Vanderbilt ($$) vs. USC/UCLA ($$$) Forum

[bananasplitz]

This is a more difficult decision than the title suggests. I was hoping to leave LA for law school and return to CA for work (either LA or San Fran), but then I got more money to USC and UCLA than anywhere else.

I calculated the cost of attendance to be around 120k for USC/UCLA and around 145k for Vanderbilt.

I'm not too excited about staying in LA for another 3 years, but I will if it's necessary.

What would you do in my situation? (assuming these are the best offers I get)

[rad lulz]

If you want to live somewhere else, go get a job or something

Law school is not the time to do exploring and whatnot

That price is pushing the bounds of what I'd pay for USC/UCLA but I'd go there

[Dr. Dre]

Stay away from california. You don't want to be in that legal market.


Go to vandy

[bananasplitz]

If you want to live somewhere else, go get a job or something

Law school is not the time to do exploring and whatnot

That price is pushing the bounds of what I'd pay for USC/UCLA but I'd go there

Yeah I'm not really talking about exploring. I'm just thinking about the culture, environment, traffic, etc. I want to have a good time when I'm not studying.

[Dr. Dre]

I want to have a good time when I'm not studying.

Nashville has a better a nightlife than L.A. It is less expensive too and you get more bang for your buck.

[gaud]

I want to have a good time when I'm not studying.

Nashville has a better a nightlife than L.A. It is less expensive too and you get more bang for your buck.

It's also not in California.

[Dr. Dre]

I want to have a good time when I'm not studying.

Nashville has a better a nightlife than L.A. It is less expensive too and you get more bang for your buck.

It's also not in California.

Which is great!


ETA:

L.A doesn't compare http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDl5LrGYmJo

[eric922]

I want to have a good time when I'm not studying.

Nashville has a better a nightlife than L.A. It is less expensive too and you get more bang for your buck.

It's also not in California.

As someone who currently lives in TN I was tempted to support UCLA simply because it's not in Tennessee. However, I think Vanderbilt is almost too good a school to pass up. I know they are similarly ranked, but Vandy seems to be more prestigious.

[Redfactor]

.

[Dr. Dre]

but Vandy seems to be is more prestigious.

[eric922]

I think that has more to do with which region you're from.

That may be true. I know here in the South Vanderbilt is considered "the school." I think if you want to work in the South then you can't go wrong with Vanderbilt, because it is very highly respected here, likely more so than higher ranked schools. But then again if you want to work in California one day then UCLA may be the better call.

[bananasplitz]

I think that has more to do with which region you're from.

That may be true. I know here in the South Vanderbilt is considered "the school." I think if you want to work in the South then you can't go wrong with Vanderbilt, because it is very highly respected here, likely more so than higher ranked schools. But then again if you want to work in California one day then UCLA may be the better call.

Yeah, it must be a regional thing. You guys think that having an undergrad degree from an LA school would make a difference in my ability to leave California and come back to work?

[digifly]

With an LA undergrad degree, you should have no problem establishing that you have a "connection" to the region if probed by potential employers. If you choose Vanderbilt, you'll likely have to be more proactive about coming back to CA, but you aren't limiting your options.