Top 10 (e.g. Michigan) @ sticker OR Top 30 (e.g. Iowa) w/$$ Forum

[nthop]

I'm still waiting to hear back from most of my schools, but it looks like this the kind of choice I'll end up having to make:

Should I go to a top 10 school (like Northwestern or Michigan) at sticker price, or should I go to a top 30 school (like Iowa or Minnesota) with a good scholarship?

Ceteris paribus here, folks. For the sake of simplicity, overall school quality and debt are the only variables I want to consider right now.

[Vincent Vega]

Go T10. It should pay off.

[rw2264]

if you're certain you want biglaw, michigan.

[stratocophic]

T10 if it's actually vs. T30, but vs. T20 in a personally desirable region I'd take the T20 for half $... I think. We'll see if I can resist the siren call if I get T10 acceptances myself.

[thepcv]

Ooh... such a tough call!! When you say a good scholarship, what do you mean, exactly? A full ride? Half? A full ride would be hard to pass up! With that said, it really does depend on what you're wanting to do with your law degree. If you're hoping for biglaw, you'll be better off going to a top 10. If you're not wanting biglaw, then it more depends on where you'd like to work once you finish. Iowa and Minnesota are both good schools that can offer you a lot...

[beesknees]

If you are only considering debt and education quality, I'd say T10 all the way. But important factors like desired career and region of practice are important and could sway a decision the other way.

[nthop]

@ thepcv (et al.): Good scholarship means 18k/year at Minnesota, 25k/year at Illinois, full tuition at Iowa. I have yet to hear from Wisconsin and Washington University in St. Louis.

Also, I'm thinking of eventually settling in Minnesota, so limiting myself to the region would not be devastating. However,I don't want to lose the possibility of a well-paying (around 100k starting salary) job with a hotshot firm in the region.

[UFMatt]

If big law, then T10. Anything else T30 with $$.

[heyguys]

What is $$? I'll say it this way: if you're looking at more than 10k of debt/year, then I would go with Mich, assuming you would want biglaw. If we're talking full scholly or less than 10k/yr of debt, then I would probably go T30.