Wisconsin vs. UIUC Forum

[bugsy33]

.

Decision made, going to UIUC.


Thanks for the advice.

[WokeUpInACar]

I don't believe you that you literally can't retake. Tell me why this is the case.

[Serett]

I will try to gain in state status for my 2L and 3L years which would save me 20k, but it's pretty unlikely given their strict residency requirements. Would it be worth it to defer admission for a year to move there and gain residency? Maybe I'm just F***ing crazy for even considering this.

Yeah, don't hold out for residency in this manner. I feel pretty safe saying you will not get Wisconsin residency during your time as a student if you don't have it beforehand. If this truly is your plan, you should absolutely wait a year to work/save money and gain residency in Wisconsin. That's $60,000 saved over three years based on the colossal tuition difference for in-state/out-of-state, not counting what you manage to save while working. And in the meantime of that year, you can retake if you are eligible at some point over the duration. Even if not, in-state tuition makes the choice much less crazy.

[bugsy33]

I don't believe you that you literally can't retake. Tell me why this is the case.

Someone attached a bomb collar to my neck after the last LSAT exam. If I do another logical reasoning question I will explode.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

Illinois absolutely has a national reputation.

For some reason, Michigan gets elevated to God-like status but in reality it's the same school as Wisconsin (putting aside their different strengths) with Illinois only slightly behind in overall quality and prestige.

If Illinois had the same athletics as Wisconsin then it would be just as talked about among lay people. But they've had a few down seasons while Wisconsin has been on the rise - again, only talking about athletics here.

Considering the COA and percent in LTFT employment, this should be a no-brainer.

And I say this as someone who was waitlisted(!) and would like your seat and scholarship at UIUC.

[DportIA]

Dude you literally should not attend either of these schools at these prices, especially trying to achieve a job that pays ~40-45,000, and a job which people frequently strike out trying to achieve.

Don't do it.

Don't do

Don't

.

No.

[worldtraveler]

I don't believe you that you literally can't retake. Tell me why this is the case.

Someone attached a bomb collar to my neck after the last LSAT exam. If I do another logical reasoning question I will explode.

Then don't go.

[rad lulz]

I don't believe you that you literally can't retake. Tell me why this is the case.

Someone attached a bomb collar to my neck after the last LSAT exam. If I do another logical reasoning question I will explode.

Then don't go.

Tcr

[rad lulz]

.

[californiauser]

Illinois absolutely has a national reputation.

For some reason, Michigan gets elevated to God-like status but in reality it's the same school as Wisconsin (putting aside their different strengths) with Illinois only slightly behind in overall quality and prestige.

If Illinois had the same athletics as Wisconsin then it would be just as talked about among lay people. But they've had a few down seasons while Wisconsin has been on the rise - again, only talking about athletics here.

Considering the COA and percent in LTFT employment, this should be a no-brainer.

And I say this as someone who was waitlisted(!) and would like your seat and scholarship at UIUC.

Giving out bad info like this should be a bannable offense

[Jchance]

I read somewhere on this forum that Wisconsin will not negotiate scholarship package until Sept. of 2L year, which is way past the transfer acceptance deadline. If you plan to apply to transfer to negotiate for more scholarship from Wisconsin, don't count on it.

[cron1834]

Illinois absolutely has a national reputation.

For some reason, Michigan gets elevated to God-like status but in reality it's the same school as Wisconsin (putting aside their different strengths) with Illinois only slightly behind in overall quality and prestige.

If Illinois had the same athletics as Wisconsin then it would be just as talked about among lay people. But they've had a few down seasons while Wisconsin has been on the rise - again, only talking about athletics here.

Considering the COA and percent in LTFT employment, this should be a no-brainer.

And I say this as someone who was waitlisted(!) and would like your seat and scholarship at UIUC.

Giving out bad info like this should be a bannable offense

[SemiReverseSplinter]

Illinois absolutely has a national reputation.

For some reason, Michigan gets elevated to God-like status but in reality it's the same school as Wisconsin (putting aside their different strengths) with Illinois only slightly behind in overall quality and prestige.

If Illinois had the same athletics as Wisconsin then it would be just as talked about among lay people. But they've had a few down seasons while Wisconsin has been on the rise - again, only talking about athletics here.

Considering the COA and percent in LTFT employment, this should be a no-brainer.

And I say this as someone who was waitlisted(!) and would like your seat and scholarship at UIUC.

Giving out bad info like this should be a bannable offense

Knowing that people seem to take advice on here seriously... I agree. It could literally ruin someone's life given it's currently late decision season. Yikes.

[BigZuck]

I don't see how this thread is any different than your other one.

Gotta retake or don't go, both are way too expensive.

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Move to Wisconsin and retake LSAT. If you have already taken it three times then just ask a school to sponsor your retake. If done correctly this will save you 100k. No brainer.

[bugsy33]

Illinois absolutely has a national reputation.

For some reason, Michigan gets elevated to God-like status but in reality it's the same school as Wisconsin (putting aside their different strengths) with Illinois only slightly behind in overall quality and prestige.

If Illinois had the same athletics as Wisconsin then it would be just as talked about among lay people. But they've had a few down seasons while Wisconsin has been on the rise - again, only talking about athletics here.

Considering the COA and percent in LTFT employment, this should be a no-brainer.

And I say this as someone who was waitlisted(!) and would like your seat and scholarship at UIUC.

Giving out bad info like this should be a bannable offense

Knowing that people seem to take advice on here seriously... I agree. It could literally ruin someone's life given it's currently late decision season. Yikes.

What is so drastically bad about this advice? Has anybody had success with deferring enrollment to gain instate status?

[McAvoy]

Going to Wisconsin at OOS sticker is pure and simple madness.

Here's something reasonable: Move to Madison, right now. Spend a year drinking and retaking the LSAT, then go UW for a third of the cost next year. You absolutely cannot get residency after you've matriculated, too -- I don't know why you would possibly have that in your head.

Assuming you're a humanities/social science bro without good job prospects, even if you make 25K in your gap year in Madison, you'll have effectively made ~100K, because you'll have established residency. If you get a few points better on the LSAT, you'll have effectively made a lot more.

Also -- you want to be an ADA or PD but you want to take out 150K in loans?(!) That doesn't seem like a very good idea no matter where you go.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Move to Wisconsin and retake LSAT. If you have already taken it three times then just ask a school to sponsor your retake. If done correctly this will save you 100k. No brainer.

In the Spivey thread this just recently came up, and apparently LSAC doesn't do this anymore.

[northwood]

Find out what you need to do to become a WI resident, and do it. Move to Wi and tell the school that you want to defer so you can become a in state resident. While deferring, work ( or volunteer) in a legal office. Then, once you have done enough to be considered a WI resident- reapply. While you should take the LSAT again, you probably wont- so this year will help reduce your COA, and possibly allow you to save/ pay off some more of your existing debt.

So my answer is go to WI- but dont matriculate in law school this year.

[BigZuck]

I think the gaining WI residency is all well and good but if it only saves the OP 60K then the school is still too expensive.

Gotta retake or not go, there really is no other option here that I can see.

[northwood]

I think the gaining WI residency is all well and good but if it only saves the OP 60K then the school is still too expensive.

Gotta retake or not go, there really is no other option here that I can see.

Totally agree, but if OP is adamant about not retaking, at least OP should look into other legal ways to keep his costs down.

[FlanAl]

you should learn as much as you can about the public defender/prosecutor system in each state and figure out which one has more jobs and which one has the best ties to the school. You should also compare the lraps of the two schools. I would also definitely take the time to get in-state tuition at either school. If it turns out that Wisconsin has a great public defender system or state's attorney that hires almost all of the new lawyers from UW and it has a good lrap then going there with in-state tuition could be a good idea.

You could take the year while your trying to get residency to volunteer or get some sort of a job at a prosecutor or defender to make yourself more marketable while you are a law student.

Does UW give significant merit scholarships? I mean you should probably re-take just to have more options but if you're set on UW and they don't really give good scholarships anyways I can see why you'd be hesitant.

[bugsy33]

Going to Wisconsin at OOS sticker is pure and simple madness.

I have a 25% scholarship. Here's the problem, everyone I see on LSN has basically a 25% or 35% scholarship until they start scoring in the high 160's. Even if I was able to raise my LSAT a few points, I'd likely still end up with the same scholarship amount. Hypothetically, if I did retake and get into the high 160's I would still have way better options (ie. T-14). That being said, I can't realistically retake again.

Then again, I think getting in with my stats this year was pretty lucky, I doubt that I'd get in again next year without scoring higher. I'd have to see if they'd let me defer admission for a year, and whether or not I would qualify for in state.

[McAvoy]

you should learn as much as you can about the public defender/prosecutor system in each state and figure out which one has more jobs and which one has the best ties to the school. You should also compare the lraps of the two schools. I would also definitely take the time to get in-state tuition at either school. If it turns out that Wisconsin has a great public defender system or state's attorney that hires almost all of the new lawyers from UW and it has a good lrap then going there with in-state tuition could be a good idea.

You saw there's a 57% employment score, right?

Does UW give significant merit scholarships? I mean you should probably re-take just to have more options but if you're set on UW and they don't really give good scholarships anyways I can see why you'd be hesitant.

They are pretty stingy. I don't know OP's GPA, but if he can get in shouting range to 170 he might be looking at like half off from in-state if his GPA is below median. You likely need high T14 numbers for them to go full.

[McAvoy]

Going to Wisconsin at OOS sticker is pure and simple madness.

I have a 25% scholarship. Here's the problem, everyone I see on LSN has basically a 25% or 35% scholarship until they start scoring in the high 160's. Even if I was able to raise my LSAT a few points, I'd likely still end up with the same scholarship amount. Hypothetically, if I did retake and get into the high 160's I would still have way better options (ie. T-14). That being said, I can't realistically retake again.

What is stopping you from retaking, and what is stopping you from getting into the high 160s?

Worst case, you spend two years working in an great city then kill the LSAT once you have takes available again. Save up money for COL and get some work experience, get a higher scholarship and in-state tuition, get hitched to your SO and then go to UW with no debt at all.