Help me choose Forum

[Nagster5]

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[pterodactyls]

I don't claim to be an expert, but $70k to go to UVA for better career options doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It's still pretty cheap for a law degree. Sometimes people on here are considering a full ride at one school, or paying $300k at another school ranked slightly higher. Those people are crazy. But I don't think you're crazy.

It seems like UVA is your top choice and it would provide you with the best career options, so if I was in your boat I'd consider it for $70k.

[krads153]

I don't claim to be an expert, but $70k to go to UVA for better career options doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It's still pretty cheap for a law degree. Sometimes people on here are considering a full ride at one school, or paying $300k at another school ranked slightly higher. Those people are crazy. But I don't think you're crazy.

It seems like UVA is your top choice and it would provide you with the best career options, so if I was in your boat I'd consider it for $70k.

It's not really 70k if he's paying for it with savings....

I guess UVA based on these choices, but I don't know how'd I'd feel about putting down tons of cash for law school if I weren't rich....

[pterodactyls]

I don't claim to be an expert, but $70k to go to UVA for better career options doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It's still pretty cheap for a law degree. Sometimes people on here are considering a full ride at one school, or paying $300k at another school ranked slightly higher. Those people are crazy. But I don't think you're crazy.

It seems like UVA is your top choice and it would provide you with the best career options, so if I was in your boat I'd consider it for $70k.

It's not really 70k if he's paying for it with savings....

I guess UVA based on these choices, but I don't know how'd I'd feel about putting down tons of cash for law school if I weren't rich....

Maybe I read it wrong then. Usually when someone writes "total COA" they mean the price they are paying personally (cash/savings/loans) for law school.

If the numbers include paying from savings, can you tell us what the COA numbers are after GI bill and scholarships only?

[BigZuck]

I might have missed it but how much would you be spending out of savings if you go to UVA?

This stuff can be manipulated, just tell us how much each school will cost. If you want to say "I will be spending X out of savings and Y will be in loans" for each school then that will work.

[BigZuck]

I don't claim to be an expert, but $70k to go to UVA for better career options doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It's still pretty cheap for a law degree. Sometimes people on here are considering a full ride at one school, or paying $300k at another school ranked slightly higher. Those people are crazy. But I don't think you're crazy.

It seems like UVA is your top choice and it would provide you with the best career options, so if I was in your boat I'd consider it for $70k.

It's not really 70k if he's paying for it with savings....

I guess UVA based on these choices, but I don't know how'd I'd feel about putting down tons of cash for law school if I weren't rich....

Maybe I read it wrong then. Usually when someone writes "total COA" they mean the price they are paying personally (cash/savings/loans) for law school.

If the numbers include paying from savings, can you tell us what the COA numbers are after GI bill and scholarships only?

Yeah there's just so many words it's hard to decipher

[KiltedKicker]

Virginia is totally justifiable, but UCLA and WUSTL are good schools as well. You're either taking on the risk of going to a school that doesn't place quite as well into biglaw, or paying more to go to a school that gives you the higher likelihood of getting a firm job. Personally I'd take the latter given it's only 70, but that's your call. And if you hate living in a big city, UCLA might not be for you.

Best of luck with whatever you decide

[Nagster5]

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[fliptrip]

I definitely would prefer using other people's money (obviously, you're paying interest to do so) if I had to, so I completely agree that trying to limit the amount of your savings you're putting into this is a good idea.

You've got some ideas in tension here, though. You want Big Law, but you don't want to live in a big city, but that's where big law is by and large. I have known of people to get what qualifies for a big firm job in a place like Raleigh out of Duke, but that was an uncommon outcome for sure. All of that being said, I think UVA's implied biglaw odds are pretty good as long as you're not going to be devastated ending up in NYC for a spell. So, I'd go UVA.

If you were more outcome agnostic, I wouldn't dismiss the UT or WUSTL offers at all. Both of those places would translate to long-term locations that seem to fit your lifestyle preferences better.

ETA: saw your update. Go ahead and take UVA.

[Nagster5]

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[Nagster5]

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[fliptrip]

Do UVA nagster, and don't look back. Keep bugging them for more $ though, especially because every dollar really makes a difference to you.

[cron1834]

Agree with Fliptrip. That's reasonable for UVA, though you shouldn't completely give up yet. Even $15k or $30k would be nice.

[trebekismyhero]

UVA