UCLA, GULC, or Duke?
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 8:46 pm
UCLA, GULC, or Duke?
-COA estimate for UCLA: $244,174-$57,000 (scholarship and grant package) = $187,174
-COA estimate for GULC: $263,473 (not sure of financial offer yet, although prior to their offer of admission I informed them of my ~$19,000 per year from UCLA and $20,000 per year offer from USC)
-COA estimate for Duke: $252,727 (I was informed of the possibility of need-based aid but not at the $20,000 per year range).
Most schools have been putting me at around $13,000-$15,000 for need-based aid (FAFSA-derived). I’m figuring that ~$13,000 per year could be what I end up with at Duke or GULC as well?
All costs that aren’t mitigated by grants or scholarships will be in loans.
I am from Sacramento and the Bay Area of California, and would like to work either in the California or DC area.
I understand that UCLA is mostly a consideration for the California market only. I do have a lot of (non-legal, other professional/social) network connections throughout California, including Sacramento, the Bay, and Los Angeles areas.
I would really like to seek a clerkship, although at this point in time I am open to different possibilities based on how my experiences go in my first year. I am open to academia, and the Law and Philosophy program at UCLA sounds exciting to me (Philosophy Major undergrad).
LSAT score: 169 (second time around, got a 164 the first)
GPA: 3.35 (cumulative), 3.62 (degree, this was at UC Berkeley with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Anthropology). My GPA would be a 3.71 were it not for having gotten straight F’s in a single semester of community college (I retook the courses for straight A’s, but the F’s still counter per LSAC standards).
I figured the above explanations regarding LSAT and GPA just give a better picture. I imagine a 3.35 looks rather low for T14 schools?
My question, I guess, is if Duke (which seems to do better both in California and DC, particularly regarding Clerkships if I am reading http://www.lstscorereports.com/ correctly) is going to be worth sticker minus whatever need-based grant they throw my way?
I am looking at a difference of $26,553-$65,553 of extra debt for Duke. Is this worth it (even the high end, if we assume Duke provides $0 aid assign from loans?).
I really appreciate the input!
-COA estimate for UCLA: $244,174-$57,000 (scholarship and grant package) = $187,174
-COA estimate for GULC: $263,473 (not sure of financial offer yet, although prior to their offer of admission I informed them of my ~$19,000 per year from UCLA and $20,000 per year offer from USC)
-COA estimate for Duke: $252,727 (I was informed of the possibility of need-based aid but not at the $20,000 per year range).
Most schools have been putting me at around $13,000-$15,000 for need-based aid (FAFSA-derived). I’m figuring that ~$13,000 per year could be what I end up with at Duke or GULC as well?
All costs that aren’t mitigated by grants or scholarships will be in loans.
I am from Sacramento and the Bay Area of California, and would like to work either in the California or DC area.
I understand that UCLA is mostly a consideration for the California market only. I do have a lot of (non-legal, other professional/social) network connections throughout California, including Sacramento, the Bay, and Los Angeles areas.
I would really like to seek a clerkship, although at this point in time I am open to different possibilities based on how my experiences go in my first year. I am open to academia, and the Law and Philosophy program at UCLA sounds exciting to me (Philosophy Major undergrad).
LSAT score: 169 (second time around, got a 164 the first)
GPA: 3.35 (cumulative), 3.62 (degree, this was at UC Berkeley with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Anthropology). My GPA would be a 3.71 were it not for having gotten straight F’s in a single semester of community college (I retook the courses for straight A’s, but the F’s still counter per LSAC standards).
I figured the above explanations regarding LSAT and GPA just give a better picture. I imagine a 3.35 looks rather low for T14 schools?
My question, I guess, is if Duke (which seems to do better both in California and DC, particularly regarding Clerkships if I am reading http://www.lstscorereports.com/ correctly) is going to be worth sticker minus whatever need-based grant they throw my way?
I am looking at a difference of $26,553-$65,553 of extra debt for Duke. Is this worth it (even the high end, if we assume Duke provides $0 aid assign from loans?).
I really appreciate the input!