UIUC vs. UIB vs. Wake Forest vs. OSU vs. Iowa vs. W&M Forum

[HLynn]

I'm from Missouri, but I went to undergrad in Tennessee. Since graduation in 2010, I have worked state and federal election campaigns, and I currently am a district staffer for a member of Congress. I would like to use my degree to continue advancing in my political work. While I would prefer work in government/politics or as a JAG, I could survive doing public interest work or something that would help me earn a decent paycheck. I am fine with working in the Midwest or Atlantic Coast region. Since I will be paying for all of my school expenses, cost is a significant factor in determining which school I attend.

[rad lulz]

Do us a favor and calculate total CoA including cost of living and interest for every one of those

[Dr. Dre]

Do us a favor and calculate total CoA including cost of living and interest for every one of those

[HLynn]

No problem. Est. total cost is as follows:

UIUC: $53,907, residency (R) isn't happening
OSU*: $110,864, $80,964 w/ R after 1L (*note that you can get a Masters of Public Policy with the JD in 3 yrs. included in this price)
W&M: $84,700, $64,700 w/ R after 1L
IA: $157,149, $116,253 w/ R after 1L
IUB: $131,523, R is supposedly not likely
WF: $84,378
FL (Levin): $123,248, $84,518 w/ R after 1L
MO: $33,932
NE: $8,464

[rickgrimes69]

MO only because you have ties, and that price isn't too bad. Drop out if you lose your scholarship obviously (you aren't getting a job below median anyway).

[rad lulz]

MO only because you have ties, and that price isn't too bad. Drop out if you lose your scholarship obviously (you aren't getting a job below median anyway).

Yeah MO

[HLynn]

rickgrimes69 wrote:
MO only because you have ties, and that price isn't too bad. Drop out if you lose your scholarship obviously (you aren't getting a job below median anyway).

Missouri over even Illinois? Even assuming proximity is key, Illinois is actually just a couple of hours from where I am now in SE Missouri. Mizzou is indeed the school where everyone in MO govt. goes to school. But considering that I want to continue working for Congress as opposed to state government, the I-went-to-a-school-in-Missouri factor would seem to be less important than going to the better school. The other problem with Mizzou is that it is the one school notable for having a decent amount of people losing scholarships.

[rickgrimes69]

rickgrimes69 wrote:
MO only because you have ties, and that price isn't too bad. Drop out if you lose your scholarship obviously (you aren't getting a job below median anyway).

Missouri over even Illinois? Even assuming proximity is key, Illinois is actually just a couple of hours from where I am now in SE Missouri. Mizzou is indeed the school where everyone in MO govt. goes to school. But considering that I want to continue working for Congress as opposed to state government, the I-went-to-a-school-in-Missouri factor would seem to be less important than going to the better school. The other problem with Mizzou is that it is the one school notable for having a decent amount of people losing scholarships.

Nobody will be any more impressed by Illinois than they will by MO. The T1/T2 distinction matters a lot less than you think, and getting a job in DC is going to be a crapshoot from either school so might as well mitigate your risk as much as possible. When you don't get a job working for Congress you'll want to be able to fall back on MO, and that will be a lot easier from MO than it will from UIUC.

Also, MO's placement is substantially better - 66% get lawyer jobs vs. only 50% at UIUC.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... show=chars

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... show=chars

[HLynn]

Update: Iowa offered a $75,000 scholarship with the stip being good academic standing. That makes the total cost approximately $82,149 and $41,253 with residency after 1L.