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Knowing your parents are going to pay for your law school education, would you take a 50% scholarship at UIUC or have your parents foot the bill for full tuition at Northwestern?

Just want to get some thoughts here.

For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

ETA: If your parents are rich enough to pay for law school, I don't think it's going to be THAT big of a deal to them, right?

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

It seems like an easy decision, especially since living in Chicago >>>>> living in Champaign, but I feel bad. They can spare the money... but I still feel bad.

IGotMy170 wrote:

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

It seems like an easy decision, especially since living in Chicago >>>>> living in Champaign, but I feel bad. They can spare the money... but I still feel bad.

Fair enough. Why do you feel bad?

Guess the question hinges upon whether the money your parents would be using is disposable or a sacrifice for your benefit. If it is the former, then it is not really a moral issue. If it is the latter, you need to really consider the options and the cost/benefit of attending NU over UIUC.

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

ETA: If your parents are rich enough to pay for law school, I don't think it's going to be THAT big of a deal to them, right?

Doctor/Nuclear engineer combo. They got the cheddar.

For starters, it would depend on just how wealthy the 'rents were.

Could they drop 150k without taking out of significant retirement funds and etc? Do they have that much in cash/easily liquidated assets?

Or.... are they just such great people that they're going to do it even though they'd be retiring 5 years later?

Obviously there's points in between but those two scenarios would be very, very different in terms of how I'd personally feel about it. If it really pricks your conscience then take NU and foot the bill yourself. Accept generous gift/trip from parents. I'd pass on U of I personally. But.... depends on your career plans, as they say.

ETA: scooped. you guys type fast

IGotMy170 wrote:

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

ETA: If your parents are rich enough to pay for law school, I don't think it's going to be THAT big of a deal to them, right?

Doctor/Nuclear engineer combo. They got the cheddar.

Then Northwestern. Case closed. If you feel that bad about it, pay them back when you get a good job.

NZA wrote:

IGotMy170 wrote:

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

It seems like an easy decision, especially since living in Chicago >>>>> living in Champaign, but I feel bad. They can spare the money... but I still feel bad.

Fair enough. Why do you feel bad?

I don't like to mooch. Nor do I like that I am handed things while most people aren't. That being said, turning down a couple hundred thousand is easier said than done.

IGotMy170 wrote:

NZA wrote:

IGotMy170 wrote:

NZA wrote:For realz?

Norfwestern, broham.

It seems like an easy decision, especially since living in Chicago >>>>> living in Champaign, but I feel bad. They can spare the money... but I still feel bad.

Fair enough. Why do you feel bad?

I don't like to mooch. Nor do I like that I am handed things while most people aren't. That being said, turning down a couple hundred thousand is easier said than done.

Turn it down if you'd feel bad about it. Tell them to open up a charity in your name and put philanthropist on your resume. Mostly kidding. Kind of.

I do like the suggestion to just pay them back when I am established and can afford to. In this economy, that isn't a certainty, but it is of course the objective.

I guess I could trick myself into thinking they would actually take it. My parents don't spend money on themselves. I've seen their portfolios, yet they drive around POS's, have crummy furniture, don't travel, work hard.

Absolutely Northwestern. If you feel that guilty about it take out loans and pay for law school yourself like everyone else

Ludovico Technique wrote:Absolutely Northwestern. If you feel that guilty about it take out loans and pay for law school yourself like everyone else

When I was 18, I went out and bought a $2,000 TV for myself out of my own money for my own apartment. My parents found out about it and deposited the money into my checking account.

I feel stupid whining about having the greatest parents I could hope for, but I do feel bad. Seriously. I doubt they'd even let me go into debt like that. My Dad checks my credit. I already know this.

If you really feel bad, be honest with them about what each of your options will cost, and if they're still willing to pay for NU then go for it.

#humblebrag

*edit*

Northwestern without a doubt.

How is this even a question? I would kill for an NU acceptance right now!

The way I see it, you got 2 options to be morally sound:

1) Finance your own education (i.e. take out loans, defer admission to go make some money or something)
2) Pay back your parents, with interest, after you get biglaw out of NU

Besides, how bad would you feel when you got out of UIUC with no job and have to move back in with the parents?

If you feel that bad, go to Northwestern, ask your parents to pay half, pay the other half yourself with loans.

Problem solved.

*edit*

I appreciate all of the responses. I was leaning a certain way before I started this thread but now I feel better about leaning that way.

I'm going to explain to them I'll pay them back, but I think I need to take the best opportunity for me knowing the money is trivial to them at this point, but a better school could end up being pivotal to me.

IGotMy170 wrote: I don't like to mooch. Nor do I like that I am handed things while most people aren't. That being said, turning down a couple hundred thousand is easier said than done.

You don't really get a choice in that, in fact, it's already been done. You have been handed things while most people haven't.

Your parents seem like incredible people. They probably grew up wanting to do nothing more than have children and provide for them so that they could live life without pain, or worry, or struggle. I wouldn't deny them the opportunity to live out that dream. Talk to them about it, thank them for it, and realize that you are extremely luckier than 99% of the rest of the world.

Yeah take the help and pay it forward when you have a family

Sounds like you have fantastic parents. Have the conversation you're having here with them. Be honest with them about how you're feeling. Tell them about your options. I'm sure they'd love to be involved.

NZA wrote:If you feel that bad, go to Northwestern, ask your parents to pay half, pay the other half yourself with loans.

Problem solved.

How is this not completely apparent to the OP. Exactly what I was going to say. I think he is just looking for validation that he should allow his parents to pay full sticker at NU because he doesn't want to take any loans out.