Vandy (200k) vs UVA (300k) Forum

[D3A]

Goals are generic biglaw, maybe a federal clerkship, and to eventually work for the federal government as an AUSA.

[VirginiaFan]

Add retake as an option so you get honest results, not just what you want to hear.

Unless you're independently wealthy, both options are sketchy.

[trebekismyhero]

What are your stats? Have you tried to leverage your Vandy scholarship into any money at UVA? Agree that retake probably would be best. If you are absolutely going to go to one of these probably UVA since you should be able to get big law, whereas Vandy is closer to a toss up. If you can get more money from Vandy then that might change the decision

[crazywafflez]

If you have to go now, I'd probs take UVA as it secures big law.
Vandy is a great school. I'd be close to comfortable for it at that price but don't think I could pull the trigger unless it were around 150kish. I say that since a number of the decent firms in Nashville pay 150k+ and I do believe the median student at Vandy can secure Butler Snow and possibly Bradley or Waller. It might be more difficult to get Baker or Bass without being slightly further up, but I am not sure.
My rule of thumb is generally take out as much as your expected first year salary would be. You're a bit above in both UVA and Vandy. I'd work towards getting those total numbers down, if you can.

[VirginiaFan]

If you have to go now, I'd probs take UVA as it secures big law.
Vandy is a great school. I'd be close to comfortable for it at that price but don't think I could pull the trigger unless it were around 150kish. I say that since a number of the decent firms in Nashville pay 150k+ and I do believe the median student at Vandy can secure Butler Snow and possibly Bradley or Waller. It might be more difficult to get Baker or Bass without being slightly further up, but I am not sure.
My rule of thumb is generally take out as much as your expected first year salary would be. You're a bit above in both UVA and Vandy. I'd work towards getting those total numbers down, if you can.

For context, I went to UVA on a Dillard and got biglaw and STILL sort of regret it. Don't take on that much debt if there's any possible alternative (like retaking).

[existentialcrisis]

I don't like either of these options, especially as the economy seems more uncertain.

Also, I just made another post about this, but it's not that I necessarily doubt you per se, but the number of 0Ls that want to be an AUSA is staggering.

[CanadianWolf]

Goals are generic biglaw, maybe a federal clerkship, and to eventually work for the federal government as an AUSA.

If those are your only two choices, get an MBA.

[D3A]

If you have to go now, I'd probs take UVA as it secures big law.
Vandy is a great school. I'd be close to comfortable for it at that price but don't think I could pull the trigger unless it were around 150kish. I say that since a number of the decent firms in Nashville pay 150k+ and I do believe the median student at Vandy can secure Butler Snow and possibly Bradley or Waller. It might be more difficult to get Baker or Bass without being slightly further up, but I am not sure.
My rule of thumb is generally take out as much as your expected first year salary would be. You're a bit above in both UVA and Vandy. I'd work towards getting those total numbers down, if you can.

For context, I went to UVA on a Dillard and got biglaw and STILL sort of regret it. Don't take on that much debt if there's any possible alternative (like retaking).

I wish a retake would make a difference but my LSAT is a 178 so that is unlikely to help. GPA is a 3.5ish

[D3A]

What are your stats? Have you tried to leverage your Vandy scholarship into any money at UVA? Agree that retake probably would be best. If you are absolutely going to go to one of these probably UVA since you should be able to get big law, whereas Vandy is closer to a toss up. If you can get more money from Vandy then that might change the decision

Tried to negotiate and got turned down. Sadly, I don't think a retake will be of any value.

[existentialcrisis]

If you have to go now, I'd probs take UVA as it secures big law.
Vandy is a great school. I'd be close to comfortable for it at that price but don't think I could pull the trigger unless it were around 150kish. I say that since a number of the decent firms in Nashville pay 150k+ and I do believe the median student at Vandy can secure Butler Snow and possibly Bradley or Waller. It might be more difficult to get Baker or Bass without being slightly further up, but I am not sure.
My rule of thumb is generally take out as much as your expected first year salary would be. You're a bit above in both UVA and Vandy. I'd work towards getting those total numbers down, if you can.

For context, I went to UVA on a Dillard and got biglaw and STILL sort of regret it. Don't take on that much debt if there's any possible alternative (like retaking).

I wish a retake would make a difference but my LSAT is a 178 so that is unlikely to help. GPA is a 3.5ish

I think you need to reapply to the whole T14 then, and write a lot of "why X" essays.

With your stats you should have better options than this.

[trebekismyhero]

What are your stats? Have you tried to leverage your Vandy scholarship into any money at UVA? Agree that retake probably would be best. If you are absolutely going to go to one of these probably UVA since you should be able to get big law, whereas Vandy is closer to a toss up. If you can get more money from Vandy then that might change the decision

Tried to negotiate and got turned down. Sadly, I don't think a retake will be of any value.

When did you apply? And where else have you applied? With your stats you should have better options than just UVA at full price and Vandy with a small scholly

[D3A]

What are your stats? Have you tried to leverage your Vandy scholarship into any money at UVA? Agree that retake probably would be best. If you are absolutely going to go to one of these probably UVA since you should be able to get big law, whereas Vandy is closer to a toss up. If you can get more money from Vandy then that might change the decision

Tried to negotiate and got turned down. Sadly, I don't think a retake will be of any value.

When did you apply? And where else have you applied? With your stats you should have better options than just UVA at full price and Vandy with a small scholly

I applied in early October to the T20 with the exception of USC and UCLA since I have no desire to live on the west coast. I also have Washu at 170k COA, but that doesn't seem to be a better choice than Vandy since I would like to stay in the mid-Atlantic.