Is this a smart investment?

[Johannes de Silentio]

Fordham at sticker.

[megaTTTron]

If you have to ask, I'd say no. But I voted yes because I would pay sticker for Fordham.

[bk1]

What do you want to do? What is your situation?

If you really want to be a lawyer in NYC then I don't think there is any real way this could be seen as a dumb investment.

If you could get into a T14 by retaking/reapplying then I would say it is not a smart investment.

EDIT: I am with megaTTTron in that I would pay sticker at Fordham. However, looking at your GPA and LSAT though, I would definitely say you should retake and reapply, aiming for T14's or even the T6.

[Ronaldo]

If Fordham is the best school you got into, you really want to be a lawyer & re-taking and re-applying to crack the top 14 is not an option = good investment.

[98234872348]

God no is TCR with that GPA unless this is your third time around on the LSAT.

[sluguy14]

Depends on the person. I'm somewhat debt-averse, so the full cost of tuition added to the already high cost of living would give me serious pause. Remember, BIGLAW is certainly not guaranteed from a school that must compete with Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and any other T14 looking to break into the NY market.

[NoleinNY]

I voted yes, even though I was in that situation earlier (with 14k last minute need-based aid) and turned it down for a T2 with more cash. But that was only because I fell in love with another (city).

[traehekat]

I would take it.

[Cosmo Kramer]

i chose T2 full ride over fordham sticker, so I say no

[miamiman]

No

[Moxie]

God no is TCR with that GPA unless this is your third time around on the LSAT.

I agree that pairing that GPA with a better LSAT score is the best alternative, but if retaking is not possible, it depends on what you want to do/where you want to practice...

[MrKappus]

You've got to spend money to make money.

[romothesavior]

IBOS.

And no, I don't think so. 200k+ for a non-T14 in a city with about five other schools, not to mention two T6s? Not to mention the fact that it is targeted by the majority of kids at T14s.

I think Fordham can be a good investment, but not for sticker.

[Grizz]

IBOS.

And no, I don't think so. 200k+ for a non-T14 in a city with about five other schools, not to mention two T6s? Not to mention the fact that it is targeted by the majority of kids at T14s.

I think Fordham can be a good investment, but not for sticker.

IBOS, who is paying sticker, IIRC.

And +1 to the above. Not worth it.

[Johannes de Silentio]

Hmmm...that Washington and Lee scholarship is looking more and more attractive.

[kittenmittons]

20 of you are outed as irredeemably dumb

[Rand M.]

God no is TCR with that GPA unless this is your third time around on the LSAT.

I agree that pairing that GPA with a better LSAT score is the best alternative, but if retaking is not possible, it depends on what you want to do/where you want to practice...

This, especially the bolded, is TCR, but I am also one of those people who never sees the harm in waiting another year. Just seems like a 3.9 with a higher LSAT changes your situation and life completely. You have to do what you think is best, but I personally would balk at the idea of sticker at Cornell and Georgetown, so it's quite possible that we are coming from different places.

[awesomepossum]

IBOS.

And no, I don't think so. 200k+ for a non-T14 in a city with about five other schools, not to mention two T6s? Not to mention the fact that it is targeted by the majority of kids at T14s.

I think Fordham can be a good investment, but not for sticker.

IBOS, who is paying sticker, IIRC.

And +1 to the above. Not worth it.

IBOS

[awesomepossum]

wait...maybe she won't come...I'm not sure if her super-senses reach to threads without "Fordham" in the title.

[traehekat]

No, it's not a smart investment. That being said, practically no law school is a "smart" investment at sticker price ITE, so if you are set on going to law school, the question of whether this is a smart investment is irrelevant. The better question, I suppose, would be is the risk worth it? Only you can really decided it. For me it wouldn't be worth it because I don't want to work in NYC, but maybe you do. Maybe Fordham fits your goals perfectly and you have had your heart set on being a lawyer for some time. You have to make that evaluation yourself.

[jakeoooh]

It depends. As people are fond of pointing out in threads where people want to chance themselves using hypothetical LSAT scores, this test is difficult for a majority of people. A 163 is around the 90th percentile, and only the OP can determine whether that score is near/at his/her ceiling. If it is, then the only question is whether a better result will occur with the same stats next cycle. Anything is possible, but as the economy continues to emit foul odors, I would imagine admissions will remain equally (if not more) competitive.

I saw someone comment about a W&L scholarship- if that offer exists for OP I would take that over Fordham @ sticker. If not, and OP is both a) confident his/her LSAT cannot be improved and b) confident about remaining in NYC, then Fordham is tolerable choice at sticker.

[romothesavior]

Look, I'm not saying Fordham isn't a good choice for NYC, because it is. The question is whether it is a good choice at sticker. We are talking about 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS or more for this degree. If OP doesn't do PI or get biglaw, he is going to be drowning in debt that he will not be able to pay off until that 25 year grace period kicks in.

And don't even chime in with that "Lulz he'll have IBR so who cares?!?!?" Yeah, good for him. He'll also owe a significant portion of his salary to paying off his loans and he'll have 6 figures of debt for the next two decades. Sound like a good deal to you?

[bk1]

It depends. As people are fond of pointing out in threads where people want to chance themselves using hypothetical LSAT scores, this test is difficult for a majority of people. A 163 is around the 90th percentile, and only the OP can determine whether that score is near/at his/her ceiling. If it is, then the only question is whether a better result will occur with the same stats next cycle. Anything is possible, but as the economy continues to emit foul odors, I would imagine admissions will remain equally (if not more) competitive.

I saw someone comment about a W&L scholarship- if that offer exists for OP I would take that over Fordham @ sticker. If not, and OP is both a) confident his/her LSAT cannot be improved and b) confident about remaining in NYC, then Fordham is tolerable choice at sticker.

Obviously only the OP can determine whether or not raising his/her LSAT score is a viable option. While the test is hard, it is learnable, and I would say that the vast majority of people taking the test do not get their maximum possible or even probable score had they studied to their limit. Because it is therefore likely that any person has not achieved their best LSAT, when doing better on the LSAT will significantly increase one's options, then they should be advised to do so. If the OP has taken the test 3 times or has thoughtfully evaluated his/her LSAT prep as being done to the fullest, then yes the OP should ignore the advice.

The point of the advice is to say that is the strongest bet for most people and is often not something that a lot of people seriously consider (most people do not want to study and retake, let alone reapply), not to say that it is ALWAYS the best advice (but it is a vast majority of the time).

[Johannes de Silentio]

Update: I'll get $30,000 from a local attorney if I choose Fordham. Same verdict?

[los blancos]

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