St. John's $$$ vs. ND Forum

[TracyLynn]

I feel like even though the vote right now is in favor of ND, the comments are more in favor of SJU. My total debt after ND (with undergrad) would be $220,000. This is assuming 60,000 a year from ND's website, which I'm not sure of the actual COA will be that high. My total debt after SJU (with undergrad) would be $110,000, assuming I keep the entire scholarship. I'm not sure if I can double down for ND...

[dresden doll]

I feel like even though the vote right now is in favor of ND, the comments are more in favor of SJU. My total debt after ND (with undergrad) would be $220,000. This is assuming 60,000 a year from ND's website, which I'm not sure of the actual COA will be that high. My total debt after SJU (with undergrad) would be $110,000, assuming I keep the entire scholarship. I'm not sure if I can double down for ND...

You should listen to DF. Seriously.

[menstrualcrumps]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

[ndirish2010]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

[TracyLynn]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

So the prevailing opinion is DF's recommendation-- go to SJU as long as I'm willing to drop out if I lose the scholly?

[redwings15]

Double down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KBCYKW3Gyo

[ndirish2010]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

So the prevailing opinion is DF's recommendation-- go to SJU as long as I'm willing to drop out if I lose the scholly?

Retake/reapply. That should be the prevailing opinion. I can't say this enough, neither of these options are good enough for what you could have.

[uzpakalis]

ND.

[TracyLynn]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

So the prevailing opinion is DF's recommendation-- go to SJU as long as I'm willing to drop out if I lose the scholly?

Retake/reapply. That should be the prevailing opinion. I can't say this enough, neither of these options are good enough for what you could have.

Thanks ndirish2010. This is actually my second cycle (almost went starting in 2010) so I'm not a fan of the retake option. I hate to say it because it always annoys me when other people on these boards say it lol. But it's the truth.

[ndirish2010]

I really believe T25s are only worth it for half price or better. SJU is (almost) NEVER worth it. I don't just blindly say retake/reapply.

[scammedhard]

Retake/reapply. That should be the prevailing opinion. I can't say this enough, neither of these options are good enough for what you could have.

+1. OP: Where and when did you apply? And what state are you from?

[dresden doll]

I really believe T25s are only worth it for half price or better. SJU is NEVER worth it. I don't just blindly say retake/reapply.

An SJU girl is SAing with my bf at a biglawl firm this summer. Saying SJU is NEVER worth it overstates the matter.

[scammedhard]

An SJU girl is SAing with my bf at a biglawl firm this summer. Saying SJU is NEVER worth it overstates the matter.

These cases are the exception rather than the rule, and mentioning them distract people from the cold, hard reality: attending SJU is a terrible proposition.

[dresden doll]

An SJU girl is SAing with my bf at a biglawl firm this summer. Saying SJU is NEVER worth it overstates the matter.

These cases are the exception rather than the rule, and mentioning them distract people from the cold, hard reality: attending SJU is a terrible proposition.

LOL, anyone even remotely familiar with my posts can vouch that I'm all about retaking the LSAT. I noted what I noted because ndirish overstated the matter, not because I wanted to intimate that getting biglawl from SJU is the norm. The girl in question is ranked second in her class and is supposedly the hardest working SA atm (and I'm guessing probably because she figures that her LS places her in the most vulnerable position relative to the rest of the class).

Don't use the word never when there are exceptions is all i'm saying.

[ndirish2010]

Edited.

[scammedhard]

Don't use the word never when there are exceptions is all i'm saying.

Got it.

[09042014]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

Nobody should pay sticker at Notre Dame.

[ndirish2010]

Yeah. What DF makes perfect sense. I don't think this is very difficult.

Because nobody with those numbers should go to SJU.

Nobody should pay sticker at Notre Dame.

Almost nobody. If you are independently wealthy or have a wealthy relative paying for you to attend, then perhaps. Otherwise, I agree.

[TracyLynn]

Retake/reapply. That should be the prevailing opinion. I can't say this enough, neither of these options are good enough for what you could have.

+1. OP: Where and when did you apply? And what state are you from?

I'm from upstate New York. My final options were W&L with a half scholly and Ohio State with 12K. I wasn't thrilled with OSU, especially the first year cost since I wouldn't be a resident. W&L was nice but the town was too small for me. I chose St. John's because of the cost, my network of friends in the area, my connections with my current firm (we have an office down there) and because I thought i'd enjoy NYC for awhile (even Queens).

I realize that this post begs the questions, well if OSU and W&L were too much debt for me, why ND? This is the one school on my list I never thought I'd have a chance to go to. It was a dream for me. I realize that sticker at ND sucks.. a lot. But I'm just having a hard time turning them down b/c of the money. Would I be more likely to regret going to SJU? Or ND?

Also, thanks for the retake advice. It's not what I want to hear, but I totally understand the reasons behind it.

[TracyLynn]

Also, what is the likelihood that I could use IBR to pay off my loans if I got to ND and have trouble repaying?

[09042014]

Also, what is the likelihood that I could use IBR to pay off my loans if I got to ND and have trouble repaying?

PI isn't a back up plan. People who were given an 80K stipend by their firms couldn't find people to employ them in PI for Free.

[TracyLynn]

I know the PI program is after 10 years of public service, but the IBR itself is not only for public interest as I understand it. It basically dictates a monthly payment based on a certain percentage of your income.

[09042014]

I know the PI program is after 10 years of public service, but the IBR itself is not only for public interest as I understand it. It basically dictates a monthly payment based on a certain percentage of your income.

It prevents you from defaulting or starving. But you won't be debt free until 2039. And that assumes you don't have even a month of unemployment. And even then you'll get a tax bill for like 60-100K at the end of it.

IBR is like a seat belt. Great to have, but not an excuse for driving like a retard.

[TracyLynn]

I know the PI program is after 10 years of public service, but the IBR itself is not only for public interest as I understand it. It basically dictates a monthly payment based on a certain percentage of your income.

It prevents you from defaulting or starving. But you won't be debt free until 2039. And that assumes you don't have even a month of unemployment. And even then you'll get a tax bill for like 60-100K at the end of it.

IBR is like a seat belt. Great to have, but not an excuse for driving like a retard.

That seat belt analogy made me laugh out loud

[TracyLynn]

I contacted admissions regarding 2L and 3L scholarships and was told that if you come in with little or no money and are in the top 10% of the class, you can get a scholarship of around $10K. This is definitely discouraging to say the least.

I feel like I'm definitely leaning toward St. John's at this point, but I'm still surprised to see so many votes for ND! Any final thoughts would be appreciated...Monday is looming already.