University of Washington $$$ vs University of Colorado $$ Forum

[jdamb89]

I've been accepted to both University of Washington and University of Colorado and am trying to pick a school. I'm really concerned about debt, but I also want to go somewhere that will give me the best opportunities.

The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each:
Washington: 130K total (no scholarships, but I've requested for reconsideration)
Colorado: 45k total (full ride first year, 10k after that at the resident rate)

How you will be financing your COA, i.e. loans, family, or savings:
Loans

Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any):
Born in Alabama and live in Atlanta now. My significant other and I would like to live in the west, somewhere with mountains. I'd like to go ahead and go to school somewhere we want to live. Both Colorado and Washington fit the bill. My significant other works in the software development.

Your general career goals
I want to get into Mediation/Conflict Resolution

Your LSAT/GPA numbers
165/3.6

How many times you have taken the LSAT
Twice

I'd appreciate and thoughts or advice.

[cron1834]

1) this is totally unanswerable without scholly info from UW

2) going to state flagships without any connection to a region is questionable; ppl are going to tell you that you'll be at a real disadvantage for job-hunting

Edit - it would appear that you are underreporting costs. UW with zero aid is about $200k COA - are you just including tuition? You're leaving out about $70k plus interest in that case ... ?

[jdamb89]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I didn't mention this, but the cost is lower because I have 30k in a college fund and I also cut out some costs that can be covered by my significant other's income. I guess it was misleading to state I'd just cover everything in loans.

So to restate:

The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each:
Washington: ~130k
190K (no scholarships, but I've requested for reconsideration, includes expenses)
-30k college fund
-30k living expenses that will be covered by significant other
= 130k

Colorado: ~45k
100k (full ride first year, 10k scholarship after that at the resident rate, includes expenses)
-30k college fund
-25k living expenses that will be covered by significant other
= 45k

Assuming I don't get anymore money from UW, is CU the obvious choice? What's your opinion on how much money would I have to get from UW to make it worthwhile?

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I didn't mention this, but the cost is lower because I have 30k in a college fund and I also cut out some costs that can be covered by my significant other's income. I guess it was misleading to state I'd just cover everything in loans.

So to restate:

The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each:
Washington: ~130k
190K (no scholarships, but I've requested for reconsideration, includes expenses)
-30k college fund
-30k living expenses that will be covered by significant other
= 130k

Colorado: ~45k
100k (full ride first year, 10k scholarship after that at the resident rate, includes expenses)
-30k college fund
-25k living expenses that will be covered by significant other
= 45k

Assuming I don't get anymore money from UW, is CU the obvious choice? What's your opinion on how much money would I have to get from UW to make it worthwhile?

Two schools are peers. Go to where you want to practice, make sure UW gives you money, though.

[cron1834]

$70k is the most I'd personally consider at UW. But implicit in your coa is $70k out of pocket payments. I wouldn't do that for either of these schools.

[bananatopia]

deleted

[Nomo]

Normally Colorado would be the best choice here, but I do have a question for you.

What do you mean by conflict resolution/mediation? Most mediators are people who practiced 20+ years before seriously getting into mediation. Some certainly begin doing smaller mediations after 8 or 10 years in practice, but still, mediation normally doesn't make sense as a career goal. Lawyers tend to mediate subject matter they are familiar with . . . with the exception of former judge's who may develop a general mediation practice in retirement.

Are you sure the career you think you want is something that actually exists?

[jdamb89]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I really appreciate the input.

Point taken on calculating costs. I guess I've been looking at it more from the perspective of how much money I'll owe in loans, not necessarily the total cost to attend. I'll revise my above posts to reflect the real costs later tonight.

As for the mediation/conflict resolution career goal, I know that I won't be doing that fresh out of school for at least 5-10 years. But I would like to eventually be working in mediation in the long term. Some schools do offer clinics directed at this; for example, Pepperdine has the following clinic: https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/acade ... on-clinic/

While I have decided not to attend Pepperdine, I am interested in gaining this type of experience in school. Washington does offer a mediation clinic like Pepperdine, while Colorado does not. However, I think both schools are good options for different reasons, hence why I'm having difficulty deciding.

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Don't go to a school based on a class or clinic. Don't pay 100k more for a school based on a class or clinic.

Decide where you want to live or retake your LSAT and get into schools that are more portable.

[Nomo]

As for the mediation/conflict resolution career goal, I know that I won't be doing that fresh out of school for at least 5-10 years. But I would like to eventually be working in mediation in the long term. Some schools do offer clinics directed at this; for example, Pepperdine has the following clinic: https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/acade ... on-clinic/

This response didn't inspire confidence. I think you need to do some serious research into what it means to do mediation for a living. I'm worried that you don't have a real understanding of what you're about to walk into.

PS: If you have these options you're clearly a smart capable person. You shouldn't waste your talents. Please make sure you totally understand what you're getting into before deciding to go. Law school is absolutely right for some people; but you shouldn't go on a leap of faith. Among other research, I recommend that you ask the schools you're considering to put you in touch with alumni who are doing full-time mediation. Ask those alumni how they got there and how you can get there. The schools should be happy to do this.