k or 5k? Forum

[DarkJuliet]

Hey, guys. I'll try to keep it short.

Another forum poster very nicely alerted me that my poll seemed to be going nowhere because I originally posted this thing in the wrong thread area....

Frankly, I was a little amazed that I even got into a decent school, but here I am. A few schools accepted me: Indiana-Indianapolis, Rutgers Camden, Chicago Kent at IIT and several others. Other rejections and acceptance letters will come trickling in I'm sure, but I need to ask your guys' opinions.

Chicago Kent's acceptance letter came in pretty late. Obviously I know that it's ranked higher than Rutgers Camden, but I want to know which school you guys would choose. Kent's scholarship money offer would be cut in half to 10,000 per year if I fall below a 3.25 but keep myself above a 3. I haven't even begun looking at housing in Chicago yet.

Then there's Rutgers... They're giving me 10,000 off right off the bat for my first year. Then I'll get 8k renewable for a 3.5 GPA or 5k renewable for a 3.33.

Cost of Kent without scholarship money? About 42,000. Rutgers? About 25,000. With scholarships in place they turn out to be just about the same.

And yes, I've been keeping an eye on Rutgers' general trend DOWN the ranking list and that doesn't really jazz me, but what can one do? Also, IIT seems to be going upward.

So far, I'm leaning more towards Rutgers because I've registered for their summer jump start program which allows me to take 4 units during the summer which will make my first year much easier---or so I think.

What do you guys think? I'd love to hear what you think. Chicago has its draws and I would probably go for Kent if I didn't already sign the darned lease!!

[jpSartre]

r/r

[Case2L]

Any reason why you didn't include IU-Indy in your poll? The two schools you listed are decent schools, but they are in regions populated by significantly better schools and a number of peer schools. I think IU-Indy gives you better employment prospects (albeit, only in Indianapolis).

[DarkJuliet]

Case2L

I think the reason I didn't include Indy was because I apparently didn't qualify for their ICLEO program and they haven't given me any reason to believe that they'd be willing to grease my time there with scholarship money---so I'd be paying the whole way there.

I've heard that Rutgers' name has a certain currency with older attorneys in the NJ region and the cheaper in state tuition is a nice draw.

[Chants]

I just can't see Chicago Kent being a consideration here. Both scholarships have very tough stips, but Kent's tuition without that $$ is ridiculous (esp. compared to Rutgers). As far as placement, education etc., they are essentially peer schools in different markets (both in saturated markets), so I look at all else as being equal. Try to negotiate stips at both schools and/or ask IU-Indy to match these offers. As it stands now, I vote Rutgers. Good Luck!

[DarkJuliet]

Thanks, Chants,

Interesting. I guess the main draw of Kent was, of course, the usual: it's current higher rank. Although Chicago sounds tempting and Camden sounds like a steaming pile, I don't plan to actually living in the latter. Rather, I have a place secured in Collingswood, NJ which is a few miles down the way from the school.

Also, with a lower stip on Kent, I figured that my chances of getting that 20k a year would be greater against Rutgers' 3.33. Still, being a 0L, I could be completely in denial about the workload.

One for Rutgers, but actually two for Kent from a previous thread...

Love to hear more. The deposit is due tonight....

[ocbrody]

What did you decide to do? Facing nearly the exact same decision myself...