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I was set on UCLA (sticker), but I just got in off of the waitlist at UVA (sticker as well). My ultimate goal is Southern California Biglaw.

Updates:

Admitted off the waitlist at USC with $20,000/year (attempting to negotiate this up)
Just offered $25,000/year at UCLA based on UVA acceptance

Do you have any ties to CA? If so, UVA.

If you don't have any ties to CA, would you rather have a crappy job in CA or a good job anywhere else? If the former, UCLA; if the latter, UVA.

Also, what are the cost of attendance of each at sticker?

Strong ties to CA (family is all here). CoA at UCLA is around $220k and CoA at UVA is around $215k.

Your family grew up there. Did you grow up there? Did you go to high school there? Did you go to undergrad in CA? Do you have a SO in CA? If 2 of those are true you don't need to go to UCLA to solidify your ties. UVA is cheaper and better for hiring. Welcome.

Yes, you should try to get scholarship money from UCLA based on your Virginia acceptance.

I think UVA is the obvious choice given the lower cost. If you could get substantial money from UCLA then you can reconsider, but I think UVA would be the best thing for your future. My family all lives in SoCal, I went to high school there and I definitely plan on going back as well.

Adding in travel costs to Virginia & OP is facing $220,000 plus interest at both schools. Seems like a 174 LSAT even with a 3.4 GPA could have generated some scholarship offers.

CanadianWolf wrote:Adding in travel costs to Virginia & OP is facing $220,000 plus interest at both schools. Seems like a 174 LSAT even with a 3.4 GPA could have generated some scholarship offers.

Where?

There isn't an obvious choice. The choice hinges on what your backup plan is. If you miss out on SoCal biglaw, would you rather be in:

NYC biglaw? If so UVA.
SoCal non-biglaw? If so UCLA.

Is it worth it to try and get money from UCLA? Of course, but it's highly unlikely. That being said you don't have anything to lose by asking.

AssumptionRequired wrote:I think UVA is the obvious choice given the lower cost.

So if UCLA cost $6k less it would no longer be the obvious choice? lol.

Not sure. Depends in part upon whether or not OP has work experience. Unfortunately, California schools prefer high GPAs.

I would rather do So Cal non-biglaw than NYC biglaw as a backup plan. As far as detailed ties go for California, I go to undergrad here and I spent a decent portion of my childhood here. I have limited part-time work experience and no full-time work experience.

Also, I might be applying for a JD/MBA during my 1L, is either school superior as far as that goes? I appreciate all of the responses.

How do you feel about Virginia? With such a small cost different (when you subtract for travel/moving expenses), that should probably play a part in it.

Excellent117 wrote:I would rather do So Cal non-biglaw than NYC biglaw as a backup plan. As far as detailed ties go for California, I go to undergrad here and I spent a decent portion of my childhood here. I have limited part-time work experience and no full-time work experience. I should note that my tuition is being covered, so this is mainly a question of which school would be superior for So Cal biglaw prospects.

Then I would take UCLA. Especially since all you have to pay for is cost of living.

I agree with the above post. UCLA seems to match OP's goals.

OP: Try to get scholarship money from UCLA based on your Virginia acceptance.

bk187 wrote:

Excellent117 wrote:I would rather do So Cal non-biglaw than NYC biglaw as a backup plan. As far as detailed ties go for California, I go to undergrad here and I spent a decent portion of my childhood here. I have limited part-time work experience and no full-time work experience. I should note that my tuition is being covered, so this is mainly a question of which school would be superior for So Cal biglaw prospects.

Then I would take UCLA. Especially since all you have to pay for is cost of living.

Agree w BK.

fakehunter wrote:How do you feel about Virginia? With such a small cost different (when you subtract for travel/moving expenses), that should probably play a part in it.

I really liked UVA and Charlottesville when I visited and I have never lived outside of a big city. That's one of the things making this decision so difficult. Is a big reason that you guys are recommending UCLA over UVA it's proximity to networking opportunities/externships in So Cal?

Excellent117 wrote:

fakehunter wrote:How do you feel about Virginia? With such a small cost different (when you subtract for travel/moving expenses), that should probably play a part in it.

I really liked UVA and Charlottesville when I visited and I have never lived outside of a big city. That's one of the things making this decision so difficult. Is a big reason that you guys are recommending UCLA over UVA it's proximity to networking opportunities/externships in So Cal?

It's because you don't want NYC big law as a back up.

Excellent117 wrote:I really liked UVA and Charlottesville when I visited and I have never lived outside of a big city. That's one of the things making this decision so difficult. Is a big reason that you guys are recommending UCLA over UVA it's proximity to networking opportunities/externships in So Cal?

Yes. Plus its prestige/alums in SoCal as well.

So I am bumping this post because I was just accepted to USC off the wait list and received a $20,000/year scholarship (no stips). Any different opinions given the new information?

If you want to do Cali non-biglaw, USC. All the way. UCLA and USC are peer schools and given that you're getting money from one...

60K isn't enough from USC. UVA all the way.

justicefishy wrote:If you want to do Cali non-biglaw, USC. All the way. UCLA and USC are peer schools and given that you're getting money from one...

Well, So Cal biglaw is my ultimate goal, but So Cal non-biglaw would be my preferred backup. It seems that USC might be the stronger choice here, especially given that people were recommending UCLA over UVA when it was at sticker before.

Excellent117 wrote:Well, So Cal biglaw is my ultimate goal, but So Cal non-biglaw would be my preferred backup. It seems that USC might be the stronger choice here, especially given that people were recommending UCLA over UVA when it was at sticker before.

USC and UCLA are peers. Seems like an easy choice to take USC with 20k/year over UCLA sticker.