COA Calculator and Loan Payment Calculator Forum

[Yardbird]

There is very cool, bookmarked and thanks for this!

One note I have though: there is absolutely no way that Penn COA will ever come out higher than NYU's in this universe, practically speaking. I think the fact that you took everything off of Penn's website (which are substantially higher than what the typical student would practically spend) and yet revised NYU's figures downward to come into line with other area schools leaves a distorted comparison there.

Other than that, very nice

I adjusted NYU to Columbia's estimate. There was nothing to compare Penn to unfortunately.

My hope is that more current students will reply to my request in this thread so I have more accurate numbers than the school estimates:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=208360

[JamesDean1955]

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[Yardbird]

What line of work were you in before deciding on law school SOJ? Finance/accounting?

I love financial modeling . Wish I had the opportunities to pursue a sweet finance career doing mostly that.

I graduate from undergrad next month...so zero work?

[Rahviveh]

I'm confoosed.

[Yardbird]

I'm confoosed.

about...?

[Yardbird]

I am running a survey to get more accurate COL numbers. If you are a current law student, please fill it out:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=208360

[Yardbird]

UPDATE:
v. 1.50: Fixed an error in the dependency status based calculations. Added section on COA tab to enter in COL if you know it (below the main calculator) and a question that will switch between school based projections and your actual COL).

[digifly]

Bookmarked, awesome stuff. Kind of scares me, though! haha

[Yardbird]

Bookmarked, awesome stuff. Kind of scares me, though! haha

Starting to regret the Pavilion? =P

[one_by_one]

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[Yardbird]

There is very cool, bookmarked and thanks for this!

One note I have though: there is absolutely no way that Penn COA will ever come out higher than NYU's in this universe, practically speaking. I think the fact that you took everything off of Penn's website (which are substantially higher than what the typical student would practically spend) and yet revised NYU's figures downward to come into line with other area schools leaves a distorted comparison there.

Other than that, very nice

I adjusted NYU to Columbia's estimate. There was nothing to compare Penn to unfortunately.

Housing at/near NYU is definitely more expensive than at/near Columbia (where most students live in subsidized university apartments), though. So... that's something to remember.

The purpose of this spreadsheet is to find the average in a locale. NYU's area is of course more expensive but this calculator is assuming people are looking to minimize COL. From my survey, it's looking like the COL is spot on for NYU and overestimates what Columbia students are paying.

My survey is also showing people eat out at all law schools...A LOT.

[JamesDean1955]

Yeah I can't imagine I'll have much time to cook lol. But I guess if you're a master chef and been doing it for so long its second nature then it would be no big deal

[NoodleyOne]

Yeah I can't imagine I'll have much time to cook lol. But I guess if you're a master chef and been doing it for so long its second nature then it would be no big deal

I really don't think it's that bad. Crockpot + microwave and you shouldn't have to eat out much.

[062914123]

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[rebexness]

this spreadsheet is awesome, thanks so much for the effort/time you put in to it

Seriously, this x infinity.

[SportsFan]

There is very cool, bookmarked and thanks for this!

One note I have though: there is absolutely no way that Penn COA will ever come out higher than NYU's in this universe, practically speaking. I think the fact that you took everything off of Penn's website (which are substantially higher than what the typical student would practically spend) and yet revised NYU's figures downward to come into line with other area schools leaves a distorted comparison there.

Other than that, very nice

I adjusted NYU to Columbia's estimate. There was nothing to compare Penn to unfortunately.

Housing at/near NYU is definitely more expensive than at/near Columbia (where most students live in subsidized university apartments), though. So... that's something to remember.

The purpose of this spreadsheet is to find the average in a locale. NYU's area is of course more expensive but this calculator is assuming people are looking to minimize COL. From my survey, it's looking like the COL is spot on for NYU and overestimates what Columbia students are paying.

My survey is also showing people eat out at all law schools...A LOT.

I definitely do, especially when finals get near. Not enough time to go home for lunch, and need the time at night to study/outline.

That said, most law schools have plenty of free food (especially at lunch).

[run26.2]

This presents the absolute staggering reality of going to law school without a scholarship. $300K in principle for those that borrow everything. Wow.

[one_by_one]

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[Rahviveh]

Anyone have a good law school COL budgeting spreadsheet?

[bizzybone1313]

You should sell this or something. This is pretty cool. You should also e-mail it to all of the T-14 just to show them how utterly ridiculous tuition prices are.

[ph5354a]

This is amazing. Is there anyway to input existing UG loans into this, to factor those into the payoff calculator?

[Yardbird]

This is amazing. Is there anyway to input existing UG loans into this, to factor those into the payoff calculator?

I'll be adding that in the next update. I figured we can all worry about law school loans first and then factor in undergrad. The problem with undergrad loans is K-JD kids dont enter repayment until after law school while everyone else enters repayment before law school and then go back into deferment in law school and then repayment again after (has different rules for capitalization/accruing interest and the grace period stuff changes).

In any case, the undergrad loans will be in deferment in school, so the difference in how much you take out for law school should be the primary basis of comparison.


ON ANOTHER NOTE:
If people could post here or send me messages when the following law schools update tuition for 2013-2014, I would appreciate it (UVA just did this week):

Columbia
Chicago
NYU
Penn
Berkeley
Michigan
Northwestern
Cornell
GULC
UCLA
USC
Minnesota
WashU
Alabama
Emory
Notre Dame
IU-Bloomington
U of Washington
ASU
BC


If no one updates me, I'll be updating tuition numbers on weekly basis as needed. Once I have more COL data from my survey, I will be REPLACING the school estimates with the average of current students so a more accurate estimate might be given. For some schools, this will be less than the school estimate. For some it might be a little more.

[Yardbird]

Anyone have a good law school COL budgeting spreadsheet?

I technically have one that I haven't posted, what exactly are you looking for?

[Rahviveh]

Anyone have a good law school COL budgeting spreadsheet?

I technically have one that I haven't posted, what exactly are you looking for?

Idk just something that will help me stay within target for a certain amount for the year or semester/quarter, budgeting food, entertainment, haircuts, etc. I guess I could try Quicken

[run26.2]

My survey is also showing people eat out at all law schools...A LOT.

Your survey doesn't ask that, unless I looked at a different one. Funny enough, I ate out much more frequently in law school than I do now that I'm working, mainly for social reasons. Maybe law students could consider gathering at residences for weekly dinners where everyone chips in $5 in lieu of eating out so much.