Top Law Schools

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It's really contingent on what you want to do. WUSTL has some trouble getting out to CA, but for DC/Chi/NYC they'd be a great bet at the best price for you. However if you go to UCLA you'd still have some options but CA would be very open as well but with the cost you'd likely need big law to pay it off or be stuck paying the loans for a longer period of time. I'd choose UCLA because you're unsure of where you want to be and I feel like those sorts of people generally end up going back to where they're from. If this isn't the case it's WUSTL.

Ask for an extension from WUSTL

Damn you have more acceptances than schools I applied to

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Yep they have extended the deadline for some
congrats on the offer, def complicates

UCLA if you want to ever get back to Cali. Otherwise be prepared to possibly retire there with peanuts and pocket lint.

Not GULC. My guess is that even if they offer money, it's not gonna be enough to really make it worth it over WUSTL with the serious $$$ you're getting.

CR is to get an extension and play the negotiating game some more, but WUSTL seems like best bet currently.

Leverage that WashU offer against UCLA hard.

If you're not going to retake, I'd take WUSTL to minimize your debt. However if you really want LA then you need to retake and make UCLA/USC more affordable options.

Leverage wustl against SC/LA

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NU would give you a better shot to get to CA than WUSTL, but then it comes at a heftier price and it starts getting into how debt-averse are you? UCLA and USC can get you into CA cheaper than NU can.

As for lateraling, the problem is you are going to develop strong networks wherever you go to school (Chi/STL/SoCal) and then when you work in DC or Chicago you further enhance your network in that region. Your SoCal network won't develop by working in Chicago. I'd imagine after a few years under your belt you may be able to return home, but at this point it's seriously just me thinking that's the case. Someone else needs to chime in. I can only speak to the networking development.

If I were in your shoes, OP, and since you have a lot of options here, and assuming you want CA,

I would
1. Show UCLA USC's offer + how much you want to come there blah blah blah
2. Show USC WUSTL's offer + blah blah blah
3. Wait
4. Show USC UCLA's offer + blah blah blah
5. Show UCLA USC's offer
(6. Maybe sit in for second retake in June. If better, deferring/sitting out as leverage.)
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You should end up with more money at UCLA/USC. Good luck OP!

To the extent that biglaw is an option from wustl (if you are top 25%), it is only reliably so in NYC. Preconceptions that WUStL places well in Chicago or DC biglaw are incorrect. Since it seems like you are reluctant about living in new york, let me restate: a great deal of the biglaw lottery winners at WUStL blanketed new york, did not have the opportunity to be discriminate, and did not have the idea of moving across the country twice. Those who did not end up in New York but did get biglaw did so through ties to markets like StL, Fla, Texas, DC, Chicago, etc. You have no ties to any markets which consider WUStL in any serious way.

I've said this elsewhere, but if your long term goal is actually SoCal, WUStL is an objectively horrible choice at any price. There is less than a 1 in 4 chance of getting biglaw anywhere, and next to no chance of getting it anywhere in California. Your ties might make you a viable lateral somewhere down the road, but that assumes you make the grades at WUStL. If I were in your position I would go to UCLA, whether they increase your $$$ or not.

Why are you not seriously considering USC?

LawsRUs wrote:If I were in your shoes, OP, and since you have a lot of options here, and assuming you want CA,

I would
1. Show UCLA USC's offer + how much you want to come there blah blah blah
2. Show USC WUSTL's offer + blah blah blah
3. Wait
4. Show USC UCLA's offer + blah blah blah
5. Show UCLA USC's offer
(6. Maybe sit in for second retake in June. If better, deferring/sitting out as leverage.)
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You should end up with more money at UCLA/USC. Good luck OP!

He made it clear UCLA/USC will not match WUSTL offer.

HalfStudent wrote:He made it clear UCLA/USC will not match WUSTL offer.

Sorry, confused, who's "He?"
No need to match, just needs to come up a bit.

ETA: Ah okay, sorry I didn't see OP's post later. OP, I would try again with the full ride, USC gave more money after seeing someone's full ride at WUSTL.

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hearsay77 wrote:Update: UCLA has said they will not increase my scholarship even after the full ride, and I can only check back with them after the deposit deadline.

Take Wash U, you'll have flexibility since you wont be crushed by debt to fight for Biglaw. Still a solid school that can get you a network in a major city (DC,NY,Chi) and then get to SoCal from there. But like you, I am incredibly debt averse.

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I voted WashU because the others are too expensive. I don't think it really matches your goals that well.