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I'm very excited to have just gotten an offer for the Levy at Penn. I'm pretty debt averse, so it's quite appealing. That said, my pride and ego are making the "dream" of HLS really tough to turn down.

I have about $30k in savings and my parents would likely contribute about $50k. The rest would be loans. Obviously, if I go to Penn, between my savings and help from my parents, I would graduate completely debt free.

I currently work at a V5 firm and am well regarded there. I'm from Boston and would very much prefer to go back to Boston after law school. Parents are very well connected in Boston (lots of friends at Wilmer and Ropes, etc.) and I went to undergrad in Boston so ties are strong. If not Boston, I'd like to be in D.C. (would highly prefer not to be in NYC or Philly). I'd like to do BigLaw -- want to do M&A or antitrust -- then go in house or work for an agency. No interest in clerking or academia. Possible interest in going more political (and, if so, in MA). While clearly HLS is better for politics, I'd also prefer not to have to do LIPP. If I'm going to go into that much debt, I'd like to pay it off as quickly as possible.

3.95/170 (took it twice and 170 was highest score)/LGBT

Any thoughts?

I'd take the scholly considering your goals.

Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

Take the money. If good grades, Penn doesn't close any doors that would have been available at Harvard. If median, you still have a fighting chance at your secondaries. If bad grades, you're going to have to suck it up and bid NYC anyway.

cotiger wrote:Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

But HLS placed 1% more in BigLaw last year. Isn't that worth something?

OP, if you're debt averse now, you'll be debt averse later. I'd go with avoiding that debt and not make a decision that can haunt you for life (or death, in the case of any private loans).

downinDtown wrote:

cotiger wrote:Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

But HLS placed 1% more in BigLaw last year. Isn't that worth something?

OP, if you're debt averse now, you'll be debt averse later. I'd go with avoiding that debt and not make a decision that can haunt you for life (or death, in the case of any private loans).

1%? Seriously?

cotiger wrote:Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

My impression is that it's less about pride and more about working in Boston, which HLS is obviously a far superior school for

moonman157 wrote:

cotiger wrote:Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

My impression is that it's less about pride and more about working in Boston, which HLS is obviously a far superior school for

How do Penn kids do in Boston? Unless the answer is "notoriously badly", I think the free Penn degree will save OP a lot of headache down the road. As someone else said, with these goals and OPs connections, the Levy is an excellent option.

moonman157 wrote:

cotiger wrote:Are your pride and ego of attending HLS worth $165k+interest to you?

My impression is that it's less about pride and more about working in Boston, which HLS is obviously a far superior school for

With crazy-strong ties that also include strong ties to the Boston legal industry? I don't buy it.

Perhaps if OP was a rando from SoCal, then HLS would be "far superior" for Boston biglaw. But not in this case.

Does Harvard really dip down to 170 now?

If your ties are really that strong in Boston, you won't have any trouble getting back into Boston from Penn. Take the money and run.

Thanks all! My ties are quite strong -- my father used to be a partner at Wilmer and is now a judge. Mother is in Boston/Mass. politics. Penn's placement in Boston isn't stellar, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's largely self-selection.

Take the Levy ez choice

Danger Zone wrote:Does Harvard really dip down to 170 now?

Did last year too

jayohtee wrote:Thanks all! My ties are quite strong -- my father used to be a partner at Wilmer and is now a judge. Mother is in Boston/Mass. politics. Penn's placement in Boston isn't stellar, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's largely self-selection.

I think this is the correct interpretation of the numbers. There's a big difference between not being able to break into Boston and not wanting to work in Boston when you graduate. I think you'll be fine coming out of Penn, especially with your ties, and that Levy on your resume.

Unless you are really sold on the prestige of HLS, I think Penn is objectively the best choice in this decision.

Sending you a PM...we're eerily similar aside from the parental contribution/ties

Cicero76 wrote:

Danger Zone wrote:Does Harvard really dip down to 170 now?

Did last year too

I've heard multiple cases of it dipping down to 169 non-URM

WaltGrace83 wrote:

Cicero76 wrote:

Danger Zone wrote:Does Harvard really dip down to 170 now?

Did last year too

I've heard multiple cases of it dipping down to 169 non-URM

Harvard: the new TTT in decline

Danger Zone wrote:Does Harvard really dip down to 170 now?

C/o 2015 and 2016 had 170 LSAT 25ths. As did all c/o's 2011 and earlier.

As the son of a federal judge, you should be able to get plenty of interviews before, during & after law school regardless of law school attended. This should hold whether or not your parent is an Article III judge.

Although I voted for Penn on scholarship, I don't think that the choice is as easy as the poll results indicate at this point. If you're serious about pursuing politics & that venture would be Boston based then HLS may be a better choice but not a necessary choice because of your Harvard undergraduate degree.

Nothing is guaranteed in this economy, so no debt is the way to go in my opinion. Very nice choice to make, but id take the scholly and Penn.

If you're not 100% committed to politics, I'd take the Levy in your situation. Graduating debt free from Penn sounds too good to pass up if your primary interest in biglaw.

jayohtee wrote:Thanks all! My ties are quite strong -- my father used to be a partner at Wilmer and is now a judge. Mother is in Boston/Mass. politics. Penn's placement in Boston isn't stellar, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's largely self-selection.

Your father used to be a partner at Wilmer and your parents will only contribute $50k to your legal education?

Flame.

deleted

bananatopia wrote:

Doorkeeper wrote:

jayohtee wrote:Thanks all! My ties are quite strong -- my father used to be a partner at Wilmer and is now a judge. Mother is in Boston/Mass. politics. Penn's placement in Boston isn't stellar, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's largely self-selection.

Your father used to be a partner at Wilmer and your parents will only contribute $50k to your legal education?

Flame.

That's silly. Not all wealthy parents are equally willing to pay for their child's education. Why jump to "It's a flame!!" so quickly?

+1

I don't think most people's parents contribute anything to their kids' law school budget, including those who are comfortably off. I've taken loans from my parents, but by the time you're out of college you should be able to fend for yourself. $50k is very generous. Doorkeeper is just trolling or ignorant.