Harvard vs. USC Frank Rothman Schoalrship Forum

[smorgs2010]

The gist of the Rothman is that it's a full ride, plus a guaranteed 1L job at Skadden Arps (details here: http://weblaw.usc.edu/how/jd/rothman/details.cfm).

I realize many factors are at play here, but I just became a finalist and I would love to hear some peoples' thoughts.

I have not received the scholarship yet - I have a 1 in 5 chance - but I feel bad accepting their interview invitation (they fly you out to LA and everything) if I wouldn't actually take the scholarship. At the moment, I'm really not sure. Here are some details of note for my particular situation:

• I'm from California, and my parents live in LA, where they are both practicing lawyers;
• I went to Harvard for undergrad and adored it;
• I plan to settle down in Texas or California (fiance is from TX);
• I'm definitely open to biglaw, BUT, I do also have a real interest in clerkships, as well as public interest law, particularly nutrition/public health related things (indecisive much? I know. I'm sorry!);
• I would definitely have to take out loans to finance Harvard;
• I still might get into Stanford (which would also require self-financing).

Thanks for your input! This is so unexpected - my stomach is in knots. I really don't want to mislead USC.

#firstworldproblems

[ph14]

The gist of the Rothman is that it's a full ride, plus a guaranteed 1L job at Skadden Arps (details here: http://weblaw.usc.edu/how/jd/rothman/details.cfm).

I realize many factors are at play here, but I just became a finalist and I would love to hear some peoples' thoughts.

I have not received the scholarship yet - I have a 1 in 5 chance - but I feel bad accepting their interview invitation (they fly you out to LA and everything) if I wouldn't actually take the scholarship. At the moment, I'm really not sure. Here are some details of note for my particular situation:

• I'm from California, and my parents live in LA, where they are both practicing lawyers;
• I went to Harvard for undergrad and adored it;
• I plan to settle down in Texas or California (fiance is from TX);
• I'm definitely open to biglaw, BUT, I do also have a real interest in clerkships, as well as public interest law, particularly nutrition/public health related things (indecisive much? I know. I'm sorry!);
• I would definitely have to take out loans to finance Harvard;
• I still might get into Stanford (which would also require self-financing).

Thanks for your input! This is so unexpected - my stomach is in knots. I really don't want to mislead USC.

#firstworldproblems

Don't worry about "misleading" USC. They know what they are doing. And it's not uncommon for someone to turn down the Rothman. I know my cycle someone on TLS did just that in favor of Stanford. It's hard to pick between the two, but I just wanted to assure your conscience that you should not in any way whatsoever feel bad about accepting the invitation to fly down to USC to interview for the scholarship.

[goden]

I would definitely do the interview. What do you have to lose? I would probably take the Rothman over everything except possibly HYS with $$$.

[John_rizzy_rawls]

FWIW, I'm an SC undergrad and have a buddy at Gould with the Rothman. He absolutely loves it. So whether you're sure you want it or not there's nothing wrong with interviewing for it. Keeping all your options open at this point is a good idea.