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Asking for a friend:

Where should I go?

Splitter stats, URM, former military.

Big law or bust in DC, CA (SF, LA, or SD), or Atlanta.

Options are:
Northwestern with 150k (full tuition scholarship)
Georgetown with 100k (leaves about 50k in tuition remaining)


I told him that NW seems like a no-brainer, but friend is adamant about ending up in DC,CA, or ATL.

NW. Duh. Worst case play the other markets and transfer later. What's so important that you can spend 3 years away from DC/ATL/CA but not 5-6?

NW is a no brainer

Relatively small point, but $150k at NU is not actually a full ride. Tuition is $60k; while $30k in extra loans isn't life altering, it isn't negligible.

Your friend can probably haggle for more at GULC even if s/he already has. If for some reason your friend really wants GULC, the move is to double deposit at both schools and continue to negotiate for more at GULC. But as someone who goes to GULC, I still say NorthWestern is the obvious choice here, as everyone has already said.

Your friend doesn't have the Post 9/11 GI Bill?

I think you ("your friend" or whatever) need to temper your expectations, it's unlikely that all of those markets will be open to you and there is a decent chance that none of those markets will be open to you depending on grades and/or ties

Northwestern is a definite no brainer over GULC here

TheSpanishMain wrote:Your friend doesn't have the Post 9/11 GI Bill?

He may have used it for undergrad.

BigZuck wrote:I think you ("your friend" or whatever) need to temper your expectations, it's unlikely that all of those markets will be open to you and there is a decent chance that none of those markets will be open to you depending on grades and/or ties

Northwestern is a definite no brainer over GULC here

This. Northwestern, and it isn't close.

Maybe GULC gives you a minor edge for DC, but DC is such a bloodbath that no one outside of YHS should be banking on it. Really tough to turn down a full ride (or near full ride) from a school with better employment stats.

Thanks for the responses, all. I figured the same but wanted to double check. My friend is adamant on NOT staying in Chicago.

Edit: and he does have GI bill which covers expenses beyond the scholarship but I'm not certain how much it is and I didn't ask

Well then your friend should have been more ADAMANT on doing better on the LSATs. These are the options available to him and with it, the employment prospects thereof. He can be as adamant as he wants but that doesn't change a damn thing. Also CA/ATL will want reasons (ties) that go beyond being adamancy.

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NW

Can't say much about DC or ATL but I can tell you that NW doesn't get much recognition out in the West (lived in LA for 10 years). Your "friend" has a better chance at LA BigLaw by attending UCLA/USC than either NW or GULC.

CPAlawHopefu wrote:Can't say much about DC or ATL but I can tell you that NW doesn't get much recognition out in the West (lived in LA for 10 years). Your "friend" has a better chance at LA BigLaw by attending UCLA/USC than either NW or GULC.

No.

Northwestern does very well in CA, and unlike UCLA/USC it also does really well in places like NYC and Chicago. USC/UCLA might be reasonable if you have a bunch of money and not very much money at NU, but if you already have 150k at Northwestern you'd be nuts to choose USC/UCLA.

Are your rich parents or rich uncle/aunt paying for your education? If not, NW.