Vandy vs GW vs UVA Forum

[bciara96]

My LSAT was 167 (took it three times, that was the highest), Undergrad GPA was 3.9, and Graduate GPA is 3.8 (I'm told the latter doesn't matter but including it just in case). I was planning on starting law school fresh out of undergrad but decided to grow/mature so I got my Masters (as of this May) and now I'm ready to attend. I am not considering waiting until next cycle or retaking the LSAT. I know that's a common response but it's not something I'm willing to do.

I want to go into Criminal Law although I know I may change my mind once I start law school. I'm leaning towards the defense side/public defender's office but I'm also considering prosecution and I think I may potentially be interested in working as a federal prosecutor. If not that, then just going to a private (crim. defense) firm at some point. I'm also potentially interested in clerkships.

Vandy is offering me $35k a year which puts my total loan amount over three years at $139k.
GW is offering me $50k a year which puts my total loan amount over three years at $125k.
I haven't heard anything about money from UVA so I'm assuming no scholarship so loan total at $254k.

The loan totals include my expenses for the year/cost of attendance.

I'm currently leaning towards Vanderbilt. Here are my general concerns/factors I'm considering:
1. I think I want to practice in the Nova/DC area (which is where I live now). I'm concerned about paying double rent/moving back and forth to work summers in the DC area (I'm told I should work in the geographic area I want to practice).
2. I'm wondering if I should even want to practice in the DC area because public defender pay is so small and cost of living in DC is so high. I make $56k right now and can barely afford a 1 bedroom/no roommates (REALLY don't want roommates) and I don't even have loan payments right now.
3. I posted before about GW (w/ money) vs UVA (w/out money) and most people said UVA. I'm wondering if money from Vandy makes Vandy the recommended option.
4. If I practiced in Nashville for a couple of years, how hard would it be to switch to a different geographical area (such as DC)? This is assuming I went to Vandy.

I appreciate any and all guidance. Again, I'm not interested in waiting or retaking so please just take my word for it that nothing can sway me on that and don't try to convince me. I want to make sure I make the best decision possible given what I'm willing to do. Thank you in advance.

[The Lsat Airbender]

If you absolutely must go this year, then UVA > throwing yourself at the mercy of LRAP/PSLF is probably your best bet, both financially and in terms of career possibilities. You need to be 100% committed to public interest before you pull the trigger on this.

Vandy is a fine school at that price but it will be substantially harder to get back to Virginia/DC from there, and it's not like you can just service $139k on a PD salary without really feeling the pinch.

[Anon-non-anon]

If you want to be in DC and GW is cheaper than Vandy, I would pick GW. Note that GW living costs are prob more expensive in reality than the number the school provides but still, it's already in DC and you can network your butt off while there + people are familiar with GW kids.

I would still pick UVA overall though. There's a real chance you change your mind and want big law, especially for a period of time before trying to go to USAO. UVA does very well in DC as well. Anecdotal but you don't seem to see nearly as many Vandy ppl around.

[trebekismyhero]

UVA

[decimalsanddollars]

+1 to UVA. Much better placement in DC and high-tier PI work than the other schools. Your strategy of going to Vandy, working in Nashville, and then going to DC later is probably not going to work because you won't make enough money there in their version of biglaw to leave debt-free in a short time frame. Vandy with money would only change the calculus if you were looking to do biglaw anywhere, but even then UVA would be a better choice.

[bciara96]

If you absolutely must go this year, then UVA > throwing yourself at the mercy of LRAP/PSLF is probably your best bet, both financially and in terms of career possibilities. You need to be 100% committed to public interest before you pull the trigger on this.

What do you mean by "you need to be 100% committed to public interest before you pull the trigger on this". Also by "this" do you mean UVA?

Vandy is a fine school at that price but it will be substantially harder to get back to Virginia/DC from there, and it's not like you can just service $139k on a PD salary without really feeling the pinch.

If I didn't care about getting back to DC/Virginia, would Vanderbilt be the better option? I'm concerned about taking on so much debt (at UVA) but also about closing myself off to opportunities.

Thanks!

[bciara96]

Your strategy of going to Vandy, working in Nashville, and then going to DC later is probably not going to work because you won't make enough money there in their version of biglaw to leave debt-free in a short time frame.

When I said work for a couple years in Tennessee and then move to DC, I didn't mean that I'd be debt free or that I'd want to work those couple of years in Big Law. If I end up changing my mind and decide to go into Big Law anyway, then fine, but if my interest is still in criminal law, I'd stick with that, regardless of the debt. So criminal law (defense or prosecution, whatever it ends up being) in Tennessee and then switching to DC/Virginia.

[cavalier1138]

What do you mean by "you need to be 100% committed to public interest before you pull the trigger on this". Also by "this" do you mean UVA?

They're saying that this path (for you, yes, it's UVA) involves taking on the full cost of attendance in debt and understanding that you won't actually be paying it off. You'll be making income-based payments on the loans, supplemented by UVA's LRAP, and then relying on PSLF for total loan forgiveness.

So if you decide that you aren't interested in public interest, you'll just be saddled with about $300k in debt and no PSLF or LRAP to rely on, which will require either biglaw or income-based payments for 25 years (plus a potential tax bomb). That's why they're saying you need to be 100% committed to the PI career track before going to UVA at sticker.

[bciara96]

That's why they're saying you need to be 100% committed to the PI career track before going to UVA at sticker.

Okay thank you! So if I wasn't 100% committed to public interest, that would mean pick GW or Vandy?

[bciara96]

UVA

Can I ask what makes you say UVA?

[trebekismyhero]

UVA

Can I ask what makes you say UVA?

As others have mentioned, it will put you in the best position to get the job you want in DC/NoVa

[bciara96]

Okay actually, ignore the UVA option because I really don’t think I’ll go there without some sort of scholarship.

Does Vanderbilt’s rank/employment ability (for a bit more money) outweigh the convenience of going to GW where I’ll already be physically located where I want to practice?

Job interest is criminal law with potential to go to a private firm or some sort of federal prosecution/defense opportunity.