What would be your school choice? Forum

[whereto4law]

I am looking for some forthright advice. What would you do if these were your options? These figures are estimates of the total amounts I would have to take out in loans.

Northwestern - sticker @ 190k debt
BC - sticker @ 150k debt
Wake Forest - 22k/yr scholly @ 75k debt
UF - in state, no scholly offer at this point @ 60k debt
Baylor - full tuition scholly (top 2/3 requirement) @ 15k debt

Big Law: While I am certainly open to it, it's not something I would die without
Practice Area: I am open to practicing just about anywhere excluding the West Coast.

I appreciate your advice!

[lawschooliseasy]

If I had your numbers I would take a full ride at a T20-30, which I'd imagine you could get. However, with just what you have listed above I'd go NW.

[dddhhh]

If you don't mind staying in Florida, I would choose UF - especially if you could get a full ride. Otherwise, I would choose NU.

[whereto4law]

Do you think an NU acceptance is enough for leverage at any of the other schools?

[duckmoney]

Wake and BU should be out without more money. I would decide if you want biglaw or not. If so, go to NU. If not, and you like Florida, go to UF. If you don't particularly like Florida, go to Baylor.

[romothesavior]

OP are you a big splitter? Surprised to see an acceptance at NW with no major schollies to T20s.

By process of elimination, I think NW is your best choice at this point. None of those scholarship offers sound at all enticing. Lot of money from Baylor but I have never heard a single good thing about Baylor on TLS, so take that FWIW. If I were you, I'd try to leverage that NW acceptance for more money elsewhere.

Do you have any other schools you are waiting on? And what are your numbers?

[Sandro]

good to see everyone still has no debt aversion

[whereto4law]

ROMO:
-I am a reverse splitter. For NU, - LSAT <25th and GPA >75th
-I am awaiting decisions from a few other schools (all in t-25)

[concurrent fork]

Holy crap you got NU with a 163 and (apparently) non-URM? Thank your choice of deity, attend, and never look back. Those numbers aren't going to get you money at a T30.

[romothesavior]

Holy crap you got NU with a 163 and (apparently) non-URM? Thank your choice of deity, attend, and never look back. Those numbers aren't going to get you money at a T30.

If that's true, then go to NW for sure.

[Sandro]

alright NVM. 163 into NW, even with 1 million debt you would have hit the lottery. lol

[jwrash]

alright NVM. 163 into NW, even with 1 million debt you would have hit the lottery. lol

[Stonewall]

good to see everyone still has no debt aversion

yeh it seems that way and i don't expect it to change anytime soon either

[CanadianWolf]

Many law schools will treat you as an URM due to your Latino heritage even though not Mexican or Puerto Rican. Your 163, therefore, is enough for Top 14 consideration. Regardless, NU deserves serious consideration because of the significantly better placement than your other options.

[romothesavior]

good to see everyone still has no debt aversion

Actually I have a lot of debt aversion. But none of those deals outweigh Northwestern at sticker, except maybe Baylor, and I know nothing about Baylor besides all the shit I hear about it.

[Bumi]

Looking forward to meeting you at NU orientation.

[Sandro]

good to see everyone still has no debt aversion

Actually I have a lot of debt aversion. But none of those deals outweigh Northwestern at sticker, except maybe Baylor, and I know nothing about Baylor besides all the shit I hear about it.

190k is going to be a lot of fun paying back if you don't get biglaw.

Big Law: While I am certainly open to it, it's not something I would die without

It might kill you, alternatively.

[bk1]

But none of those deals outweigh Northwestern at sticker, except maybe Baylor, and I know nothing about Baylor besides all the shit I hear about it.

Agreed.

However, with OP's goals I would retake/reapply.

[whereto4law]

Thank you all for the advice; it's quite helpful!

Could you please delve into your reasoning for the school you would select given my circumstances? What are your thoughts on Baylor? Would Wake become much more attractive if the debt coming out was lowered significantly?

FYI, because of work and other commitments leading up to my enrollment this fall, retaking is unfortunately not an option.

[bk1]

FYI, because of work and other commitments leading up to my enrollment this fall, retaking is unfortunately not an option.

You are planning on starting school in August. Instead, take the October LSAT and reapply once you get your score back.

I don't see how retake/reapply is not an option.

[whereto4law]

You are right bk, so let me try that again: retaking is not an option for me as I am starting law school this August no matter what and have commitments leading up to that time.

[bk1]

You are right bk, so let me try that again: retaking is not an option for me as I am starting law school this August no matter what and have commitments leading up to that time.

Then let me be even clearer: committing to law school this August is going to be a detriment when you can retake/reapply. Don't let your own stubbornness hurt you down the road with either debt that you can't service or job prospects that you dislike.

Waiting a year sucks (I'm doing it now), but the difference between graduating 1 year later versus getting into better schools and/or having less debt is astronomical.

[romothesavior]

You are right bk, so let me try that again: retaking is not an option for me as I am starting law school this August no matter what and have commitments leading up to that time.

Then go to NW and pray you don't get debt pwnd.

[whereto4law]

Any other thoughts or feelings out there? Know anyone who faced a similar situation?

[johnnyutah]

Either NW or Baylor. TLS might have nothing good to say about it, but you got a full scholarship that you can probably keep, and that's worth a lot ITE. On the other hand, NW has to potential to open wayyyyyy more doors for you than Baylor does.

Go with the money or go with the opportunity. It's up to you. But don't go to any of the other schools.