Grab Penn $$ and run or wait a year to ED Chicago? Forum

[niederbomb]

I think having an extra year of WE post-negative incident, waiting for the economy to improve, and picking a school that has a higher NLJ 250 placement AND superior public interest options/LRAP is well worth the wait. I also want to work in Asia/Singapore, and school name is a huge deal when it comes to portability.

Regardless of your retake, I think it's totally worth it to weather the economic storm/get 1 more year WE (& possibly mitigate those negatives). You have a decent shot at U of C ED & would likely have results for other schools that are at least as good as the ones you have right now.

Is Chicago at sticker worth more than Penn with 58K (+ unknown need-based)?

It's about the same - TBH, really depends on your personal preference. For me, yes, it would be worth more than 58k Penn. (Chicago environment vs. Philadelphia, Penn students don't have a shot at the markets U of C would open up, international recognition, etc.)

My main hesitation is that my current and projected WE is probably not what top schools are used to, and I don't see that changing. My EC's in UG were pretty decent; however, the longer I'm out, the more the effect fades. My work in Asia is somewhat above English teaching but significantly below the big-shot Fortune 500/Fulbright, etc. experience many of my peers applying to the same schools are accumulating. With my bad moral record, useless major (History), undergraduate institution (Christian college), and lack of connections, I don't see that changing anytime soon. I could return to the USA and wait tables for a year (lulz). Realistically, I'm not leaving Asia till I land a game-changer (like attending an Ivy League law school).

Basically, if I can't do anything significant in the next year, won't I be in a worse position than than I am now? I don't want to strike out at U of C ED next year, then somehow not get Penn again, and end up holding a small bag with UCLA in it.

One thing I could do is try to get a job with a nonprofit teaching English or sustainable farming to "minorities" in Yunnan Province (China) or Tibet. And then pick up a Diploma for Graduates from the External London School of Economics on the side (you know, to connect to U of C's "Law and Economics").

I don't know if that kind of experience is "significant" enough for top schools for someone 4 years out of college, but I honestly can't think of anything better at the moment.

And, of course, there's always the chance that a June retake could yield a 166 or something.

Seriously, any advice is much appreciated. I'm running out of time to decide.

[Aberzombie1892]

I say go with Penn unless you have a real reason waiting beyond just wanting to have a shot at a "better" school. If your goal high profile job prospects, Penn is only marginally worse than HYSCC. I'm unsure as to why you would pay full price for Chicago when you have about $60K at Penn.

[83947368]

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[niederbomb]

Just got a ton of need-based aid from Penn!!!

I guess they made my decision for me. $120K COA debt is probably serviceable on a salary of $50,000/year, providing one lives like a pauper and gets regular raises, should it come to that.

I like the east coast better anyhow, even though it's hard to give up the prospect of Chicago prestige. Thanks everyone!