My son had the same dilemma but a quick reality check and I will tell you what he told me…
“Mom, while I really love Tulane, it just isn’t worth double the other schools. I’m really lucky that I have other great choices that will let me graduate debt free, so many kids aren’t that lucky.”
Be grateful that your parents can afford $40,000 and save the debt for law school.
Thank you for the advice. How about a pathway to start at a community college (honor program) and after two years, transferring to better schools such as Georgetown, UCLA, UCB, etc.? Does it make me look less qualified as an applicant coming from a community college?
UCD, UCSC, and CPSLO are perfectly respectable schools. Why do you feel that they are inadequate choices?
You need to learn the transfer rules from California community colleges to UCLA, UCB, etc. They are different from many other schools that will consider a transfer after one year.
You have some really good CA public acceptances. And you claim your parents can pay $40,000 a year. I’m not sure I understand your need to go to CC first.
You know…you can apply to those other colleges for Law School.
@Ray2018 done important life lessons are knowing how to create win win situations and how to navigate from a position of strength.
You have some excellent choices You don’t have to go to CC and try to transfer somewhere else, which is not guaranteed. The only thing that will stop you from getting into law school is you. You have control over how well you do in your classes and how you prep for the LSAT.
Pick one of the California public’s
Ask your parents if they will contribute the difference between your COA at your he California public and the 40k that they are willing to pay toward law school.
Remember, if you go to a T-14 that is not UCB, there is little merit aid. Most of them will still ask for your parents income and assets for need based aid.
Pick your poison; try to tap them out now or get their support for law school.
Not sure why you think you did not do well on CA acceptances, BU and NYU have same acceptance rates as UCD and Cal Poly SLO (30% ish) ?
Question…wondering how/why you chose BU. Boston is an awesome city with so many law school options…maybe a good goal after getting that great price on your undergrad!! OR, start at one of the instate options and if you aren’t happy, apply to other schools that are less selective/expensive than BU if you just want to be in the Boston area. I heard from a college counselor that about 25% of students transfer at some point because of a wide variety of reasons. I always tell my kids, it doesn’t matter where you start, it matters where you finish. However as all have stated, I think you’re options are just fine if you are planning on more education!
FYI, I live close to BU and know many students there. It’s not worth that much more. They It is a very urban campus, about 2 miles long and narrow, and definite grade deflation. Harvard, maybe, but even then, debt sucks!