Top 20 with no $ vs. Top 50 with $$ Forum

[rmp]

I'm looking at having tuition fully paid for at a school ranked in the 40s (UC Hastings, possibly Davis; waiting to hear back) vs. paying sticker at top 20 schools (ND, GW, Minn). Regardless of the school, I will still have to pay for living expenses, books, transportation, etc. out of pocket unless I can secure other scholarships or other sources of funding. I'm looking at a difference of roughly 45k/year here. Also, I'm looking to practice in California. I appreciate any insight that you all can offer.

[hephaestus]

Name the schools. List specific COA after interest and projected tuition increases.

[WokeUpInACar]

You really need to retake the LSAT. The least awful of these choices would be the California schools, but they have pretty abysmal employment statistics. At Hastings less than HALF of the class gets ANY job as a lawyer. Taking on 250k in debt to attend ND, GW, or Minnesota would be an absolute disaster, so that would be your worst option. You must, must, must, must retake the LSAT.

[Nova]

T20 at sticker is a bad financial decision

[DoveBodyWash]

T20 at sticker is a bad financial decision

[sinfiery]

I'd go UT In-state at sticker.

You can definitely make it by in Austin @ 10k/year CoL + 96k tuiton

that's probably it from the T20 though

[bananapeanutbutter]

It's not even a question, largely because the schools you've listed are just arbitrarily in the top 20s. there's not a major difference between gwu and minn, and schools ranked 30-35. if it was usc, ucla, texas, vandy, it'd be more questionable.

[BigZuck]

I'd go UT In-state at sticker.

You can definitely make it by in Austin @ 10k/year CoL + 96k tuiton

that's probably it from the T20 though

As someone strongly considering UT I would love to see how someone can limit themselves to 10K over 12 months. Not trolling you, I'm genuinely curious. 833 a month minus maybe 400 for rent you have 433 to pay for food, utilities, clothes, school supplies, everything else. That is crazy tight, I'm poor and pretty frugal (really the only thing I probably spend too much money on is food and alcohol) and there is no way I could do it. Even 10K divided by 9 months seems too tight to me.

[Chaucer1343]

I'd go UT In-state at sticker.

You can definitely make it by in Austin @ 10k/year CoL + 96k tuiton

that's probably it from the T20 though

As someone strongly considering UT I would love to see how someone can limit themselves to 10K over 12 months. Not trolling you, I'm genuinely curious. 833 a month minus maybe 400 for rent you have 433 to pay for food, utilities, clothes, school supplies, everything else. That is crazy tight, I'm poor and pretty frugal (really the only thing I probably spend too much money on is food and alcohol) and there is no way I could do it. Even 10K divided by 9 months seems too tight to me.

I agree. I'm looking at a 4 bedroom away from the campus ($500/mo + utilities). Food and daily expenses would be about $20/day ($600/month). Need to travel? Need a new shirt? Want to treat yourself or see a movie? $$$

[romothesavior]

You really need to retake the LSAT. The least awful of these choices would be the California schools, but they have pretty abysmal employment statistics. At Hastings less than HALF of the class gets ANY job as a lawyer. Taking on 250k in debt to attend ND, GW, or Minnesota would be an absolute disaster, so that would be your worst option. You must, must, must, must retake the LSAT.

TITCR. A T20 at sticker is a universally bad decision, and these other schools aren't that great. I'd strongly consider a retake and try to go to a T14 on scholarship or a T20 for close to free.

[sinfiery]

I'd go UT In-state at sticker.

You can definitely make it by in Austin @ 10k/year CoL + 96k tuiton

that's probably it from the T20 though

As someone strongly considering UT I would love to see how someone can limit themselves to 10K over 12 months. Not trolling you, I'm genuinely curious. 833 a month minus maybe 400 for rent you have 433 to pay for food, utilities, clothes, school supplies, everything else. That is crazy tight, I'm poor and pretty frugal (really the only thing I probably spend too much money on is food and alcohol) and there is no way I could do it. Even 10K divided by 9 months seems too tight to me.

I agree. I'm looking at a 4 bedroom away from the campus ($500/mo + utilities). Food and daily expenses would be about $20/day ($600/month). Need to travel? Need a new shirt? Want to treat yourself or see a movie? $$$

Won't be easy but doable.

I pulled off 3500 for a semester in west texas!

Bike/public transit to class, Netflix, dollar menus/Samsclub, $8 bottles of SKOL, etc. It's possible but yeah, I'd imagine most people would spend roughly 12-15k for a full year.

You can definitely find rent cheaper than that but honestly, saving a few thousand here and there won't be worth the sacrifice...but definitely possible and doable if your alternative is to not go