UM or FIU. Please Help. Forum

[rcruz003]

I've been accepted at both and I'm still waiting on others, but I want to know if it came down to these two, which would you go with?
FYI, I live in Miami so living costs for me would be $0.

FIU tuition is 15K while UM is 40K. UM has a large alumni network, however. Looking around, a lot of lawyers practicing here in Miami are UM grads. I've been told that in general UM will give me the better opportunity in finding a well paying job. Is it worth it? Or should I go with FIU with it's low tuition, just as good law program, yet newer status?

I know the market is in the dumps, but in three years I'm sure that will change.

[RodneyBoonfield]

Tough call. I would say its a toss up. Miami dominates the market down there hardcore. On the other hand, FIU will save you 75k in loans. Hopefully you will get some $ at UM. I would probably go with UM though. If you have to seek employment outside of Miami in somewhere like Ft. Lauderdale, Boca, W. PB, etc, the alumni network would be much better coming from UM I'd imagine.

[rcruz003]

None are offering money. I don't know if I'll place at the top of the class but I'm confident I'll do well in school and get some help in my second or third year.

[pugilistjd]

If you don't plan on retaking, choose FIU assuming that you have very strong regional ties.

[pinkcamellia]

None are offering money. I don't know if I'll place at the top of the class but I'm confident I'll do well in school and get some help in my second or third year.

You don't know how you'll do - that's the nature of the beast. Also, unless you're at the top of your class and come in the office with a transfer acceptance, you're not going to be getting any extra $$$. Don't go to either of these schools unless it's free or almost free, because your best case scenario, unless you already have a job lined up, is that you'll have a fair amount of debt and be competing for jobs with T14, UF/FSU grads with less debt coming from a public school, and the masses of hopeless shitty FL school grads.

Take it from a UFer with a substantial scholarship - don't go unless there's money on the table. The job market isn't making some miraculous turnaround anytime soon.