Northwestern vs. Berkeley vs. USC ($$$) Forum

[FEDRESRV]

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[trebekismyhero]

No, if you are big law or bust don't go to USC especially at that price still. The best thing to do would be to retake. If you are not going to, then go to Berkeley

[cavalier1138]

Retake. If you insist on being stubborn instead of thinking about your future, go to Berkeley.

[blelwoods]

3.9/166

I am not sitting out another cycle. Currently riding 10 waitlists (H, Chi, Columbia, NYU, Penn, Virginia, Duke, Texas, Vandy, WUSTL)

Schools You Are Considering: Northwestern at sticker, Berkeley at sticker or USC with $157,500.

Total COA estimates (not including interest):

Northwestern ~260k
-Pros: Best employment statistics. Prestige. Lowest cost of living. Small enrollment.
-Cons: Most expensive.

Berkeley ~ 190k (in state tuition + live rent free my 1st year + fiance's well paying job will not be affected)
-Pros: Would not have to move. Good employment statistics. Grading system. Fiance can stay in current job where she is making 2x as much as if she was forced to move
-Cons: Paying sticker. Larger enrollment means more competition for journals, clinics, jobs etc.

USC ~ 110k
-Pros: Cheap compared to the other two. Small enrollment. Solid alumni network.
-Cons: I don't like L.A. I don't want to work in L.A. when I am older. Big Law employment numbers are much weaker than the other two schools. Not a T-14. Expensive COL.

I have approximately $65k in cash, which will go towards law school related expenses. No undergraduate or personal debt. I will be forced to take out loans to cover the rest.

Big Law or bust. Strong ties to both Northern and Southern California.

I know the general advice is to never pay sticker for lower T-14 schools.

Is USC the obvious choice here?

Berkeley is your best bet!

[sanzgo]

given your goals, definitely berkeley.

you better hope you're median or better though lol. best of luck!

[existentialcrisis]

Berkley I guess, but retake is the right answer, which you seem to already know.

[BulletTooth]

Berkley seems to be the best option, especially if you want Big Law but don't want to end up in LA. USC is good school, but a lot of the Big Law opportunities are going to be in LA as that is where most of the alumni are.

[Justtrying2help]

Berkeley is the best choice amongst the current options but you should retake/ reapply day 1 applications open. You should have received substantial money somewhere in the t-13.

[stego]

How many times have you taken the LSAT? How many cycles have you sat out already? How old are you? What would you do for a year if you sat out?

[chargers21]

I have very similar numbers and had way better options tbh. Not sure when you applied, but I would recommend a retake (might as well) and apply next cycle. Literally 1 point higher on the LSAT and a better application could save you like six figures

[jbagelboy]

Berkeley or USC, but Cal given your preference for Norcal. No idea why Northwestern is even being considered here. Its just not in play for so many reasons, among them: way too disruptive to your personal life; way too expensive; less prestigious than Boalt in California; worse placement than Boalt in California.

[SmokeytheBear]

Berkeley for sure. Have fun!

[Yea All Right]

Berkeley out of these, but damn they should've given you money. Try to get at least something out of them if you insist on attending this fall

[rpupkin]

Berkeley or USC, but Cal given your preference for Norcal. No idea why Northwestern is even being considered here. Its just not in play for so many reasons, among them: way too disruptive to your personal life; way too expensive; less prestigious than Boalt in California; worse placement than Boalt in California.

Credited analysis.