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-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?

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.

Michigan if you're stubborn

Retake if you're smart

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.

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.

Michigan

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.

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.

cron1834 wrote: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.

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

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