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I'm really struggling with a decision, and I'd really appreciate some advice on what you all think would be best. Public interest/public service is where I see my future, but I don't have a particular career path in mind, nor do I rule one out. I haven't negotiated scholarship with any of the schools, either. Particularly, I'd love to hear from any current students/grads.

A super important edit I should have initially included: I'm able to pay COL out of hand, so I've added in more accurate debt totals below.

LSAT: 166 (1 take)
GPA: 3.87
Undergrad: An average-ish midwestern private school


Boston College
Total Cost: 212,000
Tuition: 152,000
Scholarship: 99,000
Likely Debt: 53,000

Boston University
Total Cost: 213,000
Tuition: 153,000
Scholarship: 90,000
Likely Debt: 63,000

George Washington University
Total Cost: 247,590
Tuition: 168,000
Scholarship: 135,000
Likely Debt: 33,000

That's way too much debt to take out for any of those schools. Did you apply for the PILS at BU?

Even though I hate how often this advice is thrown around on here, if you really want PI and want to minimize debt, you need to retake for a higher scholarship and/or for a T-13 with a solid LRAP

Otherwise, play BU against BC to bring your debt under 6 figures.

Retake is the obvious correct response here. That aside, do you want to work in Boston?

You'd be amazed at what doors will open up with 3 or 4 more points. Your GPA is too high to waste on a one take 166 imo. Please defer and retake.

retake

I'd retake but word of caution I have a similar GPA and a 169 LSAT and didn't get a ton more from BU/BC. They're apparently kinda stingy.

theboringest wrote:I'd retake but word of caution I have a similar GPA and a 169 LSAT and didn't get a ton more from BU/BC. They're apparently kinda stingy.

That's insane. Looks like they don't really care about their Yield

Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:

theboringest wrote:I'd retake but word of caution I have a similar GPA and a 169 LSAT and didn't get a ton more from BU/BC. They're apparently kinda stingy.

That's insane. Looks like they don't really care about their Yield

It's pretty consistent policy at both. If you look at LSN BU caps out at 35k a year for non-URM and BC caps out at 38-40k for non URMs.

HuntedUnicorn wrote:Retake is the obvious correct response here. That aside, do you want to work in Boston?

Yeahhhhh, I'm dumb and didn't include enough info. I can afford COL with cash on hand for the three years in school. I suppose I'm more interested in comparisons between the schools, if that makes sense.

And yeah, I'd love to live in Boston (or DC, or NYC, etc.). I'm from podunk Indiana, and I'm just excited to be somewhere very new.

Why is your likely debt so much less at GWU despite the costs of all three being comparable?

Also, if you're truly committed to PI then you shouldn't pay your COL out of pocket since you'd likely be on the LRAP train anyways and it'd be better to have savings/liquidity.

Rigo wrote:Also, if you're truly committed to PI then you shouldn't pay your COL out of pocket since you'd likely be on the LRAP train anyways and it'd be better to have savings/liquidity.

I'd never actually thought of it like that. I suppose I'd go for a mix of cash-on-hand and loans.

But GWU is cheaper because of the 135k scholarship over 99k/90k from the Bostons.

slamersonianson wrote: But GWU is cheaper because of the 135k scholarship over 99k/90k from the Bostons.

I guess I'm just not following your math from the "cost remaining" lines to the "likely debt" lines. You have $20k less debt at GWU despite it being the same cost as BC.

Rigo wrote:

slamersonianson wrote: But GWU is cheaper because of the 135k scholarship over 99k/90k from the Bostons.

I guess I'm just not following your math from the "cost remaining" lines to the "likely debt" lines. You have $20k less debt at GWU despite it being the same cost as BC.

Yanno, I could see why this may be confusing. I've included 3-yr tuition now, too. The debt calculation is just tuition minus scholarship because I can (whether I should or shouldn't) pay cost of living out of pocket.