Top Law Schools

I am trying to decide between these three schools. I will be visiting each to get a better feel for the schools, but each school provides value to me and I am torn between all three.

BC has damn good placement when compared to the rest but I am not getting any aid from the school (not yet at least. I don't see that changing in the future though). Boston is also a wonderful place to be and I would not mind ending up in Boston.

Minnesota has good prestige but terrible placement. I am pretty sure if I would like to live in Minneapolis or Minnesota for that matter. Everyone I speak to though tells me to go to Minnesota both due to prestige and the fact that I can transfer out. I am getting $20K/year scholarship ( I think the GPA stipulation is like 2.3 or something, but I hear they are lenient) for out of state Tuition.

IUB has terrible placement and I know I am also sure that I would not like to live anywhere in Indiana. However, they are providing me with $120K scholarship so I will be attending the law school for virtually free. Maybe having 0 debt will allow me to get a low paying job and be in the same boat as a BC big law job (because I'll be paying virtually 200K back in debt).

I am from Cali and would love to come back here as well. In the end though, my biggest priority is going to a school that will provide me with a good job, both short and long term. Will carry prestige and lastly, will provide mobility. If Minn/ IUB ends up being the best choice, I am ok with living in the area for a few years after graduation and then eventually finding a way out to a more desirable location.

Any thoughts? What would you do? Is BC worth sticker? is it that much better than Minn?

Any comments or suggestions?

Rough choices there. From what I have read they all have similar national placement, and you have to be top 25% to even consider moving out of your area.
IUB actually places really well in Chicago, though, so if that city piques your interest then that would be my choice (great scholly offer there.)

Any reason UC-Davis isn't on your list?

alexonfyre wrote:Rough choices there. From what I have read they all have similar national placement, and you have to be top 25% to even consider moving out of your area.
IUB actually places really well in Chicago, though, so if that city piques your interest then that would be my choice (great scholly offer there.)

Any reason UC-Davis isn't on your list?

I got Waitlisted at UC Davis - I thought I would easily get in to Davis. From what I hear though, Davis places decent in norcal but doesnt carry any prestige beyond that. I am in at Hastings, but I am not considering it given the high cost when compared to my current options. I am also waitlisted at Michigan - surprisingly, and if they take me off the waitlist, I would drop the rest of the colleges to go there (who wouldnt?).

IUB was less than 10% for big law, which really sucks given its current ranking. I know chicago is a market for IUB - but I think it would be tough to break into. Otherwise, I would love to be in Chicago as well!

Don't buy into the myth that IU places well in Chicago. If you don't count Chicago, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, WashU, and all the Ivy Kids trying to get Chicago, then yes, IU places well in Chicago.

athenian wrote:Don't buy into the myth that IU places well in Chicago. If you don't count Chicago, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, WashU, and all the Ivy Kids trying to get Chicago, then yes, IU places well in Chicago.

LOL I thought the same

athenian wrote:Don't buy into the myth that IU places well in Chicago. If you don't count Chicago, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, WashU, and all the Ivy Kids trying to get Chicago, then yes, IU places well in Chicago.

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

toptwin wrote:I am trying to decide between these three schools. I will be visiting each to get a better feel for the schools, but each school provides value to me and I am torn between all three.

BC has damn good placement when compared to the rest but I am not getting any aid from the school (not yet at least. I don't see that changing in the future though). Boston is also a wonderful place to be and I would not mind ending up in Boston.

Minnesota has good prestige but terrible placement. I am pretty sure if I would like to live in Minneapolis or Minnesota for that matter. Everyone I speak to though tells me to go to Minnesota both due to prestige and the fact that I can transfer out. I am getting $20K/year scholarship ( I think the GPA stipulation is like 2.3 or something, but I hear they are lenient) for out of state Tuition.

IUB has terrible placement and I know I am also sure that I would not like to live anywhere in Indiana. However, they are providing me with $120K scholarship so I will be attending the law school for virtually free. Maybe having 0 debt will allow me to get a low paying job and be in the same boat as a BC big law job (because I'll be paying virtually 200K back in debt).

I am from Cali and would love to come back here as well. In the end though, my biggest priority is going to a school that will provide me with a good job, both short and long term. Will carry prestige and lastly, will provide mobility. If Minn/ IUB ends up being the best choice, I am ok with living in the area for a few years after graduation and then eventually finding a way out to a more desirable location.

Any thoughts? What would you do? Is BC worth sticker? is it that much better than Minn?

It's a tough decision you have. I wouldn't buy into the hype of IUB's rise in the rankings. If you don't think you could enjoy living in Indiana, it's a pretty hard sell to go there. I'm comparing similar options, and as an urban East-Coaster, I find the Minneapolis area as a much easier sell as somewhere I could hang around awhile. It's a legit city. I know it's hard to to turn down a full scholarship, but honestly I would not go to a school with primarily regional placement if I could not see myself actually living in the region -- even if it meant turning down a full ride. BC is hard to justify at full price, especially if you want to make it back to California. I've heard of BU having some connections to California -- not sure about BC. Really, I think to pay sticker, generally the school should be a highly desirable choice that has good placement in the region of your preference.

IUb placed 12 people CO 2009 into Chicago out of 200+. Thats not very good placement. I'm beginning to get the feeling that if you dont end up in Indy have fun with a shitlaw job in some random place.