Ohio State vs. Illinois Forum

[thedon92]

Hey Guys,

I was accepted at both schools. 10k scholly at Illinois and havent heard back from OSU yet. Ranking wise, OSU is higher and employment numbers on the web seem better too. However, ive read in various threads that OSU is more a school to attend if im planing to stay in Ohio. Illinois on the other hand, lower ranked, but seems to have a strong connection with Chicago and big firms there. Tuition would be cheaper at OSU.

Im from Detroit, and would ultimately like to come back here to practice. Things seem to be looking up economically so it seems that the legal market will be expanding soon too.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[lymenheimer]

Hey Guys,

I was accepted at both schools. 10k scholly at Illinois and havent heard back from OSU yet. Ranking wise, OSU is higher and employment numbers on the web seem better too. However, ive read in various threads that OSU is more a school to attend if im planing to stay in Ohio. Illinois on the other hand, lower ranked, but seems to have a strong connection with Chicago and big firms there. Tuition would be cheaper at OSU.

Im from Detroit, and would ultimately like to come back here to practice. Things seem to be looking up economically so it seems that the legal market will be expanding soon too.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

You should read the stickied thread "READ THIS BEFORE POSTING" and provide all pertinent information to us to help you with your question. You should also wait until you get a scholarship offer (or notice of no scholly) from OSU before making assumptions. I realize it's difficult to just wait, but it's necessary to give the best advice.

Also, I don't understand what you mean by the bolded. OSU places in Ohio and Illinois places in Illinois (Chicago being a city in Illinois). If you meant that Illinois has a big city to place into as opposed to OSU, then yes you are correct. But Chicago also has UChi and NU.

As far as going back to Michigan, I don't know how favorable your chances are going to schools in a different state. Ties will help (as per usual), but they may be pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state. But I really don't know about that.

[splitterfromhell]

Hey Guys,

I was accepted at both schools. 10k scholly at Illinois and havent heard back from OSU yet. Ranking wise, OSU is higher and employment numbers on the web seem better too. However, ive read in various threads that OSU is more a school to attend if im planing to stay in Ohio. Illinois on the other hand, lower ranked, but seems to have a strong connection with Chicago and big firms there. Tuition would be cheaper at OSU.

Im from Detroit, and would ultimately like to come back here to practice. Things seem to be looking up economically so it seems that the legal market will be expanding soon too.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

You should read the stickied thread "READ THIS BEFORE POSTING" and provide all pertinent information to us to help you with your question. You should also wait until you get a scholarship offer (or notice of no scholly) from OSU before making assumptions. I realize it's difficult to just wait, but it's necessary to give the best advice.

Also, I don't understand what you mean by the bolded. OSU places in Ohio and Illinois places in Illinois (Chicago being a city in Illinois). If you meant that Illinois has a big city to place into as opposed to OSU, then yes you are correct. But Chicago also has UChi and NU.

As far as going back to Michigan, I don't know how favorable your chances are going to schools in a different state. Ties will help (as per usual), but they may be pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state. But I really don't know about that.

Wayne State is better than MSU for Detroit. Not sure why OP would go to either of the schools mentioned if the goal is Detroit.

[lymenheimer]

Wayne State is better than MSU for Detroit. Not sure why OP would go to either of the schools mentioned if the goal is Detroit.

re-read my statement. here i'll repost:

As far as going back to Michigan, I don't know how favorable your chances are going to schools in a different state. Ties will help (as per usual), but they may be pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state. But I really don't know about that.

"Going back to Michigan" (in general, I didn't specify Detroit). "Pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state" (didn't say anything about going to these schools over another local school). "But I really don't know about that".

but okay....

[thedon92]

Wayne State is better than MSU for Detroit. Not sure why OP would go to either of the schools mentioned if the goal is Detroit.

re-read my statement. here i'll repost:

As far as going back to Michigan, I don't know how favorable your chances are going to schools in a different state. Ties will help (as per usual), but they may be pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state. But I really don't know about that.

"Going back to Michigan" (in general, I didn't specify Detroit). "Pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state" (didn't say anything about going to these schools over another local school). "But I really don't know about that".

but okay....

I should have a been a little more clear. The goal is to return to Detroit, but thats not for sure either. I would still like to competitive elsewhere if i decide to not move back, hence the decision between two higher ranked schools than both MSU and Wayne State. (I did get a full scholly offer at Wayne).

[lymenheimer]

I should have a been a little more clear. The goal is to return to Detroit, but thats not for sure either. I would still like to competitive elsewhere if i decide to not move back, hence the decision between two higher ranked schools than both MSU and Wayne State. (I did get a full scholly offer at Wayne).

This will help with clarity- READ BEFORE POSTING IN THIS FORUM: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299
In order to receive the best feedback in this forum, please provide as much of the following information in your original post as possible:

-The schools you are considering
-The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each. COA = cost of tuition + fees + books + cost of living (COL) + accumulated interest - scholarships. Here is a helpful calculator.
-How you will be financing your COA, i.e. loans, family, or savings
-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any)
-Your general career goals
-Your LSAT/GPA numbers
-How many times you have taken the LSAT

[illini2013]

Fill out all the information so we have a better idea of what you're looking for and what you can get.

I am a 3L at Illinois, most people stay in Illinois. There are a few firms from Michigan that recruit at OCI, but you still need to be in the top 1/3 to have a shot at those. And a $10k scholarship is not much for Illinois. Especially out of state that means you will be paying close to $40k a year in tuition alone. I wouldn't go to Illinois unless you got closer to 75% scholarship. So probably going to tell you to retake

[jbagelboy]

Wayne State is better than MSU for Detroit. Not sure why OP would go to either of the schools mentioned if the goal is Detroit.

re-read my statement. here i'll repost:

As far as going back to Michigan, I don't know how favorable your chances are going to schools in a different state. Ties will help (as per usual), but they may be pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state. But I really don't know about that.

"Going back to Michigan" (in general, I didn't specify Detroit). "Pulling from UMich and MSU before they go out of state" (didn't say anything about going to these schools over another local school). "But I really don't know about that".

but okay....

I should have a been a little more clear. The goal is to return to Detroit, but thats not for sure either. I would still like to competitive elsewhere if i decide to not move back, hence the decision between two higher ranked schools than both MSU and Wayne State. (I did get a full scholly offer at Wayne).

By ranking do you mean us news survey? None of the rankings mean dick besides distinguishing about 20 or so schools from the rest. Regional placement power is way more important at the OSU/Michigan State/ect level than the quantitative result of the survey points. Looks which schools plaace where you want to practice.

[Wingtip88]

UIUC for anything less than 75% tuition scholarship is a poor idea. I say this because the sizeable majority of its graduates will be competing for jobs that pay in the $45-60k salary range (the upper end of which is a hopeful outcome.) Not the end of the world if your total debt package is reasonable.

Bear in mind, Champaign-Urbana is a damn cheap place to live. Depending on how frugal you are willing to be, I estimate that COL and mandatory university fees should cost no more than $15-17,000 annually.

[yenisey]

UIUC for anything less than 75% tuition scholarship is a poor idea. I say this because the sizeable majority of its graduates will be competing for jobs that pay in the $45-60k salary range (the upper end of which is a hopeful outcome.) Not the end of the world if your total debt package is reasonable.

Bear in mind, Champaign-Urbana is a damn cheap place to live. Depending on how frugal you are willing to be, I estimate that COL and mandatory university fees should cost no more than $15-17,000 annually.

Even cheaper than Iowa?

[yenisey]

Hey Guys,

I was accepted at both schools. 10k scholly at Illinois and havent heard back from OSU yet. Ranking wise, OSU is higher and employment numbers on the web seem better too. However, ive read in various threads that OSU is more a school to attend if im planing to stay in Ohio. Illinois on the other hand, lower ranked, but seems to have a strong connection with Chicago and big firms there. Tuition would be cheaper at OSU.

Im from Detroit, and would ultimately like to come back here to practice. Things seem to be looking up economically so it seems that the legal market will be expanding soon too.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

OSU employment numbers on the web seem better? I don't think so. UIUC big law score is about 25% while OSU claims 13.7%. Normally UIUC ranks 22nd-23rd and OSU 31th-35th. Recent years UIUC has been suffering a scandal so its ranking abnormally plumetted. It could be expected UIUC ranking will recover in the foreseeabel future.

[cron1834]

Hey Guys,

I was accepted at both schools. 10k scholly at Illinois and havent heard back from OSU yet. Ranking wise, OSU is higher and employment numbers on the web seem better too. However, ive read in various threads that OSU is more a school to attend if im planing to stay in Ohio. Illinois on the other hand, lower ranked, but seems to have a strong connection with Chicago and big firms there. Tuition would be cheaper at OSU.

Im from Detroit, and would ultimately like to come back here to practice. Things seem to be looking up economically so it seems that the legal market will be expanding soon too.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

OSU employment numbers on the web seem better? I don't think so. UIUC big law score is about 25% while OSU claims 13.7%. Normally UIUC ranks 22nd-23rd and OSU 31th-35th. Recent years UIUC has been suffering a scandal so its ranking abnormally plumetted. It could be expected UIUC ranking will recover in the foreseeabel future.

There's no difference between 22 and 32. It's arbitrary and irrelevant. These are, roughly speaking, peers.

The difference that matters is that they feed into different markets. If you have ties to Illinois and a big scholarship, Illinois Law is fine, as long as you understand that 75% of graduates are gonna make like $55k*. If you have ties to Ohio and a big scholarship, OSU Law is fine, as long as you understand that 85% of graduates are gonna make like $55k*. If you want biglaw, neither seems like a smart investment.

* edit - that should say $55k OR unemployment