university of Washington at cost Forum

[Maple90]

For someone interested in big law/mid law, mainly mergers and acquisitions, is UW worth sticker? Or should I retake and reapply(I am reluctant to do this, but I also want to be able to pay back my loans)?
I currently do not have a job, so my opportunity cost of not going in September is quite high

However, my concern is the weak Seattle market, and the limited reach of UW to other major markets( think LA,NY, etc)

COA is $150,000 (more like $170,000) at repayment, and it would be funded by federal loans.

GPA is 3.6 (3.7,3.8, and 3.9 in my final three years respectively, if that makes a difference).
LSAT 163 (1 take) I studied full time for 4 weeks, meaning 8 hours per day, and took 25 practice tests, as well as went through the power score bibles). I lost as many points on LG than the other 3 sections combined.
Strong ties to PNW.

Also, with my numbers I was lucky to be accepted, and I am not sure if I would have as much success next year if my score does not improve.

[03152016]

no, unfortunately you have little chance of biglaw from uw
the percentage of last year's class getting biglaw or fed clerkship was only 15.3%
(with 64.5% of grads finding full-time, long-term, jd-required jobs)
have a look for yourself: http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/washington/2013/

also, will you be living at home?
$170k sticker at uw seems low
debt-financed coa in-state is $200k+ at repayment according to lst
http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/ ... osts/2013/
six figure debt for uw is not reasonable given the low likelihood of obtaining a job that will allow you to service that amount of debt

fortunately, you have much room for improvement on the lsat
lg is a very learnable section of the test
and with a proper time frame for studying (3 months or more) you'll be in a much better position to achieve a 170+ score

[should-i-do-it]

Retake bro, get a 170+ and go to uw with $$$$ or t-14 and go back to washington if that's where you want to work

[Maple90]

No I won't be living at home. I was just going off the estimates given by uw. I know that at least for the next two years tuition is fixed. But 200+ Is way more than I was expecting.

[baal hadad]

Horrendous idea

Not only is the school way too expensive but you probably wont get the job you want

[rinkrat19]

4 weeks of studying is a heartbeat. With a 163 starting point, there is no reason to throw that much money on the gamble that is UW. Take a year to do a proper 5+ month study program.

[JCougar]

Unless you can get into a significantly better school (top 6 or so), mergers and acquisitions is a pretty bad bet.

Retake or don't go.

[WokeUpInACar]

Lol at 4 weeks of studying. Do 4 months, then retake.

[Ti Malice]

No, UW at sticker would be a truly terrible decision.

Also, if you burned through 25 PTs in just four weeks, you're not studying properly. Visit the LSAT forum for advice on putting together a more effective study regimen.

[golfinsailor]

Go for it. You've got to be willing to pursue your passions, even if its a little risky. It will pay off when you're working as a lawyer.

[Colonel_funkadunk]

Go for it. You've got to be willing to pursue your passions, even if its a little risky. It will pay off when you're working as a lawyer.

Lol

[TheSenator]

Go for it. You've got to be willing to pursue your passions, even if its a little risky. It will pay off when you're working as a lawyer.

Solid first post

[BigZuck]

UW at sticker would probably be on the very short list of the very worst decisions you have ever made in your entire life. Even if you win and get big law (a huge long shot), you lose because you're under a ton of debt. Also, it sounds like you don't even really want to be in PNW long term.

You have to retake and go to a T14 (on scholarship) if you want big law.

[Maple90]

Given that UW gives away very little in terms if scholarship, the majority of students there are in a similar situation. Is there any scenario where UW makes sense at this price, or are most of those attending just shooting themselves in the foot?

[BigZuck]

At that price? No, never. Not unless you're light money on fire just to watch it burn type rich.

A majority of people who attend law school shouldn't, IMO. If what you say is true (and UW has the reputation on here of being super stingy so you're probably right), then the vast majority of people who attend UW are making a big mistake.

[Pikappraider]

Horrendous idea

Not only is the school way too expensive but you probably wont get the job you want

[ManoftheHour]

UW at sticker would be a truly terrible decision.

[ManoftheHour]

With these stats, UW is only worth it on a full ride (with non biglaw aspirations and the desire to practice in Washington):

http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/washington/2013/

[Yea All Right]

I currently do not have a job, so my opportunity cost of not going in September is quite high

Other posters already covered the relevant points, I wanted to address the above from your original post. I would argue that the opportunity cost of not going is low. You're not missing out on anything substantially beneficial by passing up the acceptance, in fact you may be avoiding the decision of attending UW at sticker and ruining your financial prospects.

[timbs4339]

This would be a dumb move. I think you know that. Retake.

[Ti Malice]

I currently do not have a job, so my opportunity cost of not going in September is quite high

Other posters already covered the relevant points, I wanted to address the above from your original post. I would argue that the opportunity cost of not going is low. You're not missing out on anything substantially beneficial by passing up the acceptance, in fact you may be avoiding the decision of attending UW at sticker and ruining your financial prospects.

Exactly. Must have skimmed past that statement the first time.

OP, I assure you that the costs of going would, probabilistically speaking, be far greater than whatever costs you would incur by not going. Hurrying up just to make a ruinous decision doesn't make any sense.

[03152016]

Given that UW gives away very little in terms if scholarship, the majority of students there are in a similar situation. Is there any scenario where UW makes sense at this price, or are most of those attending just shooting themselves in the foot?

some small percentage are getting that scholly $$$ or outside aid
some small percentage have rich mommies and daddies who are okay with throwing away six figures (or have money themselves)
some small percentage will actually get biglaw or some other lucrative employment and have somewhat of a chance of paying off that debt
some small percentage will drop out or transfer to a school that gives them better bl+fc chances
some small percentage will manage to pslf the debt away
some small percentage have military benis or an employer footing the bill
some small percentage will marry rich
everyone else is getting screwed

[farfromthetree]

Given that UW gives away very little in terms if scholarship, the majority of students there are in a similar situation. Is there any scenario where UW makes sense at this price, or are most of those attending just shooting themselves in the foot?

some small percentage are getting that scholly $$$ or outside aid
some small percentage have rich mommies and daddies who are okay with throwing away six figures (or have money themselves)
some small percentage will actually get biglaw or some other lucrative employment and have somewhat of a chance of paying off that debt
some small percentage will drop out or transfer to a school that gives them better bl+fc chances
some small percentage will manage to pslf the debt away
some small percentage have military benis or an employer footing the bill
some small percentage will marry rich
everyone else is getting screwed

Option number 2 but change parents with grandparents. My rich grandparents will pay for any amount of education but won't give me money for anything else. Is UW at fill ride a bad idea?

[03152016]

Given that UW gives away very little in terms if scholarship, the majority of students there are in a similar situation. Is there any scenario where UW makes sense at this price, or are most of those attending just shooting themselves in the foot?

some small percentage are getting that scholly $$$ or outside aid
some small percentage have rich mommies and daddies who are okay with throwing away six figures (or have money themselves)
some small percentage will actually get biglaw or some other lucrative employment and have somewhat of a chance of paying off that debt
some small percentage will drop out or transfer to a school that gives them better bl+fc chances
some small percentage will manage to pslf the debt away
some small percentage have military benis or an employer footing the bill
some small percentage will marry rich
everyone else is getting screwed

Option number 2 but change parents with grandparents. My rich grandparents will pay for any amount of education but won't give me money for anything else. Is UW at fill ride a bad idea?

grandparents covering absolutely all tuition and fees?
your only costs are living expenses?

it could be defensible, depending on your situation

know that you're probably not getting biglaw
there's a real possibility of underemployment
you'd have to be okay with working in the area
and you may be selling yourself short -- idk what other offers you have or what numbers you applied with
what are your stats?

[BigZuck]

Given that UW gives away very little in terms if scholarship, the majority of students there are in a similar situation. Is there any scenario where UW makes sense at this price, or are most of those attending just shooting themselves in the foot?

some small percentage are getting that scholly $$$ or outside aid
some small percentage have rich mommies and daddies who are okay with throwing away six figures (or have money themselves)
some small percentage will actually get biglaw or some other lucrative employment and have somewhat of a chance of paying off that debt
some small percentage will drop out or transfer to a school that gives them better bl+fc chances
some small percentage will manage to pslf the debt away
some small percentage have military benis or an employer footing the bill
some small percentage will marry rich
everyone else is getting screwed

Option number 2 but change parents with grandparents. My rich grandparents will pay for any amount of education but won't give me money for anything else. Is UW at fill ride a bad idea?

Your grandparents are kind of odd. They don't want to buy you something nicer than a UW law degree?

If my grandparents were willing to pay for any school in the country I certainly wouldn't spend it on UW, I'd rather put it toward a top school. Unless maybe I was deadset on working at a small firm/local government gig in Washington and I had a blatant disregard for their money.