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Iowa and Alabama are both offering full-tuition, with Alabama adding a $1,200 book stipend. MN is offering 20K. Georgetown may or may not be offering some kind of merit scholarship- I should know in the next week or so.

Since the rankings change so much with US Weekly, what school actually has the best reputation out of MN, Iowa, and Alabama - keeping the $$ in mind.

Thanks!

best rep out of those 3- MN. Where do you want to practice?

Generally I want to come back to the Midwest somewhere. Right now I'm in Fargo, ND but I'm not married to it. Just generally Midwest. I also know that the cost of living in Minneapolis is a lot higher than Tuscaloosa and Iowa City.

Of all those choices Minnesota sounds like your best bet but probably still too expensive. Haven't really looked at Iowa versus Minnesota so maybe Iowa is the best option? I bet Minnesota is more portable however. Bama and Georgetown (most likely) are out I think.

The first three are regional schools. I would only attend one of them if you are from the region. Minn, for example, won't help you much if you want to practice on Texas, etc. Georgetown is very risky at sticker. I think it would take 30k or so from GULC for it to even be in the running.

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USNWR rankings don't matter bro

GULC and Minn are waaaay too expensive. No way

Don't go to Bama if you're not from there

Where are you from/have significant ties and where do you want to work specifically

Thanks for the replies so quickly! I'm freaking out a bit as everything comes down to it.

I'm from a tiny town in MN, though I've lived in Fargo for the last 5 or so years for undergrad and the job I got after. The only reason I applied to Alabama in the first place is because my sister lives there.

I don't have a specific destination in mind for after graduation, just Midwest because my whole family is here. If I end up with the guy I'm dating now I'd be willing to come back to Fargo, but I'm not sure that's really going to happen so I don't want to count on it.

Deposits are coming due soon. Alabama $100, Iowa $250 both on April 1st. MN $750 on April 15th.

I've heard a lot that the rankings don't matter, but I'm not sure how to figure out what school actually has the best reputation and most portability should I decide to go out of the Midwest as life seems to change a lot. If not by those stupid rankings, what am I supposed to go off of?

poundcr wrote: I've heard a lot that the rankings don't matter, but I'm not sure how to figure out what school actually has the best reputation and most portability should I decide to go out of the Midwest as life seems to change a lot. If not by those stupid rankings, what am I supposed to go off of?

None of the schools you are considering will take you far outside their target markets, with the exception of GULC. However, GULC is way too expensive at the price you will be paying (don't expect much if you only got $20k from UMN).

Full tuition at Iowa or 'Bama are much better options, as long as you are ok never leaving their respective states.

Iowa typically has very harsh scholarship stipulations. If your full-ride is conditional on anything other than good academic standing, don't go there.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Iowa typically has very harsh scholarship stipulations. If your full-ride is conditional on anything other than good academic standing, don't go there.

They dropped ALL the stips on their scholarships this year actually. I'd probably go to Iowa OP, as long as you're fine with staying in the area. Or if you can get more $ from Minn that might be a better option.

I've tried negotiating with both MN and Iowa, neither seem to be at all keen on it. Not sure why.

It's not so much that I want to stay in Iowa, but it seems like I'd have a way better chance of getting a job in the Midwest somewhere and not getting stuck in Alabama.

poundcr wrote:I've tried negotiating with both MN and Iowa, neither seem to be at all keen on it. Not sure why.

It's not so much that I want to stay in Iowa, but it seems like I'd have a way better chance of getting a job in the Midwest somewhere and not getting stuck in Alabama.

If they already got rid of the stips I don't know what other negotiating you can do. I doubt they'll toss in a stipend on top of a full ride. Given your options and desire to work in the midwest I'd go to Iowa.

Minnesota is the best of the three, but it's way too expensive at what is almost sticker price. Choose your favorite between Iowa and Alabama. Alabama has done well lately and places pretty well within the state, but a degree there isn't going to take you anywhere else. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you choose either.

Are you in-state for Minn?

OP, do you mean 20k per year at UMN?

GULC sticker and Alabama when you dont want to live in Alabama long term should be out of the picture.

I'm fairly sure I've held onto my MN residency. I'll be claiming my Dad's address and I still have my MN license.

And yeah, 20K per year. Their tuition last year was about $36,800 last year for 1st year so it's like a $16,000 deficit.

poundcr wrote:I'm fairly sure I've held onto my MN residency. I'll be claiming my Dad's address and I still have my MN license.

And yeah, 20K per year. Their tuition last year was about $36,800 last year for 1st year so it's like a $16,000 deficit.

If you are not a resident of the state of Minnesota then you are not a Minnesota resident.

You should look into that further, ASAP, OP.

Nova wrote:You should look into that further, ASAP, OP.

Also you should not have a Minnesota drivers liscense according to what it says at the bottom of this page: http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/drivers ... dlinfo.htm

BigZuck wrote:

Nova wrote:You should look into that further, ASAP, OP.

Also you should not have a Minnesota drivers liscense according to what it says at the bottom of this page: http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/drivers ... dlinfo.htm

How do you know OP is not a student? And why do you give a shit if he has the right license?

Go to Iowa.

BigZuck wrote:

Nova wrote:You should look into that further, ASAP, OP.

Also you should not have a Minnesota drivers liscense according to what it says at the bottom of this page: http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/drivers ... dlinfo.htm

Square.

deputydog wrote:Go to Iowa.

Depends on what you want to do OP, but I'm going to go ahead just because debate breeds new solutions and say go to Minnesota if you want to have greatest chances to practice in the midwest, although that will most likely mean twin cities or Wisconsin (obviously not des moines). If debt is a make or break concern for you, then take your full ride at Iowa, but if you are willing to pay off some debt, minnesota is a more prestigious school with better profs, a larger network, solid connections, ect; as far as residency, even if you miss out your 1L, if your dad lives in MN you can easily reclaim it your next two years.

disclaimer: I went to minnesota's asw, I have friends & family there, and I know nothing about Iowa, so I'm clearly biased, but the choice would be easy for me.

I am an Iowa 1L working at a MSP "big law" this summer. I think Iowa would be a great option. Being from eastern ND, you will always have the option of returning to Minnesota no matter where you go to school (whether in a large or small firm based on the quality of your law school and your grades). That being said, all of the large MSP firms recruit Iowa and have lots of Iowa alumni. The debt load cannot be argued, either.

GULC too much debt. Alabama, people in the Midwest would respond "what?"