Does a Full Ride Matter More than “Fit” for School?
(TLDR at the bottom for those who don’t want to read the yap session)
hi all! i’m an incoming 1L trying to decide between two schools, see below for the rundown. i’m interested in criminal law and want to practice criminal defence after i graduate, if that context helps inform anyone’s opinion. thanks!
Detroit Mercy: i liked what i saw from the program and they offered some cool clinics/externships that i’d enjoy. it’s also closer to home than howard (4 vs 8 hour drive) however from what i know about detroit, (research + visiting family there) it doesn’t seem to be a very accessible city without a car (which i don’t have). does anyone have experience with getting around downtown detroit without a car? the big draw to them is that they gave me a full ride for all 3 years, which isn’t something i’m taking lightly. (my scholarship also includes some stuff about networking opportunities but it sounded vague and i couldn’t find much about it).
Howard: i really liked all the clinics and externships they offer. there are some professors who i would love to study under. i love dc, the metro is right there and i know i’d be happy living and working there too. i’ve also seen some numbers that showed a high percentage of law students get internships and work quickly after graduation too which is enticing. and to be honest, i get excited when i think about a future in dc, practicing law and getting involved in my community. my biggest concerns are all financial. the cost of living is really high and i’m nervous about finding a place i can realistically afford. they also haven’t sent out financial aid info yet but from what i’ve seen online, most of us won’t be getting much (if any). i’m also worried about loans after all the changes the Trump admin has made to postgraduate student loans.
i’ve talked to my friends, undergrad professors, & family about it and they’re all split down the middle. half are telling me not to overthink it and to take the full ride, but the other half is saying i should go to the more well-known school with resources more tailored to my interests and better hiring numbers. what do y’all think?
TL;DR i like howard more but detroit mercy gave me a full ride that feels too good to pass up. what should i do?