What Law School do you think I should go to?

Question

Hi.

I have a major problem. I got into UCLA law school and USC law school and I am going to Chapman because they offered to pay 90% of my tuition. I basically only have to pay 3,000 dollars a year. If I go to USC or UCLA, on the other hand,I would graduate with close to 150,000 dollars of debt. Do you think it's worth it? I don't have a lot of money and I can't really rely on my family for help because they have their own financial crisis. I understand that there is a big difference between Chapman and USC. I feel very happy that I got into UCLA and USC, it's what I was striving for, but now I feel like I am taking a gamble. I don't know. I want to practice immigration law and I want to stay in Orange County, do you think I'm making the right choice by choosing Chapman?

Answer 1

Here is the deal:  how big of a gambler are you?  You have really "boxed yourself into a corner" if those are your only two choices. It would be better if you also had a Tier 2 option.  In the end, it is a personal decision and only you can decide what is best for you.  Your concern about graduating with $150K in debt is a very valid concern ... especially if you want to go into immigration law.  If you had stated your desire was to get a high paying job in a blue stocking firm ... then maybe you would consider UCLA as a better option because of its recruiting network.  But given your financial concerns and the fact you want to go into immigration law ... you may not get the bang for the buck at UCLA that you otherwise would.  One of the best immigration lawyers I know went to law school at Dayton (Tier 3) and worked for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The career path he chose meant that it didn't matter where he went to school as long as it was an ABA accredited law school.  If you think you are going to get a high paying job as an immigration lawyer and you are willing to bet the farm on it, then take a roll of the $150K dice and head to LA.  But it sounds to me like you can get to where you want to be (immigration law) without that kind of expense.  Like I said earlier though ... it is totally your decision and only you can assign the appropriate weight to the appropriate factors.

The Law Dog

Postscript: In the interest of full disclosure, I chose a Tier 2 state school over a top 15 school.  Cost and location were of paramount importance to me.  With the perfect hindsight of 20 years time ... I can say I made the right choice!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

NO!  You'll make a terrible decision by going to Chapman.  I've never even heard of Chapman, and everyone I know who is going to law school would definitely agree with me: Go to UCLA or USC.

Look at it this way, you take out 150k in debts, but your job security is like 50 times better at UCLA or USC than it can ever be at Chapman--and you'll be paid more.  Chapman is Tier 3, compared to UCLA and USC which are Top 20.  That's huge.

Going to Chapman effectively closes so many doors that would have otherwise been held upon JUST FOR YOU, by virtue of being a student at UCLA.

I forwent a full ride to Temple (top tier2) to attend WashU on 60% scholarship.  One of the better decisions I've made in my life.

Answer 4

Look at it this way: You were good enough to get into USC and UCLA, but you will be a small fish in a big pond there.  At Chapman, you can truly excel, stand a better chance of being at or near the top of your class, and graduate without the huge debt load.  As long as they offer the programs you want, and are at least respected if not top-tier,  I would go for Chapman.   You can often get more one-on-one attention in a smaller program, and there is an education to be had at any school as long as you work hard.  If you are looking to practice immigration law, it sounds like your are not just in it for the money, so without the big debt you are more likely to be able to practice as you want instead of being forced to go for a job you don't really want just to pay off your debt.

Good luck!