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As the deadline approaches I'm pretty torn on how to proceed here. The two options I'm choosing between:

Michigan (sticker) = $252,152 Total
UT ($$) = $123,247 Total

I am hoping to get at least a little bit of money out of Michigan but am doubtful about that.

I have ties to CA/Chicago and would like to end up in CA after school but am not married to this.

If all things were equal I would choose Texas over Michigan because I felt like I would be a little happier there over the course of my studies, but I realize that isn't exactly the most credited reason to attend a school especially when I could see myself getting along just fine in Ann Arbor. That said, I am very nervous about not having Texas ties and being screwed if I don't do well enough to crack an out of state market. On the other end, I'd be doubling my debt by going to Michigan.

Other considerations:
- I am currently working at a firm in CA that likes Texas grads, I feel like I have a foot in the door here but am by no means guaranteed employment at graduation.
- I am not hellbent on BigLaw but the "planned" career trajectory is BigLaw --> in house, but maybe i'll find a different muse in school so who knows
- I look better in a scarf than cowboy boots

Why not USC/UCLA if CA is the goal?

I don't think I would go to UT for that price if I wasn't set on TX, but UT does place a small but significant percentage in CA.

shifty_eyed wrote:Why not USC/UCLA if CA is the goal?

I don't think I would go to UT for that price if I wasn't set on TX, but UT does place a small but significant percentage in CA.

USC Waitlisted me and I got into UCLA but even after negotiating they won't give me any aid. I would rather pay a few thousand more and go to the better school in Michigan if I am going the sticker route.

I'd say UT. People get CA all the time from here if they have ties. Michigan is just not worth a quarter-million. (Also, put up a poll.)

Either way, though, it's a pretty big risk.

How do you feel about living in Texas or NYC if you can't get CA?

Order the following:
CA Biglaw
CA PI/Govt/Business/Midlaw/Any legal CA Job
NYC Biglaw
TX Biglaw
Starbucks in CA

sinfiery wrote:How do you feel about living in Texas or NYC if you can't get CA?

Order the following:
CA Biglaw
CA PI/Govt/Business/Midlaw/Any legal CA Job
NYC Biglaw
TX Biglaw
Starbucks in CA

0 issue ending up in Texas. I would like NYC a little less, but as mentioned I'm pretty flexible where I end up.

As for the ordering:
Starbucks in CA
CA BigLaw
TX BigLaw
NYC BigLaw/CA PI/Govt/Business/Midlaw

well, you don't need to go to law school to work at Starbucks in CA, so I recommend not going

^^^ It has been decided.




But given your ordering and the astronomical debt difference, I'd pick UT here.


Also look into getting in-state tuition your 2l/3l year. It's a significant difference for UT

I'd say Texas out of the two because Michigan simply isn't worth 250k.

shifty_eyed wrote:well, you don't need to go to law school to work at Starbucks in CA, so I recommend not going

It's a very prestigious Starbucks

I'm just flabbergasted at UCLA giving you literally no aid with how much splitter love they've shown this cycle.

sinfiery wrote:^^^ It has been decided.




But given your ordering and the astronomical debt difference, I'd pick UT here.


Also look into getting in-state tuition your 2l/3l year. It's a significant difference for UT

Thanks for the advice, its much appreciated. They actually included In-state as part of the scholarship package, so that has already been achieved.

Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

BigZuck wrote:Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

Waitlisted at NU and didn't apply to Cornell (stupid in retrospect but I have an irrational hatred of that school, same with Duke)

WokeUpInACar wrote:I'm just flabbergasted at UCLA giving you literally no aid with how much splitter love they've shown this cycle.

You and me both.

Lido997 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

Waitlisted at NU and didn't apply to Cornell (stupid in retrospect but I have an irrational hatred of that school, same with Duke)

+1 on the Duke front-- I can't stand that school, but I am going to apply anyways just in case. It was a very happy day for me when they lost in NCAA tournament.

Lido997 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

Waitlisted at NU and didn't apply to Cornell (stupid in retrospect but I have an irrational hatred of that school, same with Duke)

Not really sure how anyone can help you make a rational decision if you insist on being irrational.

BigZuck wrote:

Lido997 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

Waitlisted at NU and didn't apply to Cornell (stupid in retrospect but I have an irrational hatred of that school, same with Duke)

Not really sure how anyone can help you make a rational decision if you insist on being irrational.

Dook hating is perfectly rational

ChampagnePapi wrote:

BigZuck wrote:

Lido997 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Ugh, not loving either of these choices given your ties (or lack thereof) and geographical preferences.

No chance of a NU or Cornell with money?

Waitlisted at NU and didn't apply to Cornell (stupid in retrospect but I have an irrational hatred of that school, same with Duke)

Not really sure how anyone can help you make a rational decision if you insist on being irrational.

Dook hating is perfectly rational

Yeah the undergrad and basketball team shit on our law school rep. It sucks.