Illinois ($) vs Iowa ($) vs Boston Forum

[SicEm11]

Just looking for some advice regarding these schools because I cannot seem to make a decision. Any opinions, statistics, and overall impressions would be greatly appreciated.

First off here is my list at the moment:
1 (tied): Illinois-full tuition scholly
1 (t): Iowa-full tuition scholly and a research assistant position 2 and 3L
2: BC/BU: 25,000/year scholly


The reasoning behind Iowa and Illinois both being first is simply down to me being weighed down by a large amount of undergrad debt (it's a ton), which makes me lean towards those two. I really can't separate these two as employment numbers seem to be relatively the same and I would be completely ok with working in a bigger Iowa city, Chicago, or somewhere in Wisconsin. Also, Does the research position at Iowa make a huge difference? Will it add that much to my resume? It's probably important to note that my scholarship is dependent on my taking of the position, which I'm assuming would take away much chance of working in their clinic or writing for a journal.
Ideally, Boston is where I would want to work and live, but obviously cost difference is quite huge when compared to Illinois and Iowa. As far as campus/city the Boston schools are leagues ahead (but insane cost of living) and the difference between the other 2 is pretty negligible.
I am interested in Health law or International law which seems to tick another box for the Boston schools as they seem to be stronger in these areas.

Thanks!

[GreenEggs]

Are you from Iowa or Illinois?

I would honestly suggest Boston because thats where you want to work and live, but you say you have a lot of undergrad debt...But on second thought thats a yearly scholarship so i don't think it would be indefensible

[landshoes]

Boston will have a lot of opportunities for health-related internships.

RA positions don't do much, and if you do want one, they're pretty easy to get. I wouldn't want to be forced to do one 2L and 3L when I could be networking.

[SicEm11]

Yes, I am from Illinois.

[Dr. Nefario]

Health law in Boston is huge, so if that's what you want to do, attempt to negotiate with BU & BC. You could leverage Iowa's offer easily I'd think. Creating ties in Boston can be a little bit of a struggle if you're not from the area, but it can be done. Do you have any background in Health/Healthcare/Biomed/etc? A science degree really helps in the health field from what I understand. (Though I'm by no means an expert.)

Also, on the research position, it won't prevent you from clinics or journal, you can do both. However, a position is pretty easy to get if you are a good student, so I wouldn't let it factor into your decision.

[fliptrip]

As Dr. N. says, I'd be nervous about being an outsider trying to break into Boston, but if it can be done, BC/BU would be your tickets. Have you done anything to try to get your BU scholarship up? Your COA there (and I'm nervous about their quoted room and board numbers, but maybe they have on-campus housing or something) would be $160k. Anything you can do to get that down would really help (obviously).

[SicEm11]

I haven't tried negotiating my scholarship with either. I felt as though it would be slightly pointless as I don't really have a north east school to leverage with. I have William and Mary, but they also offered 25k. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try negotiating with the Illinois and/or Iowa offer though.

[fliptrip]

You might be right about the leverage, but you shouldn't avoid asking just because you don't have a high leverage offer. All they can do is say no.

[BasilHallward]

You can cross International Law off the list. This practice area doesn't really exist, and if it does, it almost exclusively reserved for HYS types. The best advice is probably to retake. Iowa won't really open up any doors and BU is really expensive with your current scholly

[SicEm11]

bump

[trebekismyhero]

Go to Illinois. BU is too expensive

[totesTheGoat]

me being weighed down by a large amount of undergrad debt (it's a ton), which makes me lean towards those two.

Can you actually afford to go to law school? You're still going to have some level of loans (whether it's all or a portion of CoL), and I'm concerned that somebody with a ton of undergrad debt may not qualify for grad loans. Even if you do qualify, depending on your current debt level, it may not make sense to go to law school before you pay it down a bit.

Also, Does the research position at Iowa make a huge difference?

Not really. Assuming it's like most research positions, you'll make $10/hour to do cite checks and basic research for a prof.

Will it add that much to my resume? It's probably important to note that my scholarship is dependent on my taking of the position, which I'm assuming would take away much chance of working in their clinic or writing for a journal.

Skip. Don't give up better opportunities (clinic or journal) for a slave-labor research job that your scholarship is contingent on. You can do better than that.

Ideally, Boston is where I would want to work and live,

Don't go to IL or IA. You'll never end up in Boston.

I am interested in Health law or International law which seems to tick another box for the Boston schools as they seem to be stronger in these areas.

Specialty rankings are entirely irrelevant and should be ignored.

I come back to your massive undergrad debt. You need to look at what outcomes you're likely to have and decide whether you can truly afford to go to law school. Is your UG debt closer to $10k or $100k? Count on (even at IL) racking up another $50k for cost of living, and over $160k if you decide to go to BU. Then, count on making $60k when you graduate. Do the math in your head to figure out how long it's going to take for you to pay off your loans. You're looking at 5-15 years just to break even, and that's if you live like a college kid for the entire time.

Stop digging yourself into a deeper hole. Find a job, work your debt down, and then think about law school. Law school is going to multiply the debt issue, and you only have a small chance of having the tools to dig yourself out.

[SicEm11]

Can you actually afford to go to law school? You're still going to have some level of loans (whether it's all or a portion of CoL), and I'm concerned that somebody with a ton of undergrad debt may not qualify for grad loans. Even if you do qualify, depending on your current debt level, it may not make sense to go to law school before you pay it down a bit.

I do qualify for grade loans, but my parents are paying for my living if I go to Illinois or Iowa (will only be able to do about half in Boston), so I'll need loans for books, student, fees, etc. I see that as pretty low cost for a law degree and worth it right now, regardless if I'm making 60k coming out or over 100k.

Also, I'm graduating with a BBA and a lot of hiring happens in the fall before graduation for most business majors. Most of my classmates already have jobs, I haven't even started looking or held an internship related to my major (law school has always been the plan so I've been focused on that). Simply holding off on law school and getting a job to help pay off my debt is not nearly as easy as it sounds.

[totesTheGoat]

I do qualify for grade loans, but my parents are paying for my living if I go to Illinois or Iowa (will only be able to do about half in Boston), so I'll need loans for books, student, fees, etc. I see that as pretty low cost for a law degree and worth it right now, regardless if I'm making 60k coming out or over 100k.

With that being the case, it comes down to how much undergrad debt you actually have, and how much you want to work in Boston. The thing that I keep thinking is that you could probably still (despite being behind the 8-ball) get a job, work for 3 years, put a dent in your debt, and put yourself in a better position to go to BU. As of right now, I recommend that you go to IL or IA, because you're going to be in less financial trouble if you end up with a $40k job since your grad loans are going to be minimal. Going to BU, despite its decent job placement, is quite a risk due to the high cost of attendance and the 800lb undergrad loan gorilla in the room. If you get a $55k job out of BU with $230k in total debt (I'm just guessing a number), you're stuck digging out of an enormous hole with a plastic spoon.

[Frutsie]

Illinois makes the most sense.