UCLA ($$) v. Michigan ($) for CA Forum

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

I made a thread a few weeks ago but this one is updated to reflect final negotiations. Sorry for making two, I am ashamed of myself.

-The schools you are considering
UCLA – COA ~108k
Michigan— COA ~160k

-How you will be financing your COA, i.e. loans, family, or savings
Paying family back eventually - no loans.

-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any)
Southern California

-Your general career goals
LA biglaw > bay area biglaw > best available SoCal options

Against New York
Against retaking, studied a lot for 6 months and scored at the high end of my range.

[cron1834]

I'm not in love with either option. I turned down a similar COA at UCLA recently, because 60-65% of students don't get biglaw. $108k is far from obscene these days, but 6-figures is still expensive for a 35-40% chance of achieving your goals.

Regarding Mich, that seems like a lot of dad's money for a school that seems to give you a coinflip's chance at biglaw. Add to that the fact that Mich doesn't seem to have any particular California pipeline that shows up in their jobs data, and I wouldn't pull the trigger.

Did you apply at Berk?

[muskies970]

I'm not sure if this is good or bad advice, but the problem with paying your family back is that you won't be eligible for LRAP/ IBR payments if biglaw doesn't work out (although not having the interest accumulate during law school would be nice).

If your parents are chill on your repayment time frame though that wouldn't be too bad.

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

I'm not in love with either option. I turned down a similar COA at UCLA recently, because 60-65% of students don't get biglaw. $108k is far from obscene these days, but 6-figures is still expensive for a 35-40% chance of achieving your goals.

Regarding Mich, that seems like a lot of dad's money for a school that seems to give you a coinflip's chance at biglaw. Add to that the fact that Mich doesn't seem to have any particular California pipeline that shows up in their jobs data, and I wouldn't pull the trigger.

Did you apply at Berk?

Ya 35% isn't ideal. Michigan's advantage seems to come mainly from New York, it seems like you might have to be at least top 40% from either school to get LA biglaw.

Berkeley was my first choice but I applied late/ I'm not very interesting/ performed just like mylsn predicted.

The main reason I'm drawn to Michigan is I'd like to experience something other than LA for three years - I've never lived anywhere else.

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

I'm not sure if this is good or bad advice, but the problem with paying your family back is that you won't be eligible for LRAP/ IBR payments if biglaw doesn't work out (although not having the interest accumulate during law school would be nice).

If your parents are chill on your repayment time frame though that wouldn't be too bad.

I wouldn't take out loans for anything other than a house so LRAP isn't a factor either way. Fortunately they are chill about repayment.

[Yea All Right]

Initially I wanted to say UCLA is easily the better choice because of its cheaper cost and your regional goals, but if you're borrowing money from your parents, than I suppose 160k at Michigan isn't bad. It's just that you're really limiting yourself with your strict preferences regarding location.

I guess if you're ok with small-law in CA, then UCLA would indeed be the correct choice here.

[transferror]

Initially I wanted to say UCLA is easily the better choice because of its cheaper cost and your regional goals, but if you're borrowing money from your parents, than I suppose 160k at Michigan isn't bad. It's just that you're really limiting yourself with your strict preferences regarding location.

I guess if you're ok with small-law in CA, then UCLA would indeed be the correct choice here.

[downinDtown]

If you're basically going to have to get top 40% at either school to have a shot at CA biglaw, if you're going to go to law school this year, take the lower cost option.

Also, your choice of avatar pic and name is confusing (Niners picture but BJGE name). Kap called those two LBs the "DoubleMint Twins" but they need a better nickname.

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

If you're basically going to have to get top 40% at either school to have a shot at CA biglaw, if you're going to go to law school this year, take the lower cost option.

Also, your choice of avatar pic and name is confusing (Niners picture but BJGE name). Kap called those two LBs the "DoubleMint Twins" but they need a better nickname.

I'm not certain that you have to be top 40% from Michigan for CA but that seems like a safe bet baring good WE etc. I'm contemplating retaking/reapplying but I don't think my score will go up.

Benjarvus Green-Ellis's nickname is "the law firm" so it fits the fourm but I am a Niner fan.

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

Initially I wanted to say UCLA is easily the better choice because of its cheaper cost and your regional goals, but if you're borrowing money from your parents, than I suppose 160k at Michigan isn't bad. It's just that you're really limiting yourself with your strict preferences regarding location.

I guess if you're ok with small-law in CA, then UCLA would indeed be the correct choice here.

You summed it up well. Geographically, my preferences could change which Michigan would allow me that flexibility but idk if it's work 50k to me.

Thanks for your replies.

[ucla2017]

UCLA. At either school you will have to be around top30-40% for CA Big Law. Mich has a higher percentage MAYBE because of NYC (better economy). I believe. I've talked to a few Mich grads and UVA grads. They had problems finding jobs here because there were no jobs! So it is a no-job thing rather than a school name thing.

I would go with UCLA on this one.

[cron1834]

Did I imagine something in a hungover stupor this morning, or was there a long pro-Mich screed here that disappeared?

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

Did I imagine something in a hungover stupor this morning, or was there a long pro-Mich screed here that disappeared?

Hungover stupor

[Yea All Right]

Did I imagine something in a hungover stupor this morning, or was there a long pro-Mich screed here that disappeared?

Hahah. It was definitely here, don't know where it went.

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

Did I imagine something in a hungover stupor this morning, or was there a long pro-Mich screed here that disappeared?

Hahah. It was definitely here, don't know where it went.

I must have missed it