Michigan $ vs. NYU Forum

[ls89]

-The schools you are considering: Michigan with a $60,000 scholarship and in state tuition vs. NYU
-The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each: NYU - $211,166 including family assistance. Michigan - $105,284 including family assistance and scholarships
-How you will be financing your COA: loans
-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any): I am from Michigan. I would love to work in New York or DC, but could see myself working in Michigan or coming back to Michigan.
-Your general career goals: I want to do government work. I may want to run for office in Michigan someday, alternatively I amy want to work for an agency in DC or NYC for the federal government or something like that.
-Your LSAT/GPA numbers: 166/3.96
-How many times you have taken the LSAT: 3 times

Essentially, is NYU still worth it despite the extra debt? They seem to have a bit better LRAP program although Michigan's is good as well. Michigan gives me the advantage of having the big school name in state if I want to run for office there. NYU is probably the bigger school name outside of Michigan and will perhaps open more doors in those situations?
Any thoughts?

[ILoveYou]

Michigan, and it's not even close. No school is worth over $200k in debt and even if you disagree, NYU certainly isn't worth double the already high cost of Michigan.

[Clemenceau]

Michigan if you're stubborn

Retake if you're smart

[KMart]

UM for the cost and ties. It's difficult because you're unsure of what you want to do, but the cost prevails in this case.

[OhBoyOhBortles]

3.96! How long do you have to wait to retake, OP? When did you sit for the lsat the first time?

ETA: Very likely worth it, regardless. You could have a full ride to NYU next time you apply! (Or, really, anywhere CCN-down with a 173/4, and anywhere PVBD and down with a 170+) Don't waste that gpa.

[Winston1984]

Michigan

[Redamon1]

I don't think I'd pay that extra cost for any marginal prestige. And what if you don't want to or can't find LRAP-eligible work for 10 years? You'll be glad you took out less debt. For political office, I could see the benefit of paying extra money for the lay cache and sizable political boost, but I think that applies only to HYS, if that.

[cron1834]

Michigan is worth $105 for someone who would be happy ending up in Michigan.

Although - if you didn't REALLY take the lsat 3 times and are just saying that to cut off the response, then you should retake. You could get Michigan for free with a few more questions, or get NYU at a reasonable cost.

[krads153]

Michigan is worth $105 for someone who would be happy ending up in Michigan.

Although - if you didn't REALLY take the lsat 3 times and are just saying that to cut off the response, then you should retake. You could get Michigan for free with a few more questions, or get NYU at a reasonable cost.

Agreed.

Also, fwiw, I think Michigan has more "lay prestige" than NYU in most regions (particularly because of sports and overall grad programs generally, and undergrad, Michigan is known as a better school in academia) but I don't know how much that even matters. I'd assume that HY would be the only ones that really mattered for running for office, if that even matters.

[CanadianWolf]

Michigan is the correct choice due to lower COA & that you want to run for political office in Michigan.

[usn26]

Sitting out and retaking might be worthwhile. Failing that, I can't see any reason to go to NYU given your goals.