Penn ($) vs Chicago Forum

[oneoff]

-Schools you are considering: deposited at Penn. Withdrew from others. Just got into Chicago off waitlist.
-COA: sticker at Chicago. Sticker less $30k a year at Penn.
-How you will be financing your COA: all loans w00t debt slave. Have crazy UG debt like $50k.
-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any): no ties anywhere. Want to work in DC or NYC. Do not think I would mind Chicago or Philadelphia though. BUT already spent everything on apartment deposit in Philly, so blah.
-Your general career goals: biglaw. Good clerkship if I can get. Pipe dream academia someday.
-Your LSAT/GPA numbers: 171 and 3.72.
-How many times you have taken the LSAT: three.

Don't care which city I live in for three years. just don't know if worth it to sacrifice apartment deposit and $30,000 aid from Penn. Chicago worth sticker especially if i really want to try for a good clerkship?

[WokeUpInACar]

Chicago is not worth anywhere near 100k more then Penn.

[magp90]

I would stay at Penn for sure

[potted plant]

Is it $30,000 per year? Or just $30,000 total. That's a big difference. I'd probably do Penn either way since you already have some debt, but if it's only $30k total I'd say it's a closer call.

[senorhosh]

i would go Chicago but honestly you can't go wrong either way.

From your post, it seems 30k total right?
Chicago has an advantage in academia. I'd say for biglaw/fed clerkship it's a toss up between the two.
I think CoA is cheaper in Chicago (I might be wrong though) so that might offset the 30k a bit.

[sinfiery]

Dude, 30k a year is $$ on the verge of $$$


Negotiate with UChi, if nothing materializes, go to Penn

[magp90]

Dude, 30k a year is $$ on the verge of $$$


Negotiate with UChi, if nothing materializes, go to Penn

I think it's 30k total? But I could have misunderstood the OP.

[echamberlin8]

Penn since you said you would have to take on debt and you already have some UG debt. Easy answer.

[sinfiery]

Says "less 30k a year" in COA but 30k as a hinted.total at the bottom. Not sure and it probably decides the answer to this thread

[2014]

If it's 30k total I'd do Chicago. Probably safer around median because of the grading system, and better clerkship/academia options.

If it's 90k I'd do Penn (but negotiate first with Chicago)

I know people at Chicago paying sticker + UG debt and it is doable, but that 90k + interest saved is probably too much.

[jbagelboy]

I know people at Chicago paying sticker + UG debt and it is doable, but that 90k + interest saved is probably too much.

Jesus christ. That would be horrible.

[Ti Malice]

If you're getting $30K per year from Penn, it would be absolute madness to attend Chicago at sticker. Your debt at repayment from Chicago will be a little over $290K. Does interest continue to accrue on undergrad loans while you're in grad/professional school these days? If not, you're looking at a little over $340K after graduation, and if so, you'll be at roughly $350K. Horror. The latter means a loan payment of more than $4100 every month for 10 years and $500K in payments overall.

Debt at repayment from Penn will be a little over $175K. Either ~$225K or ~$235K with undergrad debt added, depending on the interest situation. Even that is pretty scary, but it's a far cry from the horror of the Chicago debt situation. The higher debt figure from Penn means a monthly payment of ~$2,750 and ~$335K in payments overall to pay off the debt in 10 years.

[Nelson]

Whether it's 30k or 90k, Chicago still isn't worth it over Penn for the east coast.

[Doorkeeper]

Is academia a "pipe dream" in the sense that you might want to try it 3-5 years down the line, or a pipe dream in the sense of that you're going to try your damnest to position yourself well for academia while in law school and you're going to pray you land a job 1-2 years out?

If the former, Penn no question. If the later, Chicago is in contention.

Also, make sure to email Chicago your Penn scholarship. You might be able to get $15k per year out of them.