Does anybody actually attend their safety school? Forum

[hookem12]

If you're not going to be happy with your safety school, I'd say don't even bother applying (unless you want to use it as leverage for possible scholarship money). I have 3 safeties that are still good schools and I'd be happy to live and work in any of the areas they're located in. If you do well at your safety, you might end up doing the same thing you'd be doing if you got a degree from your reach.

[mrloblaw]

I started at my safety school, but definitely wouldn't have gone if it wasn't a regionally dominant school in a place I would have happily practiced. If your safety school is something like NYLS, just don't go.

[keg411]

I started at my safety school, but definitely wouldn't have gone if it wasn't a regionally dominant school in a place I would have happily practiced. If your safety school is something like NYLS, just don't go.

+1 to this whole post.

[American_in_China]

Well, my safety school is a T20 in a market I would love to work in and I'm from that city originally, so yeah, I'd be happy there.

[Opie]

Well, my safety school is a T20 in a market I would love to work in and I'm from that city originally, so yeah, I'd be happy there.

You should have no qualms about applying to this school then.

[Transferthrowaway]

I went to my safety because I loved the school and they gave me a nice scholarship. Spent a year there, enjoyed it, then I transferred to a T6. There is something to be said for going to a school where you're far beyond the 75th percentile LSAT.

[freestallion]

Again, I really think it depends what caliber your safeties are. My safeties are in the t14 and I wouldn't mind attending the lower t14, but if my "safeties" were really low ranking then I might think twice. If you get a full ride to a safety that is decently ranked, it might not be a bad idea.

[Opie]

Again, I really think it depends what caliber your safeties are. My safeties are in the t14 and I wouldn't mind attending the lower t14, but if my "safeties" were really low ranking then I might think twice. If you get a full ride to a safety that is decently ranked, it might not be a bad idea.

This is true. You have to look at the situation. My safety is a TTT, but it places as well as or better than any other school in my town. I own a house here already and my wife and kids are here. Plus, if I get their top scholarship it is a full ride plus a $10k stipend and a couple of annual networking events including brunch with Dwight Opperman (the man responsible for WestLaw).

This is a good option for me, but it might not be for everyone.

[JamMasterJ]

Again, I really think it depends what caliber your safeties are. My safeties are in the t14 and I wouldn't mind attending the lower t14, but if my "safeties" were really low ranking then I might think twice. If you get a full ride to a safety that is decently ranked, it might not be a bad idea.

this is how I felt. I decided that if I didn't get T14 that it would be better to wait another year.

[Geneva]

To the people that expressed enthusiasm for W&M--what about W&M makes the school your top choice? Does the school have reach along the east coast or is the reach more limited to the DC/VA area?

I was accepted at W&M w/ $$, but really want to leave VA...

The Richmond Marshall Scholars program is actually pretty sweet. The program includes a seminar that meets once a week, taught by a VA Supreme Court justice (Justice Lacey) w/ a different guest speaker every week (read: networking). I still don't recommend Richmond if you can go someplace substantially better, but if you want to stay in VA and get into the Marshall Scholars program, you will have a great shot at a clerkship/other local opportunities.

[Geneva]

Is Dozo w/ a scholly>W&M with a scholly for NYC?

[minuit]

Im at my safety.

Me too. I am enjoying it.

Ditto.

[Aha0005]

Also, for current law students, what do you recommend? Sitting at the top of your class at your safety (which may be a 3rd or 4th tier school) or sweating at a more competitive school?

[ilovesf]

Also, for current law students, what do you recommend? Sitting at the top of your class at your safety (which may be a 3rd or 4th tier school) or sweating at a more competitive school?

This is a horrible assumption. Just because you attend your safety, this does NOT mean you will be at the top of your class.

[071816]

Also, for current law students, what do you recommend? Sitting at the top of your class at your safety (which may be a 3rd or 4th tier school) or sweating at a more competitive school?

This is a horrible assumption. Just because you attend your safety, this does NOT mean you will be at the top of your class.

+1

[johnnyutah]

Also, for current law students, what do you recommend? Sitting at the top of your class at your safety (which may be a 3rd or 4th tier school) or sweating at a more competitive school?

This is a horrible assumption. Just because you attend your safety, this does NOT mean you will be at the top of your class.

+1

Seriously. Pretty sure I finished higher in my t-14 class than I would have at a TTT.

[JamMasterJ]

Is Dozo w/ a scholly>W&M with a scholly for NYC?

If you're NYC or bust. Otherwise, no

[sundance95]

Is Dozo w/ a scholly>W&M with a scholly for NYC?

If you're NYC or bust. Otherwise, no

Either way, no no no.

[sundance95]

I applied to URichmond as a safety (3.22/166) and recently received admission with an invitation to apply for their top scholarship which would cover all but $5k/year in tuition. I hadn't been thinking about it super seriously, but the idea of that kind of money is intriguing and I was just wondering if anybody had been happy about going to a lower-ranked safety school because of money.

I love Virginia and my SO and I would probably be happy in Richmond, but I can't help thinking that I might get a better education elsewhere and that I might regret it when/if I can't find a job (I want to do PI, if it matters).

Any stories about safety school success? Or any reason to stay away?

It's all hypothetical, I guess -- Richmond is the only school I've heard back from thus far -- but I'm trying to figure out my thought process earlier rather than later.

Richmond kills it in Richmond. If working in Richmond is your goal then you'd be foolish to pay for a JD, even at UVA. (Full disclosure-I'm at UVA now). Why? UVA grads have a presumption they must overcome, namely that they'd rather be somewhere else. W&M might not have such a large problem with this, so someone who is going there could speak better to that issue. On the other hand, if you have decent Richmond ties, you should be able to nail every Richmond interview at UVA OCI since such a large %age of your class would want to go elsewhere, and thereby profit.

[bport hopeful]

Im at my safety.

Me too. I am enjoying it.

Me too. Really happy with my decision.

[bport hopeful]

Also, for current law students, what do you recommend? Sitting at the top of your class at your safety (which may be a 3rd or 4th tier school) or sweating at a more competitive school?

This is a horrible assumption. Just because you attend your safety, this does NOT mean you will be at the top of your class.

This is underrated advice. Im at my safety and prolly have a top 98 percentile LSAT at my school. I dont feel confident AT ALL.

[Kabuo]

This is underrated advice. Im at my safety and prolly have a top 98 percentile LSAT at my school. I dont feel confident AT ALL.

Pretty much exact same boat. I feel great about one class, and would honestly not be too broken up over median in the other two.

[bport hopeful]

This is underrated advice. Im at my safety and prolly have a top 98 percentile LSAT at my school. I dont feel confident AT ALL.

Pretty much exact same boat. I feel great about one class, and would honestly not be too broken up over median in the other two.

Ill have a deep feel of relief if I come out above median overall.

[09042014]

There should be no such concept as safety school for law school admissions. If you have a shitty cycle, you apply again. Unlike undergrad, you really don't have to do law school right now. It's just fine to wait a year or more.

[mrloblaw]

Is Dozo w/ a scholly>W&M with a scholly for NYC?

If you're set on NYC, find a way to get into Fordham, at the least.

Edit: And I wouldn't even consider Fordham without a nice scholarship.