Please help!

I'm committed to USC and they've given me a 100+k scholly but Chicago just took me off their waiting list and offered about a third of that and I'm TORN!

1. I want to work in LA.

2. I f*cking hate the cold.

4. I heard Chicago's law students are competitive up the ***. Is this true?

USC edited: but regardless of where you go, don't do jd/mba

USC, but always do JD/MBA if you have the aptitude for both.

Tell USC about the Chicago offer.

I graduated USC in '09. You won't find a better connected law school if you want to work in LA. Also, the JD/MBA program is great and admission is almost guaranteed b/c the law school has tougher admissions requirements in general.
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Mitch
CEO | Founder, MyCourthouse

I bet it is connected, but I've always been concerned that I won't have a professional network. If only I could leverage the benefits of social networking in a professional environment with tools made specifically for lawyers.


Alas, my vote is for Chicago.

I would go with Chicago. The people from LA have had a pretty easy time getting back from UChicago. If you really want to stay in LA try and leverage your Chicago offer to a USC full ride.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=181723&hilit=c%2Fo+unemployment+data

USC: more than 50% possibly fucked, and you'll still be in big debt.
Chicago: not listed, but probably around CLS, so around 20-25%

Things are better now, but that's quite a large difference.

Chicago.

I don't know anything about working in California or JD/MBAs, so I'm just responding to the last two:

3. It's really not that bad. I just stayed indoors and took the bus right to school and wasn't outside much at all on the cold days. All your classes are in one building so it's not like you'll have to traipse around outside during the winter if you don't want to. And down coats are amazing.

4. Absolutely not true. At all. People share notes and outlines, take practice exams together, etc. If anything, schools with worse employment statistics would be much more competitive because there's a much bigger risk of failure. And you're in classes with 90 people with the majority of people getting the same grade, so no one feels like they need to harm other people to do well themselves. It's really a non-issue.

.

Yeah definitely negotiate with USC, and don't be afraid to negotiate with UChicago, either. It can't hurt.

TITCR

Chicago. You shouldn't have a problem getting back to CA, and your professional options will be much greater in LA than if you went to USC (unless you were top 10-20% at USC).

30k off the waitlist from UChicago is something else. Maybe Campos is right. Congrats, btw.

Gotta to go to chicago. Totally different level of school.

Whoa,

Thanks for the feedback guys! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I'm definitely taking the advice and negotiating with USC before I make the leap... Seems like a small majority recommends Chicago but interestingly enough, it's not an overwhelming one.

Also, thoughts on JD/MBA? Why do some of you advise against it?

My vote goes to Chicago (but I go there so I may be bias). I know many people who are going to LA from Uchicago and all seemed to have a pretty easy time getting into one of the major firms there.

I would partially advise against a JD/MBA only if you want to be in a big firm for awhile. Although I do think it is valuable, it can make it more difficult to get into a firm. Some partners see the JD/MBA as a signal that you will not stick around and, therefore, why should they invest in you. Also, the summer positions are more difficult to get since you will have an added year. Plus, there is an extra year tuition, which may make it financially infeasible for some.

That being said, the JD/MBAs from Uchicago all got amazing Biglaw positions.

173/3.6
I can feel the desperation...

Sky falling confirmed.

My bad, didn't know OP's numbers.

Hey thanks for the reply!

When you say "the JD/MBAs from UChicago"--do you know all of them and are there a significant number of people pursuing that? Do you happen to know how competitive it is to enter Booth as a current JD?

TBF, 3.6 is <25%.

I believe there are only around 3 in the 3L class and 4 in the 2L class. So, I do know all of them (there may be a few I am not thinking about. You still need the GMAT score for sure, but they really take kindly to JD/MBAs so you can usually get it if you put your mind to it. If you have more questions, feel free to PM me and I can set you up with the head of the JD/MDA Association who can answer questions.

Pretty obvious that, given specifics of OP's situation, UChicago is the better choice.

What specifics ? "Want to work in LA & hate the cold" ?