Mason (GMU) $$ vs Northwestern $ Forum

[Danny Boyo]

Hi all,

I was accepted at a few schools, but I am looking mostly at George Mason University School of Law and Northwestern Law.
Rankings and job prospects for BigLaw employment tilt my decision heavily towards Northwestern, but I like to make informed decisions and not take things for granted.

I would only do two years at NU instead of three (foreign attorney naturalized US citizen, god bless America). However, I currently live very close to Mason and could claim Virginia residency (putting their tuition at $24,623). I could conceivably go to Mason at near zero cost for housing and so the total cost would be a little over $ 76,000.00.

At NU, I am looking at 122,000.00 price tag (Chicago is expensive).
Mason does well with government jobs and that is something that interests me but I think I would have a more varied and better paying jobs at Northwestern (assuming I do the right things, grades, network, work my ass off).
Plus, I like Northwestern's "vibe" more than Mason's, but maybe that is because I live close to Mason and got used to NoVa's vibe.

So… what U guys and ladies think?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Cheers

[NoodleyOne]

This is not close at all. NU all the way.

[WokeUpInACar]

This is not even slightly close, go to Northwestern.

[Cobretti]

If I hadn't seen you active in the NU waiting thread for months now, I would think this was a troll post.

NU

[Doorkeeper]

This is not close at all. NU all the way.

[patrickd139]

This is not even slightly close, go to Northwestern.

[PRgradBYU]

Hi all,

I was accepted at a few schools, but I am looking mostly at George Mason University School of Law and Northwestern Law.
Rankings and job prospects for BigLaw employment tilt my decision heavily towards Northwestern, but I like to make informed decisions and not take things for granted.

I would only do two years at NU instead of three (foreign attorney naturalized US citizen, god bless America). However, I currently live very close to Mason and could claim Virginia residency (putting their tuition at $24,623). I could conceivably go to Mason at near zero cost for housing and so the total cost would be a little over $ 76,000.00.

At NU, I am looking at 122,000.00 price tag (Chicago is expensive).
Mason does well with government jobs and that is something that interests me but I think I would have a more varied and better paying jobs at Northwestern (assuming I do the right things, grades, network, work my ass off).
Plus, I like Northwestern's "vibe" more than Mason's, but maybe that is because I live close to Mason and got used to NoVa's vibe.

So… what U guys and ladies think?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Cheers

Most definitely NU.

If I hadn't seen you active in the NU waiting thread for months now, I would think this was a troll post.

NU

Haha. Two law schools on very different sides of the spectrum, huh?

[hephaestus]

This is not close at all. NU all the way.

[Ti Malice]

Mason does well with government jobs and that is something that interests me

Municipal government, maybe.

This is not even a question.

[09042014]

How does Two Year JD recruiting go? That is a big wild card for me. If most get Big Law, northwestern is a great choice.

[Danny Boyo]

If I hadn't seen you active in the NU waiting thread for months now, I would think this was a troll post.

NU

Hahaha, good point. I'm just debt adverse and want to make sound decisions. I submitted my deposit to NU today. Go Wildcats!

[Danny Boyo]

How does Two Year JD recruiting go? That is a big wild card for me. If most get Big Law, northwestern is a great choice.

I can take part of OCI before I start classes. I am aware of the recruiting cycle, and maybe I can compensate by networking harder, making a good impression on employers etc. What do you think?

[rickgrimes69]

This is not even slightly close, go to Northwestern.

[Danny Boyo]

Thanks everyone for the overwhelming input. I guess I was getting a little paranoid over debt. But I am 100% sold on NU.