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Edit: I found a thread with similar questions and less hypotheticals than mine, so I think I'm comfortable with what's already been said: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=224279. Unless somebody wants to throw their specific $0.02 here, I'm probably going to withdraw and go to Harvard.

Original Body:

I have an interview scheduled with Chicago, but I'm thinking of withdrawing my app before going through with it. I already have 100k at NYU, and admitted to Columbia, Duke, Georgetown, and Harvard.

My thought process is that I wouldn't take NYU, Columbia (assuming aid matching), or Chicago (assuming 100k too) over HLS. So what's the point, right?

And if for some gosh forsaken reason they tried to give me the Ruby (unlikely), I would still take HLS and just be more depressed about it. For my own psyche I feel I should just withdraw while I'm ahead and save the headache.

Goals are Gov, PI, or Academia, with early clerkship aspirations. Want to end up in California, after some inevitable early work on the East Coast.

I expect moderate need-based aid from HLS, thought probably nothing impressive, parents combined 100k, me 50k last year, no assets for either of us.

Am I crazy? Plenty of people make this choice, right?

sjgonzalez3 wrote: I expect moderate need-based aid from HLS, thought probably nothing impressive, parents combined 100k, me 50k last year, no assets for either of us.

Am I crazy? Plenty of people make this choice, right?

Not sure how need-based aid really works, but is it reasonable to assume moderate aid given those things?

I mean, given that you wouldn't take a Ruby over Harvard, then there really is no reason to not withdraw I guess. That being said, you can theorize over what decisions you would make all the time, there really is 0 way to know until the offer is on the table and you make the choice. I'd still go through with the interview.

Why would you interview if you wouldn't even accept their highest scholarship? Would you use it as a bargaining chip to up other offers? If not, I don't see the point of interviewing.

If you're looking for a bargaining chip, the NYU scholarship and potential Columbia scholarship already offer leverage for aid negotiation. It would be courteous to withdraw and make room for people who actually want to be at Chicago unless you think you still might give it serious consideration.

aboutmydaylight wrote:

sjgonzalez3 wrote: I expect moderate need-based aid from HLS, thought probably nothing impressive, parents combined 100k, me 50k last year, no assets for either of us.

Am I crazy? Plenty of people make this choice, right?

Not sure how need-based aid really works, but is it reasonable to assume moderate aid given those things?

I guess I'm thinking of the average income of the students and figure that my parents' and mine isn't all that high coming from California. And given the average aid is somewhere around $20k for HLS students, I just figured I'd be in that boat. Not a lot, but more than nothing. I've read it's not as stingy as Undergrad FAFSA grants.

I mean, given that you wouldn't take a Ruby over Harvard, then there really is no reason to not withdraw I guess. That being said, you can theorize over what decisions you would make all the time, there really is 0 way to know until the offer is on the table and you make the choice. I'd still go through with the interview.

I wonder which one should be considered my true, cool-minded opinion though. My choice (which you say might be difference than now) while something like Ruby is on the table; versus my choice only imagining the Ruby on the table.

Well, I suppose I already had my mind made up and just wanted to see if there was an overwhelming boat of people who thought I was insane...

BanjoCalhoun wrote:If you're looking for a bargaining chip, the NYU scholarship and potential Columbia scholarship already offer leverage for aid negotiation. It would be courteous to withdraw and make room for people who actually want to be at Chicago unless you think you still might give it serious consideration.

This was my thought... If I get cold feet and just want a bargaining chip, I have CLS & NYU on the table already. I really would prefer those two over Chicago all things equal. It would have only been the thought of Ruby being leverage for CLS money.

But again, at the end of the day I think I'm too set on HLS for any of them to win my heart. Going to the ASW's in April just to be sure.

Here's to hoping that somebody in love with Chicago gets my interview, and not somebody like me who used it as a back-up for CLS & NYU/leverage for the same.