Hastings or Retake? Any current Hastings students out there?

[chicityteacher]

I am in a situation that is causing me a lot of anxiety because I have absolutely no idea what to do.

I have been accepted into Hastings and I am trying to decide if going there is worth it. I am definitely concerned about the cost. 200k in debt (some of which may be reduced from grants and a scholarship I might apply for) is terrifying, but I also know that many students graduate from law schools every year with this kind of burden. The job prospects seem decent - potentially larger firms/courts in CA. However, I've definitely seen a lot of conflicting opinions about the school.

My numbers are pretty mediocre (163/3.54). I have good softs/ps/lors, etc (or at least I think I do). I really want to attend law school on the west coast, which would mean that if I DID retake, I would want to do well enough to get into a school that is at least as good as Hastings (maybe UCLA?). I am still waiting on a decision from UW, which I would attend in a heartbeat. What makes me nervous about retaking is that if I don't improve very much, I may only get into schools like Davis and UW, the opportunities of which are arguably similar to Hastings.

So, I guess I'm asking a few things:

1. Is Hastings worth it?
2. Can any current students comment on their experience?
3. Would retaking be worth it if I only improved enough to get into a school with similar job prospects?

and finally, this question is kind of secondary, but where do Hastings students generally live? What are some neighborhoods I should look at?

I've never been so unsure about a decision in my life. Please help!

Thanks for reading.

[swc65]

Do you think you can improve your score with more studying/time? If so, RETAKE!

You are right to be so concerned about taking on that much debt for Hastings.

[chicityteacher]

Do you think you can improve your score with more studying/time? If so, RETAKE!

You are right to be so concerned about taking on that much debt for Hastings.

I probably could...but I'm wondering if by retaking I would really be improving my situation at all. Obviously, if I made the top 20 (UCLA, USC, or Berkeley) then taking on a ton of debt would be far more worth it. However, if I only tested high enough to get in to Davis or UW, I feel like the opportunities (and cost except for UW) are comparable to Hastings.

Then again, I'm sure there are people here who know a lot more about this type of thing than I do.

[swc65]

Do you think you can improve your score with more studying/time? If so, RETAKE!

You are right to be so concerned about taking on that much debt for Hastings.

I probably could...but I'm wondering if by retaking I would really be improving my situation at all. Obviously, if I made the top 20 (UCLA, USC, or Berkeley) then taking on a ton of debt would be far more worth it. However, if I only tested high enough to get in to Davis or UW, I feel like the opportunities (and cost except for UW) are comparable to Hastings.

Then again, I'm sure there are people here who know a lot more about this type of thing than I do.

I understand what you're saying. However, you really only have upside potential by retaking. Further, you are on the verge of taking on 200k in debt and losing three post undergrad earning/experience gaining year, which might be worth another 150k. Add on the 160K worth of interest and we are talking half a million dollar decision (of course this isn't discounted, but who gives a shit?).

Defer for a year, study your ass off, get a 170 (it's just seven-ten more questions right), and then come back and look at this post.