NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$ Forum

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ashleyk

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NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by ashleyk » Sat Mar 31, 2018 12:31 am

Hi all.

I am an international student from Asia, K-JD. LSAT is 172, and GPA is graded as Superior. Now I have to make a choice between Umich and NYU. Michigan offered a scholarship of 120k, while NYU offered 26k. Will try to negotiate with NYU, though I doubt they will increase the amount. Also in at Georgetown with 120k (love Michigan much better, so Gtown is out). Hold at Columbia, will get a decision before 25 April (it seems that they will waitlist me anyway). Did not apply to any other law schools.

I plan to work in the US for several years after graduation and biglaw are the only employers who will sponsor my visa. So, yes, basically I will focus on biglaw. As a foreigner, I have no ties to any specific market. I guess the location of my law school is going to have a great impact on my future choice of market. And ultimately I think I will go back to Asia and end up in a local office of the law firm.

My parents are willing to pay for all the law school expenses, but I still want to make a financially reasonable choice. I have tried the search function and read almost all the previous discussion. 9 out of 10 will reply with "take the money" lol. My situation may be a little different as I am international and I will not take loans. Life won't be a disaster if I cannot get a biglaw job, but life still sucks if I cannot find the job I want after investing a lot of money. The chance of biglaw at NYU seems much better than Michigan, and NYU is also more famous in my home country. I had never heard of Michigan until I began my application cycle. I don't care much about rankings or lay prestige, but the brand name of NYU may indeed bring merit when I go back to my home country in the future. Will these advantages make NYU worthy of the extra money?

Now I am regretting that I did not apply broadly for scholarship negotiation. Maybe the choice will be much easier to make if Columbia admits me in April (which is not quite possible). I will go to Columbia as long as I'm in because its brand name will be a significant boost. NYU is famous than Michigan in my home country, but not that famous. However, I will withdraw from Columbia if they Reserve me because I don't feel like the idea of sitting on waitlist and waiting late into summer. A choice has to be made between NYU and Michigan in most cases.

Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

beinghuman

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Re: NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by beinghuman » Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:22 pm

Go with Michigan. I don't think NYU is worth the extra ~100K in money.
Michigan places very well in NY biglaw. Also, if you have a good career and are successful, no one is going to care whether you went to NYU or Michigan in the future.
ashleyk wrote:Hi all.

I am an international student from Asia, K-JD. LSAT is 172, and GPA is graded as Superior. Now I have to make a choice between Umich and NYU. Michigan offered a scholarship of 120k, while NYU offered 26k. Will try to negotiate with NYU, though I doubt they will increase the amount. Also in at Georgetown with 120k (love Michigan much better, so Gtown is out). Hold at Columbia, will get a decision before 25 April (it seems that they will waitlist me anyway). Did not apply to any other law schools.

I plan to work in the US for several years after graduation and biglaw are the only employers who will sponsor my visa. So, yes, basically I will focus on biglaw. As a foreigner, I have no ties to any specific market. I guess the location of my law school is going to have a great impact on my future choice of market. And ultimately I think I will go back to Asia and end up in a local office of the law firm.

My parents are willing to pay for all the law school expenses, but I still want to make a financially reasonable choice. I have tried the search function and read almost all the previous discussion. 9 out of 10 will reply with "take the money" lol. My situation may be a little different as I am international and I will not take loans. Life won't be a disaster if I cannot get a biglaw job, but life still sucks if I cannot find the job I want after investing a lot of money. The chance of biglaw at NYU seems much better than Michigan, and NYU is also more famous in my home country. I had never heard of Michigan until I began my application cycle. I don't care much about rankings or lay prestige, but the brand name of NYU may indeed bring merit when I go back to my home country in the future. Will these advantages make NYU worthy of the extra money?

Now I am regretting that I did not apply broadly for scholarship negotiation. Maybe the choice will be much easier to make if Columbia admits me in April (which is not quite possible). I will go to Columbia as long as I'm in because its brand name will be a significant boost. NYU is famous than Michigan in my home country, but not that famous. However, I will withdraw from Columbia if they Reserve me because I don't feel like the idea of sitting on waitlist and waiting late into summer. A choice has to be made between NYU and Michigan in most cases.

Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Wubbles

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Re: NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by Wubbles » Mon Apr 02, 2018 7:42 pm

You should have applied more broadly, but Michigan is a good deal

eastcoast_iub

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Re: NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by eastcoast_iub » Tue Apr 03, 2018 1:38 pm

In addition to the better scholarship, cost of living is significantly lower in Ann Arbor, which will probably save you at least $30k over the course of law school.

These schools' employment outcomes are close enough that it's not worth paying so much more for NYU. Go to Michigan.

HP5450

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Re: NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by HP5450 » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:46 am

Go to Michigan, be happy. Ann Arbor is a great place to spend three years. Students know each other and professors better than at NYU.

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northwood

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Re: NYU $ vs. Michigan $$$

Post by northwood » Sun Apr 08, 2018 10:01 am

Go to Michigan for the reasons already stated above.

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