Michigan vs. Texas Forum

[Tls1217177]

Michigan with $
Texas with $$$

[StylinNProfilin]

Where are you from/have ties?

[Tls1217177]

I grew up all over (abroad and in the states), so I don't really consider myself from anywhere.

[TripTrip]

These options would be easier to understand if you reversed the data. Grab the full cost of attendance (including COL) from LST then subtract the scholarship amounts so you can see the net COA of each school.

[Tls1217177]

These options would be easier to understand if you reversed the data. Grab the full cost of attendance (including COL) from LST then subtract the scholarship amounts so you can see the net COA of each school.

[BigZuck]

Here it is...thanks for the advice

Based on LST
University of Michigan - my COA is $213,687
Washington University in St. Louis - my COA is $140,710 (I feel this may be an inflated estimate...my personal prediction had me at about $115K)
University of Texas - my COA is $126,638
University of Minnesota - my COA is $125,753
Washington and Lee - my COA is $101,825 (again this seems really high considering I have a full scholarship and cannot imagine needing $34K/year to live off of when apartments in the area cost $400-$500/month)

These options would be easier to understand if you reversed the data. Grab the full cost of attendance (including COL) from LST then subtract the scholarship amounts so you can see the net COA of each school.

I think the best way to do this is to go to each schools website and look up cost of attendance and then plug all that and the scholarships into the Georgetown calculator (just google Georgetown law calculator and you should find it). That will factor in tuition increases and interest and all that fun stuff.

Washington and Lee is definitely an overestimation but still I wouldn't go there if I were you. Honestly none of those sound too appealing, I guess gun to my head I would choose WUSTL. You have ties to the Midwest and I think your COA there would be around 100K and you should hopefully be able to negotiate that scholarship up, namely with that UT offer. If you can squeeze maybe 15K-30K more out of them that sounds pretty good.

UT is probably your best "bang for your buck" although still pretty pricey and without Texas ties and a strong desire to work in Texas I think that's out. Michigan is just too expensive, although in a vacuum that is the best school and makes the most sense for you given your ties to the state. I just don't think anyone should pay more than about 150K to go there.

[kryptik]

Comes down to how much $$$ is it worth to the OP to potentially have more diverse geographic employment options after school.

If you want to live in Texas UT is the obvious choice.

The big question to mull over would be "are the outcomes and locations for Michigan worth $90k more in debt to me?"

[Tls1217177]

...

[wannabelawstudent]

OP The reason why your COA estimates are so high is because LST computes interest rates in the 3 year total. So if it says the total cost is 250k, keep in mind that's with 2 years of 7% interest added in.

[dr123]

how much UG debt do you have?

[Tls1217177]

Thanks! That makes sense

OP The reason why your COA estimates are so high is because LST computes intereste rates in the 4 year total. So if it says the total cost is 250k, keep in mind that's with 2 years of 7% interest added in.

[dr123]

Also, protip: live in Ypsi. It's way cheaper.

[Law Sauce]

What is more important to me is that I don't have an outrageous amount of debt (or at least have the ability to pay it off) and that I am not forced into a job I have no interest in.

Welcome to Law. You are going to need Biglaw at least for a few year from almost all of these schools to pay down debt; so yes, you are probably going to be forced into a job that you have no interest in; at least for a while. Michigan's LRAP is good enough to be a possible way out but that is risky

[Tls1217177]

I voted TX btw because you may be able to get the debt to a manageable level (~100 or so which is possible without Biglaw (not sure if it still is adding UG debt in)) and you still get a good shot at TX biglaw.[/quote]

[Law Sauce]

I know hypothetical questions suck...but if WUSTL upped my scholly to a full ride, should I forget everything/everyone else and do it?

[

It is still not an obvious choice because of the better chances at Biglaw from Michigan and TX. Personally, Yes, I'd take the full ride at WUStl to be free of the debt and be able to do whatever I wanted to do (while still getting the chance at biglaw).

[Tls1217177]

..

[Tls1217177]

Thanks to everyone for your input! If you have any other advice, please feel free to post or pm

[rad lulz]

Okay, so based on each school's COA and the Georgetown Law Calculator -
University of Michigan - COA $211,772
Washington University in St. Louis -COA $124,995
University of Texas - COA $142,768
University of Minnesota - COA $102,000
Washington and Lee University - COA $69,601

None of the above

[Moultdog]

Warning: If you visit Austin, you will never want to leave. This is the best place to live in the country. I'm from California with almost no Texas ties, and one weekend here completely sold me on UT, this city, and the state in general. Never mind that it's been in the 80s the last week while the whole north is freezing out.

[jas1503]

Michigan or Texas


Lake-effect snow or Austin.

[Brixton]

Michigan or Texas


Lake-effect snow or Austin.

Gotta go with TX.

[DoveBodyWash]

Texas>Michigan>>>>>>>>>>>>W&L>UMN/WUSTL

[alwayssunnyinfl]

Texas>Michigan>>>>>>>>>>>>W&L>UMN/WUSTL

Benedict.

[romothesavior]

Okay, so based on each school's COA and the Georgetown Law Calculator -
University of Michigan - COA $211,772
Washington University in St. Louis -COA $124,995
University of Texas - COA $142,768
University of Minnesota - COA $102,000
Washington and Lee University - COA $69,601

None of the above

Dude, you really have gone over the top. $100,000 in law school debt is not unmanageable.

OP, have you tried negotiating yet? I imagine you could get more money from some of these schools. I know WUSTL in particular has been pretty big on scholarship increases this year. It's conceivable you could get that under $100k. You could probably then use that to negotiate other schools down.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

rad law has jumped the bandwagon.