Michigan (Full Darrow) vs. Columbia

[Should I take the Darrow or take some debt at CLS?]

Should I take the Darrow or take some debt at CLS?

Darrow

 20 (90.9%)

Columbia

 2 (9.1%)

Total Members Voted: 22

[KingJames]

Hi,

I'm a first time poster, but I've thought this board looked helpful so I wanted to see what you all thought of my situation.  I am thrilled that I got a Darrow Scholarship at Michigan, which will cover full tuition and even provide a stipend.  I have also been admitted to some other schools, but Columbia is the one I am mainly interested in.  I am still waiting to hear from Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, but I think they will probably reject me.  I'm not sure what I want to do after law school so I'm really interested in the one that will give me the most options.  Please let me know your thoughts!

[Ninja1]

Michigan for the ride. If cost was equal, Columbia, but that's not the case.

You could try to get some cash out of Columbia by leveraging your scholarship.

[Resident CLS Troll]

Michigan-Darrow v. Columbia-Sticker?

Michigan, definitely. 

That said, I think that you should contact Columbia and say you want to come to Columbia but that you've been offered a Darrow and that money is a significant consideration.  They may narrow the gap to the point where Columbia becomes the better choice.

[KingJames]

Thanks for your advice.  I'm not too savvy about this stuff.  Should I call or write a letter to Columbia?

[Jamie Stringer]

I wrote a fax to a school to negotiate for money and sent copies of the offer letters as proof. 

If you do a search on LSN, there's a thread on Scholarship Negotiation where JeNaisSaisLaw posted a sample letter.

Good luck!

[Ninja1]

Call them and tell them what's up. Might as well cut to the chase.

"I really want to attend Columbia, but I can't pass up the deal Michigan is offering me without something at least somewhat comparable" and blah blah blah.

[LividWolverine]

Michigan has stellar placement rates at top firms. The best in the country last I checked.

[bl825]

Michigan has stellar placement rates at top firms. The best in the country last I checked.

Not quite.

[Ninja1]

Michigan has stellar placement rates at top firms. The best in the country last I checked.

Not quite.

Close enough.

[Mitchell]

Michigan has stellar placement rates at top firms. The best in the country last I checked.

I'm not going anyplace where I'm not allowed to jerk it in the shower.