Top Law Schools

So here is the breakdown...

I would choose UChi here. The placement and location advantage are worth the extra money over UVA.

I think the UVA/UChi portion is a worthy debate and I'll let others with more knowledge chime in on that, but I don't really see the argument for GULC here. I realize that your personal situation is factored in, and I respect that, but I can't imagine life in Charlottesville being too bad for you, especially not enough to justify simultaneously taking out loans you wouldn't have to and diminishing your job prospects.

bobbyh1919 wrote:I think the UVA/UChi portion is a worthy debate and I'll let others with more knowledge chime in on that, but I don't really see the argument for GULC here. I realize that your personal situation is factored in, and I respect that, but I can't imagine life in Charlottesville being too bad for you, especially not enough to justify simultaneously taking out loans you wouldn't have to and diminishing your job prospects.

Yup

I'd go UVA from what you listed, but am surprised you're writing off Penn and so quickly unless you're debt averse. Any chance of negotiating up on scholarship? Either way, awesome options.

I'd vote UVA. Charlottesville is pretty liberal and that price is great. Of course, if you want a city, I'd go with Chicago or use UVA's offer to negotiate a lot more from Georgetown (if you can get them to exceed UVA's offer by a bit, I'd vote G-town) but I'm not sure how likely that is. Again, as other posters have expressed, I'm surprised you didn't try and get Penn to offer you more. They're great for big-law and other things and I'm pretty sure the on-campus LGBT community is really good.

UVA. No debt and being close to family outweighs the better Biglaw/clerkship prospects of Uchicago.

I think most posters are too tactful to say it, but the poll results bear out the fact that Gtown would be a ridiculous choice. First of all, these law schools are all enlightened places and I'm sure if prejudice exists, it exists only at the margins. Second, law school is a platform to the rest of your life. The social scene and the nightlife is never a central consideration in the law school selection process because most admitted students realize that the most essential factors to consider are what doors does this school open for me and how much debt will I have when I leave. Social factors may be important when deciding between similar options, but these options are very different.

Essentially, you are considering paying 20k+ more for Gtown so you might see 50 gay people as opposed to 10 at UVa for 3 years. That's $400 per gay person. Never mind the fact, once you leave Hyde Park you can follow the rainbow to seemingly infinite pots of gold scattered around the city.

I think you've got to decide between UVa and Chicago. Pick Chicago if you can afford it. Pick UVa if you can't.

I really don't think UVA is more versatile than Chicago. If anything, Chicago is the more versatile school considering its better biglaw and clerkship prospects. Also keep in mind that Chicago just instituted a pretty good LRAP for those interested in going into public interest. This being said, it really depends on your level of debt aversion. I would go Chicago here, but that $105k from UVA is a great reason to go there, and the drop off between the schools isn't too bad.

cjcregg wrote:Essentially, you are considering paying 20k+ more for Gtown so you might
see 50 gay people as opposed to 10 at UVa for 3 years. That's $400 per gay person.

This is the most enjoyment I've gotten out of TLS since a MTal post I read a few weeks back.