Tuition cost vs. quality of school Forum

[W&M2014]

Let's discuss quality of school vs. tuition.

What if you were admitted to a tier 1 school with a small scholarship and a tier 3 scholarship with a (almost) full ride? Both schools are in the same location and even the tier 3 is reasonably well regarded in the city. The city is where you ultimately want to practice, so both schools would provide access to clerkships/internships.


What would you do? Would you go to the "better" school and take on some serious debt? Or would you attend the tier 3 school, because graduating law school with minimal debt would be nice?

[Nova]

too many variables to discuss this so generally

depends on

the specific schools & their placement
cost of attendance at each
career goals
scholarship stipulations

[californiauser]

Tier 1 and Tier 3 aren't things anymore. It's T-14 > Solid Regional > School in the market you want to practice.

Looking at things through the lens of T1 vs TTT makes absolutely no sense anymore.

[PepperJack]

You really have to consider whether you want big law, and if yes the odds from the given T1. It will also be easier to get high grades at schools with much lower LSAT medians (think 170 vs 160).

[TheSpanishMain]

Are we talking about W&M versus Richmond here? (Just a guess based on your username)

[deebanger]

Are we talking about W&M versus Richmond here? (Just a guess based on your username)

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Depends on different variables, but if the T3 is reasonably well respected and you do not want fed clerk/Biglaw, my inclination is to save the money. Just so you know, outside their own alumni groups T1 schools are not prestigious, so if that's what your concerned with dont bother. The flip side is that prestige or not, alumni networks are generally going to be a lot better from a T1 to a T3. I said generally though. Out west where a T3 might be the only game in town, the alumni network is going to be great. But if its in the NE the T3 may have been a safety school or school of last resort for 90% of their students. This doesn't exactly make for proud or helpful alumni.

[HYSenberg]

Tier 1 and Tier 3 aren't things anymore. It's T-14 > Solid Regional > School in the market you want to practice.

Looking at things through the lens of T1 vs TTT makes absolutely no sense anymore.

This.

[rad lulz]

Say the schools

[BigZuck]

Say the schools

This

[ManoftheHour]

Say the schools

This

[W&M2014]

Are we talking about W&M versus Richmond here? (Just a guess based on your username)

Actually no! But good guess =)

[rad lulz]

Say the schools. There's no more relevant feedback to give

[ManoftheHour]

Say the schools. There's no more relevant feedback to give

Seriously. Lol, wth. It's like saying "What's better for big law, T-14 at sticker or T1 full ride."

There's a big difference between Penn vs. UC HasTTTings and GeorgeTTTown vs Texas.

[timbs4339]

It really depends on your goals, even if you don't know them precisely you can get good feedback.