Not sure which college to choose?

College Search & Selection
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Okay, so I’m currently deciding between two local colleges. The first one is about $35,000 per year (without loans). It’s located in the city, has a lot of networking opportunities, great resources. The second one is 22,000 per year (without loans). It’s located in a rural area, but has a small city around it. I’m not sure how good the network and resources are at the school, but it has a lot of activities for students, enrichment trips, and seems to provide a good education after meeting some professors.

But here’s the catch, I’m interested in attending law school. At first I was pretty set on the first school because of the resources, and they provide a 3+3 law program. Then I found the second school, and found out they have a partnership with the first school for law. Meaning I’d go to the second school for undergrad for 3 years, then transfer to the first for law school (other three years). I’m not sure which one may be worth it. I like the second option because it’s cheaper and seems like a good school, but I don’t want to make the wrong choice. Any advice?

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So you’ve brought up a few things - so let’s look at a few things:

  1. What can you afford? It seems like you can afford both because you’re saying, without loans. Or are you just saying that’s the net price? If you have to take loans, then the choice is easier (the less expensive). If you can afford both, then the answer is more complex.

  2. Check into the pre-law advising. Which school has more guidance or a better track record? Does one stand out. This is unlikely because you can major in anything and go to law school - your GPA and LSAT will matter as well as other things - such as work experience although it sounds as if you want to go straight through.

  3. So are you sure you want to go to this law school? For law, rank matters - and what if you decided you wanted to go elsewhere - to a higher ranked school? Or - do they guarantee admission to law school - or is it guaranteed with certain things - such as a minimum GPA and LSAT. Again, today, many law students are working in between and not just going to law school. The other thing is - many/most that are grad school bound b4 first year don’t ever get there - so not to dissuade you from law, but there’s a likelihood you won’t even go.

  4. So any good university should have activities and should have networking, etc. I’m not sure city or rural should matter. Now, you may have more restaurants and non-student opportunities in the city, etc…and one school may be better in these regards you mentioned than the other - but I wouldn’t assume because one is urban, it’s better in this regard.

  5. Finally - when you’re on both campuses, where do you feel best? You have to spend 3 or 6 years there - day after day.

In the end, law school will be expensive, so anything you can save now - is better because you’re goint to spend a ton later. On the flipside, if you can afford the higher priced school (with no debt) and you strongly prefer it, then there’s nothing wrong with that choice.

You have to decide what’s best for you. We can’t answer that one.

If you want to drop the school names, perhaps we can get more specific.

Good luck.

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  1. I have to take out loans for both, and I am paying all by myself.

  2. For the first school, they say their average LSAT is a 155. I couldn’t find that information for the second school, but maybe I could ask the director of whoever handles that.

  3. Yes, I’m positive. I plan on staying local, and this school is in the top 100 for law schools. If I choose to go to another law school, I can leave the 3+3 program. I’m pretty set on law. The law admission is guaranteed as long as I meet GPA and LSAT requirements.

  4. I’m not assuming the city is better, but it’s a really good school, and has a lot of connections I’m not sure the rural one has.

  5. I could see myself at both. I just want to make the right choice. I just think it’s gonna come down to money, opportunities, and how going to the rural college would affect things.

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Also, I understand you guys can’t make that choice, but maybe you guys can tell me factors or things I should be looking into to help me make that choice. Which you did provide some insight on that.

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So - you have to take out loans - and you are. You know you can only take out $27K over four years and $5500 the first year. So right there, that tells me you need the less expensive school - if even that brings it to possible for you. What if, even with the $5,500 loan, you don’t have the funds.

Your parents can get extra loans (not you) - but will they? And do you want the extra interest.

And then you have three more pricey years - and there will be less merit, etc. so how will you pay for law school?

The point is - you don’t want to owe your entire life - that’s a miserable feeling, to always be playing from behind.

So again, that speaks to the less expensive school. But just because it’s less expensive, again I ask - can you afford it?

So forgetting the school’s average LSAT because that’s going to be tied to the qualify of the students - i.e. maybe the kids who go to Harvard are higher - but is that because of kids or Harvard. I’d content the kids mainly

But what if you don’t meet the minimum LSAT requirement? My point is simply - you go somewhere for a guarantee but it’s not necessarily a guarantee. Because if you don’t meet their needs, they’ll discard you.

Connections - so you’re going to law school at the same school regardless - so what are the connections for? I’d argue possibilities are available for kids at most any school who seek them out. Yet are not to be had for kids that don’t.

So - you just said you could see yourself at both but then you pointed out the “rural” college.

I’m not sure you can afford either - but if you need loans to get to $22K a year and I assume this is after merit and need based aid - then you need another $52K of higher interest and your parents must sign off loans ($13Kx4) for the higher priced school. Not $52K but $52K more - that you’ll be paying back for years and years and years.

And then you get to law school - and then what??

So to me, that choice is simple. It’s not the $22K or $35K.

It’s $22K or something that you can afford - i.e. something less…perhaps a local, regional state school where you live home or CC.

Not sure why you won’t share the school - because I can look and see if there’s a financial outlet you might be missing. And what state are you in?

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The biggest thing is money: where it comes from and how you pay it back.

  1. Are you an independent student / over 24? If not there are very strict limits on how much you can borrow in your own name (~$5-8k/year for undergrad). Do you have a source for the rest of the costs?

  2. Have you done the math on how much you would have to earn to repay the amount of debt involved?

  3. Have you looked at pay scales for lawyers where you live, and who gets the level that you would need to service that debt?

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knowing which schools we are talking about would help but, paying an extra $52k for a ‘maybe’ getting into a 3+3 program seems unwise. Especially if you are borrowing those $.

I’d add that most student change majors - at least once. Unless you have some experience in law, there’s a high likelihood you won’t want to study law in a few years.

I agree with @tsbna44 - there’s another option or two that may be a better fit.

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It doesn’t look like either of those schools are affordable if you’re paying by yourself. The most you can take out for a bachelors is $27k total for all 4 years. Are your parents able to pay for a portion of these costs? If not, you might need to consider starting at community college.

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If those 2 schools are the only to choose from, go with the cheaper one.

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Rankings are not everything, but they provide some basis for comparison.

Do both schools have an overall grade of B+ or better on Niche? What about for academics?

Looking at US News & World Report, are both schools ranked in the top 200 overall (if national universities) or top 100 overall (if national liberal arts schools)?

Or is there a big discrepancy in grades/rankings? Or is one a regional school and one a national school?

Where does each school rank on “best value” or “social mobility” rankings?

Rankings are often overrated and use different methodologies, so they shouldn’t be the sole basis of a decision. But they might help you decide if a school is worth the extra money or not. For example, a more expensive school might be a “best value” school because it is more generous with aid and/or produce graduates who earn higher salaries. Or maybe it has a national and/or higher-ranked reputation, which could be especially helpful if you are applying for jobs in other regions.

That said, I know many students who regret going deeply in debt for expensive schools and know no one who regrets choosing the less expensive option. Just my personal experience, for what it is worth. Also, graduating at the top of your class tends to make the career path easier regardless of where you go.

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Also, are you using the total cost of attendance from the schools’ websites? Or have you gone over into the Net Price Calculator on each school’s site and entered your info to see what they estimate you would pay after getting financial aid?

Those numbers can be very different.

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“maybe you guys can tell me factors or things I should be looking into to help me make that choice”

“In the end, law school will be expensive, so anything you can save now - is better because you’re goint to spend a ton later.”

The return on your investment is going to matter in Law.

My sister’s large, international, corporate law office only hires “known” candidates for their corporation. In California, attorneys are a dime a dozen. With the advent of internet access to legal forms and virtual meetings, many people choose to do paperwork on their own (risk is on them). You need to go into this with research and knowledge of your region’s need for attorneys.

Do you currently have a future employer who has promised to take you on?

Because my sister’s base was in LA/SF, she had a lot of work and flew out to every part of the country. She got into that job as a result of working for other large, law offices early on; the partners knew her colleagues. She was referred by a colleague. Thousands of unsolicited applicant resumes went directly to the shredder. They only considered children of the partners, business associates, and colleagues.

If you’re going to invest in continuous loans, you had better make sure that you will have a generous income.

You can check the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ for predicted status of the occupation. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm

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Are those prices for tuition and fees only, or do they include R&B? If they include R&B, which I hope because the #s are high, can you commute to either school?

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The above is very important. How do you plan on paying for the remainder of the college costs (rough $15-25k/year)? Have you applied for financial aid? Did you run the NPC (net price calculator) on the schools’ websites? And do those prices include room and board, or not?

Also, have you applied to the colleges and you’re now deciding between them, or are you trying to decide where to apply? If the latter, you can apply to more than one institution.

If those prices do not include room & board but are for tuition and fees only, have you looked for a less expensive option? The least expensive option is usually two years of community college and then transferring to a local public college while living from home. Next up on the expense ladder would be living at home and attending a local public college.

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My parents will sign out on my loans. And they want to try to get a loan that I won’t have to start paying back till I graduate.

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So this is where you need to heed the advice above.

You - can only get $5,500 the first year.

Your parents can get loans to pay the difference - so that’s $13K a year (before inflation which might raise future tuition).

So in addition to what you can borrow ($27K over 4 years), you’d need another $52K over four years to go to the more expensive college. This is b4 law school - that is not sustainable. When you go to law school, $79K in debt b4 law school, who is paying that off (with no income)?

The other learning here is your parents loan does not have to be paid til after you graduate. However, what you’re missing is that interest will accrue from day one - so whether you are having to pay it now or later - it’s building up and it has to be paid.

I’m not sure if the $22K school is affordable for you because we don’t know how much you’ll need to borrow.

But I know the more expensive school is not.

So of the two schools, the cheaper one is a must - but is there a cheaper option to that - that is the question?

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My parents are co-signing my loans. They’re just not paying a dime lol.

I’m pretty sure I’ll get some kind of scholarship from the 3+3 program, as long as I meet the requirements. That’s what they told me.

I understand you’re trying to warn me about law school, but my heart is set on it, and I’ve been told I’d be an amazing lawyer, so that’s what I’m doing.

Idk what you mean by pointed out? I’m just referring to it as that. I think it’s a good school. I’m just not sure if it’s as strong as the first, but it’s pretty good. I have no problem with it being rural, or think it’s less worthy because of that.

I won’t share the school bc they’re local, and I don’t want to give out the exact location. But they’re in PA. They’re not super well known schools, but are said to be very good schools within the state

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I’m fairly set on law. Have been since 8th grade. I’ve done shadowing and stuff. I just want to know which school may be a better choice. I understand things may not work out, but I need to have faith that they will. I do have backup plans if they don’t.

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They’re signing on to the loans. I will pay all by myself once I’ve graduated from college

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hmmm - until you get an offer (of merit or need), you have nothing.

The spoken word is meaningless.

So I wouldn’t be so sure.

We don’t know the school or your stats. I hope it’s true because you are looking to bury yourself financially, maybe to a point you can’t get out from under…I don’t know what your future holds income wise.

But just because they tell you you’re likely to means absolutely nothing…until the letter with the offer shows up.

Good luck.

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