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This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

TxEx13 wrote:This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

Calculate max potential debt please including any room and board loans.

TxEx13 wrote:This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

How much is it costing you to live in Austin currently?

thisiswater wrote:

TxEx13 wrote:This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

Calculate max potential debt please including any room and board loans.

Ehh... these are rough estimations/approximations but the MAX debt (assuming I finance pretty much all remaining Tution & fees + roughly estimated living expenses with loans) for each would be around:

UTexas = $156k
SMU = $133k
Baylor = $94k
UHouston = $105k

UT. In-state tuition is good and the extra cost (which isn't even that much) is worth it for your goals

oil wrote:

TxEx13 wrote:This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

How much is it costing you to live in Austin currently?

Currently rent + bills ~$900/mo. Plus food and excess would put it around $1600/mo. Would definitely live more frugally as I give up full-time employment for full-time school so this number would drop.

TxEx13 wrote:

oil wrote:

TxEx13 wrote:This may be a little premature as I haven't heard back from UTexas regarding scholly info. But what are your opinions on which is the best overall option (taking into account COA, estimated debt, potential job prospects, etc.) for someone that wants to (at this point) target Labor/Employment Law, Tax Law, or general Business Law in Texas (preferably DFW):

UTexas: In-state sticker price ~$33,162
SMU: $24k scholly (-$50k tuition & fees) = $26K
Baylor: $42k scholly (-$57k tuition & fees) = $15k
UHouston: $10k scholly (-$27k tuition & fees) = $17k

I already live in Austin. Committed to entering this cycle. Really don't want to live in Waco and I don't have a huge interest in trial court but it's the best option financially. I've heard/read that UT presents the most BigLaw options of any of them. I've also heard that simply attending UT over the others increases options for 1L summer jobs and other job opportunities. Would this be enough to warrant attending at sticker price in your opinion? Could potential higher earnings on the other side make the sticker price worth it? Are these claims overblown? Any other aspects I should really take into account?

How much is it costing you to live in Austin currently?

Currently rent + bills ~$900/mo. Plus food and excess would put it around $1600/mo. Would definitely live more frugally as I give up full-time employment for full-time school so this number would drop.

UT would be my choice. Try asking for the 10k/yr scholarship they give to ED candidates. Tell them that unless you get that you'll reapply next year.

UT.

You're probably underestimating your student loan debt by about 20-30K. Have you factored in interest, loan origination fees, possible tuition increases, and summer living expenses (even if you get a 2L SA you might have to take out money 1L summer because schools only give you money for 9 months)?

I go to UT, I thought I would get out with about 60K debt but it'll push closer to 90K. Anyway even if your figures are accurate I'm not sure any of those schools are worth it at that price. About 60% of the class at UT doesn't get big law, 150K+ is just too much for those odds. I wouldn't go to UT unless the debt was around 100K, the other schools I wouldn't feel comfortable unless my debt was around 60K or so.

I think that is too much money for any Texas school. SMU, UH and Baylor should not even be options at those prices and UT would be too expensive for me with that price too.

UT is the only law school in TX worth going to. This is coming from a UT grad, so maybe I'm a bit biased

156 is a little more than I would want to spend there, but see if you can get that figure down with a small scholly and go to UT. I think you will regret going to any of the other schools....

As others have mentioned, you should try to get some money from UT. But given your goals and options, I'd say that UT is probably the best choice.

Thanks y'all. Great advice on things to consider down the stretch.

I go to SMU.


Go to UT.

I'd do UT here, and it's not super close.

Given your choices, I would discount Baylor as a possibility, despite the lower expenses, mostly because their schollys are generally contingent.