UVA (120k) v. Chicago (off WL) -Updated with money! Forum

[sn20]

Accepted at UChicago today!

Career goals: I'm Biglaw or bust, with my preferred location being in Texas, where I have strong ties. Secondary targets are basically wherever I can get a Biglaw job (NYC, school region, etc.). So no interest in clerkships, academia, etc. *I want to pursue a JD/MBA and I figure this should be in the calculation since Booth is a M7 school.

I have 2 questions for TLS:

1) Does UChicago place significantly better than UVA in Texas for someone who has strong ties? (I've heard students below median at UVA receiving callbacks at Texas firms, have no idea for UChicago.)

2) Considering I have a large scholarship at UVA, how much would UChicago have to offer for me to jump ship on UVA?

Thanks ahead of time everyone!

p.s. Also, please don't quote!

UPDATE- Chicago is offering 60k. What should I do? Also, what are some general thoughts on potentially asking for more after being waitlisted (does it happen, is it rude)? After thinking some more about my situation and reading the responses, I think I would go if I were offered the 75k/90k scholarship (seems unlikely with my numbers). New poll!

[0L Hoping for 1]

I cannot say in comparison (because 120k at UVa seems awesome) but I can say everyone I know at Chicago that wanted Texas got it. Also, many 1Ls with ties are working in Texas Biglaw this summer.

[Law Sauce]

Definitely stick with UVA. UChicago is a better school but not that much better. Plus TX with ties is probably the easiest market for UVA students. I know 1Ls who had multiple TX firm offers for 1L summer even without great grades. UVA also has a two pre-OGI TX job fairs, one in Dallas and one in Houston. With that scholarship, you be in the positive really really quickly. Congrats. Without interest in Clerkship, elite litigation Boutiques, or Chicago or DC (or maybe V10s in NYC), UVA and UChi are not that different, definitely no where near $120,000 different. Except that UVA has got to be the better place to be for three years.

[Law Sauce]

I cannot say in comparison (because 120k at UVa seems awesome) but I can say everyone I know at Chicago that wanted Texas got it. Also, many 1Ls with ties are working in Texas Biglaw this summer.

Agreed. TX is easy overall. Also, sorry for the UVA trolling...

[0L Hoping for 1]

I cannot say in comparison (because 120k at UVa seems awesome) but I can say everyone I know at Chicago that wanted Texas got it. Also, many 1Ls with ties are working in Texas Biglaw this summer.

Agreed. TX is easy overall. Also, sorry for the UVA trolling...

Honestly, if I had Texas ties going in and it was 120k at UVa or $0 at UChicago, I would pick UVa hands down (and I love UChicago).

[bdubs]

For your goals, the difference would need to be less than 30k IMO.

I don't know much about TX recruiting from the two schools, but I imagine it's pretty similar.

[timbs4339]

I see no real reason to turn down UVA with a half scholly here if you just want biglaw unless the Booth MBA is worth 120K to you. I am not sure how deep NYC firms will reach into the class at UVA but it can't be more than 10% lower than Chicago.

I would say that Chicago would have to offer 75K to make me choose it over 120K at UVA.

[5ky]

Both place a relatively low % of the class in TX:

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/employmentdata

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/career/stats.htm

Perhaps it is a bit easier if you want TX from Chicago, but the difference isn't going to be very large.

[Greenandgold]

Both place a relatively low % of the class in TX:

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/employmentdata

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/career/stats.htm

Perhaps it is a bit easier if you want TX from Chicago, but the difference isn't going to be very large.

This makes me think Chicago might be a little better, since the percentages are a tiny bit in Chicago's favor and I'm assuming there are a larger percentage of UVA students trying for Texas than Chicago students. Could be wrong though.

[2014]

In your position I would absolutely choose UVA and I have a personal dislike for UVA and preference for UChi. I think 75k as mentioned above is a reasonable number to consider switching, absolutely 60k to warrant the time spent thinking about it. Great options either way though!

[bree]

I would probably pick UVA as well. However, you mentioned a JD/MBA. Chicago business school is better/more reputable than UVA b-school. If you have any thoughts of doing the business route,you should account for this. Doubly so, if you have any thoughts on doing finance. Your opportunities in finance from Chicago b-school are as good as any other school. All the banks, funds, etc go to Chicago. Fewer though still many at UVA b-school.

[JamMasterJ]

I'd take UVA unless you get at least 60K, and that's b/c Chicago's my number 1 market. I really don't think you'll get more than 45K off the WL though. Another student that just got in was told that Chi probably wouldn't be able to match the 30K they got at Northwestern

[Bronck]

UVA, that's a lotta money.

[dixon02]

Anecdotally, as the poster above said, everyone I know at UVA who wanted Texas got Texas even without great grades. If you have ties to the area, it doesn't appear to be very difficult to get back to. I don't see how we can properly evaluate the stats posted above without knowing how many students actually wanted Texas.

120K (plus interest) is a ton to pass up. I'd say Chicago would have to offer you at least half of that. As for the MBA, it's kind of a similar boat to the law schools themselves. Chicago's got a better school, but it's not like Darden is a TTTT. I wouldn't pay double to go to Chicago.

[Mad Hatter]

As has been mentioned, UVA is a no-brainier until Chicago offers you at least 60k or so.

[woeisme]

For your goals of landing biglaw in Texas or NYC, I'd take the Cornell with 120 offer or Texas with 120 (I'm sure you could leverage) over UVA with 120 or Chicago with 0. Assuming those are off the table for whatever reason, UVA with 120 makes more sense than Chicago with 0. But I'd go Chicago if you got maybe 70kish.

[bjsesq]

Waiting for Taipei Mort to show up and talk about the dilution of UVA faculty and why U of C is clearly the choice here.

[ringo]

I took Chicago with 45k off the waitlist after depositing at UVA with 75k. I agree with those who say you should stick with UVA unless Chicago comes up with a huge offer. With strong Texas ties I think your end result will end up being the same at either school, so take the money.

[Doorkeeper]

I agree with most of the above comments. You're not interested in any of the things that Chicago is clearly better at (clerking, academia, etc), and you're focused on a market where ties matter a lot more than normal biglaw areas. Since you already have those ties, I say take the money at UVA and run. I know Booth is at Chicago, and that's a consideration, but it's not really worth $120k if you're biglaw or bust. If you really want a top-flight MBA, you can always do it after law school. Or you can go to Darden at UVA.

[rickgrimes69]

Definitely UVA. Chicago's better, but not $120k better.

[5ky]

Both place a relatively low % of the class in TX:

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/employmentdata

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/career/stats.htm

Perhaps it is a bit easier if you want TX from Chicago, but the difference isn't going to be very large.

This makes me think Chicago might be a little better, since the percentages are a tiny bit in Chicago's favor and I'm assuming there are a larger percentage of UVA students trying for Texas than Chicago students. Could be wrong though.

Chicago's included 3 other states than TX, though. The percentages are incredibly low sample sizes.

[Greenandgold]

Both place a relatively low % of the class in TX:

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/employmentdata

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/career/stats.htm

Perhaps it is a bit easier if you want TX from Chicago, but the difference isn't going to be very large.

This makes me think Chicago might be a little better, since the percentages are a tiny bit in Chicago's favor and I'm assuming there are a larger percentage of UVA students trying for Texas than Chicago students. Could be wrong though.

Chicago's included 3 other states than TX, though. The percentages are incredibly low sample sizes.

You're right, and I wasn't trying to say Chicago had any sort of definite advantage. But in all honestly, how many students are getting jobs in Oklahoma or Lousiana upon graduating from Chicago? The problem is that even if it's only one or two, that does change the percentages a non-negligible amount because of Chicago's small class size, so it is perhaps an unfair comparison.

[sn20]

Update in original post!

[beachbum]

UVA, that's a lotta money.

[5ky]

60k + higher cost of living is a lot of money. It doesn't seem like it now, but it will when you have to pay it back.