UVA vs. Chicago Forum

[skip537]

Greetings, and thanks in advance for any advice/opinions that you are gracious enough to share with me. I've been reading posts on this forum for a few months now, but I haven't really posted much, as I haven't seemed to have any knowledge that could help anyone.

I'm at the point where I need to make a decision on which school to attend next year. The options are as follows:
Chicago: 30,000 a year scholarship (Estimated COA 190,000)
Virginia: Dillard (Estimated COA 78,000)

Stats:
GPA: 3.94
LSAT: 172 with two takes

Financing:
Loans

Ties:
I'm 25, with three years of work experience. I have always lived in the south. I haven't spent enough time anywhere north of Virginia to know for sure that I'd be happy there for any sizeable amount of time (i.e. biglaw in NY), but I haven't spent enough time there to rule it out either. I've never been to Chicago, and I'm a bit scared of the cold. It is most likely that I will want to live in the south long-term.

Goals:
My career goals are relatively undefined. I'm interested in a wide variety of practice areas, from Child Advocacy to M&A. I'm interested in a JD/MBA, but I could also see myself getting a JD/MS in History to leave the academic route open as well. Clerkships are interesting to me, but I don't know for sure that I want to go in that direction. I plan on choosing a focus area based on which facet of law is most interesting to me once I begin my studies. This might be naive, but, as with which law school to attend, I'm having a hard time choosing just one.

I'm leaning towards Virginia, but Chicago is rather compelling. I love the fact that it has small class sizes and a reputation for a studious student body.

Given the fact that my goals are less than concrete, is there any good reason to choose Chicago, or should I take the money at Virginia and run?

Thanks so much for any feedback.

[urbanist11]

UVA no question

[James.K.Polk]

0L, so my opinion matters little, but hard to say 'no' to UVA here. Chicago is better, but not $120k better. Enjoy the good life.

[cron1834]

Dillard is a win, especially for a southerner. There are people on TLS who have turned it down for more debt at HYSCCN, but that's insane to me unless you have a very wealthy family. If you do, then just follow your dreams. Otherwise Dillard hands down.

[WinterComing]

I'm a fellow 0L who is considering turning down a full scholarship to pay sticker at a higher-ranked school, and even I say this is a slam dunk for the Dillard. Congratulations on an awesome outcome.

[GFox345]

Uchicago is not worth 120K more than UVA on any account. Virginia without question.

[stretchedtoothin]

this is such an easy choice lol of course UVA

[A. Nony Mouse]

UVA

(also doing a JD/MS in history will not keep academic options open in any meaningful way and doing an MS in history - as opposed to an MA - is really weird and unusual and not possible at most schools. If you really want an MA in history go for it, but I would not pay any extra money or stay in school any longer to do so. It is not at all a helpful degree for any purpose other than personal enrichment.)

[ponderingmeerkat]

You're going to be hard pressed to find anyone suggesting Chicago here...

[OtterLaw]

UVA for two reasons:

1. I'll be there this Fall and I'm a hoot

2. As a southerner, unless you've spent a winter up in the north I'm not sure you realize just how cold and miserable a Chicago winter can be. That alone was enough for me to avoid schools in the north.

[skip537]

UVA for two reasons:

1. I'll be there this Fall and I'm a hoot

2. As a southerner, unless you've spent a winter up in the north I'm not sure you realize just how cold and miserable a Chicago winter can be. That alone was enough for me to avoid schools in the north.

Haha otter, I like your style.

[skip537]

Thank y'all so much for all of your input. I really appreciate everyone taking the time help me make this decision. I feel a lot better going forward having read your opinions.

[hairbear7]

I go to Chicago and love it, but no way it's worth that much more than UVA.

Enjoy the Dillard-congrats!

[UVAIce]

You will love UVA. If it isn't obvious, I am a little biased here, but I would even pick UVA I've Chciago at the same price. Especially given the fact that you want to continue to practice in the South. Not only do southern firms come to OGI, but the social network you build at UVA will simply have more people that end up in the South one way or the other.

Having been in Chicago on more than one occasion and growing up in the Midwest, C'Ville is a much nicer place to live for the three years of law school.

As an aside, many of my friends from undergrad went to Chicago and loved it.

[twocabins3112]

current U of C student.

If you want big law, definitely, definitely, definitely take U VA. Literally no difference in outcomes, except you're probably better off at UVA if you want to practice on the east coast, anyway. If you want academia, you're better off at U of C, but would need to be in top 10% to have any chance at that, anyway.

also, U of C preps people for academia, not for practicing law. So if you want to be an actual attorney, better off at UVA anyway.

[jbagelboy]

UVA.

[skip537]

Thank y'all for all of the input. I decided to go with UVA and am feeling very pleased with my choice!

[OtterLaw]

Thank y'all for all of the input. I decided to go with UVA and am feeling very pleased with my choice!

Excellent! See you in August!

[WheninLaw]

current U of C student.

If you want big law, definitely, definitely, definitely take U VA. Literally no difference in outcomes, except you're probably better off at UVA if you want to practice on the east coast, anyway. If you want academia, you're better off at U of C, but would need to be in top 10% to have any chance at that, anyway.

also, U of C preps people for academia, not for practicing law. So if you want to be an actual attorney, better off at UVA anyway.

Wow, this was dumb to read. Hard to believe you go there.

OP - former UoC student, and I absolutely think UVA is the right choice. Congratulations on the Dillard.

[Rigo]

current U of C student.

If you want big law, definitely, definitely, definitely take U VA. Literally no difference in outcomes, except you're probably better off at UVA if you want to practice on the east coast, anyway. If you want academia, you're better off at U of C, but would need to be in top 10% to have any chance at that, anyway.

also, U of C preps people for academia, not for practicing law. So if you want to be an actual attorney, better off at UVA anyway.

Wow, this was dumb to read. Hard to believe you go there.

Why?

[jbagelboy]

current U of C student.

If you want big law, definitely, definitely, definitely take U VA. Literally no difference in outcomes, except you're probably better off at UVA if you want to practice on the east coast, anyway. If you want academia, you're better off at U of C, but would need to be in top 10% to have any chance at that, anyway.

also, U of C preps people for academia, not for practicing law. So if you want to be an actual attorney, better off at UVA anyway.

Wow, this was dumb to read. Hard to believe you go there.

Why?

I mean, the stuff about uva being "better for the east coast" and chi only preparing people for academia (as opposed to any other top law program?) are p dumb

[Emma.]

current U of C student.

If you want big law, definitely, definitely, definitely take U VA. Literally no difference in outcomes, except you're probably better off at UVA if you want to practice on the east coast, anyway. If you want academia, you're better off at U of C, but would need to be in top 10% to have any chance at that, anyway.

also, U of C preps people for academia, not for practicing law. So if you want to be an actual attorney, better off at UVA anyway.

Wow, this was dumb to read. Hard to believe you go there.

OP - former UoC student, and I absolutely think UVA is the right choice. Congratulations on the Dillard.

[Mikey]

Enjoy UVA.