UPDATED: Northwestern ($190k) vs Georgetown ($140k) Forum

[Rigo]

Goals: competitive PI-- maybe FedGov, more likely legal nonprofits, have some connections and prior (nonlegal) PI work experience

Numbers: 3.3x/ 172 (took LSAT twice)

Financing: primarily through debt.

Northwestern: $190K COA

Georgetown: $140k COA

Personally prefers Northwestern.

Note: This is for my friend. Ask any follow up questions you'd like and I'll forward them to him and get answers. Thanks!

[OhBoyOhBortles]

Has friend tried negotiating with NU/UVA with the gulc offer?

[Rigo]

Has friend tried negotiating with NU/UVA with the gulc offer?

Trying to get NU up. UVA won't budge.

[lawschool1741]

Negotiate for more $$ from UT

[Hand]

Negotiate for more $$ from UT

^^

UVA, NU and GULC are just too expensive at these prices, and I'd think it's worth paying a little more to go to UT instead of WUSTL if you like texas

[OhBoyOhBortles]

Negotiate for more $$ from UT

^^

UVA, NU and GULC are just too expensive at these prices, and I'd think it's worth paying a little more to go to UT instead of WUSTL if you like texas

[WeeBey]

Which has the best LRAP? And would you still be comfortable with biglaw, cause without the LRAP youd need biglaw to pay that level of debt.

In general: UVa=NU>GULC>UT. Then you gotta figure in cost.

UVa at sticker is no go IMO.

See if UT will bump you up once they see your WUSTL offer.

But as it currently is, I think it'd be between NU and GULC depending on you feel about biglaw, how bad you want PI, and good the LRAPs are.

[Rigo]

Sent updated offers to UT and waiting to hear back.
Should LRAP be a consideration? UT's is very poor.

If UT is stubborn, is Georgetown worth it at that price differential? What about NU if NU matches the $90k or goes up to ~$60k or $70k?

[Rigo]

For the biglaw question, it's not the dream, but I'm okay with it. I don't want to do it forever, but I am fine with doing it for a while. I would want to lateral to PI after (no dreams of partner here)

[BigZuck]

I think UT/WUSTL is out based on goals

UVA/NU out based on cost

It hurts my soul hole to pay that much for GULC but with a little family support and a YOLO attitude toward LRAP I guess...

[BigZuck]

No firsthand experience with this but from what I understand UT for prestigious PI (especially anything on the coast) is a non-starter

[Hand]

Yeah if UT doesn't come up a bit and BigFed is not just preferred but strongly preferred then GULC makes the most sense

ETA: LRAP cap at GULC will result in making your own payments on a BigFed salary after 1 to 2 years but then again you can just PAYE that mofo till PSLF takes care of it with that job, assuming both remain intact until 2028

[Rigo]

I'm more averse to not getting a desirable PI carrer than I am debt averse, largely because I'm more motivated by impact than money.

[Rigo]

I think what scares me a bit is the bad rap Georgetown ("GeorgeTTTown") gets on TLS. Without revving up the debate again, is that bad rap mostly limited to them having lower biglaw placement and not being generous with scholarships? It's not getting a bad rap for PI and bigfed placement too, is it?

[zombie mcavoy]

none of these options sound appealing.

how are COL costs being calculated. Is OP really going to spend 28K a year living in STL? Seems, like, incredibly steep.

[Rigo]

how are COL costs being calculated. Is OP really going to spend 28K a year living in STL? Seems, like, incredibly steep.

Subtracting scholarships from LST total cost of attendance, so the totals are very likely higher than what it will actually cost.

[zombie mcavoy]

how are COL costs being calculated. Is OP really going to spend 28K a year living in STL? Seems, like, incredibly steep.

Subtracting scholarships from LST total cost of attendance, so the totals are very likely higher than what it will actually cost.

well yeah you're counting several years of interest on sticker debt/col for no reason at all. that's a lot and it's going to really skew the advice here unnecessarily. Especially if he can get 10K off from family.

So in other words we're looking at graduating with 30K debt at WUSTL?

[CanadianWolf]

Virginia & Northwestern are out, in my opinion, due to cost. Negotiate with Georgetown & Texas.

Are these all of the law schools to which you've been accepted ?

Can you give examples of the specific public interest work that you're seeking ?

[Broncos847]

Cornell?

[Rigo]

Probably overestimating all around. Judge all prices relative to eachother, I guess, while recognizing that they'll likely be lower.
It's hard to expect someone to come up with accurate COL estimates when applicants wouldn't know that at this juncture. Therefore, this choosing thread defers to the school estimates which are on the high end for all schools.

WUSTL COL will probably be half of that estimate, I would think, but don't kill the messenger.

[Rigo]

Cornell?

Waitlisted and withdrew.
No where else is in play right now.

[Rigo]

Bump for updated info.

Based on goals, friend thinks NU or GULC are his best options right now. Some scholarship information has changed and friend made a budget and accounted for small family contributions and came to these numbers for COA.

[jbagelboy]

Bump for updated info.

Based on goals, friend thinks NU or GULC are his best options right now. Some scholarship information has changed and friend made a budget and accounted for small family contributions and came to these numbers for COA.

I'd go to Northwestern since I think the difference in placement is substantial for anyone targeting the private sector. For public sector and public interest, Georgetown.

[Rigo]

Bump for updated info.
Based on goals, friend thinks NU or GULC are his best options right now. Some scholarship information has changed and friend made a budget and accounted for small family contributions and came to these numbers for COA.

I'd go to Northwestern since I think the difference in placement is substantial for anyone targeting the private sector. For public sector and public interest, Georgetown.

Not targeting the private sector, although that better private sector placement is an attractive safety net should plans change (is that worth $50k more?). Will probably do OCI just to keep the option open.

Also, I know a lot of people choose Georgetown for PI/govt, but is it BETTER than Northwestern in terms of PI placement power?

[jbagelboy]

Bump for updated info.
Based on goals, friend thinks NU or GULC are his best options right now. Some scholarship information has changed and friend made a budget and accounted for small family contributions and came to these numbers for COA.

I'd go to Northwestern since I think the difference in placement is substantial for anyone targeting the private sector. For public sector and public interest, Georgetown.

Not targeting the private sector, although that better private sector placement is an attractive safety net should plans change (is that worth $50k more?). Will probably do OCI just to keep the option open.

Also, I know a lot of people choose Georgetown for PI/govt, but is it BETTER than Northwestern in terms of PI placement power?

I think it's better. Northwestern is a traditional feeder school into large banks and firms. I think the culture reflects the reputation, as does it's weaker LRAP. I'm sure there are great opportunities out of NU, but only ~6.5% of their class of 2013 went into public service versus 14% for Georgetown -- more than double.