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I am about 90% sure i will be attending here this fall. I wanted to ask if there are any current students who know how many students keep their full scholarship? The requirements are to maintain a 2.8 gpa, which will be reviewed each spring.


In addition, can anyone speak to their housing and how they like it? I will be visiting soon and wanted to know ahead of time.

i don't know about Widener Law School in particular, but you should know that a lot of 3rd and 4th tier law schools are notorious for stacking sections with scholarship students and having brutal curves, resulting in a lot of students losing their scholarships. make sure you do your due diligence.

153, 3.9 gpa, non-urm, and u got a full scholarship? or did you mean that you want to keep the full amount of the scholarship that they offered you?
anyway, widener fails 1/3 of their class, while 28% of the class finished first year with a 2.8 or better (although that might be for a 3.0, I forget what stipulation they gave me)

ive never really been to wilmington, but if you know Philly, its cheaper, more spacious, and apparently has more outdoor alternatives

seriously???? wrote:153, 3.9 gpa, non-urm, and u got a full scholarship? or did you mean that you want to keep the full amount of the scholarship that they offered you?
anyway, widener fails 1/3 of their class, while 28% of the class finished first year with a 2.8 or better (although that might be for a 3.0, I forget what stipulation they gave me)

ive never really been to wilmington, but if you know Philly, its cheaper, more spacious, and apparently has more outdoor alternatives

Widener is about a mile from the Pennsylvania border. Coming from Philly would be a rough commute, especially since the I-95 corridor is consistently jammed. You're better off living in Wilmington.

my bad man, my statement was ambiguous.
Basically, compared to philly, Wilmington is cheaper in terms of rent and has much more things to do outdoors

I do have the full scholarship in hand, and actually visited the area on Friday.

The requirements to keep the scholarship are very good and based on my experience on the curve, i think i have to be in the top 60 percent of the class to keep it.

did u ask admissions how many get grades for the stipulation or better? for mine, which I assume is the same as yours, they said it was top 28%, but regardless of the number, ask them if that is the percentage before they fail out 1/3 of the class or after.

and if they are giving you a full scholarship, they obviously think you should keep, just don't get brain freeze

I did ask my guide and she did mention a "C" curve for the incoming class.

I have to ask, are you a current student?

I will definitely make every attempt to keep this scholarship as i have never received something so generous ever.

Also, when you were admitted, did you ever receive the financial aid forms? I have yet to receive the detailed data forms, so i will be calling.

I may have actually run into you if you were a student, as i did speak to a few students.

Having any scholarship at all would add to the stress of law school--at least for me. From everything I hear, the competition in Widener is great. It's probably because people know they need to be in the top 10% to compete with Temple, Nova, and Rutgers-C grads. I'm strictly opposed to debt. However, in this case, the risk/reward of Rutgers-N might be worth it (assuming you get accepted and you're in-state tuition).

I hate saying "re-take" to anyone because I don't know anyone's life situation, but in this case it might be a good and reasonable idea. Assuming you want to work in the Philly market, it could be a good idea to take a year off, establish PA residency, re-take the LSAT, search for a legal job, and apply to Temple part-time. With your GPA and a year of legal work experience, you should be able to get into Temple PT with only a 156-158. Or, you could maintain NJ residency and apply to Rutgers-C PT. A 3.9/157 is certain to get you in.

A lot of people on here tell others in the mid to high 150's to re-take the LSAT and shoot for a 165. But that is a very tough barrier to break. Jumping from a 153 to the high 150's, however, is very attainable with a few more months of studying. You could probably even cut corners in your studying and just focus heavily on one area to pick up a few more points.

Even if you don't take this advice, I would encourage you to talk with current lawyers in the Philly region. Ask for their opinion of Widener vs. Temple. If they say it's like night and day, re-take. If not, enjoy the free ride.

Good luck.

please dont go....
you prob have 10% or less chance to get biglaw/biggov/midlaw. The odds are really stacked against you.

retake and reconsider whether or not you want to go to ls.

just see how many students got above the stipulation, and see if this is before or after they fail out people.
second, if you can keep your scholarship, you will not need biglaw, for your debt will be insignificant. But the chances of biglaw from widener are slim (1% get biglaw), but that does not mean top students get bad jobs necessarily. A lot of their class gets clerkships right after school, which you may not be able to afford if you had a high debt.
what are your numbers again? you may feel pressure to keep the scholly, but if your numbers are significantly higher than the class, if you study hard you should be able to keep the scholly.

I am actually looking it to public interest as my life's work. I have no interest in biglaw and corporate law as my heart is not in that field.

My numbers are 153/3.98.

ok, but public interest is still hard to get. I'm a little surprised you got a full ride at Widener, but yeah, definitely find out how many people kept your scholarship. Not to be a dick, but if your LSAT score was leaps and bounds higher than the average student, you may like your chances to keep the scholly. But your LSAT is average. Your high GPA shows that you can work hard, so maybe you should work hard towards the LSAT and retake. Unless you only need to pass to keep the scholly. But job prospects are bad at Widener.

seriously???? wrote:ok, but public interest is still hard to get. I'm a little surprised you got a full ride at Widener, but yeah, definitely find out how many people kept your scholarship. Not to be a dick, but if your LSAT score was leaps and bounds higher than the average student, you may like your chances to keep the scholly. But your LSAT is average. Your high GPA shows that you can work hard, so maybe you should work hard towards the LSAT and retake. Unless you only need to pass to keep the scholly. But job prospects are bad at Widener.

Seriously.

I would have killed for that GPA, and maybe a Klondike bar.

Do not go to Widener. Go find a good LSAT prep class and get very skillful at finding out what kinds of sandwiches Tiffany and Jim can eat on Wednesday.

When you're going to a T14 with a nice scholarship, please PM me and maybe give some burnt offerings or something.

Schools would LOVE to have you with that GPA. Dude, you could kill it with an improved LSAT score. If you put in the money for a tutor or prep class it will pay off with loads of scholarship money, better school opportunities, and better employment prospects down the line. Don't squander that.

I have seen people here give you horrible advice. If you have been accepted to Widener and they have given you a full ride, go for it. Sure, it is a regional school, being that it is popular to the Philadelphia area, but is that so bad? There are many people in the Philadelphia tri-state area that have gone to that school and have made good careers for themselves. I have worked in the legal field for three years now and have encountered many people that have either went to Temple or Widener, and I'm not just talking about associates either. In the end it's going to be your networks and client base more than where you went to school. A lot of people are pushing stats and numbers but that's bull. All schools juke the stats. Period. Are you going to go before a judge/attorney and argue your case that, "hey I went to Harvard law and he went to Widener law." No, that won't really fly. I say forget what many of these people are saying and go to Widener if you think that the Philadelphia area is a place you would want to work/live in. There are many opportunities coming from Widener in the area. In the end, once you build yourself up in say three years you can move on somewhere you may prefer.

jamcdowell wrote:I have seen people here give you horrible advice. If you have been accepted to Widener and they have given you a full ride, go for it. Sure, it is a regional school, being that it is popular to the Philadelphia area, but is that so bad? There are many people in the Philadelphia tri-state area that have gone to that school and have made good careers for themselves. I have worked in the legal field for three years now and have encountered many people that have either went to Temple or Widener, and I'm not just talking about associates either. In the end it's going to be your networks and client base more than where you went to school. A lot of people are pushing stats and numbers but that's bull. All schools juke the stats. Period. Are you going to go before a judge/attorney and argue your case that, "hey I went to Harvard law and he went to Widener law." No, that won't really fly. I say forget what many of these people are saying and go to Widener if you think that the Philadelphia area is a place you would want to work/live in. There are many opportunities coming from Widener in the area. In the end, once you build yourself up in say three years you can move on somewhere you may prefer.

Bad troll is bad.

NJcollegestudent wrote:I am actually looking it to public interest as my life's work. I have no interest in biglaw and corporate law as my heart is not in that field.

My numbers are 153/3.98.

3.98 GPA? There are so many things that I would do to have that GPA. PLEASE, wait, retake and reapply. Even getting up to a 160 will open many more doors for you. Seriously, do not waste that GPA on an average LSAT score, you're definitely capable of much more with a GPA that is so high.

HeavenWood wrote:

jamcdowell wrote:I have seen people here give you horrible advice. If you have been accepted to Widener and they have given you a full ride, go for it. Sure, it is a regional school, being that it is popular to the Philadelphia area, but is that so bad? There are many people in the Philadelphia tri-state area that have gone to that school and have made good careers for themselves. I have worked in the legal field for three years now and have encountered many people that have either went to Temple or Widener, and I'm not just talking about associates either. In the end it's going to be your networks and client base more than where you went to school. A lot of people are pushing stats and numbers but that's bull. All schools juke the stats. Period. Are you going to go before a judge/attorney and argue your case that, "hey I went to Harvard law and he went to Widener law." No, that won't really fly. I say forget what many of these people are saying and go to Widener if you think that the Philadelphia area is a place you would want to work/live in. There are many opportunities coming from Widener in the area. In the end, once you build yourself up in say three years you can move on somewhere you may prefer.

Bad troll is bad.

How am I trolling by saying it's bad advice to listen to people who 1. are not going to financially back your education, 2. are not the ones that are going to have to attend the school the criticize and 3. possibly do not know much about the school or the area to begin with. Save your internet tough guy stuff.

I actually like the retake advice, though I know it has a limit. Most people just feel they have to go now or never, but a year off school, even a wasted year, isn't so bad. With a 3.98 you don't even have to get a great LSAT to go to a great school. I'm not going to look it up, but I think even a 165 would give you a shot at reverse splitter schools like UCLA.

And going to a great school isn't about saying "Hey, Harvard grad here. I winz." It really is just about what consideration the degree buys you. Excellent and successful lawyers come from everywhere, but how much do you want to have to work for that part of your career? I assume your public interest desires come from a good place, from a desire to help people, and a t14 (or so) education gives the chance to have an immediate impact, to realize a little of your dream very early on. Sure, good things are worth working for, but being smart and setting yourself up for an easier path to success is just a good idea.

Also, I hate the argument that "great lawyers come from (insert random law school). You can still be a great lawyer if you go there." Of course you can. But if you were going to be a great lawyer coming from there then waiting a year and shooting for the top isn't going to hurt you. You'll still be a good lawyer and you'll have a healthy head start on that impressive career.

Sure it is not a "now or never" situation, in that they can take a year off, but since they took the LSAT, got accepted and have a full ride in hand, what more could you really ask for? Obviously there was something about Widener that intrigued them to apply to begin with. I went to one of the best universities around, but it has not really done anything for me, as a whole, just name recognition. I wasn't offered more money, I didn't have my e-mail box filled with job interview offers. In the end, I have come to learn that degrees are just a piece of paper. The schools may want you to believe one thing about their schools and what they can do for you, but it's bs. If the person decides to go to UCLA, Boston College, Widener etc. is it really going to increase their networking or job opportunities if they moves to Miami? It probably wont. They it comes down to if this person wants to stay in the Philadelphia area as well. If they think that the opportunities of Philadelphia outweigh the name recognition, then Widener is a good place for that. There is a very strong network of professionals from that school in Philadelphia to where UCLA may say " 95% of our graduates find work within 6 months of graduation. That's great. If they go to a school in a certain region they will probably have a job before they graduate, not to mention a summer lateral job as well.

2.0 Curve + 2.8 Stipulation = Wrap your mind around paying the full bill at Wiedner for2L and 3L years.

jamcdowell wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:

jamcdowell wrote:I have seen people here give you horrible advice. If you have been accepted to Widener and they have given you a full ride, go for it. Sure, it is a regional school, being that it is popular to the Philadelphia area, but is that so bad? There are many people in the Philadelphia tri-state area that have gone to that school and have made good careers for themselves. I have worked in the legal field for three years now and have encountered many people that have either went to Temple or Widener, and I'm not just talking about associates either. In the end it's going to be your networks and client base more than where you went to school. A lot of people are pushing stats and numbers but that's bull. All schools juke the stats. Period. Are you going to go before a judge/attorney and argue your case that, "hey I went to Harvard law and he went to Widener law." No, that won't really fly. I say forget what many of these people are saying and go to Widener if you think that the Philadelphia area is a place you would want to work/live in. There are many opportunities coming from Widener in the area. In the end, once you build yourself up in say three years you can move on somewhere you may prefer.

Bad troll is bad.

How am I trolling by saying it's bad advice to listen to people who 1. are not going to financially back your education, 2. are not the ones that are going to have to attend the school the criticize and 3. possibly do not know much about the school or the area to begin with. Save your internet tough guy stuff.

This isn't internet tough guy stuff, buddy. This is coming from someone who's extremely familiar with the Philadelphia market (my father has been practicing at a Philly MidLaw for nearly 25 years). There are a lot of Widener grads in addition to people from Rutgers, Villanova, Temple, Penn, etc, but you have to keep in mind that past hiring does not equal present hiring. You don't need me to tell you that the economy has been awful, and that legal hiring in Philadelphia has taken an especially sharp downturn.

One can do much worse than attend Widener on a full ride (depending on the scholarship stipulations and whether or not the school section stacks). But on the flip side, getting a legal job (and I mean any legal job, not even a decent one) is extremely tough coming out of Widener right now. Temple and Villanova grads are suffering a lot as well. Even some Penn grads are ending up shit out of luck.

With his fabulous GPA, the best thing the OP can do is retake the LSAT and reapply the following cycle. This isn't about prestige whoring. This is about finding a job.

Edit: 2.8 stipulation on a 2.3ish curve (I heard 2.3... are you sure it's 2.0, aqua?) You're more likely than not to lose your scholarship. DEFINITELY don't go to Widener with those stipulations.

HeavenWood wrote:

jamcdowell wrote:

HeavenWood wrote:

jamcdowell wrote:I have seen people here give you horrible advice. If you have been accepted to Widener and they have given you a full ride, go for it. Sure, it is a regional school, being that it is popular to the Philadelphia area, but is that so bad? There are many people in the Philadelphia tri-state area that have gone to that school and have made good careers for themselves. I have worked in the legal field for three years now and have encountered many people that have either went to Temple or Widener, and I'm not just talking about associates either. In the end it's going to be your networks and client base more than where you went to school. A lot of people are pushing stats and numbers but that's bull. All schools juke the stats. Period. Are you going to go before a judge/attorney and argue your case that, "hey I went to Harvard law and he went to Widener law." No, that won't really fly. I say forget what many of these people are saying and go to Widener if you think that the Philadelphia area is a place you would want to work/live in. There are many opportunities coming from Widener in the area. In the end, once you build yourself up in say three years you can move on somewhere you may prefer.

Bad troll is bad.

How am I trolling by saying it's bad advice to listen to people who 1. are not going to financially back your education, 2. are not the ones that are going to have to attend the school the criticize and 3. possibly do not know much about the school or the area to begin with. Save your internet tough guy stuff.

This isn't internet tough guy stuff, buddy. This is coming from someone who's extremely familiar with the Philadelphia market (my father has been practicing at a Philly MidLaw for nearly 25 years). There are a lot of Widener grads in addition to people from Rutgers, Villanova, Temple, Penn, etc, but you have to keep in mind that past hiring does not equal present hiring. You don't need me to tell you that the economy has been awful, and that legal hiring in Philadelphia has taken an especially sharp downturn.

One can do much worse than attend Widener on a full ride (depending on the scholarship stipulations and whether or not the school section stacks). But on the flip side, getting a legal job (and I mean any legal job, not even a decent one) is extremely tough coming out of Widener right now. Temple and Villanova grads are suffering a lot as well. Even some Penn grads are ending up shit out of luck.

With his fabulous GPA, the best thing the OP can do is retake the LSAT and reapply the following cycle. This isn't about prestige whoring. This is about finding a job.

Edit: 2.8 stipulation on a 2.3ish curve? You're more likely than not to lose your scholarship. DEFINITELY don't go to Widener with those stipulations.

So you want them to get a job without the work of actually having to look for one? Sounds kind of lazy to me. Are you going to back their education if they don't go? I'm pretty sure you won't. What does your father practicing have to do with anything? Just because he's work in midlaw for 25 years that means you know what it's like?

jamcdowell wrote:So you want them to get a job without the work of actually having to look for one? Sounds kind of lazy to me.

What the hell are you talking about?

jamcdowell wrote: Are you going to back their education if they don't go? I'm pretty sure you won't.

Just trying to give friendly advice, brah.

jamcdowell wrote:What does your father practicing have to do with anything? Just because he's work in midlaw for 25 years that means you know what it's like?

He's told me the score on numerous occasions. I don't have experience working as a lawyer yet, but I know how hiring in the Philly legal market works.