Ohio State on Full Ride, or UVA/Duke at Sticker? Forum

ucbearcats2012 · Post by **ucbearcats2012** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:23 am

Hi everyone,

I'm faced with the following options:

A) Ohio State University on a full ride
B) University of Cincinnati on a full ride
C) UVA at Sticker
D) Duke at sticker

I have a very high GPA (4.0) in chemical engineering, but am faced with sticker at these T14 due to a lower LSAT (168).

I want to go into patent law in the Ohio/Midwest area, as that is where I am from.

So is it better to pay the sticker at a T14, or full ride at a fairly respectable, regional school?

Nebby · Post by **Nebby** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:27 am

UVA/Duke.

You may change your mind about your plans. And these schools will be able to deliver on those plans, and your original plans.

yadiermolina · Post by **yadiermolina** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:41 am

Can you retake? 4.0 Chem E and a 172 is big $$$ territory. $250k in non-dischargable loans still seems nuts. And if you want to work in the midwest and can't retake, Ohio State on a full ride is not a terrible option.

star fox · Post by **star fox** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:57 am

Get 2-5 more points on the LSAT and you'll be very happy.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:08 am

Post removed.

Nebby · Post by **Nebby** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:10 am

PRESTIgE

OP isn't going to retake. I can tell.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:17 am

Post removed.

ucbearcats2012 · Post by **ucbearcats2012** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:34 am

MistakenGenius wrote:
CounselorNebby wrote:UVA/Duke.

You may change your mind about your plans. And these schools will be able to deliver on those plans, and your original plans.
Nebby, you're just full of bad advice today, aren't you? OP, UVA and Duke are excellent schools, but not worth sticker. You need to retake.With about 2 points on the LSAT, you could be looking at some serious money at the T14. With about 6 points, you'll be competitive for the Hamilton and Rubenstein, both of which will put you in excellent position to accomplish any goal you might have, while not loading you down with a quarter million in non-dischargeable debt.

While I can't stress retaking enough, if you're sure you want to remain near home in Ohio, take the money. Ohio State will carry as much weight there as either of these schools, while keeping your debt extremely low. No brainer, despite what prestige whores like Nebby think.

I'm almost definitely going to retake. If I can get a 170-171, what kind of money do you think I could receive from a lower T14?

Let say, hypothetically, that I received a $100,000 scholarship from a lower T14, nearly halving my debt.. Would you then choose this T14 over Ohio State?

star fox · Post by **star fox** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:50 am

ucbearcats2012 wrote:
MistakenGenius wrote:
CounselorNebby wrote:UVA/Duke.

You may change your mind about your plans. And these schools will be able to deliver on those plans, and your original plans.
Nebby, you're just full of bad advice today, aren't you? OP, UVA and Duke are excellent schools, but not worth sticker. You need to retake.With about 2 points on the LSAT, you could be looking at some serious money at the T14. With about 6 points, you'll be competitive for the Hamilton and Rubenstein, both of which will put you in excellent position to accomplish any goal you might have, while not loading you down with a quarter million in non-dischargeable debt.

While I can't stress retaking enough, if you're sure you want to remain near home in Ohio, take the money. Ohio State will carry as much weight there as either of these schools, while keeping your debt extremely low. No brainer, despite what prestige whores like Nebby think.
I'm almost definitely going to retake. If I can get a 170-171, what kind of money do you think I could receive from a lower T14?

Let say, hypothetically, that I received a $100,000 scholarship from a lower T14, nearly halving my debt.. Would you then choose this T14 over Ohio State?

170 and full ride is definitely on the table. I got offered over 95 % from nu with a 170 and worse gpa (didn't ed.)

rahulg91 · Post by **rahulg91** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:03 am

Did you get $$$ at any other regional midwest schools? OSU or Duke seems like extreme cases. Did you apply to UIUC, ND, or WUSTL? Stronger regional with $$$ give you a slightly higher chance of BigLaw while still mitigating your debt.

Also obligatory RETAKE.

Fiero85 · Post by **Fiero85** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:01 am

ucbearcats2012 wrote: I'm almost definitely going to retake. If I can get a 170-171, what kind of money do you think I could receive from a lower T14?

Let say, hypothetically, that I received a $100,000 scholarship from a lower T14, nearly halving my debt.. Would you then choose this T14 over Ohio State?

This bolded stuff makes us all very happy, make sure you follow thru on this, for your own $ake!

Check out mylsn.info to see some data, I plugged in a 170-171 range and your gpa here:

I think the credited move would be to apply to NU ED (because that comes with 150k scholly) and then blanket apply to the T14 otherwise. OSU fully will still be there reagardless, but you'll be looking at 6 figures to full ride at some of the above schools in all likelihood. So to answer your Q, yes I would choose a T14 with 100k or more scholly over OSU. Looks like you could have those level of offers on the table. Northwestern specifically, because it is in the Midwest and could give you serious scholly money, seems like a good one to target. But apply broadly and see what happens. Good luck on that retake!

Edit: but yeah, for the record, OSU is your current best offer for your goals. Bump up your LSAT by 3-4 questions correct or more (like one more per section) and you'll have some much improved T14 offers

NYSprague · Post by **NYSprague** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:06 am

ucbearcats2012 wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm faced with the following options:

A) Ohio State University on a full ride
B) University of Cincinnati on a full ride
C) UVA at Sticker
D) Duke at sticker

I have a very high GPA (4.0) in chemical engineering, but am faced with sticker at these T14 due to a lower LSAT (168).

I want to go into patent law in the Ohio/Midwest area, as that is where I am from.

So is it better to pay the sticker at a T14, or full ride at a fairly respectable, regional school?

How big is patent law in Ohio? I'm just wondering how many jobs there are?

I'm very happy you are going to retake. In no way should you accept paying sticker.

Power_of_Facing · Post by **Power_of_Facing** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:13 pm

ucbearcats2012 wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm faced with the following options:

A) Ohio State University on a full ride
B) University of Cincinnati on a full ride
C) UVA at Sticker
D) Duke at sticker

I have a very high GPA (4.0) in chemical engineering, but am faced with sticker at these T14 due to a lower LSAT (168).

I want to go into patent law in the Ohio/Midwest area, as that is where I am from.

So is it better to pay the sticker at a T14, or full ride at a fairly respectable, regional school?

Reapply.

4.0/168s should not pay anywhere near sticker. T14 or otherwise.

ManoftheHour · Post by **ManoftheHour** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:18 pm

Power_of_Facing wrote: Reapply.

4.0/168s should not pay anywhere near sticker. T14 or otherwise.

This.

lol, did you not submit a personal statement/LORs or something?

Maybe applied late?

Mack.Hambleton · Post by **Mack.Hambleton** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:20 pm

worth reapplying even if you don't retake (although you definitely should)

jbagelboy · Post by **jbagelboy** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:41 pm

CounselorNebby wrote:UVA/Duke.

You may change your mind about your plans. And these schools will be able to deliver on those plans, and your original plans.

NO.

twenty · Post by **twenty** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:49 pm

A few (2-3) LSAT points would put OP in Northwestern ED territory easily. Would probably do that.

Power_of_Facing · Post by **Power_of_Facing** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:55 pm

twenty wrote:A few (2-3) LSAT points would put OP in Northwestern ED territory easily. Would probably do that.

With the right application, the OP's already there.

jingosaur · Post by **jingosaur** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:59 pm

Definitely retake/reapply.

I disagree with everyone's Northwestern ED strategy since OP will likely get an NU full ride anyway or get a better option than NU at a full scholarship with a few extra points on the LSAT.

Power_of_Facing · Post by **Power_of_Facing** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:02 pm

jingosaur wrote:Definitely retake/reapply.

I disagree with everyone's Northwestern ED strategy since OP will likely get an NU full ride anyway or get a better option than NU at a full scholarship with a few extra points on the LSAT.

This is probably credited.

Chrstgtr · Post by **Chrstgtr** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:05 pm

Retake.

I'm surprised you didn't get some money from a T14 anyways with that GPA and respectable LSAT. I would take a good look at your application to make sure nothing else went wrong.

03152016 · Post by **03152016** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:25 pm

Ohio State: 59.1% of c/o 2013 were working full-time/long-term as lawyers nine months after graduation (38/225 in biglaw); COA on a full-ride according to LST: $77,268

Cincinnati: 53% (17/149); $70,395

UVA: 95.6% (182/364); $287,233 (PLZ DON'T DO THIS)

Duke: 85.9% (124/241); $285,725 (PLZ DON'T DO THIS)

Ohio State and Cincinnati don't fit your goals, but attending UVA/Duke at sticker is an awful idea, especially with your GPA.

twenty · Post by **twenty** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:36 pm

jingosaur wrote:Definitely retake/reapply.

I disagree with everyone's Northwestern ED strategy since OP will likely get an NU full ride anyway or get a better option than NU at a full scholarship with a few extra points on the LSAT.

I don't really know how OP would do much better for IP in Ohio than NU on a full ride. I guess a Ruby at Chicago is in the cards with a REALLY good retake, and a Darrow at Michigan is certainly a possibility (though would still probably take ED NU).

Even if OP went from 120k at Northwestern with no ED up to 150k with, it's still worth it given OP's goals.

Jaqen · Post by **Jaqen** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:36 pm

Retake for sure.

BigZuck · Post by **BigZuck** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:53 pm

Something went frightfully wrong with your cycle to be facing sticker at Duke/UVA with those numbers.

Definitely retake, no question there. But fixing whatever went wrong should also be a huge concern of yours, IMO.