UCLA $$$ vs Penn $ Forum
- Ibracadabra
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UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
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?
Last edited by Ibracadabra on Wed May 08, 2013 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- sinfiery
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
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.I want LA biglaw, but that Penn is my dream school.
- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
That's the thing. I don't know. But SoCal biglaw is my first choice, let's assume that East Coast Biglaw and any legal job in SoCal are of equal preference, because I really don't know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?
- Micdiddy
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?
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- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
But if you take a look at LST, Penn grads seem to fare very well in California.Big Dog wrote:Seems like goal conflict to me. Penn is a killer in the NE, primarily due to self-selection; as a result, few grads end up in California. UCLA, on the other hand, does much worse for Big Law in total, but owns/shares SoCal with 'SC.I want LA biglaw, but that Penn is my dream school.
- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.Micdiddy wrote:This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
I think the extra security by Penn is the better bet here, especially since your parents are covering cost of living.Ibracadabra wrote:LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.Micdiddy wrote:This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?
- sinfiery
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
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.Ibracadabra wrote: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.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC or any legal job in CA?
Micdiddy wrote:This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?



- Doorkeeper
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
What's total COA for Penn?
This seems like it would be a 100k or so difference if parents are paying for cost of living for either school.
This seems like it would be a 100k or so difference if parents are paying for cost of living for either school.
- jbagelboy
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
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.
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
So OP managed a full-ride at UCLA? You know what this means? Retake, retake, retake.
What are your numbers OP?
Given your GPA is obviously above 3.8+, you need to retake, get into HYS, or get serious money at CC
What are your numbers OP?
Given your GPA is obviously above 3.8+, you need to retake, get into HYS, or get serious money at CC
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- Dr. Dre
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
OP retake this OCTOBER
- ManoftheHour
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
OP, I'm striving to be in your situation. I want Cali big law. Have ties to SoCal. Penn is also my dream school. My parents will also be covering my COL.
I'd choose Penn at sticker over UCLA/USC with $$$. 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.
I'd choose Penn at sticker over UCLA/USC with $$$. The $ you got just makes this a lot easier. Penn's superior employment makes it worth the extra cost for dat Ivy League swag. And if you strike out of the Cali market, at least you still have the east coast to fall back on. New York big law isn't the worst thing in the world. If anything, work for a few years then try to lateral out. You can't say the same about UCLA.
Last edited by ManoftheHour on Wed May 08, 2013 5:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
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/yrDoorkeeper 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.
- Dr. Dre
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
ManoftheHour wrote: dat Ivy League swag.


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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
Define "good."Ibracadabra wrote:LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.Micdiddy wrote:This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?
It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA
- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
No, 40k total. And I've maxed out on retakes. So we need to take that off the table.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.
- ManoftheHour
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
To add to this, it's more probable than not that you will get a big law job from Penn.rad lulz wrote:Define "good."Ibracadabra wrote: LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.
It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA
- Dr. Dre
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- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.rad lulz wrote:Define "good."Ibracadabra wrote:LOL UCLA's biglaw placement in SoCal is pretty good.Micdiddy wrote:This is the Sinfiery I know.sinfiery wrote:Would you rather work biglaw in PA/NYC orany legal jobStarbucks in CA?
It's still more probable than not that you won't get a biglaw jerb from UCLA
- Dr. Dre
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
Ibracadabra wrote: 84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.
where the hell did you get those stats
- Ibracadabra
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Re: UCLA $$$ vs Penn $
http://www.law.ucla.edu/career-services ... stics.aspxDr. Dre wrote:Ibracadabra wrote: 84% employed and 25% biglaw is not bad.
where the hell did you get those stats
- Micdiddy
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