BC($$) vs. Notre Dame($$) -Time Crunch! Forum

[ls23]

I have deposited at BC but just got accepted from Notre Dame's waitlist and only have a few days to get back to them with a decision. Both schools are giving me a scholarship of 25K/year, which makes the COA for Notre Dame $42,480/year and COA for BC $39,591.

I am from Chicago, but I am completely open with working in either Boston, NYC, Chicago, or DC. Looking to get into either medium or big law. I understand that these two school's are essentially peers but was hoping for some guidance because I am completely torn between the two schools.

I know retake is the general mantra for non t-14, but it's an option I am not considering. Any opinions on which one is better for my career goals, information about their markets, information about the school not easily found or personal experiences would be more than welcome. Thanks in advance for any help with decision, I really appreciate it!

[empyreanrrv]

Hey, how are you getting such a low COA for those schools? Do you have significant savings you are using to pay for them?

40k CoA is good for either of those schools. Definitely don't count on big law, but they really are peers. I'd say just go to whichever you like better.

[Ruxin1]

Hey, how are you getting such a low COA for those schools? Do you have significant savings you are using to pay for them?

40k CoA is good for either of those schools. Definitely don't count on big law, but they really are peers. I'd say just go to whichever you like better.

It's per year...

[ls23]

Sorry, I should have specified, the COA is after the $25k/year scholarship is taken into account and it is per year.

[empyreanrrv]

Hey, how are you getting such a low COA for those schools? Do you have significant savings you are using to pay for them?

40k CoA is good for either of those schools. Definitely don't count on big law, but they really are peers. I'd say just go to whichever you like better.

It's per year...

Good call-- definitely on the expensive side for these schools then. Probably not worth it.

[BigZuck]

Neither school is worth that.

Retake

[Informative]

These schools are pretty fungible. BC has slightly better biglaw placement stats in the NLJ250, although it does much better with Vault firms but this is largely due to it being on the east coast. Ultimately, you're decision should come down to whether you want to work in the midwest or the northeast. Both are good options.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... ctive=true

[BigZuck]

These schools are pretty fungible. BC has slightly better biglaw placement stats in the NLJ250, although it does much better with Vault firms but this is largely due to it being on the east coast. Ultimately, you're decision should come down to whether you want to work in the midwest or the northeast. Both are good options.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... ctive=true

That wasn't particularly informative. It was more misleading than anything.

[twenty]

but it's an option I am not considering.

I have cancer in my lower leg and I'm trying to decide if I should cut it off below the knee or above the knee. While I know the medical community's mantra that surgically removing the cancerous area without amputating is TCR, I really just want to get rid of my problems now, so it's an option I'm not considering.

edit> christ, you have a 164. 3-4 more points will get you into Cornell. 5-6 points will get you into Duke. You have NO BUSINESS going this year.

edit 2> Also, why isn't UTexas and Fordham on the table here? Either one of those is better than ND/BC (though both bad ideas at sticker -- just less so)

[balzie94]

.

[jbagelboy]

but it's an option I am not considering.

I have cancer in my lower leg and I'm trying to decide if I should cut it off below the knee or above the knee. While I know the medical community's mantra that surgically removing the cancerous area without amputating is TCR, I really just want to get rid of my problems now, so it's an option I'm not considering.

edit> christ, you have a 164. 3-4 more points will get you into Cornell. 5-6 points will get you into Duke. You have NO BUSINESS going this year.

edit 2> Also, why isn't UTexas and Fordham on the table here? Either one of those is better than ND/BC (though both bad ideas at sticker -- just less so)

Your analogy made me laugh.

I dont agree Fordham is better than BC unless you are a new yorker with ties and professional WE. Its much more a sink or swim environment

[twenty]

Your analogy made me laugh.

I dont agree Fordham is better than BC unless you are a new yorker with ties and professional WE. Its much more a sink or swim environment

I think the Fordham/BC split is probably the closest one, though I'd still contend Fordham is the better choice. NYC firms, even low firms, don't care much about ties, whereas Boston firms will.

Don't get me wrong -- none of these choices are especially great, and any advantage one school has other another is marginal at best.

[PRgradBYU]

Sorry, I should have specified, the COA is after the $25k/year scholarship is taken into account and it is per year.

Retake, OP. No non-T14 school is worth that price.

[Ti Malice]

Both are good options.

Revised.

Retake or don't go. I just graduated from ND. Not worth $120k debt. BC is not significantly better.

OP, listen to this poster. Not retaking is idiocy.

[jselson]

OP, are you Catholic?

[ManoftheHour]

These schools are pretty fungible. BC has slightly better biglaw placement stats in the NLJ250, although it does much better with Vault firms but this is largely due to it being on the east coast. Ultimately, you're decision should come down to whether you want to work in the midwest or the northeast. Both are good options.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... ctive=true

That wasn't particularly informative.

Pun intended?

[sublime]

..

[Grazzhoppa]

How did you get into UT with your numbers? Are you a URM?

[Lavitz]

Retake or don't go. I just graduated from ND. Not worth $120k debt. BC is not significantly better.

And something tells me those are pre-interest figures. With capitalizing interest and tuition hikes, ND will probably cost closer to $150K. Maybe $140K at BC.

[sublime]

..

[hephaestus]

If you won't consider retaking, you shouldn't go to law school.

[ls23]

I am not a TX resident, I am from Chicago. UT wasn't an option for me because out of state sticker was too much debt to take on. I am not Catholic. I am not a URM. Lastly, I have already retaken the lsat and raised it from 161 to a 164, I did try to prep and retake this year, but I am getting around the same at 164-165 range, so losing a year doesn't make sense to me because I have already been out 2 years. Basically, I just wanted to get different opinions for BC vs. ND on this thread. Thanks for the responses.

[BigZuck]

If you won't consider retaking, you shouldn't go to law school.

[Ti Malice]

If you won't consider retaking, you shouldn't go to law school.

[jbagelboy]

Ill assume retaking and reapplying are pending and consider your other choice.

Negotiate w BC. The new offer on the table from a higher ranked school should draw traction. If you want to work in the midwest ultimately, go to ND. If you'd rather work in New England, go to BC, hopefully with a 30K+ scholarshp. Understand the debt you will be servicing and that neither of these schools have decent LRAP.