michigan (45k) vs. chicago Forum

[dinamo88]

.

[ScrabbleChamp]

This is a hypothetical

[dinamo88]

.

[AreJay711]

It is probably worth pursuing the Chicago admit. If you had both, it is a toss up and go to the one you like better. Paying back probably $65k less would make kind of a big difference for quality of life.

[ScrabbleChamp]

Just be happy with your money at Michigan. It is a great school and, chances are, as you were WL'd at Chicago, if you get in, you'll be looking at full price. Unless you have a reason you NEED to be in Chicago or you want the whole law & economics thing, I'd go with Michigan + $15k/year.

[Hjones33]

.

[Nelson]

It is probably worth pursuing the Chicago admit. If you had both, it is a toss up and go to the one you like better.

TITCR. You have nothing to lose by writing a LOCI and riding the waitlist. Then I think Michigan with $ vs. Chicago is a toss up.

[Doorkeeper]

What are your career goals? What are you geographic preferences? Do you like larger or smaller class sizes? Do you want urban or rural?

If you are unsure about these questions, I would try to make it off the WL to determine which you like better.

[ralph_pootawn]

I am in a very similar scenario and would love to hear discussion on this topic.

[redbullvodka]

Both leaves you with debt that requires Biglaw to deal with.

Chicago's LRAP has a slightly higher income cap I believe, but involves IBR/PI; Michigan is anything under their income cap (70 i think?)

Even in boom times, Chi was ~70-75% NLJ250 while Mich hovered around 50-55%, and anecdotes from OCI this year seem to indicate the same. I think that 20% is significant, as the middle third will feel more comfortable than Mich.

FWIW, my stats (3.63/173) would have more likely than not qualified for 54K out of Mich, and I chose to apply ED to chicago instead (and am attending next year). I really think it's a toss up, and really depends how biglaw/bust you are. It's also nice (I think) that Chi has a home market to go to in addition to NYC. Michigan's diversity of placement was great in boom times, but in this post-recession new normal I don't know how valuable it is. I think this is a useful hypo to discuss regardless.

[20130312]

Why can't you just wait and see what actually happens with Chicago before you come bother us? Can't you see we're busy?

[BiglawOrBust]

CHICAGO

[bk1]

Why can't you just wait and see what actually happens with Chicago before you come bother us? Can't you see we're busy?

We have important things to do.

[skers]

Both leaves you with debt that requires Biglaw to deal with.

Chicago's LRAP has a slightly higher income cap I believe, but involves IBR/PI; Michigan is anything under their income cap (70 i think?)

Even in boom times, Chi was ~70-75% NLJ250 while Mich hovered around 50-55%, and anecdotes from OCI this year seem to indicate the same. I think that 20% is significant, as the middle third will feel more comfortable than Mich.

FWIW, my stats (3.63/173) would have more likely than not qualified for 54K out of Mich, and I chose to apply ED to chicago instead (and am attending next year). I really think it's a toss up, and really depends how biglaw/bust you are. It's also nice (I think) that Chi has a home market to go to in addition to NYC. Michigan's diversity of placement was great in boom times, but in this post-recession new normal I don't know how valuable it is. I think this is a useful hypo to discuss regardless.

This was my reasoning as well for EDing. Within this parameters, neither is a bad option. but it's all worthless unless you actually get in.

[83947368]

.

[Helmholtz]

UMichigan is a fantastic school and UMich + $45k is a terrific place to be, but UChicago is worth the extra $45k.

[Champion]

UMichigan is a fantastic school and UMich + $45k is a terrific place to be, but UChicago is worth the extra $45k.

Any particular reason for this? And would you apply the same logic to Penn/Berkeley with 45k more than UChicago?

[09042014]

Uchi has undergrad lingerie parties. That's a plus.

[sach1282]

This thread is relevant to my interests.

I'm currently in at Mich with 54k and on the UChi waitlist. However, COA at UChi is $2660 higher (x3 = ~8k), so the $54k scholarship really translates into $62k less debt. Not saying that amount of money is necessarily a deal-breaker either way, but no reason to not consider it.

[Helmholtz]

UMichigan is a fantastic school and UMich + $45k is a terrific place to be, but UChicago is worth the extra $45k.

Any particular reason for this? And would you apply the same logic to Penn/Berkeley with 45k more than UChicago?

The difference in the job prospects really is worth at least $45k.

That might be a tougher question. If you know you want California, then Berkeley with $45k might make more sense and if you want NYC, then Penn with $45k might make more sense. But I know less about those two schools than I do about UMich and UChi.

[Champion]

UMichigan is a fantastic school and UMich + $45k is a terrific place to be, but UChicago is worth the extra $45k.

Any particular reason for this? And would you apply the same logic to Penn/Berkeley with 45k more than UChicago?

The difference in the job prospects really is worth at least $45k.

That might be a tougher question. If you know you want California, then Berkeley with $45k might make more sense and if you want NYC, then Penn with $45k might make more sense. But I know less about those two schools than I do about UMich and UChi.

Thanks, in my case it's Penn vs. UChi and I want to practice in NY. I'm also in at Berkeley and Michigan...therefore I'm guessing that P/M/B will all match each other and it will come down to my preference of the three with more money vs. Chicago.

[skers]

The income cap is 80k at Michigan I think. Also I would guess Mich's 50% NLJ250 placement includes some self-selection away from Biglaw. I just kind of doubt V & P have 10% higher placement power based on reputation alone. Also note in the old (boom times) graph below that Chicago's at about 65% maybe 5% more than Mich's peer UPenn.

Not to argue that Chicago doesn't have better placement when you include other desireable jobs not included in the NLJ 250 figure. Just saying.

http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/20080414 ... trends.pdf

Based on the most recent employment data I've seen from Chicago, 65.5% of those eligible for SAs got V100 positions (with a third of those eligible for SAs getting V20 positions, 72% got NLJ250, 80% got biglaw/regional big law. Those a very impressive numbers ITE. I'd be surprised if Michigan matched those numbers, even accounting for some indeterminate group of people who self-select away from big law, though it'd be fantastic if one of our Michigan posters could provide last year's summer empolyment data.

All that said, Helmholtz probably has a better grasp on the nuances on Mich and Chi placement than any of us.

[barneytrouble]

Michigan probably suffered more relative to other top schools by being a school that placed well across the midwest, which got hid way harder overall by the economy crashing.

[83947368]

.

[Nobody]

Uchi has undergrad lingerie parties. That's a plus.

Full of Uchi undergrads.