UCLA $$$ vs Penn $ Forum

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 4:59 pm

Hey guys and gals, which would you choose given this scenario: UCLA full ride vs. Penn with a 40k scholarship. Keep in mind that I want LA biglaw, but that Penn is my dream school. Let's factor housing out of this because my parents will probably cover that, which I am very thankful for. What do you think? Will it be hard to come back to SoCal out of Penn (very strong ties- family and undergrad) and is it worth the extra money?

sinfiery · Post by **sinfiery** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:04 pm

Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?

Big Dog · Post by **Big Dog** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:09 pm

I want LA biglaw, but that Penn is my dream school.

Seems like goal conflict to me. Penn is a killer in the NE, primarily due to self-selection; as a result, few grads end up in California. UCLA, on the other hand, does much worse for Big Law in total, but owns/shares SoCal with 'SC.

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:12 pm

sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?

That's the thing. I don't know. But SoCal biglaw is my first choice, let's assume that East Coast Biglaw and any legal job in SoCal are of equal preference, because I really don't know.

Micdiddy · Post by **Micdiddy** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:12 pm

sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?

This is the Sinfiery I know.

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:14 pm

Big Dog wrote:
I want LA biglaw, but that Penn is my dream school.
Seems like goal conflict to me. Penn is a killer in the NE, primarily due to self-selection; as a result, few grads end up in California. UCLA, on the other hand, does much worse for Big Law in total, but owns/shares SoCal with 'SC.

But if you take a look at LST, Penn grads seem to fare very well in California.

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:15 pm

Micdiddy wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?
This is the Sinfiery I know.

LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.

hephaestus · Post by **hephaestus** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:20 pm

Ibracadabra wrote:
Micdiddy wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?
This is the Sinfiery I know.
LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.

I think the extra security by Penn is the better bet here, especially since your parents are covering cost of living.

sinfiery · Post by **sinfiery** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:21 pm

Ibracadabra wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?
That's the thing. I don't know. But SoCal biglaw is my first choice, let's assume that East Coast Biglaw and any legal job in SoCal are of equal preference, because I really don't know.

If you really don't know, I would pick Penn if you are more unemployed averse or UCLA if you are more debt averse. Generally, I think when you are uncertain as you are, you should go to the best school with manageable debt which is clearly UPenn here.

Micdiddy wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?
This is the Sinfiery I know.

Doorkeeper · Post by **Doorkeeper** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:28 pm

What's total COA for Penn?

This seems like it would be a 100k or so difference if parents are paying for cost of living for either school.

jbagelboy · Post by **jbagelboy** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:29 pm

Hold up. Is this 40K per year at Penn? If so, unequivocally every time Penn. if its 40K TOTAL 3 years, leaving $140,000 after interest with your parents covering CoL... then Id take the full ride at UCLA since you actually want to work in CA, graduate with no debt and call it a day.

Dr. Dre · Post by **Dr. Dre** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:32 pm

Don't go to UCLA

dissonance1848 · Post by **dissonance1848** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:38 pm

So OP managed a full-ride at UCLA? You know what this means? Retake, retake, retake.

What are your numbers OP?

Given your GPA is obviously above 3.8+, you need to retake, get into HYS, or get serious money at CC

Dr. Dre · Post by **Dr. Dre** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:39 pm

OP retake this OCTOBER

ManoftheHour · Post by **ManoftheHour** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:40 pm

OP, I'm striving to be in your situation. I want Cali big law. Have ties to SoCal. Penn is also my dream school. My parents will also be covering my COL.

I'd choose Penn at sticker over UCLA/USC with $$$. The $ you got just makes this a lot easier. Penn's superior employment makes it worth the extra cost for dat Ivy League swag. And if you strike out of the Cali market, at least you still have the east coast to fall back on. New York big law isn't the worst thing in the world. If anything, work for a few years then try to lateral out. You can't say the same about UCLA.

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:41 pm

Doorkeeper wrote:What's total COA for Penn?

This seems like it would be a 100k or so difference if parents are paying for cost of living for either school.

I honestly don't know. I'm assuming that living costs will be the same. And with a 40k scholarship at Penn, I'm looking at $125k debt with the tuition being around 55k/yr

Dr. Dre · Post by **Dr. Dre** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:42 pm

ManoftheHour wrote: dat Ivy League swag.

rad lulz · Post by **rad lulz** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:44 pm

Ibracadabra wrote:
Micdiddy wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?
This is the Sinfiery I know.
LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.

Define "good."

It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:45 pm

jbagelboy wrote:Hold up. Is this 40K per year at Penn? If so, unequivocally every time Penn. if its 40K TOTAL 3 years, leaving $140,000 after interest with your parents covering CoL... then Id take the full ride at UCLA since you actually want to work in CA, graduate with no debt and call it a day.

No, 40k total. And I've maxed out on retakes. So we need to take that off the table.

ManoftheHour · Post by **ManoftheHour** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:48 pm

rad lulz wrote:
Ibracadabra wrote: LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.
Define "good."

It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA

To add to this, it's more probable than not that you will get a big law job from Penn.

Dr. Dre · Post by **Dr. Dre** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:48 pm

rad lulz wrote:

It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:51 pm

rad lulz wrote:
Ibracadabra wrote:
Micdiddy wrote:
sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or ~~any legal job~~ Starbucks in CA?
This is the Sinfiery I know.
LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.
Define "good."

It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA

84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.

Dr. Dre · Post by **Dr. Dre** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:51 pm

Ibracadabra wrote: 84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.

where the hell did you get those stats

Ibracadabra · Post by **Ibracadabra** » Wed May 08, 2013 5:55 pm

Dr. Dre wrote:
Ibracadabra wrote: 84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.

where the hell did you get those stats

http://www.law.ucla.edu/career-services ... stics.aspx

Micdiddy · Post by **Micdiddy** » Wed May 08, 2013 6:03 pm

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=ucla

Not the worst by any measure...but no Penn.

UCLA $$$ vs Penn $ Forum

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