Syracuse v. Cooley v. Detroit Mercy

[jjd06e]

Okay, I had an odd cycle. The LSAT site I wanted to take it at filled way faster than I expected so I could not take the LSAT until FEB so I got a late start to the cycle and missed the Wayne State deadline. I got rejected from Case and Florida State. I got into Syracuse (a tier 2) and then got waitlisted at Michigan State and Marquette (tier 3s). Also would be able to get a 60% scholarship at Cooley and Detroit Mercy has mentioned scholarships but I havent gotten any official info from them on scholarships. I also may be able to have my late application reviewed at Wayne State, so that option might not be completely dead.

Now I know Syracuse is obviously the best school, its a tier 2, all tier 3 schools I applied to waitlisted me and the other two are tier 4 with scholarship opportunities. Syracuse would be the obvious choice except it is so expensive and they offered me no money and at the end of law school I would likely want to practice in Michigan so maybe one of the Michigan schools would be a better option for me. I really dont know what to do, the waitlist from Michigan State really caught me off guard, I should have gotten in there without being waitlisted.

What do you guys think? And for arguments sake what would you think if Wayne State was added to that list?

[romothesavior]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

[Always Credited]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

damn it. fine then, go to cooley.

[jjd06e]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

I know, I almost should. My GPA rose in my last semester of college from what the schools saw on my lsac report and I am fairly confident I could do better on the LSAT, since my score was lower by a couple points than all the practice tests I took. I just dont know what Id do while re-doing the cycle.

Also I hope there isnt too much Cooley bashing in this thread, I know the reputation it has, but 60% scholarship is significant and I know a few people who did ok who went there. That being said, if I get into Michigan St or Wayne St its pretty much eliminated as an option.

[romothesavior]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

I know, I almost should. My GPA rose in my last semester of college from what the schools saw on my lsac report and I am fairly confident I could do better on the LSAT, since my score was lower by a couple points than all the practice tests I took.

1. No, you definitely should. If you want to be a lawyer with a job, you definitely should.
2. What are your numbers?
3. What were your LSAT study habits?

[jjd06e]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

I know, I almost should. My GPA rose in my last semester of college from what the schools saw on my lsac report and I am fairly confident I could do better on the LSAT, since my score was lower by a couple points than all the practice tests I took.

1. No, you definitely should. If you want to be a lawyer with a job, you definitely should.
2. What are your numbers?
3. What were your LSAT study habits?

I had a 3.25 and 156. My gpa rose my last semester after making Dean's list and is now a 3.3, and on the practice tests I took I got a 159 and 161. My study habits were I just did a lot of practice problems and took 2 practice tests.

I dont know how much better, say a 3.3/159 is than a 3.25/156.

[PhantaManta]

You need to take ALL the practice tests. literally.

[DerrickRose]

In before people say take a year off and retake.

I know, I almost should. My GPA rose in my last semester of college from what the schools saw on my lsac report and I am fairly confident I could do better on the LSAT, since my score was lower by a couple points than all the practice tests I took.

1. No, you definitely should. If you want to be a lawyer with a job, you definitely should.
2. What are your numbers?
3. What were your LSAT study habits?

I had a 3.25 and 156. My gpa rose my last semester after making Dean's list and is now a 3.3, and on the practice tests I took I got a 159 and 161. My study habits were I just did a lot of practice problems and took 2 practice tests.

Go to the LSAT Prep Forum. Do everything they tell you. Have fun at Ohio State.

[romothesavior]

Seriously, your LSAT study habits sucked. 2 prep tests is nowhere near enough. And even more important than the quanity of studying is the quality of the studying.

You need to completely start from scratch.

1. Work on TONS of practice problems, and do them according to section (LR, LG, and RC). Do the questions untimed and slowly, working through each stem and question. Work through each problem, and don't just look for the right answer. Also look at why the wrong answers are wrong. Over time, you will start to see patterns developing, and these patterns are essential to really "knowing" the LSAT. You cannot work quickly and effectively on the LSAT without knowing these patterns.

2. After you start to feel really comfortable with each section, start testing your endurance.

3. Finally, start doing practice tests. And I mean LOTS of them. After each test, go back and see what you missed and why. This review after each practice test is the most important part of the practice test because you'll see what is actually tripping you up.

You should spend at least 3 months or so studying for the LSAT. I would recommend getting a job, studying for the October LSAT, and applying EARLY next cycle.

Do NOT go to one of these schools. Your GPA is decent enough that a good LSAT will make you competitive.

[Always Credited]

Seriously, your LSAT study habits sucked. 2 prep tests is nowhere near enough. And even more important than the quanity of studying is the quality of the studying.

You need to completely start from scratch.

1. Work on TONS of practice problems, and do them according to section (LR, LG, and RC). Do the questions untimed and slowly, working through each stem and question. Work through each problem, and don't just look for the right answer. Also look at why the wrong answers are wrong. Over time, you will start to see patterns developing, and these patterns are essential to really "knowing" the LSAT. You cannot work quickly and effectively on the LSAT without knowing these patterns.

2. After you start to feel really comfortable with each section, start testing your endurance.

3. Finally, start doing practice tests. And I mean LOTS of them. After each test, go back and see what you missed and why. This review after each practice test is the most important part of the practice test because you'll see what is actually tripping you up.

You should spend at least 3 months or so studying for the LSAT. I would recommend getting a job, studying for the October LSAT, and applying EARLY next cycle.

Do NOT go to one of these schools. Your GPA is decent enough that a good LSAT will make you competitive.

+1,000,000

[jjd06e]

Is Syracuse not worth it? Because it is a tier 2 top100 school, but full price is kind of steep for that school. I am filling out the financial aid stuff to see what Im eligible for, but I think Id come out with a lot of debt from there.

[Always Credited]

Is Syracuse not worth it? Because it is a tier 2 top100 school, but full price is kind of steep for that school. I am filling out the financial aid stuff to see what Im eligible for, but I think Id come out with a lot of debt from there.

Its very steep. Believe us, you can do better. If we wanted you to fail or have a poor life, we'd advocate one of your current choices. They are overpriced and under perform in every meaningful way. One year of your life now is well worth a significant advantage for the rest of your life. Or at least ~10 years out of school.

[Birdman]

.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Is Syracuse not worth it? Because it is a tier 2 top100 school, but full price is kind of steep for that school. I am filling out the financial aid stuff to see what Im eligible for, but I think Id come out with a lot of debt from there.

Generally, unless we're talking T14, you should probably go to the best regional school you can get into. Syracuse doesn't have more pull in Michigan than a place like Detroit Mercy so I wouldn't recommend it.

[Kchuck]

There's this nice lady named Candy Kallen, and she's holding a scholarship for you. I'll get you her email if you want it....

[World B. Free]

There's this nice lady named Candy Kallen, and she's holding a scholarship for you. I'll get you her email if you want it....

Word on the street is that Candy has upped it to $16K!!

[tadams86]

There's this nice lady named Candy Kallen, and she's holding a scholarship for you. I'll get you her email if you want it....

Word on the street is that Candy has upped it to $16K!!

Candy better be hawt! If not, I would be so mad if I were going to pheonix law school, and she wasnt. She would be my only hope for happiness!

[World B. Free]

There's this nice lady named Candy Kallen, and she's holding a scholarship for you. I'll get you her email if you want it....

Word on the street is that Candy has upped it to $16K!!

Candy better be hawt! If not, I would be so mad if I were going to pheonix law school.

[84Sunbird2000]

Yes, I'd echo the retake stance. Though I have to admit being surprised that UDM didn't give you money with your current stats. If you could live at home (don't know if you are IN Detroit) and go to UDM on a good-sized scholarship, it wouldn't be too bad for Michigan-based practice. Still, if they don't give you 3/4, then you must retake. Never Cooley. I'm very pro-T3 and T4 compared to most TLSers, but Cooley is just...No.

[tadams86]

Yes, I'd echo the retake stance. Though I have to admit being surprised that UDM didn't give you money with your current stats. If you could live at home (don't know if you are IN Detroit) and go to UDM on a good-sized scholarship, it wouldn't be too bad for Michigan-based practice. Still, if they don't give you 3/4, then you must retake. Never Cooley. I'm very pro-T3 and T4 compared to most TLSers, but Cooley is just...No.

Cooley is T1...hth

[Kilpatrick]

Yes, I'd echo the retake stance. Though I have to admit being surprised that UDM didn't give you money with your current stats. If you could live at home (don't know if you are IN Detroit) and go to UDM on a good-sized scholarship, it wouldn't be too bad for Michigan-based practice. Still, if they don't give you 3/4, then you must retake. Never Cooley. I'm very pro-T3 and T4 compared to most TLSers, but Cooley is just...No.

Cooley is T1...hth

T14 even last time I checked.

[tadams86]

Yes, I'd echo the retake stance. Though I have to admit being surprised that UDM didn't give you money with your current stats. If you could live at home (don't know if you are IN Detroit) and go to UDM on a good-sized scholarship, it wouldn't be too bad for Michigan-based practice. Still, if they don't give you 3/4, then you must retake. Never Cooley. I'm very pro-T3 and T4 compared to most TLSers, but Cooley is just...No.

Cooley is T1...hth

T14 even last time I checked.

T12....T14 doesnt exist in cooley world

[darknightbegins]

I don't see how Cuse is such a bad school, it just the cost of it I think is why people bag on it. Reminds me of why people hate on Miami.

[jjd06e]

The other thing is I also might have some connections in the area that could really help me get a job. Ill probably sit and wait on what happens with MSU and Wayne State. Ive got to decide what I want to do when Im done, part of me wants to be a prosecutor, and if thats the case I think Wayne State and MSU would be fine but another part of me wants to be a corporate lawyer and use my undergrad degree to get a joint degree with an MBA. If I did that schools like Syracuse and others would make more sense.

[jjd06e]

Yes, I'd echo the retake stance. Though I have to admit being surprised that UDM didn't give you money with your current stats. If you could live at home (don't know if you are IN Detroit) and go to UDM on a good-sized scholarship, it wouldn't be too bad for Michigan-based practice. Still, if they don't give you 3/4, then you must retake. Never Cooley. I'm very pro-T3 and T4 compared to most TLSers, but Cooley is just...No.

Yea I really dont know what is going on with UDM. They sent me multiple emails before I applied telling me I was eligible for scholarships if I applied, however I have not heard a word on scholarships since Ive been accepted. Maybe I should try to push the issue a little bit. I live within commuting distance of UDM also.