GULC worth 40k more than GW? Forum

[leesmith7b89]

Somewhat unique situation:

For personal reasons can't leave the DC area for law school, so my choice is really restricted to GULC and GW. (SO has great career in DC and can't leave).

Payment: Not all set in stone yet, but here's how it looks like it will shake out. GW offered me 40K more than GULC (not per year, 40k total). I have wealthy parents who will pay for everything, however they don't think GULC is any better than GW so if I want to go to GULC, 40k difference is on me. Would graduate from GW totally debt free. Parents would pay full living, books, food, spending money, and all remaining tuition. Would graduate GULC with 40k total in debt, parents would still pay for all living, books, food, spending money, and the rest of the tuition. I have no undergrad debt

Background: T20 undergrad. Professional experience in consulting.

Preferences: Campaign and election law ideally. Interested in working for political organizations or law firms practicing this area. Would be fine not strictly practicing law as long as I'm doing work I like (politics/campaign). Probably wouldn't initially make a ton in any of these situations.

I know that TLS posters sometimes like to give advice straying far from the question being asked. Would appreciate thoughts about THESE TWO LAW SCHOOLS. I'm set on going to law school, will 100% be matriculating to one of these two, and I'm grateful for help on deciding which one. I care about prestige as much as the next person, but it's weighed against the cost of buying that prestige.

Will probably delete this thread at some point so would appreciate not quoting my text. Thanks for the help.

[acr]

GULC here no question. The difference between GULC and GW in terms of immediate employment prospects and long-term "prestige" is huge. Graduating with merely $40K debt from GULC is still a great outcome even though you could graduate from GW debt free. GULC is worth the extra $40K here in my opinion.

[Ferrisjso]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

[cavalier1138]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

Jesus Christ.

OP, go to Georgetown. There is no universe where GW is the right choice for you.

[20170322]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

Jesus Christ.

OP, go to Georgetown. There is no universe where GW is the right choice for you.

[Gray]

.

[grades??]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

Again this is awful advice. Mod please ban this account. For a month this guy has been spreading absolutely wrong advice and its frankly dangerous.

[Ferrisjso]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

Again this is awful advice. Mod please ban this account. For a month this guy has been spreading absolutely wrong advice and its frankly dangerous.

Wow if someone has a different answer to a question you want them banned? I didnt even vehemently disagree i said itd be a tough call. The reason i give advice is because theres not enough people pushing back against the pessimism crowd on here(and now i can see why) and i dont want any people thinking that the negative advice they receive is universial when it isnt. A lot of advice other posters give IMO is also awful and I dont call for them to be banned! Grow up,telling someone to go to GW for free is not bad advice. I need this account to discuss my own situation and a ban would prevent me from getting my own advice i need. Stop being petty, OP has two incredible options neither of which he should regret. If you think GW is a bad option you really are an elitist.

[cavalier1138]

Wow if someone has a different answer to a question you want them banned? I didnt even vehemently disagree i said itd be a tough call. The reason i give advice is because theres not enough people pushing back against the pessimism crowd on here and i dont want any people thinking that the negative advice they receive is universial when it isnt. A lot of advice other posters give IMO is also awful and I dont call for them to be banned! Grow up,telling someone to go to GW for free is not bad advice. I need this account to discuss my own situation and a ban would prevent me from getting my own advice i need. Stop being petty, OP has two incredible options neither of which he should regret.

There is a world of difference between providing an "alternative opinion" and advocating for someone to make an objectively wrong choice.

This is also not a case of "negative advice". Everyone is, in fact, giving very positive advice to the OP. The only person who would see the legitimate advice on this thread as negative would be someone working for GW.

[20170322]

Wow if someone has a different answer to a question you want them banned? I didnt even vehemently disagree i said itd be a tough call. The reason i give advice is because theres not enough people pushing back against the pessimism crowd on here and i dont want any people thinking that the negative advice they receive is universial when it isnt. A lot of advice other posters give IMO is also awful and I dont call for them to be banned! Grow up,telling someone to go to GW for free is not bad advice. I need this account to discuss my own situation and a ban would prevent me from getting my own advice i need. Stop being petty, OP has two incredible options neither of which he should regret.

There is a world of difference between providing an "alternative opinion" and advocating for someone to make an objectively wrong choice.

This is also not a case of "negative advice". Everyone is, in fact, giving very positive advice to the OP. The only person who would see the legitimate advice on this thread as negative would be someone working for GW.

Let's not derail too much.

OP, go to Georgetown (if you're unwilling to consider other options). /thread

[Ferrisjso]

Wow if someone has a different answer to a question you want them banned? I didnt even vehemently disagree i said itd be a tough call. The reason i give advice is because theres not enough people pushing back against the pessimism crowd on here and i dont want any people thinking that the negative advice they receive is universial when it isnt. A lot of advice other posters give IMO is also awful and I dont call for them to be banned! Grow up,telling someone to go to GW for free is not bad advice. I need this account to discuss my own situation and a ban would prevent me from getting my own advice i need. Stop being petty, OP has two incredible options neither of which he should regret.

There is a world of difference between providing an "alternative opinion" and advocating for someone to make an objectively wrong choice.

This is also not a case of "negative advice". Everyone is, in fact, giving very positive advice to the OP. The only person who would see the legitimate advice on this thread as negative would be someone working for GW.

I was referring to the other poster who referenced other threads. Both of OPs options are good decisions, how is a free highly ranked regional school an objectively bad choice? You just think Georgetown at 40k is better which is fair and you might be right.

[TLSModBot]

Neither GULC or GW are objectively good decisions

Generally, 0L's should know their place regarding the quality of advice they can give. 0L's giving shitty advice showing a dangerous ignorance of employment stats, doubly so.

eta: I was in the same boat as you OP; I chose GULC. It worked out for me but I'm not gonna pretend it wasn't risky as fuck to get there.

Did you consider UVA? Living in the middle between Charlottesville and DC, or being temporarily a couple hours apart wouldn't kill ya. Shit, you could make a commute from UPenn to your SO every so often work too.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

My name is Ferrisjso and I give terrible advice in every thread I post to.

OP, if those are your only two options, the obvious choice is GULC.

[UVA2B]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

I'll make a deal with you. Stop giving 0L advice until you decide to make your choosing thread. Look at what good advice looks like in that thread. After that, go ahead and spew off whatever tired, offensively bad advice you want. That way you can feel like you're helping out (even though you're not), and we can just link to your thread to let that poster know you are objectively bad at this.

Sound fair?

[Ferrisjso]

My name is Ferrisjso and I give terrible advice in every thread I post to.

OP, if those are your only two options, the obvious choice is GULC.

I never wrote that!

[Ferrisjso]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

I'll make a deal with you. Stop giving 0L advice until you decide to make your choosing thread. Look at what good advice looks like in that thread. After that, go ahead and spew off whatever tired, offensively bad advice you want. That way you can feel like you're helping out (even though you're not), and we can just link to your thread to let that poster know you are objectively bad at this.

Sound fair?

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent no brainers actually are! If I thought people were giving generally good advice i wluldnt post! Also this isnt the place to discuss this because at the end of the day both choices OP could make arent bad ones. If i had all my decisions id have made a choosing thread already!

[20170322]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

I'll make a deal with you. Stop giving 0L advice until you decide to make your choosing thread. Look at what good advice looks like in that thread. After that, go ahead and spew off whatever tired, offensively bad advice you want. That way you can feel like you're helping out (even though you're not), and we can just link to your thread to let that poster know you are objectively bad at this.

Sound fair?

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic pessimistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent aren't no brainers no-brainers actually are! If I thought people were giving generally good advice i wluldnt wouldn't post! Also(insert comma) this isnt isn't the place to discuss this because at the end of the day both choices OP could make arent aren't bad ones. If i I had all my decisions(insert comma) id I'd have made a choosing thread already!

[UVA2B]

I'm a 0L who try's to always stick to the question! Seeing as you want to work in politics/government(I want to do this also at some point), minimizing debt is important, go to GW. If it's 40k a year more I feel that's a no brainer for GW, for a singular 40k that's tough though. If you were more dependent on getting legal employment the 40k for Georgetown might be worth it(still IMO that'd be a tough call) but in your situation I'm going to say GW, especially if prestige doesn't matter to you at all(and if you share your parents opinion on that it doesn't). Good luck!

I'll make a deal with you. Stop giving 0L advice until you decide to make your choosing thread. Look at what good advice looks like in that thread. After that, go ahead and spew off whatever tired, offensively bad advice you want. That way you can feel like you're helping out (even though you're not), and we can just link to your thread to let that poster know you are objectively bad at this.

Sound fair?

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent no brainers actually are! If I thought people were giving generally good advice i wluldnt post! Also this isnt the place to discuss this because at the end of the day both choices OP could make arent bad ones. If i had all my decisions id have made a choosing thread already!

If you're literally the only one with an opinion, you know what that makes you?

[+] Spoiler

wrong

[Npret]

Dude, are you going to be able to live off your parents or will you need a job after you graduate?

[Ferrisjso]

Btw just to let everyone now, seeing OP edited there post to say they care about prestige and doesn't agree with his parents, I'd say Georgetown is the right choice too. I also wasn't sure originally if he meant 40k total or 40k a year which is a huge difference. Hope this consoles all the people who despise me!

[UVA2B]

Btw just to let everyone now, seeing OP edited there post to say they care about prestige and doesn't agree with his parents, I'd say Georgetown is the right choice too. I also wasn't sure originally if he meant 40k total or 40k a year which is a huge difference. Hope this consoles all the people who despise me!

The post was edited, but it always said the OP cared about prestige as much as the next person.

You give bad advice/opinions, and you should stop if you want to truly help the posters on this board.

Just to close the loop on why your posting is problematic: you keep calling the advice here pessimistic, and you're just playing the other side. If true, I understand wanting to inject some optimism. But that's not what you're projecting. You're projecting confirmation bias all over these decisions. And it's dangerous when we're talking about tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars of debt. This board is somewhat debt/risk averse, which I think you're conflating with being pessimistic. If you want to be the "bet the farm, take the risk!" poster, fine. Enjoy it. But realize that you're making incredibly risky decisions and suggesting others should as well.

What you will NEVER see on these boards is people advising against financially smart decisions while chasing prestige. Everyone tends to skew toward prestige, because that's where the market paying and elite work goes, but the people trying to help others, generally speaking, the more helpful posters are skewing toward the right decision personally and financially.

Look at this thread as a perfect example. Normally, when comparing GW and GULC, people would shout retake if we were talking about the typical, debt-servicing 0L considering these schools. But the helpful posters rightfully changed the calculus because we're talking about $0 vs. $40k (or less, if negotiations work). That's why they advocated for substantially better job prospects in the event politics/policy doesn't happen. It's the financially responsible decision.

GULC is the objectively better decision here, and it's not particularly close.

Now return to telling yourself T2 at $100k is a great financial decision.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Btw just to let everyone now, seeing OP edited there post to say they care about prestige and doesn't agree with his parents, I'd say Georgetown is the right choice too. I also wasn't sure originally if he meant 40k total or 40k a year which is a huge difference. Hope this consoles all the people who despise me!

Nobody despises you, we just all are in agreement that you give terrible advice pretty much every time you hit submit.

[A. Nony Mouse]

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent no brainers actually are!

Maybe reality is pessimistic.

[A. Nony Mouse]

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic pessimistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent aren't no brainers no-brainers actually are! If I thought people were giving generally good advice i wluldnt wouldn't post! Also(insert comma) this isnt isn't the place to discuss this because at the end of the day both choices OP could make arent aren't bad ones. If i I had all my decisions(insert comma) id I'd have made a choosing thread already!

Also though this is kind of pointlessly snotty.

[20170322]

The reason i post despite being a OL is that if i dont people asking questions are going to see a pessamistic pessimistic consensus and think that certain decisions that arent aren't no brainers no-brainers actually are! If I thought people were giving generally good advice i wluldnt wouldn't post! Also(insert comma) this isnt isn't the place to discuss this because at the end of the day both choices OP could make arent aren't bad ones. If i I had all my decisions(insert comma) id I'd have made a choosing thread already!

Also though this is kind of pointlessly snotty.

Agreed, not one of my brighter moments.

Rescinded.