UCLA (7k) or USC (15k) Forum

[dandan22]

Hello! So here is my situation.. I am from California and want to live in LA and ultimately practice entertainment law. I would like to go in big law after graduation.

Right now, I am deciding between UCLA (7k) (45K cost), USC (15k) (55k cost), or Virginia. I will have to pay living costs wherever I go because I am originally from San Diego. I think Virginia is out for me at this point, its an amazing school but I dont want to leave CA.

I know there is a million different threads and opinions on this, but I figured a more current up to date conversation would be helpful. The only benefit I see USC having over UCLA is the alumni, but is that reason enough to go there? Also I hear it might be better for going into big law?

Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated:)!

[Hand]

people will ask for more info about your numbers, goals, etc., but the answer is going to be "neither, retake" regardless

[lawschool1741]

"neither, retake"

[Traynor Brah]

Neither are remotely close to cheap enough to consider attending.

Either sit out and retake or find another profession.

[p89sean16]

"neither, retake"

Ya sit out a year, retake the test, and get some (more) work experience. That's too expensive to justify a 33-40% chance (approximately) at Big Law from those schools. If you can get some $ to a T14 or maybe into Berkeley, that would probably be a better way to get to CA Big Law unless you get even more $$$ from UCLA/USC.

Do you have more retakes left?

[ILoveYou]

Neither are remotely close to cheap enough to consider attending.

Either sit out and retake or find another profession.

[dandan22]

I had a 161 LSAT twice (Studied for 8 months, cant handle retaking again) and a 3.87 GPA. I already took a year off. Goal is to work in big law for a few years and potential transition over to studio.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

I had a 161 LSAT (Studied for 8 months, cant retake again) and a 3.87 GPA. Goal is to work in big law for a few years and potential transition over to studio.

Why?

[p89sean16]

I had a 161 LSAT (Studied for 8 months, cant retake again) and a 3.87 GPA. Goal is to work in big law for a few years and potential transition over to studio.

Dandan have you taken it 3 times in the past 2 years or do you not want to put in more time needed? I can tell you from personal experience I got a 159 the first time I took the LSAT and was devastated and thought about applying with that score, only to listen to the strong words advising me against that on TLS. Retook twice more and ended up getting into NYU on down in the rankings with an inferior GPA. If you put 8 more months into studying, you could very significant $$$ to UVa and peer schools next cycle.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

I had a 161 LSAT twice (Studied for 8 months, cant handle retaking again) and a 3.87 GPA. I already took a year off. Goal is to work in big law for a few years and potential transition over to studio.

There are, potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line here. Retake. And keep that in mind when studying seems difficult to handle. You have a great gpa, don't waste it because you find retaking difficult to handle.

[ballcaps]

cant handle retaking again

yeah...

i completely hear and understand this feeling, but you already know what everyone is gonna say.

you can sit out and retake in order to save lots of money, or you can take on atrocious debt at either of these schools, which are solid but regional.

there is no special-secret-crunch-the-numbers third option, unfortunately.

[Traynor Brah]

If you can't handle getting better than a 161 or cant handle the "stress" of taking a stupid 100 question multiple choice test about nothing, good luck with law school (where, under current circumstances, you'd be in 250K debt and will need to do better than the vast majority of your classmates, nail OCI, and then work for several years in a high pressure and high stress environment for the chance to break even).

[lawschool1741]

I had a 161 LSAT twice (Studied for 8 months, cant handle retaking again) and a 3.87 GPA. I already took a year off. Goal is to work in big law for a few years and potential transition over to studio.

There are, potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line here. Retake. And keep that in mind when studying seems difficult to handle. You have a great gpa, don't waste it because you find retaking difficult to handle.

Agreed. I wish I had your GPA, but that is a fixed variable and there is nothing I can do about that now. Your variable is not fixed, retake. All of us understand the immense effort it takes to study for the LSAT and many can relate to waiting another year, but you can literally save $100k+ by taking the advice here.

[p89sean16]

There are a lot of tips on here for retaking and changing your strategy to refine your LSAT taking ability. I would focus on your biggest weaknesses and work to get up to a 166 or so. With that GPA and a 166 kids have gotten into Berkeley this year, and half+ rides to USC/UCLA. Also, next year will probably also have a continued decline in applications, so your #s will be even better.

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear and I sympathize about putting your life on hold, but retaking is 100% TCR here.

[laub]

Deleted.

[MikeJD]

you got a bad offer from both given your GPA is higher than their medians.

[Hand]

you got a bad offer from both given your GPA is higher than their medians.

nah should be glad to get anything with that LSAT

[liberalartslawyer]

Will you be paying or your parents?

If your parents are paying*, I don't see why not.

Honestly though the cost differential here is so small (24k) I would choose which one I liked best or if I didn't have a preference go with the cheaper of the two (might as well save mom and dad a little $ if you can).


Edit: *If it isn't a financial burden and they offer, I don't understand the big deal. A lot of my classmates parents paid this much for undergrad... Don't know OP's situation so I thought I would bring it up.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

Will you be paying or your parents?

If your parents are paying, I don't see why not.

Honestly though the cost differential here is so small (24k) I would choose which one I liked best or if I didn't have a preference go with the cheaper of the two (might as well save mom and dad a little $ if you can).

[MikeJD]

you got a bad offer from both given your GPA is higher than their medians.

nah should be glad to get anything with that LSAT

looks at LSN, splitters like him are getting a LOT more.

[Traynor Brah]

Will you be paying or your parents?

If your parents are paying, I don't see why not.

Honestly though the cost differential here is so small (24k) I would choose which one I liked best or if I didn't have a preference go with the cheaper of the two (might as well save mom and dad a little $ if you can).

[Hand]

you got a bad offer from both given your GPA is higher than their medians.

nah should be glad to get anything with that LSAT

looks at LSN, splitters like him are getting a LOT more.

exactly one reverse splitter with an at or above median GPA and an LSAT in the 160-162 range reported getting any $$, and the amount listed is 5k (and this is the OP of this thread)

not sure what you are looking at here