URM 2015-2016 Cycle Thread Forum

[180kickflip]

I am officially going to Boalt!

Pretty happy with my call, but, after my visit, I will always have a soft spot (and wonder where I went wrong in my Darrow interview lol) for Michigan. Now I'm just trying to figure out housing, health care, parking/commuting, and relocating (epic road trip here we come!).

Does anyone see any glaring oversights with my COL estimate?

Splitting 1380/mo graduate family housing cost (includes utilities, internet, cable, and parking) = 700/mo= 8400/yr
Splitting 400/mo groceries= 2400/yr
1000/yr books
300/mo going out food/drinks/movies/etc. = 3600/yr
1000/yr travel = 3 (planned in advance and budget class) round trip flights to east coast
**Using medi-cal state insurance to waive SHIP student insurance
**All costs covered by savings, so no interest
= about 16k/yr = 48k total estimated COA

[Navrim]

Hey guys,

I wanted some input on a decision I am making. My choice right now is 90k at Michigan vs. 90k at Duke. Do either of these sound like good option as in is it worth it to take on so much debt? I s wanted to work in government after law school but with this amount of debt I fear that I will be forced to vie for big law for a couple of years.

[ert2sk]

Hey guys,

I wanted some input on a decision I am making. My choice right now is 90k at Michigan vs. 90k at Duke. Do either of these sound like good option as in is it worth it to take on so much debt? I s wanted to work in government after law school but with this amount of debt I fear that I will be forced to vie for big law for a couple of years.

I'm not sure about Duke, but Michigan's LRAP is fantastic! It makes PI/government careers a definite possibility, even if you're graduating with significant debt. Here's the link https://www.law.umich.edu/financialaid/ ... grams.aspx
in case you want to do more research on it. Depending on how much you make at your PI/government job, Michigan's LRAP could cover your ENTIRE loan payment per month if you make 55k or less. The cap is a salary of 88k, at which point you wouldn't qualify for benefits. But between 55k-88k, your coverage is provided at an income-based sliding scale. And then don't forget that through PSLF, your loans are discharged after ten years if you've worked in a qualifying position during that time. In short, at Michigan at least, there are ways for you to manage your debt if you decide to go the PI route. I'm sure though that Duke would have something similar, as it is another top ranked program.
(I'm also attending Michigan, so maybe I'll see you in the fall!)

[woc]

Removed.

[CAJOLER]

Given your interest to stay in Los Angeles -- get UCLA down below 100k and you're in a great spot. If not, try to get Duke to come down a bit. But if you're serious about LA (and California), go to UCLA. What about USC, Berk?

[woc]

Removed.

[CAJOLER]

Note - just saw that you haven't heard back from financial aid for M. Hmm. Do you have strong ties to LA? What kind of career are you interested in? If Michigan comes in with good scholarship, and you have strong ties to LA, I would say that's a defensible option. But that also depends on what you want to do. Any others have advice?

[woc]

Removed.

[CAJOLER]

Note - just saw that you haven't heard back from financial aid for M. Hmm. Do you have strong ties to LA? What kind of career are you interested in? If Michigan comes in with good scholarship, and you have strong ties to LA, I would say that's a defensible option. But that also depends on what you want to do. Any others have advice?

Um...ties as in contacts? No, most of my contacts are further down south. I'm interested in appellate work & IP law, but again, I'm open-minded. (Sorry these answers aren't so helpful.) I really appreciate the help!

Sorry for your quoting your other posts -- just saw your note not to quote. Ok, given that you don't have ties to LA, yet you want to end up in LA, I would still say UCLA is a fine option, especially if you want to go into IP law. Do you have an offer from USC? If so, show them UCLA's offer and then come back to UCLA with USC's (presumably) increased offer. Profit. Good luck! and congrats on your options!

[woc]

Removed.

[jnwa]

Given your interest to stay in Los Angeles -- get UCLA down below 100k and you're in a great spot. If not, try to get Duke to come down a bit. But if you're serious about LA (and California), go to UCLA. What about USC, Berk?

USC would be more expensive than UCLA & I didn't apply to Berkeley. Thanks for the input, though. UCLA probably is my best option, but I thought I'd see if anyone could help me justify Michigan.

I'll be at Michigan and although you dont know me my value to a school is between 250-300k so theres your justification for Mich.

On a serious not id think Duke plus ties would be enough to go back to LA as well as have a better shot at clerking and generic biglaw than UCLA if it doesnt work out.

[CAJOLER]

Given your interest to stay in Los Angeles -- get UCLA down below 100k and you're in a great spot. If not, try to get Duke to come down a bit. But if you're serious about LA (and California), go to UCLA. What about USC, Berk?

USC would be more expensive than UCLA & I didn't apply to Berkeley. Thanks for the input, though. UCLA probably is my best option, but I thought I'd see if anyone could help me justify Michigan.

I'll be at Michigan and although you dont know me my value to a school is between 250-300k so theres your justification for Mich.

On a serious not id think Duke plus ties would be enough to go back to LA as well as have a better shot at clerking and generic biglaw than UCLA if it doesnt work out.

I would agree with Duke plus ties in LA, but he/she doesn't have ties in LA. Which leads me to favor UCLA especially at the COA.

[beantheshadow]

Anybody apply to ASU this cycle with an LSAT above their 75th? I heard they have been pretty stingy this cycle with money; possibly because of their new downtown building. I will be applying next cycle and a would love to hear other people's results!

[Nolachicken]

Anybody apply to ASU this cycle with an LSAT above their 75th? I heard they have been pretty stingy this cycle with money; possibly because of their new downtown building. I will be applying next cycle and a would love to hear other people's results!

GPA >75% LSAT=75%

Out of state -$40,000 per year. I was interested in their Indian Studies program.

[beantheshadow]

Anybody apply to ASU this cycle with an LSAT above their 75th? I heard they have been pretty stingy this cycle with money; possibly because of their new downtown building. I will be applying next cycle and a would love to hear other people's results!

GPA >75% LSAT=75%

Out of state -$40,000 per year. I was interested in their Indian Studies program.

Wow, congrats! Are you going to accept it? Did you negotiate up to that?

[Nolachicken]

Anybody apply to ASU this cycle with an LSAT above their 75th? I heard they have been pretty stingy this cycle with money; possibly because of their new downtown building. I will be applying next cycle and a would love to hear other people's results!

GPA >75% LSAT=75%

Out of state -$40,000 per year. I was interested in their Indian Studies program.

Wow, congrats! Are you going to accept it? Did you negotiate up to that?

Thanks! I did not accept the offer. It was a really tough choice for me. I loved their program, but I had a couple of similar offers close to home. It was my initial offer, and I did not try to negotiate up.

[PrezRand]

Any URMs from TX?

[alpha kenny body]

I've been missing lately and it's because I've been living life and whatnot, yet I came in here to say I am still being held at HSCC. Y hasn't said anything since January, and I've been accepted everywhere else.

[jlet0314]

Is there a 2015-2016 urm in/out/wl thread yet?

[Nlawsing]

Is there a 2015-2016 urm in/out/wl thread yet?

I don't think so , Someone please make one!

[Iam3hunna]

Congrats to all so far. May the force be with you.

[DeanStrangJr]

I have an idea of what I want to do, but I'd like a second (and third or fourth) opinion...

Between these two
USC
Michigan - $165k COA

I want BigLaw. LA would be great. Chicago would be okay. Not crazy about NYC.
SO would eventually move to LA, but not Michigan.

Am I crazy for leaning towards USC over Michigan?

Also riding waitlists @ Chi, Col, NYU, Duke, UCLA

[jnwa]

I have an idea of what I want to do, but I'd like a second (and third or fourth) opinion...

Between these two
USC - $135k COA (loans)
Michigan - $165k COA

I want BigLaw. LA would be great. Chicago would be okay. Not crazy about NYC.
SO would eventually move to LA, but not Michigan.

Am I crazy for leaning towards USC over Michigan?

Also riding waitlists @ Chi, Col, NYU, Duke, UCLA

1st option is biglaw in CA. Would you rather get BL anywhere else including new York or a non-biglaw job in Cali. If the former id say Mich, latter id say USC.

[Budfox55]

I have an idea of what I want to do, but I'd like a second (and third or fourth) opinion...

Between these two
USC - $135k COA (loans)
Michigan - $165k COA

I want BigLaw. LA would be great. Chicago would be okay. Not crazy about NYC.
SO would eventually move to LA, but not Michigan.

Am I crazy for leaning towards USC over Michigan?

Also riding waitlists @ Chi, Col, NYU, Duke, UCLA

Do you have ties to LA? If yes, then I would for sure pick Michigan as you can leverage your ties to come back. I would only pick USC if you didn't have ties and you were LA biglaw or bust.

[Harvette]

Any post WL JS1 request here?