Top Law Schools

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None of these options are great for CA biglaw. If you're cool with working in NYC for several years and then lateralling over to SoCal, I'd do Cornell. If you insist on being in CA, even if it means not getting biglaw, I'd negotiate UCLA up.

Withdrew from USC. Any more opinions?

airdudeme wrote:Withdrew from USC. Any more opinions?

I would have taken USC, as UCLA might adjust your need-based aid due to a possible SA position (or may not, I don't know). But now I would definitely take UCLA. UCLA probably places better than Cornell in LA.

I am considering all 3 of these schools as well, coincidentally. Your COAs are too expensive for me. USC/UCLA are good for California if you're under $100k, but I wouldn't go for those costs. A significant majority of graduates do not get biglaw, and a significant minority are underemployed. That's too much money for those schools. Cornell has better employment numbers, but a) most of them are in NYC and b) $200k is too much.

My sense is that you either need to negotiate hard (try to get USC up to $150k merit aid with your LSAT - that might be an acceptable risk and they have the bucks for it) or sit out and retake for lower T14 at a better cost.

cron1834 wrote:I am considering all 3 of these schools as well, coincidentally. Your COAs are too expensive for me. USC/UCLA are good for California if you're under $100k, but I wouldn't go for those costs. A significant majority of graduates do not get biglaw, and a significant minority are underemployed. That's too much money for those schools. Cornell has better employment numbers, but a) most of them are in NYC and b) $200k is too much.

My sense is that you either need to negotiate hard (try to get USC up to $150k merit aid with your LSAT - that might be an acceptable risk and they have the bucks for it) or sit out and retake for lower T14 at a better cost.

OP has, for some reason, withdrawn from USC. And I agree, Cornell for 200k is too much, especially for a CA-focused applicant.

ph14 wrote:

cron1834 wrote:I am considering all 3 of these schools as well, coincidentally. Your COAs are too expensive for me. USC/UCLA are good for California if you're under $100k, but I wouldn't go for those costs. A significant majority of graduates do not get biglaw, and a significant minority are underemployed. That's too much money for those schools. Cornell has better employment numbers, but a) most of them are in NYC and b) $200k is too much.

My sense is that you either need to negotiate hard (try to get USC up to $150k merit aid with your LSAT - that might be an acceptable risk and they have the bucks for it) or sit out and retake for lower T14 at a better cost.

OP has, for some reason, withdrawn from USC. And I agree, Cornell for 200k is too much, especially for a CA-focused applicant.

Use your offer from USC to negotiate with UCLA. Don't mention that you withdrew. If you can get total debt from UCLA <$100K, that's a pretty solid option.

I sent my revised offer from USC ($90K->$105K) to UCLA and they didn't budge. I also much prefer Westwood and UCLA is more portable to NorCal (or so I've heard). My question is would being a one of the few Cornell graduates targeting CA biglaw benefit me moreso than the benefits from living and networking in LA for 3 years?

airdudeme wrote:I sent my revised offer from USC ($90K->$105K) to UCLA and they didn't budge. I also much prefer Westwood and UCLA is more portable to NorCal (or so I've heard). My question is would being a one of the few Cornell graduates targeting CA biglaw benefit me moreso than the benefits from living and networking in LA for 3 years?

No, and definitely not at a $60k difference (especially when that $60k pushes you up over $200k in debt).

I think with 140k in loans you really need to choose any biglaw over any job in california. So, Id go to Cornell and bid CA and NY with these options.

3L2014 wrote:I think with 140k in loans you really need to choose any biglaw over any job in california. So, Id go to Cornell and bid CA and NY with these options.

OP already said he was "biglaw or bust in California." Cornell at 200k is not a great deal either, even for someone with a NY focus.

Either better schools or cheaper prices at the ones you have. I have USC at full, and I'm 80% likely to pass it up.

ETA - I realize USC is out for you, but the point stands.

OP, I have the same numbers, choices, and even NorCal background as you. PM me if you want to discuss!

None of the above. Not sure why you withdrew from USC either

retake in June. If you score 17x, withdraw and reapply. (UCLA will give you a lot more next year.)

I'm curious about withdrawing at USC. They were the school most likely to give you a fully. What was up there?

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airdudeme wrote:According to LSN I basically maxed out my scholly potential at USC. I only applied to bargain with UCLA, which I did (as UCLA offered me $0 merit aid initially) I also never wanted to go to USC, and I'd gladly pay $10-$20K more for UCLA.

I'm leaning towards UCLA as a) I don't think Cornell is worth $50K more if I want to go back to LA b) I don't think I could survive the weather in Ithaca as I am from California and this would negatively affect my grades and c) the networking opportunities and focus on LA firms at UCLA's OCI would help me. Final thoughts?

UCLA is a bit of a trap school because it has great lay prestige and is well regarded, but you can't count on getting big law if you go there. 150k+ loans is only repayable on big law.

I would rather do Cornell, target NYC, and attend as many southern California job fairs as possible during the recruiting season. I wouldn't pay more than 100k+ for UCLA/USC -- but then again, I'd rather have a big law job anywhere than be stuck in LA small law with six figure loans accruing a thousand dollars in interest a month.

Yea All Right wrote:OP, I have the same numbers, choices, and even NorCal background as you. PM me if you want to discuss!

I have the same numbers, choices, and NorCal background as well. Feel free to PM me too if you guys want to discuss. Best of luck in your decision!