Top Law Schools

Schools:
BC: 32.5k/yr COA 71k
BU: 27k/yr COA 88k
GW: 10k/yr 158k

Goals: Big law, if not head back home for small/mid law. Work in family business, possibly get involved in politics.

Ties: Boston, NYC, all of Michigan, Miami/South Florida. DC

Financing: Family is paying tuition + living expenses. 0 debt.

Thoughts:
Is it crazy to turn down offers from GW/BU (which seem to be more difficult to attend from an admissions standpoint than BC) Is GW a "better" school than both of my other options? What would be the "wrong" move here?

Finally the cycle will be over for me in 48 hours, thanks for all the input the last few months.

**And I understand none are "ideal" options, but this is what I have. So input on these schools would be appreciated.

Ngoblue2014 wrote: GW a "better" school than both of my other options?

No. No no no. They have like 20% of their graduating class working for the school making $15/hour.

You would be insane to turn down BC here. They're the same school. Don't fall for the trap of thinking that GW is a better school because it's more expensive or people who get in there have 1 more point on the LSAT.

Timbs thanks for the response. What about BU though? Costs are very similar

timbs4339 wrote:

Ngoblue2014 wrote: GW a "better" school than both of my other options?

No. No no no. They have like 20% of their graduating class working for the school making $15/hour.

You would be insane to turn down BC here. They're the same school. Don't fall for the trap of thinking that GW is a better school because it's more expensive or people who get in there have 1 more point on the LSAT.

This. You have ties to Boston and seem to want to work in Boston or NYC...why would you go to GW at more than twice the price? Even if it is on your parents' dime.

Large omission on my part i apologize, strong ties to DC. Worked their last summer as an intern, family members (though somewhat extended) in large firms in the area.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:Timbs thanks for the response. What about BU though? Costs are very similar

There is not much if any substantive difference between BC and BU. Only go to BU if you like it enough to feel that you like the school enough to be worth $17k more, which seems highly unlikely. Though if you haven't negotiated with them already, you might be able to convince them to match BC's offer - assuming you're more interested in BU for whatever reason (being closer to the city, idk).

Can't speak to BU/BC really. Personally I'd go with personal preference at that price difference. If tied, choose the cheaper. 17k ain't nothin to sneeze at though.

As far as GW here:

timbs4339 wrote:No. No no no.

That sums it up pretty well. No ties to DC and Almost 90k more cost than BC? Just no.

edited in light of DC ties update

Ngoblue2014 wrote:Large omission on my part i apologize, strong ties to DC. Worked their last summer as an intern, family members (though somewhat extended) in large firms in the area.

If you really want to work in DC and your parents are rich enough that $80k more is a drop in the bucket to them, then sure, GW may be worth it. But otherwise almost certainly not - if you have ties to DC biglaw already, those will probably help you much more even from BC than going to GW would.

I do want to work in DC but it is not something i am married to. It seems like il need to do really well at GW to get into a large firm in DC, which is somewhat discouraging for GW since from the looks of the placement stats if i perform similarly at BU/BC DC is still possible. 80k is not a drop in the bucket in my opinion, but i know they would pay it if it is what i reaalllllllly want to do, but i feel terrible choosing an option that will end up being close to a 6 figure more investment for them.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:Large omission on my part i apologize, strong ties to DC. Worked their last summer as an intern, family members (though somewhat extended) in large firms in the area.

These aren't strong ties

As always with rich parents, just go wherever you want. YOLO.

Aren't you the one who wants to be a politician in Michigan? If so, retake for Michigan and go there.

None of these are very good options for big law, especially w/o legit ties to Boston. Are your ties legit?

haha i always love the YOLO response. Idk the DC ties are pretty good, my uncle is a partner in a major firm and his wife is in another. She is a GW grad, he is GTown. A lot of contacts in the area through him and his daughters (also lawyers) those are decent ties IMO

Ngoblue2014 wrote:haha i always love the YOLO response. Idk the DC ties are pretty good, my uncle is a partner in a major firm and his wife is in another. She is a GW grad, he is GTown. A lot of contacts in the area through him and his daughters (also lawyers) those are decent ties IMO

Contacts don't necessarily equal ties, IMO, but for some reason I didn't catch the "in large firms" part. That might help you get your foot in the door, but I'm guessing your grades will largely determine whether it slams shut or stays open.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:I do want to work in DC but it is not something i am married to. It seems like il need to do really well at GW to get into a large firm in DC, which is somewhat discouraging for GW since from the looks of the placement stats if i perform similarly at BU/BC DC is still possible. 80k is not a drop in the bucket in my opinion, but i know they would pay it if it is what i reaalllllllly want to do, but i feel terrible choosing an option that will end up being close to a 6 figure more investment for them.

Have you talked to them about this? You could just outline for them the merely marginal benefits of GW over BC and see what they think, since it's their money. Bonus in that (if they have any sense, which many parents don't) they'll appreciate your prudence and responsible cost/benefit analysis. Who knows, maybe that wins you points down the road the next time you need mountains of cash for something.

ymmv yea that is a good idea, thank you. Honestly they just want this process to end, it has been even more draining emotionally on them than me i think.

Ngoblue2014 wrote:ymmv yea that is a good idea, thank you. Honestly they just want this process to end, it has been even more draining emotionally on them than me i think.

I can't imagine why the prospect of spending from $70-160,000 to achieve qualifying credentials in an employment-impoverished field might be emotionally draining.

haha yea, very well put

Wait a minute, are those listed scholarship offers? How on earth do these numbers make sense?

Just ran it through LS22's calculator, BC is at ~117k. Non-debt financed: ~99k.

.

To answer your question though, if your goal is to work in a big firm and your parents are willing and able to foot the bill entirely, I'd retake and get into a school with better biglaw placement. No sense in spending three years pursuing something you have a one third chance of getting.

Max324 wrote:To answer your question though, if your goal is to work in a big firm and your parents are willing and able to foot the bill entirely, I'd retake and get into a school with better biglaw placement. No sense in spending three years pursuing something you have a one third chance of getting.

Obviously retake is always TCR, but I've given up trying to convince 0Ls.

thanks everyone for the input