Chicago v. Duke v. Northwestern w/ deferral
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:14 am
Having a really hard time so I thought I'd start a poll. Any opinions are greatly appreciated!
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Yeah, we need more info on this stuff to give informed opinionsStrictlyBusiness wrote:where ya from, what do you want to do/end up, etc.
Just curious. As an alum, if not $90k, where would you put the dollar difference?ToTransferOrNot wrote:As a Chicago alum, I'd have a really hard time justifying $90k plus interest (at graduation, not even including interest during repayment) for Chicago over Northwestern.
That said, do you have any beads on year-long positions? You shouldn't just spend the year on the beach or waiting tables; if you really don't have any options for the year off, then I'd go with Chicago. It's a better school; not $100k better on its own (IMO), B=but it is 100k better if the year off will just be a total waste.
Hard to quantify that. I just know that $90k (probably closer to $100-110k after pre-graduation interest is taken into account) is on the "not worth it" side of the line. $30k would certainly be on the "worth it" side. I don't know when it changes over--it would certainly depend on career goals and so on. UChicago is worth more to someone who wants academia/wants to clerk/wants more national mobility etc., than for someone who would be thrilled with Chicago biglaw, doesn't care about clerking, etc.TemporarySaint wrote:Just curious. As an alum, if not $90k, where would you put the dollar difference?ToTransferOrNot wrote:As a Chicago alum, I'd have a really hard time justifying $90k plus interest (at graduation, not even including interest during repayment) for Chicago over Northwestern.
That said, do you have any beads on year-long positions? You shouldn't just spend the year on the beach or waiting tables; if you really don't have any options for the year off, then I'd go with Chicago. It's a better school; not $100k better on its own (IMO), B=but it is 100k better if the year off will just be a total waste.
Word. Thanks for responded to 0L neurosis.ToTransferOrNot wrote:Hard to quantify that. I just know that $90k (probably closer to $100-110k after pre-graduation interest is taken into account) is on the "not worth it" side of the line. $30k would certainly be on the "worth it" side. I don't know when it changes over--it would certainly depend on career goals and so on. UChicago is worth more to someone who wants academia/wants to clerk/wants more national mobility etc., than for someone who would be thrilled with Chicago biglaw, doesn't care about clerking, etc.TemporarySaint wrote:Just curious. As an alum, if not $90k, where would you put the dollar difference?ToTransferOrNot wrote:As a Chicago alum, I'd have a really hard time justifying $90k plus interest (at graduation, not even including interest during repayment) for Chicago over Northwestern.
That said, do you have any beads on year-long positions? You shouldn't just spend the year on the beach or waiting tables; if you really don't have any options for the year off, then I'd go with Chicago. It's a better school; not $100k better on its own (IMO), B=but it is 100k better if the year off will just be a total waste.
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I will always suggest that people take a year off. You can make some cash, get real world experience, and can enjoy yourself before law school.MissElphaba wrote:I would like to do biglaw for a while in the Northeast and eventually get into public interest. One of the appeals of Chicago is that they have the Institute for Justice clinic and I really want to work for IJ someday. To answer the other question, I do have a lead on a job. Nothing too thrilling, but something to do for the year if I choose Northwestern. I know I sound like (or, rather, am) a naive k-jd, but I really am reluctant to take the year off. I know what I want to do and I want to start doing it as soon as I can. I still haven't ruled out Duke because it seems like a good compromise between being cost conscious and getting started sooner.