UVA at sticker vs. William & Mary with full scholarship? Forum

[Stadia]

Just looking to hear opinions on this.

I am a VA resident and want to work in DC/northern VA after law school. For personal reasons, retaking the LSAT and reapplying to UVA to try to get a scholarship is not an option.

[baal hadad]

Retake

[smiles123]

I personally would choose the full ride because I am debt adverse. In terms of $ these are polar opposite scenarios.

However, from everything I've read on tsl this should all depend on your goals.

You need to decide if realistically you can achieve those with w&m or not.

[MistakenGenius]

Post removed.

[silenttimer]

OP -- I would seriously consider W&M for free. It is a fine school, and you will only have to take $30-35k to cover cost of living. This is a steal IMHO.

[fratstar1]

goals?

[chuckbass]

Retake

You are the most worthless person on this site. I seriously don't know why they don't ban you.

OP, I don't love either of these scenarios. UVA isn't worth sticker and I don't know if I'd attend W&M even for free. You should be able to have some more options if you hit UVA. Did you not apply to Washington and Lee?

Why would you ask about Washington and Lee if you wouldn't attend W&M for free?

[BigZuck]

I know he doesn't need defending but baal is one of the best posters on TLS and pretty much a consensus T1 most helpful poster through the years. Step off. Seriously.

OP- this is a hypothetical and that's not really what this forum is for. W&M is fine with modest career goals (small firm/local government work). Can't go there with a goal of DC big law or prestigious PI or anything like that.

Best answer is most likely retake.

[BigLawer]

I think UVA is absolutely worth it if you want biglaw/Clerkship. I think W&M is the right choice if you don't want biglaw.

[03152016]

I think UVA is absolutely worth it if you want biglaw/Clerkship. I think W&M is the right choice if you don't want biglaw.

in-state is $270k at repayment

UVA sticker
not even once

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

You would be absolutely out of your mind to attend UVA at sticker

William & Mary for free is a good option, especially if you would be okay with practicing in VA

Also, at a school like W&M about 15-20% of people get big law, so big law is not definitely out from this type of school.

Even if there is no correlation between grades and gpa/lsat (which seems unlikely) there is still a shot at big law. It would be the equivalent of rolling a single die, calling out the number, and you're correct.

[BigLawer]

I think people overdo the whole "out of your mind to pay sticker" when you are dealing with a T14/T10. I know tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke. I don't know, I was fortunate enough to get a small scholarship and have a wife who could pay COL - but if I had these options - I would take UVA at sticker.

I also knew I wanted biglaw...

[BigZuck]

I think people overdo the whole "out of your mind to pay sticker" when you are dealing with a T14/T10. I know tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke. I don't know, I was fortunate enough to get a small scholarship and have a wife who could pay COL - but if I had these options - I would take UVA at sticker.

I also knew I wanted biglaw...

Why would knowing tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke= people aren't out of their mind?

Couldn't you just know tons of people who are out of their mind?

[kcdc1]

How is this decision arising in October? Why is discounted tuition at another T14 not in play?

[BigLawer]

I think people overdo the whole "out of your mind to pay sticker" when you are dealing with a T14/T10. I know tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke. I don't know, I was fortunate enough to get a small scholarship and have a wife who could pay COL - but if I had these options - I would take UVA at sticker.

I also knew I wanted biglaw...

Why would knowing tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke= people aren't out of their mind?

Couldn't you just know tons of people who are out of their mind?

Haha yeah, that is very true. I think the legal market is getting better. It appears that OCI/OGI at these schools is getting better and better. Maybe I am wrong to think that most people are paying sticker - I guess I don't tell people I got a scholarship - so how would I know if they did.

Most people who I know that wanted biglaw got it (including clerkships). I know the #s say only like 60% - but I also know people on LR who didn't want that and took PI/Gov positions. So I would say it is even better than that. But it is also probably the case that people who didn't get what they wanted wont be very vocal about it.

[Big Dog]

Get money at a lower 14. Win-win.

[BigLawer]

Get money at a lower 14. Win-win.

This is probably TCR.

[bjsesq]

Retake

You are the most worthless person on this site. I seriously don't know why they don't ban you.

OP, I don't love either of these scenarios. UVA isn't worth sticker and I don't know if I'd attend W&M even for free. You should be able to have some more options if you hit UVA. Did you not apply to Washington and Lee?

I mean, he's right. You are too.

[Mal Reynolds]

I love hearing reasons why retaking isn't an option.

[RCSOB657]

Are you interested at all in US history, or history in general? If you are, are you aware of the graduate programs available at W&M (including a joint JD degree)?

[bjsesq]

I think people overdo the whole "out of your mind to pay sticker" when you are dealing with a T14/T10. I know tons of people at sticker at UVA and Duke. I don't know, I was fortunate enough to get a small scholarship and have a wife who could pay COL - but if I had these options - I would take UVA at sticker.

I also knew I wanted biglaw...

I went to a T14 with a 60k scholly and no UG debt. I currently sit at 215k in student debt, which prevents me from getting a decent home loan for at least the next decade. For every one of you, there are several of me.

[baal hadad]

Are you interested in all in US history, or history in general? If you are, are you aware of the graduate programs available at W&M (including a joint JD degree)?

Ya a Jd ma in history from Wm really seems like the credentials firms lust after

[BankruptMe]

Tough situation.

If you would be content with VA mid-law, I would say W&M. WM OCI also gets recruiters from outside the state (I have seen the list my self from an Alumni), but you said you want to stay in the state or the district.

DC will more than likely not happen from WM. So you are stuck with VA.

It is not impossible to get big law out of WM, I know someone who has done it, but you have to be top 25% and it helps to be a minority of some sort.

If you really want UVA, you will have to retake. No need to take out a mortgage on yourself.

Maybe try GW for a scholarship?

[baal hadad]

Tough situation.

If you would be content with VA mid-law, I would say W&M. WM OCI also gets recruiters from outside the state (I have seen the list my self from an Alumni), but you said you want to stay in the state or the district.

DC will more than likely not happen from WM. So you are stuck with VA.

It is not impossible to get big law out of WM, I know someone who has done it, but you have to be top 25% and it helps to be a minority of some sort.

If you really want UVA, you will have to retake. No need to take out a mortgage on yourself.

Maybe try GW for a scholarship?

Explain what u envision "mid law" as being

[RCSOB657]

Are you interested in all in US history, or history in general? If you are, are you aware of the graduate programs available at W&M (including a joint JD degree)?

Ya a Jd ma in history from Wm really seems like the credentials firms lust after

You fail to realize not everyone has the same career goals as yourself. I was simply asking if this person was aware of additional information that may or may not relate his this person's goals or interests.