<p>Ive recently been thinking about the actual cost of being at Florida. I have the top BF and like 5k in pell grants and some other grant that's about 3k, if I remember correctly. However that still leaves around, for easy calculation purposes, 10k in loans a year. They are all government so I wouldn't be taking any private loans, and I wouldn't be taking any of the unsubsidized loans. I plan on doing poly Sci and then going to levin for law. From what I gathered the average starting salary out of levin is 90k, so it's pretty good. I realize I will also have roughly 90k in law debt too after that is set and done. Basically what I'm getting to is, is a UF education worth the 10k in loans a year for undergrad? I will be getting a job during school, so maybe cut off 2k of that a year. Plus I'll have 37 credit hours from APs, so I'll save a little money there too. Maybe graduate a semester of two early. Opinions?</p>
<p>I suspect you are under estimating the cost of both the undergrad UF education as well as the cost of law school. You are using today’s cost for starters. 2ndly, I know lawyers making peanuts in today’s eh economy-- 90K starting? ? Here you are overestimating I would proffer. Of course it’s worth it. And, it’s a fine dream-- go for it!! Do it.</p>
<p>Just my .02 David</p>
<p>not worth it… quit school, become homeless</p>
<p>if you’re taking in about 10k in free money, you should not be taking in 10k in loans on top of it. i make it on <14k a year. i get a couple thousand less a year than you in free money and i’m only taking out about 5k a year in loans (and i really don’t need all of it).</p>
<p>if you’re seriously considering spending $20k+ a year going to UF, you haven’t thought about a budget at all. i don’t care what the expected cost of attendance is, because its grossly inflated. the only number that they give that matters is tuition–everything else, you control.</p>
<p>@aforautumn ya that’s what I was thinking too. When I was looking at all the expenses it seemed as if half of them wouldn’t even concern me. I plan on sitting down with my mom and discussing how much in loans we actually “need” to take out. I know I can at least cover tuition and housing off grants and BF. So Everything else considered it seems like i would need <5k for everything else like food and books</p>
<p>@bn12gg ya that’s true about some lawyers making nothing these days. I agree with that. Luckily my step mom and my best friend’s dad both already own their own firms and have told me that if I graduate from levin, or any law school for that matter, I would have a job waiting. Interestingly enough they are both Levin grads too. So I know I could present them the avg. Grad salary and get paid that. It’s not so much the landing a successful job after, it’s just the initial damage due to loans. Also in-state at levin is 19k, which I know will be increasing, but still that isn’t that extreme for law school</p>
<p>I know more than one graduate of decent law schools who, upon hearing someone say that they are thinking about going to Law School, will immediately yell “Don’t go to Law School! It’s not worth it.” They have confided to me that they both underestimated the debt load of Law School and underestimated the work load of being a junior partner.</p>
<p>If you’ve got good connections and a good job lined up, maybe it won’t be so bad for you. Lawyers have ruled the world since at least the Middle Ages; I doubt that trend will end because of the current period of outsourcing. Just be prepared to have basically no life and to work your ass off until you make partner somewhere (if you’re lucky).</p>
<p>Also, don’t forget that something that costs 19k will be around 30k in four years, based on the annual 15% tuition increases alone. UF and FSU are trying hard to increase well beyond that. You could be looking at well over $100k before it’s all said and done.</p>
<p>I know recent graduates of law school making six figures easy… It’s honestly all about your connections and work ethic-- the only problem is that your main question is kind of pointless…</p>
<p>You’re asking if you should take out loans vs what? Not going to school at all? The loans are absolutely worth it if you’re considering just not going to school instead, although it should be known that loans are a last resort. I also agree with the person that said your values are grossly inflated for an undergrad education.</p>
<p>@sweetheart I totally agree that it will be a tough route to go. I know for a fact that it is a ton of work. But for all my life I have been surrounded by successful lawyers who tell me to pursue it and tell me it is well worth the work. As for the debt… The only thing I can think of is the saying, " you have to spend money to make money"</p>
<p>@watwat yes I agree that connections and work ethic are vital to success in law. I know that I have the drive for a fact. And as connections go I have those too for a fact, so hopefully it will all work out. </p>
<p>And yes when you present the alternative as to not going to school at all I guess that puts things Into perspective. But I will be sure to cut down on costs exponentially</p>
<p>If you have a friend that goes to the school currently they can be a really big in help in getting a better grasp on costs… I know it helped me, I found out a lot from a friend just asking tonnes of questions</p>
<p>Ya that’s a great idea. My cousin is actually going to levin next semester so he is going to be key in the decisions I make based on his experiences</p>