Annoying late decision: USC or ND both no debt? Forum

magicbunny · Post by **magicbunny** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:57 pm

Hi everyone,

So after I've committed to ND... USC offered me a considerably big scholarship which might lead to the change of my game plan... And here's my situation:

K-JD from a school that no one knows outside of Chicago
Have lived in the Midwest for years, but family are all in NorCal (silicon valley), so I have ties to both and I'm indifferent between the two locations, although I enjoy Chicago better I would say
Notre Dame is my dream school FOR MANY YEARS (I'm one of those people who would think ND is better than most ivy league schools), and I'm pretty sure I would be happy there; don't know too much about life at USC
BUT HAPPINESS DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO EMPLOYMENT
Won't have any debt graduating from both schools (parents are paying)
Scholarship offers are identical (factoring in COL)
I'm Asian and Chinese/English bilingual
A biglaw job would be nice but not necessary (I hate econ/finance and want to do trial work or civil litigation)
IP background (BS in chemistry and research experiences; my entire family work in the oil/chemical industry)

Will it be irrational and stupid if I stick with ND?

moneybagsphd · Post by **moneybagsphd** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:17 pm

At equal cost, USC is the better choice. Remember, you're going to law school, so your preference for ND's cachet is irrational (UG preftige doesn't transfer to LS).

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:34 pm

No, it wouldn't be irrational or stupid to stick with your dream school at equal COA.

coldpixies · Post by **coldpixies** » Sat May 12, 2012 12:19 am

/////////////////

allamerican73 · Post by **allamerican73** » Sat May 12, 2012 11:19 am

If ND is your dream school and you want to be in Chicago then I would choose ND. Much better reputation in Chicago regardless of "rank".

Ludo! · Post by **Ludo!** » Sat May 12, 2012 11:26 am

ND sounds like the better choice for you. No debt, you want to stay in the midwest, and you don't have any ties to LA - stick with ND

princeR · Post by **princeR** » Sat May 12, 2012 4:52 pm

Tough decision between two fairly equal and great schools. Can't go wrong either way, and no, choosing ND would not be dumb. Good luck.

magicbunny · Post by **magicbunny** » Sat May 12, 2012 5:24 pm

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel better.

One thing I'm worried about ND is that if I strike out at OCI and can't get a job in Chicago, I don't know where to go. ND doesn't have a home market. I imagine interviewing with firms in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Madison or Rockford will be awkward since I don't have any family here. ND graduates don't have a big presence in those areas either.

But yes it's still such a great school. Setting aside the UG prestige, I've fallen in love with the law school and already made great friends there.

I guess I'll check out USC next week and try to talk to people there and see what will happen.

Fark-o-vision · Post by **Fark-o-vision** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:08 pm

When I looked into ND it seemed like they put 3-5% in a bunch of different regional markets (the ones you mentioned and Indianapolis, Louisville, to name a couple big ones missing from your list). At first, I bought the line of it being a wide net regional with good pull all over the Midwest. The more I thought about it, though, the more I think people from all over the Midwest go to Notre Dame and then scrap to find jobs in their home markets.

Teflon_Jeff · Post by **Teflon_Jeff** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:25 am

OP: Are you active enough as a Catholic to utilize the religion angle in networking? It's a notable plus in ND's placements.

grtbooks91 · Post by **grtbooks91** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:28 am

Teflon_Jeff wrote:OP: Are you active enough as a Catholic to utilize the religion angle in networking? It's a notable plus in ND's placements.

As a Catholic heading to ND in the fall, I'm curious what you mean by a 'plus' in placement. Care to elaborate?

Teflon_Jeff · Post by **Teflon_Jeff** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:35 am

grtbooks91 wrote:
Teflon_Jeff wrote:OP: Are you active enough as a Catholic to utilize the religion angle in networking? It's a notable plus in ND's placements.
As a Catholic heading to ND in the fall, I'm curious what you mean by a 'plus' in placement. Care to elaborate?

My understanding in talking with attorneys and businessmen is that ND can have a nationwide network of other Catholic Lawyers who may be sympathetic or helpful, thus giving a boost.

As an LDS student, I've heard similar about BYU.

Perhaps my anecdotes are minimal, but I've seen similar thoughts posted here for those two specific religions/schools, respectively.

Doorkeeper · Post by **Doorkeeper** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:59 am

coldpixies wrote:
CanadianWolf wrote:No, it wouldn't be irrational or stupid to stick with your dream school at equal COA.
This.

TheThriller · Post by **TheThriller** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:21 am

Teflon_Jeff wrote:
grtbooks91 wrote:
Teflon_Jeff wrote:OP: Are you active enough as a Catholic to utilize the religion angle in networking? It's a notable plus in ND's placements.
As a Catholic heading to ND in the fall, I'm curious what you mean by a 'plus' in placement. Care to elaborate?
My understanding in talking with attorneys and businessmen is that ND can have a nationwide network of other Catholic Lawyers who may be sympathetic or helpful, thus giving a boost.

As an LDS student, I've heard similar about BYU.

Perhaps my anecdotes are minimal, but I've seen similar thoughts posted here for those two specific religions/schools, respectively.

BYU and ND are completely different. The vast majority of people who attended BYU are affiliated with the LDS. Employers who hire from BYU have a greater expectation of you being Mormon then a ND graduate being Catholic. This is like saying that Jewish Cardoza graduates have a job placement plus.

abc12345675 · Post by **abc12345675** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:24 am

Fight On.

jenesaislaw · Post by **jenesaislaw** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:32 pm

Must not be a big ND football fan if you'd even consider USC!

Annoying late decision: USC or ND both no debt? Forum

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