American v. Tulane ($$) v. Howard ($$) Forum

[blueprint87]

I am trying to make a decision between these schools at the moment. I am waiting to hear from more but want to sort through these schools to eliminate options before sending in a deposit. I have read through some great posts regarding these schools but would like input for my situation.

Some potentially helpful info:

Hispanic Male
Open to practice in any region but prefer D.C.

American=Sticker
Howard=$15,000/yr Scholarship
Tulane=$20,000/yr Scholarship

I visited Tulane and stayed for about a week. I thought school was great but city is too focused on party culture for my taste. My holdup is the money.

I love D.C. and have been there multiple times. I could really see myself enjoying school out there. My concern at American is sticker price. My concern at Howard is low ranking and uncertainty of my job prospects. Which of the two would give me better job opportunities? Etc.?

Please do not post if you are not going to be helpful. I'm not looking for snobby remarks. Thanks to all that do respond for your help.

[voice of reason]

Howard is the only T3 school that places like a lower T1/T2. It's better than AU for biglaw, though neither is good. I don't know how race may factor there.

I think you really need to decide first whether you want to live in DC or New Orleans. It sounds like DC, so visit both schools. I'd find it hard to pass up that scholarship, given that Howard grads do much better than the T3 ranking implies.

[PDaddy]

Your comment on Howard's job prospects is really funny b/c it actually has the best prospects out of the three, especially in BigLaw and clerkships. It beats most schools outside of the top-20 in terms of job prospects. It's weakness is bar passage (64% or so?) and LSAT scores that imply a lower quality of student (we know better). This is where its lowly ranking comes from. Howard may be ranked TTT, but it really isn't a rankable school, and most people will tell you that. Howard is unique. It is also regarded as one of the most underrated and underranked schools in the country.

Tulane has the most national "name" and "lay prestige", and is also considered to be very underrated. The only thing that keeps Tulane out of the top-30 or even top-25 is that it refuses to play the (rankings) game, i.e., Tulane refuses to "game" the rankings. Tulane could easily attract and keep high LSAT scoring students, but the adcom there has a philosophy on the type of student it wants. Tulane sticks to that.

American would be out if it's sticker.

[ppjd]

I am dealing with a very similar dilema....Howard vs. American. American is so expensive and I am not convinced that it is worth the cost over Howard, regardless of its higher rank. Good luck with your decision. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

[blueprint87]

Thank you. The responses have been helpful. I kind of had the feeling that Howard had the better prospects but was concerned about how being Hispanic factored in, if at all. I know plenty of firms go for OCI and I just want to know if I do well that I won't be overlooked.

Do you attend Howard PDaddy? Do you get the sense that Howard prospects are holding somewhat near the norm in this economy?

Also, I would like to know which school is better for Govt/PI work?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I got the sense that American was underrated as well? Anything make it worth sticker?

Again, thanks for the help.