- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 9010
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:30 am
#37301
What follows is the transcript of a conversation between a student, Tiffany, and one of our Admissions experts, Dave, regarding Corey's law school choice between two schools.
Corey: "I'm currently debating on Chicago Kent College of Law or the University of Illinois College of Law, Kent has offered me a full tuition scholarship and U of I has given me a 60% scholarship. Not sure if I want to do big law. But U of I is ranked 31 and Kent is around 70. Not sure which one to pick. I know U of I has better job placement numbers, but its hard to pass on a free legal education. Assuming I want to practice in Chicago, which one seems like the better option?"
Dave Killoran: "Hi Corey, Thanks for the question! Could you possibly do the basic financial breakdown for Illinois that I've done elsewhere in my answers to students? That would really help me understand your exact financial picture, and then I can make a much better assessment of your options. I'd generally tend toward the free ride since the two schools aren't that far apart in rankings, but it would be helpful to know the *exact* debt load you'd be looking at upon graduation from Illinois, and the job figures from LSTReports.com for each school wouldn't hurt either. Just to be sure, it looks like this:
Florida tuition non-discounted (67k) - 9k scholarship = 58k debt
LST employment/unemployment scores 76.2/16.2
Ranking: USNews: #41 ATL: 30"
Corey: "Dave, Thanks for the response!
Kent= 0 debt
LST employment/unemployment scores 55/10.7. However the underemployment is 22.7%.
Ranking US News: #92 ATL: not in to 50
UIUC= 39k - 21k = 18k per year= 54k debt after 3 years.
LST employment/unemployment 78.3/8.4. Underemployment 10.8.
Ranking US news: #44 ATL #31"
Dave Killoran: "Hey Corey, thanks for the reply! I always like everyone to do those breakdowns so they can see the facts (and everyone else can too). In this case, it's a tough call. Yes, Kent has worse employment numbers, but it's free. Illinois is a school I really like, but it it's going to cost you $54K. So it's $54K debt vs worse job prospects. which one do you fear most? That is the essence of the decision being made here. I'd personally probably take Illinois, and use the bigger name and better job prospects to erase what is a smallish debt, but that is not the "best" decision here. What's best is the choice you make, and I can tell you that debt avoidance is usually a very high priority for me. Difficult decision either way!"
Corey: "I'm currently debating on Chicago Kent College of Law or the University of Illinois College of Law, Kent has offered me a full tuition scholarship and U of I has given me a 60% scholarship. Not sure if I want to do big law. But U of I is ranked 31 and Kent is around 70. Not sure which one to pick. I know U of I has better job placement numbers, but its hard to pass on a free legal education. Assuming I want to practice in Chicago, which one seems like the better option?"
Dave Killoran: "Hi Corey, Thanks for the question! Could you possibly do the basic financial breakdown for Illinois that I've done elsewhere in my answers to students? That would really help me understand your exact financial picture, and then I can make a much better assessment of your options. I'd generally tend toward the free ride since the two schools aren't that far apart in rankings, but it would be helpful to know the *exact* debt load you'd be looking at upon graduation from Illinois, and the job figures from LSTReports.com for each school wouldn't hurt either. Just to be sure, it looks like this:
Florida tuition non-discounted (67k) - 9k scholarship = 58k debt
LST employment/unemployment scores 76.2/16.2
Ranking: USNews: #41 ATL: 30"
Corey: "Dave, Thanks for the response!
Kent= 0 debt
LST employment/unemployment scores 55/10.7. However the underemployment is 22.7%.
Ranking US News: #92 ATL: not in to 50
UIUC= 39k - 21k = 18k per year= 54k debt after 3 years.
LST employment/unemployment 78.3/8.4. Underemployment 10.8.
Ranking US news: #44 ATL #31"
Dave Killoran: "Hey Corey, thanks for the reply! I always like everyone to do those breakdowns so they can see the facts (and everyone else can too). In this case, it's a tough call. Yes, Kent has worse employment numbers, but it's free. Illinois is a school I really like, but it it's going to cost you $54K. So it's $54K debt vs worse job prospects. which one do you fear most? That is the essence of the decision being made here. I'd personally probably take Illinois, and use the bigger name and better job prospects to erase what is a smallish debt, but that is not the "best" decision here. What's best is the choice you make, and I can tell you that debt avoidance is usually a very high priority for me. Difficult decision either way!"