Paying Full Sticker if... Forum

[waldorf]

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[Colonel_funkadunk]

there is a big difference between paying sticker at a t14 and paying sticker at indiana tech (rip ft wayne). context matters here

[TLSModBot]

there is a big difference between paying sticker at a t14T6, maybe, and paying sticker at indiana tech (rip ft wayne). context matters here

[Colonel_funkadunk]

there is a big difference between paying sticker at a t14T6, maybe, and paying sticker at indiana tech (rip ft wayne). context matters here

strong edit, thats legit

[A. Nony Mouse]

Also $150k seems low for sticker these days.

[pancakes3]

i think it's worse that you're going to pony up 150k instead of your parents.
- at least your parents won't have the loss in income in giving up a job to attend law school like you will
- if you've already got 150k in savings, you're clearly already successful at what you're doing so you have a higher opportunity cost than the KJD trust fund baby who has no career prospects
- if you're successful enough to save up 150k while working now, you can delay law school by another year and study for the LSAT so that you won't have to pay sticker.

basically the only time this your scenario becomes defensible is HYS at sticker v. CCN at $$ [and you've topped out your LSAT]

[waldorf]

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[waldorf]

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[pancakes3]

Monty Brewster

[existentialcrisis]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

[armc808]

I would absolutely pay sticker for Stanford (my dream law school), because, well, a Stanford degree opens up so many doors that debt won't be too big of a problem in the long run. With the details you've provided, I would say that if paying sticker really is an option you're considering, then I'd look very carefully at how well the school does with placement at large law firms, because that will be your way out from six figures deep in debt.

Alternatively, since you've said that your test day score was noticeably lower than what you've been PTing at, you could also wait until you get a better LSAT score that you're satisfied with, so that paying sticker becomes less likely of a possibility.

[RedPurpleBlue]

I would absolutely pay sticker for Stanford (my dream law school), because, well, a Stanford degree opens up so many doors that debt won't be too big of a problem in the long run.

This is where I personally disagree. I'd rather go to Michigan, Virginia at $$$ or CCN at $$ than pay sticker at HYS, but I'm also debt-adverse and I consider my undergrad (Northwestern) to be my dream school. I also don't believe HYS open up more doors in the long-run (unless we are talking about SCOTUS). The matter of the fact is that for the most part the best students go to the best schools (hence Yales 85%+ yield rate). Logically, if the best students are going to the best schools, then the best schools are going to have the best outcomes. This is all to say that I don't think the education in the T14 varies in quality and that if you're a superstar, you're going to get into those magical doors regardless of where you went in the T14 (or even a few schools outside of the T14). Yale doesn't have more SCOTUS clerks than Georgetown, because SCOTUS has more slots saved for Yale. Yale is simply filled with superstars, while maybe the top 10% of Georgetown are superstars.

Just my $0.02.

[waldorf]

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[waldorf]

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[brinicolec]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

I'm going to dare to assume that literally all law school experiences at top schools will be more academically challenging, regardless of where you went for UG.

If I were you, I'd hope for more acceptances WITH $$$ at peer schools and try to negotiate some money from this dream school you speak of.

I'm also a bit confused about what you mean by it being something you can afford. Are you talking attending at sticker price but ending up with no debt because you wouldn't need to take out loans and you'd still be able to live comfortably?

[existentialcrisis]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

The only things that should matter in a law school should be its cost and its odds of getting you the job you want. If you're independently wealthy then cost matters less (but still ought to matter to you). If you're not wealthy than you should be very worried about taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in non dischargeable debt to attend a school that doesn't give you great odds of getting a job that would allow you to service that debt.

What are your career goals? Big law, small firm, public interest?

[brinicolec]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

The only things that should matter in a law school should be its cost and its odds of getting you the job you want. If you're independently wealthy then cost matters less (but still ought to matter to you). If you're not wealthy than you should be very worried about taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in non dischargeable debt to attend a school that doesn't give you great odds of getting a job that would allow you to service that debt.

What are your career goals? Big law, small firm, public interest?

OP said this in a previous reply:
"By afford it, I mean I can pay cash and I don't have to take out any loans.

Short term career goals: big law in the city the school is in with a firm I have a family connection to (also open to other firms, of course).
Long term career goals: eventually own my own practice."

[armc808]

I would absolutely pay sticker for Stanford (my dream law school), because, well, a Stanford degree opens up so many doors that debt won't be too big of a problem in the long run.

This is where I personally disagree. I'd rather go to Michigan, Virginia at $$$ or CCN at $$ than pay sticker at HYS, but I'm also debt-adverse and I consider my undergrad (Northwestern) to be my dream school. I also don't believe HYS open up more doors in the long-run (unless we are talking about SCOTUS). The matter of the fact is that for the most part the best students go to the best schools (hence Yales 85%+ yield rate). Logically, if the best students are going to the best schools, then the best schools are going to have the best outcomes. This is all to say that I don't think the education in the T14 varies in quality and that if you're a superstar, you're going to get into those magical doors regardless of where you went in the T14 (or even a few schools outside of the T14). Yale doesn't have more SCOTUS clerks than Georgetown, because SCOTUS has more slots saved for Yale. Yale is simply filled with superstars, while maybe the top 10% of Georgetown are superstars.

Just my $0.02.

I'm not saying you wouldn't have many options available by going to CCN or UVA, they are all excellent schools; however I think it's undeniable that a HYS degree opens up pretty much anything you want--including SCOTUS, which does mean a lot to me--on a level that schools below HYS can't quite match, and that's what I was getting at. They are the considered the best schools in the country (and the world) for a reason, and no matter how one slices it, a Stanford degree on its own carries a bit more weight than a Northwestern degree on its own. It's not a knock on Northwestern, but it is to say that Stanford is a very, very respected school. Personally speaking, Stanford checks off every single box I could possibly think of for a school, and I think I would really enjoy my time there, hence why I'd attend even if I had to pay sticker and accumulate some debt in the short run.

[waldorf]

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[waldorf]

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[20170322]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

The only things that should matter in a law school should be its cost and its odds of getting you the job you want. If you're independently wealthy then cost matters less (but still ought to matter to you). If you're not wealthy than you should be very worried about taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in non dischargeable debt to attend a school that doesn't give you great odds of getting a job that would allow you to service that debt.

What are your career goals? Big law, small firm, public interest?

I agree that's by far the most important, but my happiness does matter to me as well, and I don't want to be totally miserable for three years at a school I don't love in a city or town that I hate.

No one is saying you should.

They're saying that if you go to this school, you should retake the LSAT and get a full ride, which will also make you happier.

[brinicolec]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

The only things that should matter in a law school should be its cost and its odds of getting you the job you want. If you're independently wealthy then cost matters less (but still ought to matter to you). If you're not wealthy than you should be very worried about taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in non dischargeable debt to attend a school that doesn't give you great odds of getting a job that would allow you to service that debt.

What are your career goals? Big law, small firm, public interest?

I agree that's by far the most important, but my happiness does matter to me as well, and I don't want to be totally miserable for three years at a school I don't love in a city or town that I hate.

Would saying at least what school you're referring to give you away? Is it the only school in the area? I totally get not wanting to be in a city you don't like for three years. I have quite mixed feelings about where I attended UG. But I feel like you're almost being TOO vague to get advice lol.

[waldorf]

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[brinicolec]

Almost certainly not, but also I don't really get the idea of a "dream law school." What are your career goals?

I responded to your question in my last post.

Dream school = I have a family connection, I absolutely love the city (grew up nearby), everyone I know there loves it, will be way more academically challenging than the state school I went to for undergrad, and honestly a million other things that would take forever for me to list. It's also by far the best school I've gotten into so far, and with my current LSAT score I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere better. From the moment I stepped on campus as a young girl, I knew I wanted to go there, and when I visited this fall, it immediately felt like home to me.

I know, that all sounds incredibly cheesy and idealistic. Sorry.

The only things that should matter in a law school should be its cost and its odds of getting you the job you want. If you're independently wealthy then cost matters less (but still ought to matter to you). If you're not wealthy than you should be very worried about taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in non dischargeable debt to attend a school that doesn't give you great odds of getting a job that would allow you to service that debt.

What are your career goals? Big law, small firm, public interest?

I agree that's by far the most important, but my happiness does matter to me as well, and I don't want to be totally miserable for three years at a school I don't love in a city or town that I hate.

Would saying at least what school you're referring to give you away? Is it the only school in the area? I totally get not wanting to be in a city you don't like for three years. I have quite mixed feelings about where I attended UG. But I feel like you're almost being TOO vague to get advice lol.

It's the only decent school in my state, and the only other good schools in the entire geographical area (Midwest), I'm not sure I could get into (lower T14), though I did apply.

I think you should wait and see what happens with the other schools before you decide on paying 100% out of pocket.

[waldorf]

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