Top Law Schools

First time poster here, long time reader. Which would you choose? Want biglaw.

Need this stuff: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299

172 Lsat 3.4 GPA, LSAT taken twice
COA for both minus those amounts would be paid with loans. I'd estimate that
Michigan would cost around 125k after interest, Columbia around 215k (low vs high cost of living)
Ties are to Ohio. Not all that interested in working here, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Probably would target Chicago & NYC biglaw.


Edited for gross underestimation of COA...that georgetown calculator really puts things into perspective.

Columbia gives you a much better chance at working at the top NYC firms. I would go with Columbia, but for you it's really a matter of how much the increased risk of not getting Biglaw is worth to you.

Going over a quarter million in debt is insane, I don't care if it's Columbia. Michigan at 174k is defensible and puts you in a decent position to reach your goals.

No Cornell or Northwestern offers on the table?

You've got to reapply. With that LSAT you will get into Northwestern and Cornell with more money. Taking out this amount of debt is insane because you will likely be out of big law before you are able to pay off the debt. A law degree is not worth this amount of money.

Don't go a quarter million + into debt. It just isn't worth it. Doesn't really matter what school or what your goals are. You don't want to do that to yourself.

Sorry guys I didn't enter my numbers into the Georgetown calculator correctly. Actual numbers are ~215k for Columbia, 125k for Michigan. Not sure how much that changes things but those are the right numbers. Will edit post above as well.

Also, held at Northwestern and didn't apply to Cornell.

Karissa33 wrote:Sorry guys I didn't enter my numbers into the Georgetown calculator correctly. Actual numbers are ~215k for Columbia, 125k for Michigan. Not sure how much that changes things but those are the right numbers. Will edit post above as well.

Also, held at Northwestern and didn't apply to Cornell.

Given those numbers, its got to be Michigan. Columbia is a better school overall, and better for NYC biglaw, but its not worth 90K more. 125K is absolutely manageable, whereas once you are up above 200K, things can get real ugly, and it can really start to warp your financial future.

Karissa33 wrote:Sorry guys I didn't enter my numbers into the Georgetown calculator correctly. Actual numbers are ~215k for Columbia, 125k for Michigan. Not sure how much that changes things but those are the right numbers. Will edit post above as well.

Also, held at Northwestern and didn't apply to Cornell.

I was thinking those numbers seemed high. I'd do Michigan, too, but I'm a 0L

With new COA, Michigan is absolutely the right choice. But you definitely should have applied to Cornell if you want NYC biglaw, but that ship has sailed you're getting a fair price for UM.

I'd do Columbia. Significant difference in placement at top Biglaw firms, and I think that the career paths (and expected earnings) from a top firm are materially better than from a lesser firm. I.e., total BigLaw numbers make UM look better than it is, because its not seeing the extra CLS folks at Cravath, S&C, DPW, etc.

If you have no intention to have a long-term ambitious career (i.e., either in BigLaw or in an equivalently demanding legal position in-house, which is facilitated with a fancier BigLaw name on your resume), then Michigan makes more sense.

Thanks for your input everyone! I am still not 100% sure what I'm going to do, although I am leaning towards Columbia..go big or go home, right?

why not reapply in September to the schools that you tried this cycle, and add Cornell?

Karissa33 wrote:Thanks for your input everyone! I am still not 100% sure what I'm going to do, although I am leaning towards Columbia..go big or go home, right?

Look at the GSI positions at UMich. They will pay for your tuition during the semester you are a GSI. I know people who did it and did fine (made dean's list, etc). What was your major in UG, or what are you interested in? I wasn't a business major but was offered a GSI spot in the business school had i gone to UMich. Wish I had known the benefit was that tuition payment at the time I decided to go elsewhere. But if you can GSI for 2+ semesters, that drops COA by ~60k.

I vote Michigan.

I just don't think you should borrow that kind of money at that interest rate for Columbia. You're going to need biglaw money or at least major in-house money for about 8 years to realistically cover that debt. Its much harder to pay off that debt in New York, living a biglaw lifestyle, with the city, state, and federal income taxes than you think. And if you're one of the Columbia students who doesn't snag biglaw (its unlikely, but it happens) you are absolutely screwed.

Full Disclosure: I am a Michigan graduate.