Hi all!
It's been about a year and a half since I began my journey of studying for the LSAT and applying to law school, and (in no small part due to help from 7Sage) I now have the best, but hardest decision to make.
I have about two weeks to decide whether to accept a T10 school's top scholarship, which would allow me to leave law school debt-free, or to accept my admission to Yale (at full cost). Basically, Yale would cost about $225,000 more than the other T10 school (and more once interest on loans is considered). The T10 scholarship covers full tuition/fees and includes a sizable yearly stipend. Both are great options, and if the cost differential weren't so great I'd probably go to Yale, but, well... That's a huge amount of money to pay considering the alternative that's available to me.
After law school I'm hoping to clerk, work for a large firm for a while, and probably eventually move to the public sector. Those goals are quite attainable (obviously) from both schools, though Yale holds a special place in the minds of many employers (and attorneys).
So I'm hoping ya'll can share your thoughts on a question and vote in the attached poll. The question for the comments is, how much more would you be willing to pay to attend Y/H/S vs. another T10 law school?
Many thanks to those who respond! I'm really fretting about this decision.
Thanks everyone -for your responses -- it was great to process all of your views/opinions as I made my decision. For those who re-visit this thread or find it in the future, I decided to take the full ride! Basically, for me, it came down to the T10 school having a better "fit" / vibe during my visits, and the knowledge that (as a debt-averse person) I will be much more happy over the next 6-7 years without the looming shadow of 6-figure debt hanging over me. I'm also confident that the T10 will open enough doors for me -- provided I put in the work over the next 3 years -- and that, in any case, I'll find a path that is rewarding both vocationally and financially.