Top Law Schools

This is my situation. I'm 99.9% set on USC, but thought I'd hear opinions:

Loyola $90k scholly
BC $65k
USC $38k

Goal is to work in SoCal. Biglaw or midlaw. Have taken LSAT 3 times and retake is out of the question. Family will help with 25% of monthly payments for as long as I need.

Thanks.

you already know USC is the obvious choice. It's sufficiently better than Loyola to make up for the extra 60k.

USC and it's not even close

27k isnt worth moving like 3,000 miles from your target market to attend a slightly worse peer school.

Nova wrote:USC and it's not even close

27k isnt worth moving like 3,000 miles from your target market to attend a slightly worse peer school.

For SoCal BC is going to be significantly worse. You should only consider BC if you're comfortable working on the East Coast...

There's nothing to decide here. Can't hurt to call USC and ask them for a little more if you haven't done so already, but you're going there regardless.

moneybagsphd wrote:

Nova wrote:USC and it's not even close

27k isnt worth moving like 3,000 miles from your target market to attend a slightly worse peer school.

For SoCal, BC is going to be significantly worse. You should only consider BC if you're comfortable working on the East Coast...

Yes, I completely agree. I meant peers in general, not taking target market into account. Of course, target market means everything in this case.

In OPs case,
USC >>>>>>> BC/BU

If the situation was reversed,
BC/BU >>>>>>> USC

USC if you want to work in CALI, BC if you want to work anywhere else.

Enjoy USC

dpk711 wrote:Enjoy USC

Agreed but its still pricey. OP, did negotiating work at all? This late, I fell like youd have leverage.

Nope, no wiggle room on scholarships they said. I know USC will still be damn expensive. Unfortunately my only choice here is to live at home (I'm from LA) for all 3 years. I think that with the $15k/yr saved by living w my parents, USC is worth it at $120k of debt (mind that parents will pay for parts of the monthly payment in case I don't have a job). Seems like USC's alumni base will ensure that I'll at least get SOME sort of job, at some point.

Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

partyrock wrote:Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

do people actually want to go solo? is that a thing?

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:USC if you want to work in CALI, BC if you want to work anywhere else.

This. Boom. Done.

partyrock wrote:Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

I'll still have $60k of debt from Loyola...if it was a full ride that'd be another story. Also, Loyola's scholarship has top 40% stipulations. Not that I'm not confident I can do that, but you never know.

bingbang1025 wrote:

partyrock wrote:Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

I'll still have $60k of debt from Loyola...if it was a full ride that'd be another story. Also, Loyola's scholarship has top 40% stipulations. Not that I'm not confident I can do that, but you never know.

DUDE no. loyola is out.

TLSwag wrote:

partyrock wrote:Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

do people actually want to go solo? is that a thing?

I think it's a bit delusional to think it be chosen above a firm.

Oh I didnt realize Loyola put stips on your scholarship. I have top 30% on mine, but I had heard that Loyola got rid of stipulations for this year's class, I guess that is just incorrect. Then USC is DEFINITELY TCR. Enjoy.

top30man wrote:

TLSwag wrote:

partyrock wrote:Loyola 2L here.

This is a harder call than the above posters make it seem. USC is a great school, no doubt better than Loyola, much better. However, is it worth being 120k in debt? I think it depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for BigLaw? Then definitely go with USC, its really your only option. But if you want to go criminal law or government, or maybe even solo, I am reluctant to tell you to take on that much debt. Just my two cents.

do people actually want to go solo? is that a thing?

I think it's a bit delusional to think it be chosen above a firm.

It happens more often than you think. Certainly the exception to the rule, but when you are talking about taking out a truckload of debt in exchange for a risky chance at BigLaw, going solo with a smaller debt payment becomes much more enticing.