Penn v. Berkeley (90k) Forum

[WesGibbins]

Got 90k from Berkeley and nothing from Penn yet. I know Berkeley may seem like the obvious choice but my family lives in Buffalo so Penn's closer to home.The deadline for accepting my Berkeley offer is Apr 3rd but I applied for the Toll Pub Interest scholly (full tuition) at Penn and I don't find out if I got it till after that deadline. That being said, I am interested in PI but would want to do Big Law for a few years so idk how that would pan out if I get Toll.
Although 90k would lift some burden off my parents, it's not exactly the only factor in my decision making. Has anyone ever tried negotiating a Berkeley offer w Penn? Would moving back East Coast after law school be hard if I go to Berkeley? #Help

[cavalier1138]

What kind of PI are you interested in?

[globetrotter659]

I took my Berkeley scholarship offer to Penn and they matched 75%. I probably could have done a better job at negotiating.

[AlwaysPlayTheFox]

Got 90k from Berkeley and nothing from Penn yet. I know Berkeley may seem like the obvious choice but my family lives in Buffalo so Penn's closer to home.The deadline for accepting my Berkeley offer is Apr 3rd but I applied for the Toll Pub Interest scholly (full tuition) at Penn and I don't find out if I got it till after that deadline. That being said, I am interested in PI but would want to do Big Law for a few years so idk how that would pan out if I get Toll.
Although 90k would lift some burden off my parents, it's not exactly the only factor in my decision making. Has anyone ever tried negotiating a Berkeley offer w Penn? Would moving back East Coast after law school be hard if I go to Berkeley? #Help

If you get the Toll you will not be able to work in Big Law for a few years. However, the LRAP at Penn is very generous. With that said, negotiate with the 90k you received from Berkeley. The will absolutely give you something if not fully match.

[jbagelboy]

You can't work at a large firm for a few years and then just glide into a PI job. Legit, paying advocacy or pokicybwork is hard to get and takes specific and consistent dedication. Not only is Berkeley the better school for public interest, but the $90k makes this a clean choice. Penn would be the better school for elite corporate firms, but it sounds like you need to think a little more about what you want in that respect. Legal jobs are not interchangeable.

[WesGibbins]

I took my Berkeley scholarship offer to Penn and they matched 75%. I probably could have done a better job at negotiating.

Ah thank you! Just put together an email. Hoping something substantial comes out of it.

[WesGibbins]

What kind of PI are you interested in?

Would love to work international human rights (women and children)

[WesGibbins]

You can't work at a large firm for a few years and then just glide into a PI job. Legit, paying advocacy or pokicybwork is hard to get and takes specific and consistent dedication. Not only is Berkeley the better school for public interest, but the $90k makes this a clean choice. Penn would be the better school for elite corporate firms, but it sounds like you need to think a little more about what you want in that respect. Legal jobs are not interchangeable.

Hmmm thank you for this. It's definitely something I need to fully consider.

[cavalier1138]

What kind of PI are you interested in?

Would love to work international human rights (women and children)

Berkeley.