Texas vs. Wake Forest $$ vs. Baylor $$$

[Estrellas]

As I can't seem to make up my mind, I figured I would post a little poll.

My plan is to one day become an immigration lawyer. I know that Texas would probably be the best place for that, but I'm scared of the amount of debt I would have to take on. It really is a lot of money. Though, if all 3 schools were free, I would choose Texas in a heartbeat. I really, really would like to go there. I can't even describe how excited I am just to have been offered a spot. Everything about the school and location is perfect for me. But, is it worth all of that debt to practice immigration law?

I was offered $25k a year from Wake. I've visited the school and was really impressed with the facilities and the people I met. I think I would be more than comfortable with spending 3 years there, but I worry about how portable a degree from Wake Forest is. I'm not 100% positive where I would like to practice, but I'm not so sure it's NC.

Baylor is enticing because they offered me a full ride, and I love Texas. However, Waco I'm not so sure of. It's definitely somewhere I would have to visit first. I have also heard some bad things about the law school, though I don't know how true all of this is. I wonder how my job prospects would be coming out of Baylor as opposed to Texas.

Anyway, any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Estrellas]

Bump because I need help!

[mcflooter06]

Where do you want to practice? Are you a Texas resident? If you are a resident, you save a ton on tuition at Texas.

This may just be a personal opinion, but I would not even consider Baylor an option. I got a horrible impression from the students there- they seem to really hate it. Baylor also gives an insane amount of full-rides, with a ridiculous grade stipulation that causes a ton of people can potentially lose their money. Baylor tuition is high, so if you were somehow to lose your scholarship, you would be stuck footing the bill, which I believe you would be much happier doing at Texas.

[flagirl]

I was in your same position. I had money from Florida State$$$ and Miami$$. I decided to go to Texas sticker and realized with law school you just have to do it. You won't be the only one with debt and with a UT degree there is no question that you will get a job. I would suggest submitting your offers to the matching requesting committee, which meets every friday and send them in this week. I heard a response the same friday they met and I got money $$. I hope this helped.

[goingtolawschool]

If you are absolutely sure you want to be an immigration lawyer (and you're fully aware of what this means in terms of future wages), then I can't see a reason to pay sticker at Texas. Go to Baylor.

If you are a TX resident or if Texas is willing to give you a scholarship >20k/yr (I doubt they will), then Texas. When you send Texas your scholly offers from the other schools, I'd reiterate the fact that you want to be an immigration lawyer.

[Esc]

Go with Texas. Baylor shouldn't even be an option. As already stated, they have ridiculous GPA requirements to keep scholarships after the first year, and the school isn't that great. The school might also be a poor "fit" for you - their big claim to fame is producing prosecutors - since I'm guessing you probably aren't interested in sending undocumented immigrants to prison.

Texas, by contrast, has an incredible immigration clinic run by Professor Hines. They were instrumental in raising awareness about and shutting down the Hutto detention center, where immigrant women and children, including asylum-seekers I believe, were being held in essentially prison-like conditions. http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/clinics/immigration/

Texas will also do better for every other area of law, in case you change your mind about practicing immigration law.

[kalvano]

It sounds like you really love UT and want to be in Texas.

Go to UT. You'll get in-state after 1L, I believe.

Baylor sucks. Don't even consider it.

[LawComments]

UT and Baylor both have good reputations in Texas, and their graduates are well thought of. Baylor's reputation is in turning out litigators, not necessarily just prosecutors, and among all the Texas law schools Baylor almost always has the highest pass rate for the bar exam (if only by a little). But for portability, I'm not sure how well known Baylor is outside of Texas compared to UT - and there is no comparison in the quality of life between Austin and Waco. Austin is a great city except for the weather, and Waco is only 100 miles north so it has the same weather.