Mich vs Berk Forum
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Mich vs Berk
So I was pretty dead set on Michigan but my scholarship at Berkeley just increased significantly. I want to do public interest or plaintiff-side litigation (think employment discrimination type of work). I visited Michigan and liked it plenty. It didn't call my name or give me any sort of spiritual awakening but it seemed like a place I'd be content with. I didn't visit Berkeley because it was really expensive and I didn't know they'd give me this much money. I have a *feeling* I would like the culture and social justice focus of Berkeley more.
COA (incl outside scholarships) Berkeley: ~70k
COA (incl outside scholarships) Michigan: ~30k
GPA: 3.7x
LSAT: 170
Not URM
Strong softs
COA (incl outside scholarships) Berkeley: ~70k
COA (incl outside scholarships) Michigan: ~30k
GPA: 3.7x
LSAT: 170
Not URM
Strong softs
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Of the two Berkeley is a clear winner
- Iwanttolawschool
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Re: Mich vs Berk
It is? it's 40k extra for...what? Weather I suppose.Nebby wrote:Of the two Berkeley is a clear winner
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Where do you want to work? Can you confirm that you're saying in three years you'll have 70k debt at Cal or 30k at Mich? Are you including COL in your COA estimates?LawTweet wrote:So I was pretty dead set on Michigan but my scholarship at Berkeley just increased significantly. I want to do public interest or plaintiff-side litigation (think employment discrimination type of work). I visited Michigan and liked it plenty. It didn't call my name or give me any sort of spiritual awakening but it seemed like a place I'd be content with. I didn't visit Berkeley because it was really expensive and I didn't know they'd give me this much money. I have a *feeling* I would like the culture and social justice focus of Berkeley more.
COA (incl outside scholarships) Berkeley: ~70k
COA (incl outside scholarships) Michigan: ~30k
GPA: 3.7x
LSAT: 170
Not URM
Strong softs
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Re: Mich vs Berk
My family is all across the east coast so I have preference for working back that way but I'm not tied to it. And yes, the COA takes COL into account and is over three years, not per year. I used both schools' metrics in determining this.Nebby wrote:Where do you want to work? Can you confirm that you're saying in three years you'll have 70k debt at Cal or 30k at Mich? Are you including COL in your COA estimates?LawTweet wrote:So I was pretty dead set on Michigan but my scholarship at Berkeley just increased significantly. I want to do public interest or plaintiff-side litigation (think employment discrimination type of work). I visited Michigan and liked it plenty. It didn't call my name or give me any sort of spiritual awakening but it seemed like a place I'd be content with. I didn't visit Berkeley because it was really expensive and I didn't know they'd give me this much money. I have a *feeling* I would like the culture and social justice focus of Berkeley more.
COA (incl outside scholarships) Berkeley: ~70k
COA (incl outside scholarships) Michigan: ~30k
GPA: 3.7x
LSAT: 170
Not URM
Strong softs
Last edited by LawTweet on Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Okay in that case I change my answer to Michigan.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Can you elaborate on the rationale?Nebby wrote:Okay in that case I change my answer to Michigan.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Berkeley and Michigan offer similar placement power in PI and Michigan is cheaper.LawTweet wrote:Can you elaborate on the rationale?Nebby wrote:Okay in that case I change my answer to Michigan.
- half moon
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Re: Mich vs Berk
I'd go Michigan. $40k less in COA is a big difference, and they're comparable schools in terms of employment outcomes. And although I haven't looked too much into Berkeley so can't compare very well, Michigan does seem to have a strong PI culture.
- SmokeytheBear
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Re: Mich vs Berk
I've learned not to assume too much of 0Ls on here--have you looked at the differences between LRAP programs at the two schools?half moon wrote:I'd go Michigan. $40k less in COA is a big difference, and they're comparable schools in terms of employment outcomes. And although I haven't looked too much into Berkeley so can't compare very well, Michigan does seem to have a strong PI culture.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Berkeley has a slightly better LRAP. However, $30k in debt is so low that it can be paid off fairly quickly w/ the financial contribution of Michigan LRAP + a little extra out of pocket.SmokeytheBear wrote:I've learned not to assume too much of 0Ls on here--have you looked at the differences between LRAP programs at the two schools?half moon wrote:I'd go Michigan. $40k less in COA is a big difference, and they're comparable schools in terms of employment outcomes. And although I haven't looked too much into Berkeley so can't compare very well, Michigan does seem to have a strong PI culture.
It's a wash, imo.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Someone should pose this scenario to Ann Coulter when she speaks at Berk.
- poptart123
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Re: Mich vs Berk
She cancelled so don't worry about seeing her at B anytime soon, OP. Although that doesn't matter because I vote for Michigan.michlaw wrote:Someone should pose this scenario to Ann Coulter when she speaks at Berk.
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- SmokeytheBear
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Yeah total wash. Both are great options. I know I have been pushing Boalt quite a bit, but I will do it here again. Winter sucks.Nebby wrote:Berkeley has a slightly better LRAP. However, $30k in debt is so low that it can be paid off fairly quickly w/ the financial contribution of Michigan LRAP + a little extra out of pocket.SmokeytheBear wrote:I've learned not to assume too much of 0Ls on here--have you looked at the differences between LRAP programs at the two schools?half moon wrote:I'd go Michigan. $40k less in COA is a big difference, and they're comparable schools in terms of employment outcomes. And although I haven't looked too much into Berkeley so can't compare very well, Michigan does seem to have a strong PI culture.
It's a wash, imo.
- rpupkin
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Nebby wrote:It's a wash, imo.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Berkeley is a semi-commuter school so you won't get the same extent of collegiality as Mich. But Berkeley does have a strong social justice program.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Mich
LawTweet wrote:My family is all across the east coast so I have preference for working back that way but I'm not tied to it. And yes, the COA takes COL into account and is over three years, not per year. I used both schools' metrics in determining this.Nebby wrote:Where do you want to work? Can you confirm that you're saying in three years you'll have 70k debt at Cal or 30k at Mich? Are you including COL in your COA estimates?LawTweet wrote:So I was pretty dead set on Michigan but my scholarship at Berkeley just increased significantly. I want to do public interest or plaintiff-side litigation (think employment discrimination type of work). I visited Michigan and liked it plenty. It didn't call my name or give me any sort of spiritual awakening but it seemed like a place I'd be content with. I didn't visit Berkeley because it was really expensive and I didn't know they'd give me this much money. I have a *feeling* I would like the culture and social justice focus of Berkeley more.
COA (incl outside scholarships) Berkeley: ~70k
COA (incl outside scholarships) Michigan: ~30k
GPA: 3.7x
LSAT: 170
Not URM
Strong softs
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Re: Mich vs Berk
.
Last edited by katthegreat11 on Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Semi-commuter school? huh?gilbilya wrote:Berkeley is a semi-commuter school so you won't get the same extent of collegiality as Mich. But Berkeley does have a strong social justice program.
- rpupkin
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Re: Mich vs Berk
Yeah, that was a weird comment.arose928 wrote:Semi-commuter school? huh?gilbilya wrote:Berkeley is a semi-commuter school so you won't get the same extent of collegiality as Mich. But Berkeley does have a strong social justice program.
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- SmokeytheBear
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Re: Mich vs Berk
I think he means an increase in the number of truck drivers enrolled.rpupkin wrote:Yeah, that was a weird comment.arose928 wrote:Semi-commuter school? huh?gilbilya wrote:Berkeley is a semi-commuter school so you won't get the same extent of collegiality as Mich. But Berkeley does have a strong social justice program.
Diversity initiative.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
By that I mean roughly half of the JDs I know live outside of Berkeley and they normally don't hang out around school after class.rpupkin wrote:Yeah, that was a weird comment.arose928 wrote:Semi-commuter school? huh?gilbilya wrote:Berkeley is a semi-commuter school so you won't get the same extent of collegiality as Mich. But Berkeley does have a strong social justice program.
- rpupkin
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Re: Mich vs Berk
I really doubt Berkeley is unusual in this regard. At SLS, many 2Ls and 3Ls live in SF, and those that don't aren't hanging around the law school all day. Any law school in a metro area--which I think includes all the top law schools except Yale, Michigan, UVA, and Cornell--will have that dynamic.gilbilya wrote:By that I mean roughly half of the JDs I know live outside of Berkeley and they normally don't hang out around school after class.
ETA: Also, there's no way that over half of Berkeley Law students live outside of Berkeley. I don't believe that your sample of acquaintances is representative.
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Re: Mich vs Berk
I was merely pointing out the dynamic and in no way saying that it is unusual (no idea how you sniffed that out). Well I currently go there as an llm and I take classes (also live) with JDs. I'd say more than 30% live in Oakland and there are also dozens of them living in other parts of the Bay Area. Whether or not you believe that is completely your business but I think I have hung around the school long enough to get a hinge of the housing situation.rpupkin wrote:I really doubt Berkeley is unusual in this regard. At SLS, many 2Ls and 3Ls live in SF, and those that don't aren't hanging around the law school all day. Any law school in a metro area--which I think includes all the top law schools except Yale, Michigan, UVA, and Cornell--will have that dynamic.gilbilya wrote:By that I mean roughly half of the JDs I know live outside of Berkeley and they normally don't hang out around school after class.
ETA: Also, there's no way that over half of Berkeley Law students live outside of Berkeley. I don't believe that your sample of acquaintances is representative.
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