Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed Forum
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- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2014 8:14 pm
Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
COA
Chicago -- $140,000
HLS -- $250,000
I will be financing my debt entirely through loans.
Career Goals
My dream job would be working at the legal office of the State Department. I've talked to two attorneys currently working at the L and they both suggest that prestige certainly matters for hiring. They've both said that any doors that are open for Harvard grads are also open for Chicago grads, but they'd both still take Harvard even with an additional $100k+ in debt. Also, it doesn't seem like Chicago is particularly well known for its curriculum in 'international law.'
I do obviously intend on spending a few years working in BigLaw to finance my debt. I suppose that much of my indecision comes from being uncertain (1) of the benefits of clerking when it comes to getting a government job and (2) to what extent your education matters more than your experience a few years out of school for gov jobs. I'm sure as hell afraid of a quarter million in debt but don't want to hamper myself because I'm risk averse.
Thanks for any help
Chicago -- $140,000
HLS -- $250,000
I will be financing my debt entirely through loans.
Career Goals
My dream job would be working at the legal office of the State Department. I've talked to two attorneys currently working at the L and they both suggest that prestige certainly matters for hiring. They've both said that any doors that are open for Harvard grads are also open for Chicago grads, but they'd both still take Harvard even with an additional $100k+ in debt. Also, it doesn't seem like Chicago is particularly well known for its curriculum in 'international law.'
I do obviously intend on spending a few years working in BigLaw to finance my debt. I suppose that much of my indecision comes from being uncertain (1) of the benefits of clerking when it comes to getting a government job and (2) to what extent your education matters more than your experience a few years out of school for gov jobs. I'm sure as hell afraid of a quarter million in debt but don't want to hamper myself because I'm risk averse.
Thanks for any help
- 2014
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:53 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
The H name probably does carry a tangible amount of weight here but I really really doubt it's 110k. Since the most important factor is likely to be the firm you start at and the connections you make there and Chicago places basically equally well into "prestigious" firms, I imagine it equals it out significantly.
Since you are hoping to end up on PSLF anyway, I think it's justifiable to go to HLS but I'd probably choose Chicago and mitigate the stress of debt over your head.
Since you are hoping to end up on PSLF anyway, I think it's justifiable to go to HLS but I'd probably choose Chicago and mitigate the stress of debt over your head.
- jbagelboy
- Posts: 10361
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
I think it could go either way, but since your goals are somewhat specifically tailored to government work, the extra debt for Harvard is justified. I think it's very possible that you'd just wind up at a firm from either school which tempts me towards debt reduction, but if your disdain for large firm work is particularly poignant then Harvard's worth it.
- twenty
- Posts: 3189
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
Chicago with absolutely no question. The marginal advantage HLS has over Chicago completely disappears after 2-3 years of biglaw. What doesn't disappear quite so easily is six-figure debt.I do obviously intend on spending a few years working in BigLaw to finance my debt.
- Redamon1
- Posts: 481
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:46 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
L cares a lot (too much) about prestige, so H provides a real edge and that's why the L people gave you the advice they did. But keep in mind that even from H, landing a job at L is a long shot given how few people they hire and the heavy competition you'll face from top students at Y>>HS and other schools. Will you beat the curve? Your interests may evolve a bit over time too. Also, remember that there are many other FedGov jobs with international dimensions that are less competitive than L and that you could land from Chicago. All in all, is the extra debt worth it for a goal that is shifting and elusive? (holy shit 110K!!). Maybe. GL.
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- heythatslife
- Posts: 1201
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:18 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
If you're dead set on fed positions, then mightn't it be better to skip biglaw altogether coming out of HLS so you can take advantage of PSLF/LIPP from the get-go?
- jaesonko
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:22 am
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
I just don't think it's likely that I'd get the government positions that I want immediately out of law school. Also, it doesn't seem like Harvard's LIPP is particularly great.heythatslife wrote:If you're dead set on fed positions, then mightn't it be better to skip biglaw altogether coming out of HLS so you can take advantage of PSLF/LIPP from the get-go?
- twenty
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- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
HLS for fedgov is a ridiculously bad idea. Most agencies go up to GS15 within 5 years, and it's unimaginable for an agency to be below GS14 in 4 years. On LIPP, you end up paying 200k+ on your loans if you went to HLS at 250k.
The fact that you're going to try and finance with biglaw for a few years just swings it further towards Chicago.
The fact that you're going to try and finance with biglaw for a few years just swings it further towards Chicago.
- koalacity
- Posts: 1162
- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:56 pm
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
OTOH, if OP only does biglaw for 2-3 years, they're going to be completely on their own for the remainder of that debt once they move to fedgov because of Chicago's complete LRAP dropoff at $80K.twenty wrote:HLS for fedgov is a ridiculously bad idea. Most agencies go up to GS15 within 5 years, and it's unimaginable for an agency to be below GS14 in 4 years. On LIPP, you end up paying 200k+ on your loans if you went to HLS at 250k.
The fact that you're going to try and finance with biglaw for a few years just swings it further towards Chicago.
eta: and, like any non-HYS LRAP, you're still having to bank on Congress not retroactively altering/eliminating PSLF and PAYE. This concern isn't as concrete as an extra $100K in debt, to be sure, but it's a real concern.
Last edited by koalacity on Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- jaesonko
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:22 am
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
I really respect your opinions on PI jobs and you've more or less convinced me. Thanks.twenty wrote:HLS for fedgov is a ridiculously bad idea. Most agencies go up to GS15 within 5 years, and it's unimaginable for an agency to be below GS14 in 4 years. On LIPP, you end up paying 200k+ on your loans if you went to HLS at 250k.
The fact that you're going to try and finance with biglaw for a few years just swings it further towards Chicago.
(I'm OP btw)
- jaesonko
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:22 am
Re: Chicago ($$) vs HLS for BigFed
I'm hoping to pay back all of my Chicago debt within three years in biglawkoalacity wrote:OTOH, if OP only does biglaw for 2-3 years, they're going to be completely on their own for the remainder of that debt once they move to fedgov because of Chicago's complete LRAP dropoff at $80K.twenty wrote:HLS for fedgov is a ridiculously bad idea. Most agencies go up to GS15 within 5 years, and it's unimaginable for an agency to be below GS14 in 4 years. On LIPP, you end up paying 200k+ on your loans if you went to HLS at 250k.
The fact that you're going to try and finance with biglaw for a few years just swings it further towards Chicago.
eta: and, like any non-HYS LRAP, you're still having to bank on Congress not retroactively altering/eliminating PSLF and PAYE. This concern isn't as concrete as an extra $100K in debt, to be sure, but it's a real concern.
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