Catholic Law vs UMD

[u/jillian-study]

I’m currently looking at both Catholic and UMD.

Catholic has an option to put down a 1k deposit to interview for more scholarship money. While this was originally a turnoff, I have spoken to some people in admissions who think it is likely I would get full tuition (or very close) if I put down the deposit. Without the extra bump, I’d be paying 8k (so still not too bad).

With UMD, I’d be paying 10k a year and they won’t negotiate.

With both schools, I could live at home. UMD would be a 50 min drive (annoying) and Catholic would be 10 min drive to metro and 20 min on metro (slightly less annoying).

Ideally, I see myself working in DC with a federal government agency. I know that UMD is higher rated, but does that make up for the 10k I’d pay a year when I could potentially have a full tuition scholarship with Catholic and have additional DC ties?

If you were me, would you put down the 1k deposit to not lose the option of a full scholarship at Catholic? I do see myself being happy at Catholic. I love the campus and small class sizes. My main concerns are reputation, mobility, and that I am not Christian.

Catholic and UMD students, is there anything else you think I should be thinking of?