UVA with scholarship question Forum

[jagfin]

Hi,

I am going to UVA in the fall (by which I mean I have put the first half of my seat deposit down), and wanted some opinions on the matter. I have read as much as possible on this forum, but of course am looking for information specifically tailored to my case, which I realize that, realistically, nobody can supply me with other than myself. Even so, here goes.

I have a 10k per year scholarship, which is cool. Nothing enormous and I have no delusions about it, but it helps. I am coming straight out of undergrad, and luckily I have not paid a dime for that. I have been on a full ride for four years, have spent next to no money since high school, and am in absolutely no debt. Thanks to savings carefully piled up over time (savings which, mind you, need to be spent on education or else are taxed ruthlessly), I pretty much have the remainder of tuition covered. The loans I take out will be solely for living expenses.

I decided to go to UVA because it was the best school I got into. I am a 169/3.8 out of a large public school, K-JD. (I took the LSAT once, and consider the 169 nothing short of a miracle.) Had I paid for my undergrad education, I never would have dreamed of paying for law school. My decision to go to UVA is essentially motivated both by the fact that (a) it's my dream school, (b) I haven't paid for school at all yet, (c) COA is covered, and loans will only be necessary for COL. I pulled some major scholarships and full rides at 'less prestigious' schools, but have decided on UVA.

Based on what you've read here, and what you know about UVA in general, would you have made the same choice? I could have gone to Fordham, or Twin Cities, or even Vanderbilt for less money, but decided to go with a better school. I am hoping to work (surprise surprise) in a large-to-medium sized firm, although its location is not of much importance to me. Ideally anywhere in the Northeast (I'm from NJ), but I have moved a lot and location is not super important to me. A decent job anywhere is all I'm after, although of course, that's all anyone's after, and I am not special, etc. Also the recent stats on, for instance, the percentage of their own grads which UVA has hired in order to pump up their employment statistics is disturbing in the extreme.

All in all, what do you make of my decision. Smart? Stupid? Justifiable? Hopeless? Everything I read about law school is so insanely bleak, I second guess everything that I do. There was a time that I believed simply attending a 'top 10' school was a great idea in and of itself, and therefore the end of the discussion, but of course I know now that that is hardly the case.

Alrighty, have at it.

TL;DR What do you make of my decision to attend UVA w/ a 10K per yr scholly & tuition covered by my savings, coming out of a full-ride all thru undergrad in hopes of working medium/biglaw anywhere in the US?

[Tiago Splitter]

Did you get into Cornell? You're above both of their medians, meaning you'd probably get a lot more than 10k per year, and Cornell places at least as well as UVA for your goals.

As for money there is no educational savings option that leads to "ruthless taxation" but isn't heavily taxed if the money is used for education, so don't worry so much about that.

[jagfin]

I got into Cornell, but weirdly enough didn't get any money. My scholarships were: 10K a year at UVA, 25K a year at GW, 35K a year at vanderbilt, 40k a year at notre dame, 35k per year at Fordham, full rides to Twin Cities and Cardozo. There were some others but they were at schools that I am kind've categorically uninterested in attending.

[Tiago Splitter]

Keep negotiating with UVA and Cornell. There's still time. If nothing works out UVA with 10k/year isn't the worst thing in the world but it seems like a waste of all that money with such a high GPA. Fortunately because you've got the resources to pay for it upfront you aren't ever going to be drowning in debt,.