Top Law Schools

I'm from Michigan and want to work in corporate law, ideally. I'm not super attached to coming back to Michigan after graduation, escaping the frozen wasteland would be nice. I'm financing completely with loans(and already have $30kish in loans from undergrad), so the cost of Michigan is kind of terrifying to me. What do you guys think is the best option?

Michigan:
$30k scholly... Total COA $173k
Vandy:
$95k scholly.... Total COA $120k
U of Texas:
$93k scholly.... Total COA $102k
USC:
$120k scholly... Total COA $107k

LSAT/GPA: 169/3.5

any retakes left?

If your goal is biglaw I'd try to get one of the other lower T14 who place better than michigan (Cornell/Northwestern) with $

I actually only took the LSAT once, but I did study for it and I don't think there's a lot more I could have done better. Plus I would rather not wait a year at this point. I didn't apply to Northwestern, which I realize a little late I probably should've tossed one out there. Cornell hasn't offered me any scholarships so I really don't think I'd consider it at sticker, particularly because I have no interest in NYC either. Any opinions on the options I have?

where do you want to work then

I have ties to Phoenix, Chicago and Detroit. I'm open to other places though.

Mich places around 12 to 25 percent better than the other schools (varies by school) into big law/ fed clerk, although don't know how much of that is because on NYC. I'd ask Mich for some more money if possible and go there.

Vanderbilt, Texas and USC place less than half their class into big law/ fed clerk so I wouldn't pay that much for those.

Lef92 wrote:I'm from Michigan and want to work in corporate law, ideally. I'm not super attached to coming back to Michigan after graduation, escaping the frozen wasteland would be nice. I'm financing completely with loans(and already have $30kish in loans from undergrad), so the cost of Michigan is kind of terrifying to me. What do you guys think is the best option?

Michigan:
$30k scholly... Total COA $173k
Vandy:
$95k scholly.... Total COA $120k
U of Texas:
$93k scholly.... Total COA $102k
USC:
$120k scholly... Total COA $107k

LSAT/GPA: 169/3.5

So it's all that plus 30K? Michigan is the only school that remotely makes sense but honestly I probably just wouldn't go to law school if these were my options.

I think you are understating your costs of attendance. Your USC number seems low, and your UT number is unrealistic.

I'm in a similar spot/have similar numbers; we're in a sucky place as mini-splitters. A retake will get you options at better schools that will cost about the same, but these schools aren't going to up their offers much, as you're only helping one median...

My advice: get someone to cover you COL. It will make these prices a lot better

Are you just graduating or working? If it's the former, taking a year or two to save up some dough/kill that current debt would be a good idea. You've definitely gotten in to some good schools, but shedding some debt on the front end is a safer bet than ending your career at a UT or Vandy with 150K owed -- a median outcome and you're in a pretty crappy spot.

How are you getting these COA numbers? I got 110k to Vandy and came up with $135,920 COA.

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lecsa wrote:Mich places around 12 to 25 percent better than the other schools (varies by school) into big law/ fed clerk, although don't know how much of that is because on NYC. I'd ask Mich for some more money if possible and go there.

Vanderbilt, Texas and USC place less than half their class into big law/ fed clerk so I wouldn't pay that much for those.

So you are saying an increased 10% chance at big law/fed cleark is worth 70k?

I don't think that is incredibly unreasonable, but I just want to be sure I'm understanding you.

shifty_eyed wrote:

lecsa wrote:Mich places around 12 to 25 percent better than the other schools (varies by school) into big law/ fed clerk, although don't know how much of that is because on NYC. I'd ask Mich for some more money if possible and go there.

Vanderbilt, Texas and USC place less than half their class into big law/ fed clerk so I wouldn't pay that much for those.

So you are saying an increased 10% chance at big law/fed cleark is worth 70k?

I don't think that is incredibly unreasonable, but I just want to be sure I'm understanding you.

Financed with repayment assistance potential (who knows exactly what that'll look like) and with a national instead of regional reputation for your degree, yeah it absolutely is. The economy is Texas has been great for a decade, and if you want to work there, you're going to be able to do it from any of these schools as long as you do ok and have some connection. Michigan is just way better in New York, Chicago, LA (Yes, I'm saying a Michigan degree is a better fit in LA than a USC degree, and I don't think it's close), San Fran, and every other city in the country (possibly excluding Nashville).