GULC vs NU Forum

[IrishCatholic09]

GULC total cost - $178k
NU total cost - $187k

Would prefer either BigLaw or a BigFed policy job. Really more concerned about the debt than the rest of it.

[Winston1984]

Without knowing where you want to work, NU. No way Georgetown is worth that much. I wouldn't pay that much for NU either, but at least you have a much better shot at biglaw. Stats? How many times have you taken the LSAT?

[03152016]

read this op: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

[IrishCatholic09]

These would be total COA figures in loans. I have big scholarship offers from both ( in the 2/3 tuition range). I had a 3.5~ GPA and a 170 LSAT. Only took it once. I'd like to either go big law transactional for a few years and then in-house or the same in the regulatory side (hence, GULC). What prices would someone pay for places like these? The cost is just so high, and I don't have the option of familial help.

[03152016]

i'd go with nu here
i just wouldn't feel comfortable taking out big debt for gulc given their bl+fc

[IrishCatholic09]

I feel like you're probably right Brut, but I guess part of me is still curious. How low a price should I have been looking for from these two schools?

[Tiago Splitter]

2/3 off is a great deal, but that's like 110k over three years and it's hard to believe that's what you're getting if you would still end up with 180k in debt. Regardless, Northwestern has much better job prospects so I'd take that if the costs are this close.

[FSK]

Does either place better into NY? DCs a hard nut to crack, at least at the top DC firms, so your main plan should be NY transnational until you have grades to do otherwise. Chicago also seems to be very ties/grade selective, so that's something.....

I sort of imagine that GU has more placement into NY (location, top in its city), but only a guess. NU has better jop prospects overall though, so that's something.

[IrishCatholic09]

Yeah, the problem is it's close to 2/3 tuition. It's the cost of living part that kills.

[Tiago Splitter]

20k a year in tuition and another 20k a year in living expenses won't get you to 187k in debt.

If you're really worried about debt you are going to need to re-apply this year to regional schools that place in your desired market and give full rides. Those often don't exist. And given your goal of Biglaw you'll probably need to just suck it up and pay for NU. So I guess either take the plunge or come up with new goals.

[TheSpanishMain]

Why no Cornell? Good BigLaw placement, would likely give you a nice scholarship, and cost of living in Ithaca is cheap.

[IrishCatholic09]

I mean, the other option that I always saw as a backup was to get a job on Capitol Hill out of school if things weren't working out. I have a few years of political experience/have lived in DC for a few years, and I liked the idea of Georgetown's connections around town.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

At these costs neither is the credited answer. If you have to pick one then definitely NU.

[IrishCatholic09]

On the off chance that I could lower the costs somehow...How much lower would each have to go to make sense?

[TheSpanishMain]

I would think that something like 125 is reasonable for NU and 100 for GU.

[star fox]

How are you getting 180K in debt with a 2/3 scholarship? Is this including carry-over UG loans?

[IrishCatholic09]

I misspoke, or should say mistyped. I meant to say around 60% of tuition, but was a little preoccupied and then stuck with the same fraction. That said, it's the tuition +COL + interest.

Ugh, I honestly didn't want to leave DC I don't think deep down.

[TheSpanishMain]

Ugh, I honestly didn't want to leave DC I don't think deep down.

I mean, I'm going to GU, and I'd like to suggest that so we can hit up some the Capitol Hill pubs and listen to the Pogues. (I assume you're a Pogues fan given your username, otherwise GTFO). I just can't in good conscience suggest paying that much, especially for BigLaw. If you were Gov/PI committed and could fall back on LRAP, maybe. But for BigLaw that are just better options.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I misspoke, or should say mistyped. I meant to say around 60% of tuition, but was a little preoccupied and then stuck with the same fraction. That said, it's the tuition +COL + interest.

Ugh, I honestly didn't want to leave DC I don't think deep down.

If you don't want to leave D.C. I would go to American or GWU for free/near free before either of these options. If you are going to choose one of these law schools, please sit down first and make a sample budget where you have $100k in income (after tax salary of $160k in NYC), and figure out rent, food, loan payments, entertainment, phone/tv, etc. Also take a look at what age you will be after loans are repaid.

[IrishCatholic09]

This is ridiculous. Is there even a point to all of this if I can get over 60% tuition covered by a school this high and these are still the options?

[FSK]

I misspoke, or should say mistyped. I meant to say around 60% of tuition, but was a little preoccupied and then stuck with the same fraction. That said, it's the tuition +COL + interest.

Ugh, I honestly didn't want to leave DC I don't think deep down.

If you don't want to leave D.C. I would go to American or GWU for free/near free before either of these options. If you are going to choose one of these law schools, please sit down first and make a sample budget where you have $100k in income (after tax salary of $160k in NYC), and figure out rent, food, loan payments, entertainment, phone/tv, etc. Also take a look at what age you will be after loans are repaid.

Going to GWU free is fine. Never go to american.

[FSK]

This is ridiculous. Is there even a point to all of this if I can get over 60% tuition covered by a school this high and these are still the options?

TLS is very conservative. The boart has seem too many people get burnt by law school. If you want to go biglaw or bust, your options are retake or go for it. Pick one and live with it. All you can do.

[Paul Campos]

I misspoke, or should say mistyped. I meant to say around 60% of tuition, but was a little preoccupied and then stuck with the same fraction. That said, it's the tuition +COL + interest.

Ugh, I honestly didn't want to leave DC I don't think deep down.

If you don't want to leave D.C. I would go to American or GWU for free/near free before either of these options. If you are going to choose one of these law schools, please sit down first and make a sample budget where you have $100k in income (after tax salary of $160k in NYC), and figure out rent, food, loan payments, entertainment, phone/tv, etc. Also take a look at what age you will be after loans are repaid.

Going to GWU free is fine. Never go to american.

[acr]

Attending American could quite possibly be one of the worst decisions anyone could ever make in life.

[Yea All Right]

If you are set on going this fall, then pick NU and don't look back. The increased job prospects are definitely worth the extra 9k in my opinion.

Although your predilection for DC makes it complicated...