USC $90k Scholly vs. Mich $60k from family Forum

indecision2012 · Post by **indecision2012** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:19 pm

Hi folks,

Looking to get Biglaw in either NY or LA, want the options since I'm totally undecided at the moment. USC just offered me a $30k/year scholly, and my family has offered to give me $20k per year if I attend Mich (they won't give me money to attend USC since I have a scholly there). I'm from LA but USC is so far away from the family home that commuting from home would be insanely impractical.

Thoughts?

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:23 pm

If you don't mind NYC, don't mind taking money from your family, and want biglaw then UMich.

droidtime · Post by **droidtime** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:26 pm

If you are sure you want to work in LA, then USC is the better choice. Being able to network in LA while in law school will give help you tremendously and save your family $60k. Best of luck in your choice!

Cartman · Post by **Cartman** » Thu May 17, 2012 5:44 pm

Take the scholly and save your folks some money. Go to USC and enjoy the wonderful reputation it has in LA. Congrats on the $$!

Edit: Plus, who knows...maybe you can talk them into giving a little bit of that $ afterwards to help pay off loans. Either way, go to USC. School $$ > family $$ any day, and USC has a great rep. in SoCal.

Revolver066 · Post by **Revolver066** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:10 pm

bk187 wrote:If you don't mind NYC, don't mind taking money from your family, and want biglaw then UMich.

To steal a line from bk, if your preference is la big law > la non big law > NYC big law, go to USC. If it's LA big law/NYC big law > la non big law, go to Michigan.

You're probably looking at 6 figures of debt either way, so I'd probably take Michigan to increase your big law chances.

2014 · Post by **2014** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:20 pm

Is there no way to explain to them how much debt can be cripping and ask that since they had planned to spend the money anyway to give it to you toward USC? USC 150k v Mich 60k would be a much tougher question.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:29 pm

Ask Michigan for money & ask USC to increase their offer in light of your Michigan acceptance before deciding. (If Michigan offers money, it would probably be $15,000 per year.)

dixiecupdrinking · Post by **dixiecupdrinking** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:58 pm

Michigan is worth $30k more than USC. Go there.

droidtime · Post by **droidtime** » Thu May 17, 2012 7:17 pm

Deciding where you want to work is really going to determine which school you should go to. If you're positive about working in LA, then USC is the better choice. You'll be able to network and USC is a top school in LA. Also, you could possibly get your family to give you the $60k. Good luck!

Masala716 · Post by **Masala716** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:45 pm

CanadianWolf wrote:Ask Michigan for money & ask USC to increase their offer in light of your Michigan acceptance before deciding. (If Michigan offers money, it would probably be $15,000 per year.)

TITCR

Masala716 · Post by **Masala716** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:46 pm

Also if you want to work in LA this is a no brainer. You go to USC.

JasonR · Post by **JasonR** » Fri May 18, 2012 4:37 am

Cartman wrote:Take the scholly and save your folks some money. Go to USC and enjoy the wonderful reputation it has in LA. Congrats on the $$!

Edit: Plus, who knows...maybe you can talk them into giving a little bit of that $ afterwards to help pay off loans. Either way, go to USC. School $$ > family $$ any day, and USC has a great rep. in SoCal.

^^^

Once again, full disclosure for Cartman, since he won't provide it himself: He's on the UMich WL and wants to go there very badly. He's giving you crap advice for selfish reasons.

TMC116 · Post by **TMC116** » Fri May 18, 2012 9:22 am

Go to Michigan. They place a ton of grads in California. It's also never been out of the top 10.

No13baby · Post by **No13baby** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:39 pm

Michigan will keep your options open if you decide you do want NY, but it will also take you back to LA since you have ties there. Go to Michigan.

moneybagsphd · Post by **moneybagsphd** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:53 pm

I don't see the decision as USC w/ 90k vs. Mich w/60k. Really, it's USC w/ 90k or sticker at Mich. Your parents' money should not be treated as the equivalent of a merit scholarship coming from a school. Merit scholarships do not cost the people you love tens of thousands of dollars. That aside, I agree that Mich w/60k>USC w/90k . If you're comfortable taking the money, go to Michigan. It doesn't make any sense that your parents are offering you money contingent on going to a certain school. USC w/ 150k>Mich w/60k.

Puttanesca · Post by **Puttanesca** » Wed May 23, 2012 11:28 am

Since you're not dead set on LA biglaw, I'd say Michigan. Will give you more options outside of LA.

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed May 23, 2012 11:32 am

Definitely Michigan. I dont understand why it matters where you have $$ to. you should talk to your parents and ask them to contribute that to USC, do they want you to be far from home? I would think they would offer more $$ toward USC to be able to see you.... The cost of living at USC will also be much higher than Michigan

moneybagsphd · Post by **moneybagsphd** » Wed May 23, 2012 12:20 pm

AssumptionRequired wrote:Definitely Michigan. I dont understand why it matters where you have $$ to. you should talk to your parents and ask them to contribute that to USC, do they want you to be far from home? I would think they would offer more $$ toward USC to be able to see you.... The cost of living at USC will also be much higher than Michigan

If your parents put that 60k towards USC, I'd take that option.

indecision2012 · Post by **indecision2012** » Thu May 24, 2012 12:25 pm

Thank you for your input everyone. I've decided on Michigan for a number of reasons, among which are the fact that it's a top 10, and I am not set on practicing in LA and would actually like the idea of potentially practicing in NY for at least a few years.

Yes, believe it or not, my family will not give me 60k to go to USC, I know it sounds crazy, but hey, that's my family for you haha.

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