BC (Sticker) v Wisconsin (Resident) BUT...GUARANTEED JOBS Forum

[sphinx11]

I am in a bit of a predicament. I was accepted to BC and Wisconsin. Both at sticker (my lsat wasn't that good, planning to retake June). BC = 200k+ COA, Wisconsin = 120k+ (I would live at home for at least a yr).

The fine points:
I'd rather live out east than the midwest post-graduation
I'm scared as shit of the debt considering I'm a sticker bitch
My preference is clerkship to biglaw --> decent shitlaw/PI -->shitlaw --> blowing local judge for unpaid internship

The Caveat:
I have 2 guaranteed jobs ready for me. The first is working for a relative's firm (one of the best shitlaw firms in Wisconsin). First year @ 50k, 5th yr at 100k (conservative estimate). The second is a very, very good PI job out east making 50-60k. My goal is biglaw with these two as backups. My question is should I go to BC where I have a much better chance at biglaw (IF IM OK WITH 25YR EXTENDED REPAYMENT) and if I don't get it, fall back on one of these options. The debt wouldn't matter with the PI job if I do LRAP/IBR.

[hephaestus]

If your job is truly guaranteed (as in essentially contractually guaranteed, and not just illusory) go to the cheapest option and minimize debt. Big law is a fool's errand from BC anyway.

[Kalinda]

I am in a bit of a predicament. I was accepted to BC and Wisconsin. Both at sticker (my lsat wasn't that good, planning to retake June). BC = 200k+ COA, Wisconsin = 120k+ (I would live at home for at least a yr).

The fine points:
I'd rather live out east than the midwest post-graduation
I'm scared as shit of the debt considering I'm a sticker bitch
My preference is clerkship to biglaw --> decent shitlaw/PI -->shitlaw --> blowing local judge for unpaid internship

The Caveat:
I have 2 guaranteed jobs ready for me. The first is working for a relative's firm (one of the best shitlaw firms in Wisconsin). First year @ 50k, 5th yr at 100k (conservative estimate). The second is a very, very good PI job out east making 50-60k. My goal is biglaw with these two as backups. My question is should I go to BC where I have a much better chance at biglaw (IF IM OK WITH 25YR EXTENDED REPAYMENT) and if I don't get it, fall back on one of these options. The debt wouldn't matter with the PI job if I do LRAP/IBR.

Is the PI gig also lined up due to a family member connection? How do you know for sure it will be there in three years?

[Rahviveh]

You're already planning to retake, so just focus on that. These are not good options for your goals, even if your downside risk is mitigated.

[sphinx11]

If your job is truly guaranteed (as in essentially contractually guaranteed, and not just illusory) go to the cheapest option and minimize debt. Big law is a fool's errand from BC anyway.

No, I didn't have a law job wet dream last night. I do agree that big law from BC isn't that good. I most likely wouldn't bag a 160k job. But, wouldn't my chances be good (if I'm above median) of getting 75k+? I'm not saying 75k is good enough to service 250k in debt.

[sphinx11]

Is the PI gig also lined up due to a family member connection? How do you know for sure it will be there in three years?

Family. You're right. Something COULD change in 3 years.

[Icculus]

If your job is truly guaranteed (as in essentially contractually guaranteed, and not just illusory) go to the cheapest option and minimize debt. Big law is a fool's errand from BC anyway.

No, I didn't have a law job wet dream last night. I do agree that big law from BC isn't that good. I most likely wouldn't bag a 160k job. But, wouldn't my chances be good (if I'm above median) of getting 75k+? I'm not saying 75k is good enough to service 250k in debt.

Where is this $75K job? You need to realize that the bimodal distribution of salries means there are a few $160K jobs and a ton of 35-50K jobs. Somone can add that diagram here. So median at BC would most likely put you in that second category.

[sphinx11]

If your job is truly guaranteed (as in essentially contractually guaranteed, and not just illusory) go to the cheapest option and minimize debt. Big law is a fool's errand from BC anyway.

No, I didn't have a law job wet dream last night. I do agree that big law from BC isn't that good. I most likely wouldn't bag a 160k job. But, wouldn't my chances be good (if I'm above median) of getting 75k+? I'm not saying 75k is good enough to service 250k in debt.

Where is this $75K job? You need to realize that the bimodal distribution of salries means there are a few $160K jobs and a ton of 35-50K jobs. Somone can add that diagram here. So median at BC would most likely put you in that second category.

How can that be true? The entire legal field is crammed with either A) 160k primo sleep-with-hookers-while-doing-blow or B) Shitty Shitlaw making 50k? No junior associate is making 60-90k at a non-NLJ250 firm? Which category are you in?

[sphinx11]

Here are BC's private law numbers for 2011 (http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... class=2011)

Private Practice 125 students 43.9% of class 87 rep. salaries (25%) $110,000 (50%) $145,000 (75%) $160,000 Mean $132,897

This suggests that about 15% of BC's 2011 class is in private making 110k, another 15% at 145k, and another 15% at 160k. If 43% of the class is in private law making at least 100k, isn't that pretty good or am I missing something?

[deuceindc]

Here are BC's private law numbers for 2011 (http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... class=2011)

Private Practice 125 students 43.9% of class 87 rep. salaries (25%) $110,000 (50%) $145,000 (75%) $160,000 Mean $132,897

This suggests that about 15% of BC's 2011 class is in private making 110k, another 15% at 145k, and another 15% at 160k. If 43% of the class is in private law making at least 100k, isn't that pretty good or am I missing something?

Yes, you are missing something. Those 25-median-75 numbers are not weighted by how many students earn those salaries. This is evidenced by the fact that the mean salary (133k) is less than the median, which necessitates that more students are below the median than above it. While the fact that the mean is closer to the median than the 25th is encouraging (this is what the average private practice reported salary was), this is still only representative of 87 students in a field of 285 - 30.5%, not the 43% they cite, as the other ~40 didn't report salaries.

[Icculus]

Here are BC's private law numbers for 2011 (http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... class=2011)

Private Practice 125 students 43.9% of class 87 rep. salaries (25%) $110,000 (50%) $145,000 (75%) $160,000 Mean $132,897

This suggests that about 15% of BC's 2011 class is in private making 110k, another 15% at 145k, and another 15% at 160k. If 43% of the class is in private law making at least 100k, isn't that pretty good or am I missing something?

Yes, you are missing something. Those 25-median-75 numbers are not weighted by how many students earn those salaries. This is evidenced by the fact that the mean salary (133k) is less than the median, which necessitates that more students are below the median than above it. While the fact that the mean is closer to the median than the 25th is encouraging (this is what the average private practice reported salary was), this is still only representative of 87 students in a field of 285 - 30.5%, not the 43% they cite, as the other ~40 didn't report salaries.

--ImageRemoved--

[timbs4339]

If your job is truly guaranteed (as in essentially contractually guaranteed, and not just illusory) go to the cheapest option and minimize debt. Big law is a fool's errand from BC anyway.

No, I didn't have a law job wet dream last night. I do agree that big law from BC isn't that good. I most likely wouldn't bag a 160k job. But, wouldn't my chances be good (if I'm above median) of getting 75k+? I'm not saying 75k is good enough to service 250k in debt.

Where is this $75K job? You need to realize that the bimodal distribution of salries means there are a few $160K jobs and a ton of 35-50K jobs. Somone can add that diagram here. So median at BC would most likely put you in that second category.

How can that be true? The entire legal field is crammed with either A) 160k primo sleep-with-hookers-while-doing-blow or B) Shitty Shitlaw making 50k? No junior associate is making 60-90k at a non-NLJ250 firm? Which category are you in?

It's more like A) 160K work 70-80 hours a week for assholes for three years while paying 75% of your income to the government on 200K of debt, and B) 50K work unknown numbers of hours for assholes while going on IBR, giving up any hopes of ever paying back 200K in debt, and hoping to Christ the republicans don't gut the program.

[DaRascal]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

[Gunnar Stahl]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

[Tiago Splitter]

Here are BC's private law numbers for 2011 (http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school= ... class=2011)

Private Practice 125 students 43.9% of class 87 rep. salaries (25%) $110,000 (50%) $145,000 (75%) $160,000 Mean $132,897

This suggests that about 15% of BC's 2011 class is in private making 110k, another 15% at 145k, and another 15% at 160k. If 43% of the class is in private law making at least 100k, isn't that pretty good or am I missing something?

BC's class of 2011 had 285 grads. This data shows salaries for 87 who went into private practice. The only thing we know for sure from these numbers is that 65 grads, or 22.8%, make at least 110K.

[WanderingPondering]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

Please stop.

Someone may actually take this seriously.

[Informative]

Do not go to Wisconsin if you want clerkship/Biglaw option. That isn't going to happen.

[TheNextAmendment]

BC = 200k+ COA

I would consider myself a risk taker (not debt averse at all), but seeing that number next to BC literally made my heart jump. Please don't do this.

[LiquidJames]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

TITCR

i actually know a few wisconsin grads, they aren't doing too well.
think of it this way, BC is the school to go to in MA other than havard, and i think we can assume many havard grads will be practicing out of state, so BC/BU will dominate the MA market
i don't know how much value is on prestige, but that certainly weigh in favor of BC as well

[DaRascal]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

TITCR

i actually know a few wisconsin grads, they aren't doing too well.
think of it this way, BC is the school to go to in MA other than havard, and i think we can assume many havard grads will be practicing out of state, so BC/BU will dominate the MA market
i don't know how much value is on prestige, but that certainly weigh in favor of BC as well

Thank you!! Finally someone agrees with me.

[philosoraptor]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

TITCR

i actually know a few wisconsin grads, they aren't doing too well.
think of it this way, BC is the school to go to in MA other than havard, and i think we can assume many havard grads will be practicing out of state, so BC/BU will dominate the MA market
i don't know how much value is on prestige, but that certainly weigh in favor of BC as well

Thank you!! Finally someone agrees with me.

I rarely insult people on this site, but you and LiquidJames are both idiots.

[TheNextAmendment]

I voted for BC. It's a school that isn't too far off from being a T14. Wisconsin is a good school but I think BC is money.

TITCR

i actually know a few wisconsin grads, they aren't doing too well.
think of it this way, BC is the school to go to in MA other than havard, and i think we can assume many havard grads will be practicing out of state, so BC/BU will dominate the MA market
i don't know how much value is on prestige, but that certainly weigh in favor of BC as well

Thank you!! Finally someone agrees with me.

I rarely insult people on this site, but you and LiquidJames are both idiots.

[romothesavior]

I'll give Liquid James the benefit of the doubt but Da Rascal has been here for years and has accumulated thousands of posts. He knows better yet is a willfully awful poster.

OP, BC is not worth anywhere near sticker (which is well over 200k btw) and Wisconsin isn't worth 120k. Both are fine schools but you're looking at WAY too much debt.