Boston College vs Mizzou Forum

[dmoconnell]

Here are my facts
UGPA 3.23
LSAT 162
I am from Missouri and I was practice testing my LSAT at 170s, also I wrote a very persuasive personal statement

Boston College offered me 16k per year with a possibility for more need based aid. So the total cost of attendance would be around 150k plus interest if I don't get any need based aid.

I was offered a full tuition scholarship at Mizzou Law so the total cost of attendance for me would be around 30k plus interest.

As far as I'm concerned these are my best two options. I have a decent network of people in Missouri that might be able to help me find a job, but the earning potential seems to be higher in Boston and Id like to live in a big city. I'm having difficulty deciding. If I go to Boston will I most likely be able to pay off my debt? Doest BC give a lot of need based scholarship money?

What school should I attend

[kellyfrost]

I would say take the full ride at Mizzou. Do well in school, take on less debt, and get your first job.

Too much uncertainty in how you well you will do in school and what the job market will be to to take on the debt, IMO.

I really don't think you can go wrong with the full ride.

[fliptrip]

Here are my facts
UGPA 3.23
LSAT 162
I am from Missouri and I was practice testing my LSAT at 170s, also I wrote a very persuasive personal statement

Boston College offered me 16k per year with a possibility for more need based aid. So the yearly cost of attendance would be around 150k plus interest if I don't get any need based aid.

I was offered a full tuition scholarship at Mizzou Law so the total cost of attendance for me would be around 30k plus interest.

As far as I'm concerned these are my best two options. I have a decent network of people in Missouri that might be able to help me find a job, but the earning potential seems to be higher in Boston and Id like to live in a big city. I'm having difficulty deciding. If I go to Boston will I most likely be able to pay off my debt? Doest BC give a lot of need based scholarship money?

What school should I attend

This is simple...you should go to Mizzou. BC is good for Boston, but Boston is a very provincial place and your ties/lack thereof will be scrutinized and you could end up in a bad way. Also, it's a hell of a risk to go to law school in a place that it sounds like you've never lived knowing that you're going to have to live there after school. As someone who has lived in Boston, let me assure you, you won't be missing anything crucial if you end up settling in St. Louis or Kansas City.

[trebekismyhero]

If you were PTing in the 170s, retake in June to try and see if you can get that score on the real exam and then reapply.

Between BC and Mizzou, Mizzou is a no brainer for your circumstances

[eagle2a]

Retake and if you don't do better go to Mizzou

[Troianii]

Here are my facts
UGPA 3.23
LSAT 162
I am from Missouri and I was practice testing my LSAT at 170s, also I wrote a very persuasive personal statement

Boston College offered me 16k per year with a possibility for more need based aid. So the yearly cost of attendance would be around 150k plus interest if I don't get any need based aid.

I was offered a full tuition scholarship at Mizzou Law so the total cost of attendance for me would be around 30k plus interest.

As far as I'm concerned these are my best two options. I have a decent network of people in Missouri that might be able to help me find a job, but the earning potential seems to be higher in Boston and Id like to live in a big city. I'm having difficulty deciding. If I go to Boston will I most likely be able to pay off my debt? Doest BC give a lot of need based scholarship money?

What school should I attend

eh, I'd consider this a tough choice, but certainly understand why most people are saying you should go to Mizzou. Personally, Boston is my favorite city in the world, and I've been all over the U.S. and to about a dozen foreign countries.

Statistically, if you want to go for the money in Boston, you will *probably* be able to get a job in Boston that will allow you to pay off your debt comfortably. But, you could very well get the short stick, especially with little local connection, and poor employment prospects are a lot worse when you've got six figures in debt.

So yeah, I'd be split, but obviously Mizzou is the safer option, and the guarantee that you'll graduate without debt is just gold. The only caveat I'd add is that if your Mizzou offer is conditional on GPA/rank, then I'd go BC if there's isn't.

[dmoconnell]

Thanks for the input everyone! You all have made me reconsider MU, but maybe this is just wanderlust but I imagine Boston being a lot better of a place to live than either KC or St Louis. Also Mizzou does sort of pigeon hole me so that I won't make a lot of money or do big law ever. Also MU requires that I be in the top 50 percent to maintain the scholarship BC requires a 2.0 to maintain that scholarship

[Otunga]

Thanks for the input everyone! You all have made me reconsider MU, but maybe this is just wanderlust but I imagine Boston being a lot better of a place to live than either KC or St Louis. Also Mizzou does sort of pigeon hole me so that I won't make a lot of money or do big law ever. Also MU requires that I be in the top 50 percent to maintain the scholarship BC requires a 2.0 to maintain that scholarship

Top 50%? That significantly changes the ballgame...I'd say to negotiate that stip away to AT LEAST top 75%; otherwise you're at risk of getting the worst-case scenario - a school with inferior job outcomes and a boatload of debt.

[bmathers]

I live in New England, an hour from Boston (if that, I'm in Providence, RI). I moved up here 4 years ago and the local young crowd is obsessed with Boston - it's the only city that exists, in their mind. However, being an outsider, I'm not a big fan of Boston (I enjoyed living around Atlanta more, FTR) -- it definitely does not live up to the hype and it's not some "amazing place" to live. Cost of living is also HIGH - much higher, I'm sure, than around Mizzou. That alone would equal a lot more COL debt to bring on.

Do yourself a favor and do Mizzou on a full ride. You won't be missing much, if anything, by not moving to Boston.

[Otunga]

I live in New England, an hour from Boston (if that, I'm in Providence, RI). I moved up here 4 years ago and the local young crowd is obsessed with Boston - it's the only city that exists, in their mind. However, being an outsider, I'm not a big fan of Boston (I enjoyed living around Atlanta more, FTR) -- it definitely does not live up to the hype and it's not some "amazing place" to live. Cost of living is also HIGH - much higher, I'm sure, than around Mizzou. That alone would equal a lot more COL debt to bring on.

Do yourself a favor and do Mizzou on a full ride. You won't be missing much, if anything, by not moving to Boston.

I'm a RI native and I generally have had that same mentality about Boston. While I still prefer it over other east coast cities like NYC, it's not the extraordinary place that small-town New Englanders make it out to be. Yeah, it's a cool place to visit, and I wouldn't mind working there, but living there is too expensive.

[dmoconnell]

So I factored the cost of living into the numbers I used its estimated 10k a year in columbia and 15k in Missouri, I dont think the stipulation is that bad since I consider my LSAT performance really bad and I scored in like the 90th percentile for the school. Essentially I think big law big debt vs small debt small law.

[bmathers]

So I factored the cost of living into the numbers I used its estimated 10k a year in columbia and 15k in Missouri, I dont think the stipulation is that bad since I consider my LSAT performance really bad and I scored in like the 90th percentile for the school. Essentially I think big law big debt vs small debt small law.

Cost of living is $10k/year in Boston?!?! Say what???? $20k-$30k/year EASY, if you have roommates and are very frugal

[dmoconnell]

So I factored the cost of living into the numbers I used its estimated 10k a year in columbia and 15k in Missouri, I dont think the stipulation is that bad since I consider my LSAT performance really bad and I scored in like the 90th percentile for the school. Essentially I think big law big debt vs small debt small law.

Cost of living is $10k/year in Boston?!?! Say what???? $20k-$30k/year EASY, if you have roommates and are very frugal

I can't type . . .the cost of attendance is 68k at boston and I have a 18k scholarship at MU it is 10-15k a year for me

[Alive97]

What are your thoughts on retaking?

[dmoconnell]

Id rather not have to wait another year for law school.

[Clearly]

Id rather not have to wait another year for law school.

Big big mistake. Neither option is good, and you were already prepping better for the LSAT. Just sit a cycle and retake, applications open in just a few months. Then maybe you'll be saying UVA at sticker or BC full ride.