Top Law Schools

Hello everyone.

I am currently deciding between these schools:

UCLA (80K, Tuition = ~65K)
USC (105K, Tuition = ~75K)
UC Davis (120K, Tuition = ~33K)
Northwestern (sticker)
Vanderbilt (110K, Tuition ~52K)

I am heavily considering working in California with a strong preference for southern California. I have work experience as an engineer and a graduate degree in engineering. I am looking at biglaw salary focusing on patent/biotech. I plan to take the patent bar prior to law school while saving up through July. I have slight parental help for CoL (basically rent will be negligible). I have enough savings to cover the first and possible second year's extra food, expenses and fees outside of rent.

I am OoS but will be switching instate if I go to a California school.

I am leaning very heavily towards UCLA at the moment. Vanderbilt is tempting but I don't have a strong inclination to work/live in Atlanta again (been there a long time and Vandy can place well in Southeast region). Florida would be my target area if not California (plenty of ties in FL and CA).

It looks like UCLA is the best deal if you factor in where I want to practice but if anyone can chime in that would be very helpful.

Those are scholarship amounts? None of these look good to me....Also OOS v. In state doesn't really matter anymore for California schools...the cost difference is minimal.

Vanderbilt is in Nashville. It's Emory that's in Atlanta.

I'd say USC if those are all your offers. The difference between USC and UCLA is only as big as you make it.

Yes the numbers are scholarships. Wish I got larger ones

With Vandy, I would most likely practice in ATL or Florida. I've lived in TN before, its definitely not for me.

Unfortunately my numbers werent amazing. 167/3.65 STEM with graduate degree and WE.

Would asking for more $$$ work after 1 round of scholarship negotiations?

If I get upped by UCLA to 75k the CoA would basically be equal.

87mm wrote:Hello everyone.

I am currently deciding between these schools:

UCLA (60K... expecting 75-90K)
USC (105K)
UC Davis (120K)
Northwestern (sticker so far...might hear back soon?)
Vanderbilt (110K)
I am heavily considering working in California with a strong preference for southern California. I have work experience as an engineer and a graduate degree in engineering. I am looking at biglaw salary focusing on patent/biotech. I plan to take the patent bar prior to law school while saving up through July. I have slight parental help for CoL (basically rent will be negligible). I have enough savings to cover the first and possible second year's extra expenses and fees outside of rent.

I am OoS but will be switching instate if I go to a California school.

I am leaning very heavily towards UCLA at the moment. Vanderbilt is tempting but I don't have a strong inclination to work/live in Atlanta again (been there a long time). Florida would be my target area if not California (plenty of ties in FL and CA).

It looks like UCLA is the best deal if you factor in where I want to practice but if anyone can chime in that would be very helpful.

Since this is where you have the strongest preference, the schools I struck out shouldn't even be a consideration. Before you commit to anything, you've got to put the pinball into motion and see how much money you can shake loose. Show USC your $120 from Davis. Who knows, they might match, or they might tell you to take your chances in Sacramento (*gasp*). Either way, take your best USC offer and show UCLA, then choose whichever is cheaper between those two.

That's the best pathway with your current options, but you could open different/better ones with a higher LSAT. If you don't want to do it, fine, but I figure I owe it to you to at least mention it.

fliptrip wrote:

87mm wrote:Hello everyone.

I am currently deciding between these schools:

UCLA (60K... expecting 75-90K)
USC (105K)
UC Davis (120K)
Northwestern (sticker so far...might hear back soon?)
Vanderbilt (110K)
I am heavily considering working in California with a strong preference for southern California. I have work experience as an engineer and a graduate degree in engineering. I am looking at biglaw salary focusing on patent/biotech. I plan to take the patent bar prior to law school while saving up through July. I have slight parental help for CoL (basically rent will be negligible). I have enough savings to cover the first and possible second year's extra expenses and fees outside of rent.

I am OoS but will be switching instate if I go to a California school.

I am leaning very heavily towards UCLA at the moment. Vanderbilt is tempting but I don't have a strong inclination to work/live in Atlanta again (been there a long time). Florida would be my target area if not California (plenty of ties in FL and CA).

It looks like UCLA is the best deal if you factor in where I want to practice but if anyone can chime in that would be very helpful.

Since this is where you have the strongest preference, the schools I struck out shouldn't even be a consideration. Before you commit to anything, you've got to put the pinball into motion and see how much money you can shake loose. Show USC your $120 from Davis. Who knows, they might match, or they might tell you to take your chances in Sacramento (*gasp*). Either way, take your best USC offer and show UCLA, then choose whichever is cheaper between those two.

That's the best pathway with your current options, but you could open different/better ones with a higher LSAT. If you don't want to do it, fine, but I figure I owe it to you to at least mention it.

I appreciate the feedback.

I already contacted USC and they upped me from 90K to 105K. UC davis came recently and I am already in talks with UCLA. Not sure if a second round will look bad or not.

fliptrip wrote:

87mm wrote:Hello everyone.

I am currently deciding between these schools:

UCLA (60K... expecting 75-90K)
USC (105K)
UC Davis (120K)
Northwestern (sticker so far...might hear back soon?)
Vanderbilt (110K)
I am heavily considering working in California with a strong preference for southern California. I have work experience as an engineer and a graduate degree in engineering. I am looking at biglaw salary focusing on patent/biotech. I plan to take the patent bar prior to law school while saving up through July. I have slight parental help for CoL (basically rent will be negligible). I have enough savings to cover the first and possible second year's extra expenses and fees outside of rent.

I am OoS but will be switching instate if I go to a California school.

I am leaning very heavily towards UCLA at the moment. Vanderbilt is tempting but I don't have a strong inclination to work/live in Atlanta again (been there a long time). Florida would be my target area if not California (plenty of ties in FL and CA).

It looks like UCLA is the best deal if you factor in where I want to practice but if anyone can chime in that would be very helpful.

Since this is where you have the strongest preference, the schools I struck out shouldn't even be a consideration. Before you commit to anything, you've got to put the pinball into motion and see how much money you can shake loose. Show USC your $120 from Davis. Who knows, they might match, or they might tell you to take your chances in Sacramento (*gasp*). Either way, take your best USC offer and show UCLA, then choose whichever is cheaper between those two.

That's the best pathway with your current options, but you could open different/better ones with a higher LSAT. If you don't want to do it, fine, but I figure I owe it to you to at least mention it.

I appreciate the feedback.

I already contacted USC and they upped me from 90K to 105K. UC davis came recently and I am already in talks with UCLA. Not sure if a second round will look bad or not.

Yeah, I generally think a second shot at negotiations is a bad look. I don't think the schools are selling cars here. Their second offer is probably their best offer.

So knowing that, what I said at the end is really how I see this. See what UCLA comes back at and take whichever is cheaper between them and SC.

UCLA.

Thanks for all the feedback. Seems like UCLA is the best bet assuming they come back with a generous offer.

Dean Schwartz has been great to work with too.

It was my 3rd take of the LSAT so no retaking for me

Ended up getting a bump to 80K from UCLA. Seems to be the best for what I want to do. The debt seems manageable and it is in the area I want to practice and the best school I got into with $$ (Vandy may be ranked higher in 2017 though).

A second shot looks bad? Get real. Keep asking for more money, as long as you have something new to show them. But yeah even at current prices I'd go to UCLA if I were you. But don't settle yet, unless you are absolutely certain no one else is going to change their offer.

Hand wrote:A second shot looks bad? Get real. Keep asking for more money, as long as you have something new to show them. But yeah even at current prices I'd go to UCLA if I were you. But don't settle yet, unless you are absolutely certain no one else is going to change their offer.

+1, back when I was applying to law school several years ago and went back twice to my eventual law school. Keep trying for more

trebekismyhero wrote:

Hand wrote:A second shot looks bad? Get real. Keep asking for more money, as long as you have something new to show them. But yeah even at current prices I'd go to UCLA if I were you. But don't settle yet, unless you are absolutely certain no one else is going to change their offer.

+1, back when I was applying to law school several years ago and went back twice to my eventual law school. Keep trying for more

Well, it seems like my best shot is to contact USC and see if they can increase. UCLA had my other offers and was the most recent increase. If USC doesnt budge I doubt UCLA will budge. Fortunately, their offer is solid and better than everyone else on myLSN with my numbers.

Do you have any suggestions for any changes I should make to a negotiation email when doing a 2nd round?

Thanks!

87mm wrote:

trebekismyhero wrote:

Hand wrote:A second shot looks bad? Get real. Keep asking for more money, as long as you have something new to show them. But yeah even at current prices I'd go to UCLA if I were you. But don't settle yet, unless you are absolutely certain no one else is going to change their offer.

+1, back when I was applying to law school several years ago and went back twice to my eventual law school. Keep trying for more

Well, it seems like my best shot is to contact USC and see if they can increase. UCLA had my other offers and was the most recent increase. If USC doesnt budge I doubt UCLA will budge. Fortunately, their offer is solid and better than everyone else on myLSN with my numbers.

Do you have any suggestions for any changes I should make to a negotiation email when doing a 2nd round?

Thanks!

There's always "thanks so much, this is great, but I can't quite commit yet given this offer, with a little more I'm willing to withdraw all my other stuff and sign my life over to you" when you run out of leverage

But before that, contact USC, yeah

Hand wrote:

87mm wrote:

trebekismyhero wrote:

Hand wrote:A second shot looks bad? Get real. Keep asking for more money, as long as you have something new to show them. But yeah even at current prices I'd go to UCLA if I were you. But don't settle yet, unless you are absolutely certain no one else is going to change their offer.

+1, back when I was applying to law school several years ago and went back twice to my eventual law school. Keep trying for more

Well, it seems like my best shot is to contact USC and see if they can increase. UCLA had my other offers and was the most recent increase. If USC doesnt budge I doubt UCLA will budge. Fortunately, their offer is solid and better than everyone else on myLSN with my numbers.

Do you have any suggestions for any changes I should make to a negotiation email when doing a 2nd round?

Thanks!

There's always "thanks so much, this is great, but I can't quite commit yet given this offer, with a little more I'm willing to withdraw all my other stuff and sign my life over to you" when you run out of leverage

But before that, contact USC, yeah

Thanks. Is there any chance a school will pull their offer?

87mm wrote:Is there any chance a school will pull their offer?

I really wouldn't worry about that, unless you plan on acting like a complete and utter asshat. Just be polite and humble, and nobody will be offended even if you ask for more 4 or 5 times.

Hand wrote:

87mm wrote:Is there any chance a school will pull their offer?

I really wouldn't worry about that, unless you plan on acting like a complete and utter asshat. Just be polite and humble, and nobody will be offended even if you ask for more 4 or 5 times.

Thanks. You've been very helpful. I apologize for the constant quoting and questioning. Im finishing up my email to USC at the moment. Should I be honest and mention that I am debating between USC and UCLA? My thought process was be honest and say "I like USC, but I am torn between the two schools. Cost will be the motivating factor. Is there any possibility of an increase? Thank you".

87mm wrote:

Hand wrote:

87mm wrote:Is there any chance a school will pull their offer?

I really wouldn't worry about that, unless you plan on acting like a complete and utter asshat. Just be polite and humble, and nobody will be offended even if you ask for more 4 or 5 times.

Thanks. You've been very helpful. I apologize for the constant quoting and questioning. Im finishing up my email to USC at the moment. Should I be honest and mention that I am debating between USC and UCLA? My thought process was be honest and say "I like USC, but I am torn between the two schools. Cost will be the motivating factor. Is there any possibility of an increase? Thank you".

I'd mention that, yeah. USC is probably their main competition, and I'm sure they lose a good number of students to them every year (and vice versa). Best of luck.

Hand wrote:

87mm wrote:

Hand wrote:

87mm wrote:Is there any chance a school will pull their offer?

I really wouldn't worry about that, unless you plan on acting like a complete and utter asshat. Just be polite and humble, and nobody will be offended even if you ask for more 4 or 5 times.

Thanks. You've been very helpful. I apologize for the constant quoting and questioning. Im finishing up my email to USC at the moment. Should I be honest and mention that I am debating between USC and UCLA? My thought process was be honest and say "I like USC, but I am torn between the two schools. Cost will be the motivating factor. Is there any possibility of an increase? Thank you".

I'd mention that, yeah. USC is probably their main competition, and I'm sure they lose a good number of students to them every year (and vice versa). Best of luck.

Looks like Northwestern gave me a scholarship (75K) which isnt huge considering CoA, but it is close to the 80K I got from UCLA. USC said they would reconsider my scholarship (they dont have my NW offer yet), but they arent sure how much funding is available.

Edit: UCLA said funds are tight but it may free up after 4/15. Decisions...