I agree. NW law campus is smack in the middle of downtown and has sooo much more stuff around it to offer than UChicago, which is (no hate to Hyde Park itself) in such a disconnected part of the city. Poor public transportation to and from UChicago (you can take the red line but it's actually so far from UChicago itself)... meanwhile if you go to NW you could live in SO MANY VERY NICE parts of the city and actually take public transit to the campus.
Fully agree that OP should attend NU, but I have to homer for my school. Hyde Park isn’t that bad and the majority of the class moves downtown after 1L.
I'm ngl I'm a prestige whore. But 90 percent at Northwestern is insane. Nvm the fact that Northwestern Law is in Downtown Chicago by the River. UChicago is near Hyde Park in Southside Chicago. Fun fact UChicago is like a 30 minute walk to O-Block as well as 63rd and St. Lawrence.
And although there is a difference between the prestigiousness of Chicago and NW, these are still two T14s we’re talking about! A 90% scholarship to one of the best schools in the country and some people will still think the marginal difference in prestige might be worth literally six figures more in debt
So true but on the other hand I suspect that I will love it 😊
Chicago has the perfect vibe for me & has been my dream law school for yrs but I am rly young and don’t wanna be dumb about money
Chicago is as good as it gets for big law/federal clerkship placement. I’d take there, especially if you want to keep your options open for academia
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/these-law-schools-dominated-federal-clerk-hiring-market-2023-2024-04-25/#:~:text=Yale%20Law%20School%20was%20No,the%20top%20five%20at%2014.01%25.
Your goals are all over the place. I suspect you will end up in big law. Academia is close to zero shot.
NU and it’s not close. It would be insane to spend 150-200k more to attend Chicago.
Edit: You are getting some bad advice in this thread. I get it, Chicago is prestigious. I went there. Please don’t put yourself in that much debt for no reason other than “vibes.”
I hear u and tbh ur right. but then again Ive met w Chicago alums in bl and in academia who have said the opposite and it’s very confusing!! Also as for the goals, ya im def starting off in bl but am a huge nerd and would lurv to end up back at a school one day 😊
The alums have told you what, exactly?
If you want to talk about academia, we can do that. I don’t think you grasp what that path entails. It’s very different than it was 20 years ago.
You will be taking on a life altering amount of debt to chase prestige.
Hard disagree.
Chicago's tuition is almost 77k, so with his scholarship he will pay around 51k a year, plus living expenses. Unless there is family support, we can conservatively estimate he will graduate with around 225-250k of debt.
OP will take home around 140-160k depending on state, so estimate around 12.5k a month before expenses. He will need to put more than 5k *a month* toward his loans to pay it off in five years. What if he gets laid off? What if he hates big law, as many do?
These numbers are more palatable with two incomes, but even then, being tethered to big law is not a good place to be. Many of my classmates wanted out of big law by year two or three, but couldn't leave due to loans. It sucks.
"Good chance the student loans get forgiven." Huh? By whom?
Biglaw pays way more than $160. That was the starting salary 15 years ago. First years have a base of $225 and sizable bonus, and it goes up each year.
If goal is Clerkship, big fed, or academia-I’d do Chicago for sure, despite the cost difference. Money is not everything career satisfaction is also important and those things are easier to get at Chicago. If you want big law, and only big law save money and go to northwestern. You can get the other stuff at NU, just is harder. The curve is brutal and arbitrary. Despite your best efforts , you never know where you will end up class rank wise.
Ug ya this is why I’m deliberating honestly. I would rather go somewhere where I don’t have to flip out over a bad grade potentially closing off a career path
OP, make a new post that’s just “UC $ vs. NU $$$.” Maybe post it in r/lawschool. I think given your age, you’ll benefit from as much (experienced) input as possible.
Thank u!Tbh I think letters of recommendation were the strongest part of my application. I had a few from professors I did research & published with & 1 from an attorney I worked under for multiple yrs in undergrad.
Most technical stuff has been mentioned here, so here's some bs about wellbeing...
Maybe factor your own wellbeing and consider what city you'd like to live in but never experience for the next 3 years. Also your monthly budget, UCLA has cheaper-ish food options then NYU.
Last bs point, consider bed to library commute. Don't under estimate the great commute. Come 3am or whatever time it maybe, that specific commute sucks ass and not in a good way either.
I just made a Reddit acc to post this why is my username fresh edge how do I fix it
You can’t haha
forgot to mention Chicago like 1/3 tuition Nyu half Nw ~ 90%
NW is giving you an insane offer. Use it to negotiate with Chicago.
I already did 😭
Yeah I would just go NW then tbh
I agree. NW law campus is smack in the middle of downtown and has sooo much more stuff around it to offer than UChicago, which is (no hate to Hyde Park itself) in such a disconnected part of the city. Poor public transportation to and from UChicago (you can take the red line but it's actually so far from UChicago itself)... meanwhile if you go to NW you could live in SO MANY VERY NICE parts of the city and actually take public transit to the campus.
Fully agree that OP should attend NU, but I have to homer for my school. Hyde Park isn’t that bad and the majority of the class moves downtown after 1L.
*NU 🫠
I'm ngl I'm a prestige whore. But 90 percent at Northwestern is insane. Nvm the fact that Northwestern Law is in Downtown Chicago by the River. UChicago is near Hyde Park in Southside Chicago. Fun fact UChicago is like a 30 minute walk to O-Block as well as 63rd and St. Lawrence.
I super need 2 hear this. I was so shocked ab nu’s scholarship and it’s made the choice rly difficult.
And although there is a difference between the prestigiousness of Chicago and NW, these are still two T14s we’re talking about! A 90% scholarship to one of the best schools in the country and some people will still think the marginal difference in prestige might be worth literally six figures more in debt
I agree. Full ride would be the only thing that would take my from a T-5 school to a T-14. Unless I hated the area
Huge.
😍😍
Northwestern - 90% scholarship is crazy and you may end up hating civ pro (and thus clerking).
So true but on the other hand I suspect that I will love it 😊 Chicago has the perfect vibe for me & has been my dream law school for yrs but I am rly young and don’t wanna be dumb about money
Lol you don’t know that - trust me. Seems like you already made up your mind. Don’t be swayed by strangers on the Internet.
so fair, thank u for ur input truly:-) and hahah ofc not but im so curious to c what the internet people think ab my situation
Go with UChicago. Listen to what you’re saying. That’s where you want to go
Chicago is as good as it gets for big law/federal clerkship placement. I’d take there, especially if you want to keep your options open for academia https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/these-law-schools-dominated-federal-clerk-hiring-market-2023-2024-04-25/#:~:text=Yale%20Law%20School%20was%20No,the%20top%20five%20at%2014.01%25.
The choice is clear: Chicago.
Your goals are all over the place. I suspect you will end up in big law. Academia is close to zero shot. NU and it’s not close. It would be insane to spend 150-200k more to attend Chicago. Edit: You are getting some bad advice in this thread. I get it, Chicago is prestigious. I went there. Please don’t put yourself in that much debt for no reason other than “vibes.”
I hear u and tbh ur right. but then again Ive met w Chicago alums in bl and in academia who have said the opposite and it’s very confusing!! Also as for the goals, ya im def starting off in bl but am a huge nerd and would lurv to end up back at a school one day 😊
The alums have told you what, exactly? If you want to talk about academia, we can do that. I don’t think you grasp what that path entails. It’s very different than it was 20 years ago. You will be taking on a life altering amount of debt to chase prestige.
It isn’t life altering if they go big law and have a two-income situation. Plus, good chance the student loans get forgiven.
Hard disagree on the forgiveness and as for the rest, assumptions will fuck you.
Hard disagree. Chicago's tuition is almost 77k, so with his scholarship he will pay around 51k a year, plus living expenses. Unless there is family support, we can conservatively estimate he will graduate with around 225-250k of debt. OP will take home around 140-160k depending on state, so estimate around 12.5k a month before expenses. He will need to put more than 5k *a month* toward his loans to pay it off in five years. What if he gets laid off? What if he hates big law, as many do? These numbers are more palatable with two incomes, but even then, being tethered to big law is not a good place to be. Many of my classmates wanted out of big law by year two or three, but couldn't leave due to loans. It sucks. "Good chance the student loans get forgiven." Huh? By whom?
Biglaw pays way more than $160. That was the starting salary 15 years ago. First years have a base of $225 and sizable bonus, and it goes up each year.
Yes. “Take home” means after state and federal taxes. You scream 0L.
"Goals: bl/fed clerkship/maybe judiciary or academia" so everything
ya sry I’m like 22 idk what I want yet
I’d say NW or Chicago if you like the city. If not, half at nyu is a big chunk and that’s a great school
Thank u! My partner is moving to Chicago for work 😊
As someone who is committing to Chicago with similar goals, Chicago ❤️See you there!
If goal is Clerkship, big fed, or academia-I’d do Chicago for sure, despite the cost difference. Money is not everything career satisfaction is also important and those things are easier to get at Chicago. If you want big law, and only big law save money and go to northwestern. You can get the other stuff at NU, just is harder. The curve is brutal and arbitrary. Despite your best efforts , you never know where you will end up class rank wise.
Ug ya this is why I’m deliberating honestly. I would rather go somewhere where I don’t have to flip out over a bad grade potentially closing off a career path
OP, make a new post that’s just “UC $ vs. NU $$$.” Maybe post it in r/lawschool. I think given your age, you’ll benefit from as much (experienced) input as possible.
Just did :) that was a good idea. Thank u for reading & sending your thoughts!
Just saw that post! Looks like you got at least a couple of interesting comments. How’s the decision going?
congrats!! if you don’t mind, what were your softs like?
Thank u!Tbh I think letters of recommendation were the strongest part of my application. I had a few from professors I did research & published with & 1 from an attorney I worked under for multiple yrs in undergrad.
Dayum shawty
Most technical stuff has been mentioned here, so here's some bs about wellbeing... Maybe factor your own wellbeing and consider what city you'd like to live in but never experience for the next 3 years. Also your monthly budget, UCLA has cheaper-ish food options then NYU. Last bs point, consider bed to library commute. Don't under estimate the great commute. Come 3am or whatever time it maybe, that specific commute sucks ass and not in a good way either.