Top Law Schools

notsolawful wrote:I feel like this thread has an inherent bias. The people with stats with T14 with scholarship would never consider non T14 with scholarship because they are more successful. For people with worse stats it can be an objectively better than their current situation but not to the standards of more successful people. If you work a fast food job and have a 3.5 170, it maybe a good choice to go to a non T14 law school with some debt. But if you're working at a consulting firm making 80k and have a 3.7 172, it makes much less sense.

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

Ferrisjso wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

Again the way you're speaking, it's as if biglaw is the default setting for an 0L. It isn't. Don't know how Rutgers got into this conversation.

Ferrisjso wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

Again the way you're speaking, it's as if biglaw is the default setting for an 0L. It isn't. Don't know how Rutgers got into this conversation.

cavalier1138 wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:

2000andBeyond wrote:

Hi-So - ArshavinFan wrote:

UVA2B wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Less than 100k for TT, 100-150k at non T20 T1, not willing to go north of 150k. I don't have the numbers for T14 so I don't really know how far I'd be willing to go for that, maybe a little higher. I would be thrilled to have Vandy at 100k even 150k though that's a great deal(I like Nashville and would pick Vandy over every non T6 T14 if I had the sort of crazy numbers necessary to get into that sort of law school, just want to make that clear if people think I'm nuts for that )!

You're just shockingly comfortable with life crippling levels of debt and mediocre employment opportunities, aren't you?

Jesus Christ!!!!! I've re-read this comment about 20x and it just sounds so crazy.

How in the hell is Vandy a school with mediocre employment opportunities???

Relative to $150k in debt, anything less than a 50% chance at biglaw is potentially crippling. Job opportunities don't exist in a vacuum. Rutgers has fantastic opportunities for some students, but it's not worth a six-figure investment to find out if you're one of the lucky ones.

Again the way you're speaking, it's as if biglaw is the default setting for an 0L. It isn't. Don't know how Rutgers got into this conversation.

I didn't say that biglaw was the default setting. But how were you planning on paying off your $150k of debt without it (excluding PSLF for the time being)?

Ferrisjso wrote:Those 10% of income plans. I'm also one of the most frugal human beings alive. I don't drive(no car, car insurance), I don't watch TV(no cable bill), I don't like heat during the winter(no heating) and I eat once a day twice occasionally!

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

star fox wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

I don't know why people still don't understand this and seem to think if student loans aren't paid off within 10 years the Federal Government is going to send some thugs to break your legs.

star fox wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

I don't know why people still don't understand this and seem to think if student loans aren't paid off within 10 years the Federal Government is going to send some thugs to break your legs.

UVA2B wrote:

star fox wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

I don't know why people still don't understand this and seem to think if student loans aren't paid off within 10 years the Federal Government is going to send some thugs to break your legs.

You're right, income based repayment plans can largely mitigate the debt incurred so the payments are manageable. Besides the unknown of the tax bomb, you're talking about very real implications on your credit that will affect major decisions down the line. That will have very real implications on your credit and all borrowing decisions.

It's hard to be simultaneously comfortable with the substantial debt incurred and the credit implications of that debt. It might not affect someone at 25 and single, but 32 and married with kids? It could be a massive stressor.

Can you do it/be satisfied in that situation? Maybe. But it's advisable to at least consider that you might feel differently about that hanging debt when future you is considering buying a house, etc.

It's a general risk/benefit calculation, and some will feel comfortable with that risk, but everyone should be fully apprised of the full impact of the risk they're taking on, because it's far too easy to say, "well PAYE, so screw it!"

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Those 10% of income plans. I'm also one of the most frugal human beings alive. I don't drive(no car, car insurance), I don't watch TV(no cable bill), I don't like heat during the winter(no heating) and I eat once a day twice occasionally!

Okay, this is silly. 1) on the 10% of income plans you won't actually pay off the debt. I'm on one of those and I graduated in 2011 and my debt is higher than when I graduated. 2) no one actually lives like that.

Ferrisjso wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Ferrisjso wrote:Those 10% of income plans. I'm also one of the most frugal human beings alive. I don't drive(no car, car insurance), I don't watch TV(no cable bill), I don't like heat during the winter(no heating) and I eat once a day twice occasionally!

Okay, this is silly. 1) on the 10% of income plans you won't actually pay off the debt. I'm on one of those and I graduated in 2011 and my debt is higher than when I graduated. 2) no one actually lives like that.

Besides the lack of heat, I already live like that and I would live like that if I was making 200k a year. I can't drive, don't watch anything on TV that I can't watch on my xfinity account and I eat one big meal a day. Only reason I have heating is because I usually live with other people who want it. So I really don't get how that's unrealistic.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

star fox wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

I don't know why people still don't understand this and seem to think if student loans aren't paid off within 10 years the Federal Government is going to send some thugs to break your legs.

You're right, but we also live in a society that stigmatizes debt. And I'll be curious how the tax bomb thing actually operates in practice for people.

brinicolec wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

star fox wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote: WIth income based repayment plans, you only have to pay 10% of your income above the poverty threshold regardless of your debt. This means if you make 60k you pay about $200-300 per month regardless of your debt being 100k 200k or even 400k. For those with the right risk appetite, it's best to gnome the price tag and go to the school that maximizes the chance of achieving your desired outcome.

I don't know why people still don't understand this and seem to think if student loans aren't paid off within 10 years the Federal Government is going to send some thugs to break your legs.

You're right, but we also live in a society that stigmatizes debt. And I'll be curious how the tax bomb thing actually operates in practice for people.

I've seen people mentioning this tax bomb thing before but I haven't seen any details of what exactly you all mean by that. What happens with this tax bomb? Lol.