Top Law Schools

I have a pretty tough decision when deciding what law school I should go to. I have no money to speak of (about $7,000 in savings) and am just graduating college in May, with no help from my parents. My dream has always been to work at a big firm in NY but lately the thought of incurring +220,000 in debt doesn't sit well with me. Most notably, I've been accepted to Penn, Duke, Georgetown, and UVA with no financial aid yet. And have also been accepted to WUSTL and UCLA for free. My question to the TLS community is which would you choose? A T-14 law school completely debt-financed or a T-20 for free?

Edited:

This.

BigZuck wrote:Thread feels awfully premature...

There's no way that you'd get into Penn and not have aid for the lower T-14s.

Thread feels awfully premature...

If you'd be satisfied with L.A. mid-law or other things L.A. (I would be, but I have family I like there), then I'd take the ride there. If you want NYC Biglaw, then go to Penn/retake for $ at Penn.

BigZuck wrote:Thread feels awfully premature...

Also, negotiate.

What are your numbers? Seems odd you'd get Penn, UCLA for free, and get no money from any school in between.

While UCLA for free is probably the best option on this list from an objective standpoint, it isn't the best option for NYC Biglaw specifically. That would be Penn. I would be comfortable paying sticker at Penn given that 75% get fed clerk/biglaw.

If UVA or Duke becomes significantly cheaper than Penn, go there.

I don't see a scenario in which GULC or WUSTL becomes your best option so I'd scratch those two off the list.

220k seems low for all of those schools once you account for interest that accumulates during school. Depending on what you projected future treasury bills to be, you're looking at somewhere around 30k in accumulated interest by the time your first payment is due.

ETA: are the full tuition scholarships actual full tuition scholarships, or will tuition increases bite you?

Sweet username.

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Agree with the others you just have to negotiate your way up the chain. Penn is probably your best option, and hopefully you can get it a little cheaper.

whereskyle wrote:

BigZuck wrote:Thread feels awfully premature...

Also, negotiate.

A few people have said negogiate, how do you do this?

aboutmydaylight wrote:What are your numbers? Seems odd you'd get Penn, UCLA for free, and get no money from any school in between.

3.8 GPA and 170 LSAT, waiting for a little $ from duke or georgetown since their aid/merit process isnt over yet.

SquidProRow wrote:

aboutmydaylight wrote:What are your numbers? Seems odd you'd get Penn, UCLA for free, and get no money from any school in between.

3.8 GPA and 170 LSAT, waiting for a little $ from duke or georgetown since their aid/merit process isnt over yet.

The deadline has already passed for this cycle, but you would be competitive for $50k a year from Northwestern if you applied ED next cycle. You could get a lot more than just a little money at the lower t14 with your numbers.

albinoshadow wrote:

SquidProRow wrote:

aboutmydaylight wrote:What are your numbers? Seems odd you'd get Penn, UCLA for free, and get no money from any school in between.

3.8 GPA and 170 LSAT, waiting for a little $ from duke or georgetown since their aid/merit process isnt over yet.

The deadline has already passed for this cycle, but you would be competitive for $50k a year from Northwestern if you applied ED next cycle. You could get a lot more than just a little money at the lower t14 with your numbers.

I did this, and I think that your #s are a lock (above both medians). I had sticker at UVA last cycle and chose to wait a year to play the scholly game. Adding an extra year of work experience only makes NU more likely. I would definitely take Penn over UVA tho for location and placement, but I didn't have the option. Still, tho, I'm basically anti-sticker across the board.

Work for a year, then reapply to the T-14 & any others that interest you. Don't pay sticker. If you must attend this year, then the full tuition scholarship from UCLA is a good option if you like the West.

P.S. The only "sure thing" about attending law school is the cost.

CanadianWolf wrote:P.S. The only "sure thing" about attending law school is the cost.

I love this.

Where is the neither option?

Retake.

If your dream is NYC Biglaw, Penn is the best choice (UVA trailing by a close second)

If you're factoring in $$ and are ok with Biglaw not exclusively in NY, UCLA is your best bet (though your grades will have to be higher than at Penn/UVA to be competitive)

It boils down to dream > $$ or $$ > dream.
Depending on your answer, you go with Penn/UVA (depending on $$ you can negotiate) v. UCLA full ride.

This poll rather perfectly pits the risk-averse versus the risk-prone.

Hitchensian wrote:This poll rather perfectly pits the risk-averse versus the risk-prone.

Penn was my dream school. I had to vote for it. Too bad I screwed around way too much in college.