Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2 Forum

(Rankings, Profiles, Tuition, Student Life, . . . )
Post Reply
Younks

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:12 pm

Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Younks » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:27 pm

Hey Y'all,

So I'm looking at Law school in a few years with a 158 LSAT (retaking with expectations of getting a 165-170 on retake) and a 3.0 GPA. My undergraduate institution (Southern Illinois) is offering me a full ride + $1,000 or more if I get only 2 points higher on the LSAT. Along with the full scholarship, I am also somewhat familiar with the legal scene in the area (I did an internship with a Green Party politician who runs a general law office and learned a bit about the law in that time) and would be able to work here during law school, thus having about 2 years part-time experience by the time I'm out of law school, besides whatever internship I take. I also have some contacts in the Chicago through family at a boutique law firm that may or may not lead to a job. I am confident that I would be able to retain the scholarship through the full three years (I plan on mortgaging my social life for this time to focus on studies, and I only need to place in the top 1/2 of my class to retain the scholly).

I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).

The other school I am seriously considering (outside Berkeley, Madison and the "reach"es) is Chicago Kent, though I am not sure how much money, if any, I will be offered there. I'm guessing somewhere between 5000-15000 depending on the LSAT (maybe more given the softs and if my LSAT retake is quite good). I would be able to live at home and thus avoid paying rent and be close to the family at Kent, but I would also leave with about $75,000 in debt.

SIU is also a relatively new school (founded in the 1970s), yet the rankings don't seem to do it justice - one of SIU's professors recently left to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (Sheila Simon - Paul Simon's daughter). The lawyer contact I mentioned (Rich Whitney) is also an alum who ran for Governor twice as a Green and received 10% of the vote in 2006 - an obviously high number for a third party candidate.

I suppose the most important question to ask is how much experience overrides a lower ranked law school?
Last edited by Younks on Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
fatduck

Gold
Posts: 4135
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:16 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by fatduck » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:34 pm

take the full ride at SIU iff you can get the stips removed

best of luck killing coal

User avatar
Bronck

Gold
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:28 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Bronck » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:39 pm

Yeah dude, top 1/4 stips = brutal.

Younks

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:12 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Younks » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:13 pm

Duck - Your avatar is excellent. Also - by stips you mean the top 1/4 requirement, right? That doesn't seem too challenging if I put 50 hours a week into studying. Thanks for the wish on coal - it's quite an uphill battle, which is surprising given the fact that the hills were pretty much blown apart to get at the coal in the first place.

Bronck - Same question.

User avatar
Wily

Bronze
Posts: 280
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:35 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Wily » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:16 pm

Younks wrote:Duck - Your avatar is excellent. Also - by stips you mean the top 1/4 requirement, right? That doesn't seem too challenging if I put 50 hours a week into studying. Thanks for the wish on coal - it's quite an uphill battle, which is surprising given the fact that the hills were pretty much blown apart to get at the coal in the first place.

Bronck - Same question.
The standard answer is, don't rely on being in the top 25% of your class, because everyone else in law school will be working their asses off also. That stipulation is bad as hell.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
fatduck

Gold
Posts: 4135
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:16 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by fatduck » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:19 pm

Younks wrote:Duck - Your avatar is excellent. Also - by stips you mean the top 1/4 requirement, right? That doesn't seem too challenging if I put 50 hours a week into studying. Thanks for the wish on coal - it's quite an uphill battle, which is surprising given the fact that the hills were pretty much blown apart to get at the coal in the first place.

Bronck - Same question.
even if you feel like you can be in the top 1/4 of your class, the peace of mind would be nice, right? law schools (especially lower-ranked ones like SIU) are hurting for applicants in a down application year, and will be very amenable to scholarship negotiation. someone with your unique background and experience should have no problem getting the stipulations removed. think of it as practice for future negotiations with industry and political leaders.

User avatar
rickgrimes69

Silver
Posts: 1105
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:56 am

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by rickgrimes69 » Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:34 pm

-Mediocre stats with expectations of large improvement
-Applying to an entirely random assortment of schools
-Special Snowflake Syndrome
-Considering TTT with STTTips

Calling troll

Younks

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:12 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Younks » Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:39 pm

@rick - Posting meaningless criticism outside scope of question.

Calling projection of self.

User avatar
Teflon_Jeff

Bronze
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 3:43 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Teflon_Jeff » Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:28 am

Younks, I'll assume this is legit, considering the account age.

Top 1/4 stips are brutal. Law Schools have been known to stack all of those stips into the same section, thus ensuring that 3/4 of them fall off the stips no matter what. Even if they don't, don't count on being top 1/4. You weren't in undergrad (according to the provided numbers), and the stress is not worth it.

The listed schools seem quite diverse. Is there a reason? What are the long-term goals you have? Locations? Ties? Maybe help us understand a bigger picture so we can help.

Also, forgive Rick, we've seen some a heavy influx of trolling the last few days.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


Younks

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:12 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Younks » Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:01 am

Teflon_Jeff wrote:Younks, I'll assume this is legit, considering the account age.

Top 1/4 stips are brutal. Law Schools have been known to stack all of those stips into the same section, thus ensuring that 3/4 of them fall off the stips no matter what. Even if they don't, don't count on being top 1/4. You weren't in undergrad (according to the provided numbers), and the stress is not worth it.

The listed schools seem quite diverse. Is there a reason? What are the long-term goals you have? Locations? Ties? Maybe help us understand a bigger picture so we can help.

Also, forgive Rick, we've seen some a heavy influx of trolling the last few days.
S'all good. After double checking with the website and crunching the numbers, it appears that a 50% will actually keep one with a full ride - my mistake there. I am confident I could do top 10% here, so that is not really the issue.

The reason for the diversity of schools is admissions strategy. I know I'll get in to SIU with a substantial scholarship, I am pretty sure I can get in to Kent though that would put me in a buncha debt (which I am extremely reluctant to take on given the economy), and Berkeley or Madison would be my "dream school", so I'm going to apply there, write the ink out of my personal statement, geek out on the LSAT prep, and hope for the best.

I'm looking to get in to politics, though I'm not sure law school is the best bet for that at this point. I've been thinking going into the Army as a medic might be more meaningful in general. Since it's a 4 year commitment, I'm wondering if I could get a waiver on the LSAT date of expiration (the score is good for 5 years), though that's not really the most pressing issue I suppose. It just seems that I've prepared 4 years for this studying Philosophy (which is good for law school, but not necessarily a whole lot else on its own) and so I should take the opportunity to get the bloody JD (which I'm confident I could get for free), but I don't feel quite ready to do so. I dunno........

User avatar
cinephile

Gold
Posts: 3461
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by cinephile » Tue Jul 03, 2012 5:30 am

Younks wrote: I am confident I could do top 10% here, so that is not really the issue.
But you realize that every single member of your class will also be confident that they'll be in the top 10%. Literally, every single person. Any 90% of them (and you) won't be.

I agree that going the full ride is the best way to go, but you'll have to be prepared to drop out after your first year if you lose your scholarship.

User avatar
top30man

Silver
Posts: 1224
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:11 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by top30man » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:56 am

cinephile wrote:
Younks wrote: I am confident I could do top 10% here, so that is not really the issue.
But you realize that every single member of your class will also be confident that they'll be in the top 10%. Literally, every single person. Any 90% of them (and you) won't be.

I agree that going the full ride is the best way to go, but you'll have to be prepared to drop out after your first year if you lose your scholarship.
I completely agree. No one goes to law school thinking "I'll be in the bottom 10 percent."

User avatar
Tom Joad

Gold
Posts: 4526
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:56 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Tom Joad » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:57 am

cinephile wrote:
Younks wrote: I am confident I could do top 10% here, so that is not really the issue.
But you realize that every single member of your class will also be confident that they'll be in the top 10%. Literally, every single person. Any 90% of them (and you) won't be.

I agree that going the full ride is the best way to go, but you'll have to be prepared to drop out after your first year if you lose your scholarship.
There is absolutely no reason to think you will be in the top 10%. Or top 25%. Assume you will be at the median, or lower if you are risk averse.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
Samara

Gold
Posts: 3238
Joined: Wed May 11, 2011 4:26 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Samara » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:05 am

Younks wrote:I'm looking to get in to politics, though I'm not sure law school is the best bet for that at this point. I've been thinking going into the Army as a medic might be more meaningful in general. Since it's a 4 year commitment, I'm wondering if I could get a waiver on the LSAT date of expiration (the score is good for 5 years), though that's not really the most pressing issue I suppose. It just seems that I've prepared 4 years for this studying Philosophy (which is good for law school, but not necessarily a whole lot else on its own) and so I should take the opportunity to get the bloody JD (which I'm confident I could get for free), but I don't feel quite ready to do so. I dunno........
Don't go to law school. Not yet at least. Going because you don't know what else to do with your philosophy degree is a terrible reason to go and creates extra risk, especially at low-tier schools where employment can be hard to come by. Get some work experience, stay involved with politics, and revisit law school when you have a better idea of what you want to do. You might find that you don't want to go to law school at all! But it will always be there if you do. And in a couple years, you'll be a stronger candidate, you can study for the LSAT and retake to a higher score, and be in a much better position to succeed.

A JD is not very useful for politics. Serving in the armed forces is much better and probably, as you say, much more meaningful anyway. The best way to get involved in politics, however, is to get involved. Volunteer for campaigns, get a political job if you want, (though that is hardly necessary) and start working your way up the ladder. If you work hard and have good people/political skills, you can find success in politics very quickly, regardless of your educational background.

User avatar
fatduck

Gold
Posts: 4135
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:16 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by fatduck » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:11 am

Samara wrote:
Younks wrote:I'm looking to get in to politics, though I'm not sure law school is the best bet for that at this point. I've been thinking going into the Army as a medic might be more meaningful in general. Since it's a 4 year commitment, I'm wondering if I could get a waiver on the LSAT date of expiration (the score is good for 5 years), though that's not really the most pressing issue I suppose. It just seems that I've prepared 4 years for this studying Philosophy (which is good for law school, but not necessarily a whole lot else on its own) and so I should take the opportunity to get the bloody JD (which I'm confident I could get for free), but I don't feel quite ready to do so. I dunno........
A JD is not very useful for politics. Serving in the armed forces is much better and probably, as you say, much more meaningful anyway. The best way to get involved in politics, however, is to get involved. Volunteer for campaigns, get a political job if you want, (though that is hardly necessary) and start working your way up the ladder. If you work hard and have good people/political skills, you can find success in politics very quickly, regardless of your educational background.
nobody made it in politics playing by the rules, man

join the west virginia national guard armor battalion. use your political skills to foment anti-coal sentiment within your unit. acquire tanks.

i think you can figure out the rest

User avatar
Samara

Gold
Posts: 3238
Joined: Wed May 11, 2011 4:26 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Samara » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:19 am

fatduck wrote:
Samara wrote:
Younks wrote:I'm looking to get in to politics, though I'm not sure law school is the best bet for that at this point. I've been thinking going into the Army as a medic might be more meaningful in general. Since it's a 4 year commitment, I'm wondering if I could get a waiver on the LSAT date of expiration (the score is good for 5 years), though that's not really the most pressing issue I suppose. It just seems that I've prepared 4 years for this studying Philosophy (which is good for law school, but not necessarily a whole lot else on its own) and so I should take the opportunity to get the bloody JD (which I'm confident I could get for free), but I don't feel quite ready to do so. I dunno........
A JD is not very useful for politics. Serving in the armed forces is much better and probably, as you say, much more meaningful anyway. The best way to get involved in politics, however, is to get involved. Volunteer for campaigns, get a political job if you want, (though that is hardly necessary) and start working your way up the ladder. If you work hard and have good people/political skills, you can find success in politics very quickly, regardless of your educational background.
nobody made it in politics playing by the rules, man

join the west virginia national guard armor battalion. use your political skills to foment anti-coal sentiment within your unit. acquire tanks.

i think you can figure out the rest
:lol: That plan is actually more likely to slow down the coal industry than political action.

User avatar
JD Janitor

Bronze
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:19 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by JD Janitor » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:30 am

Younks wrote:I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).
You want to hamper the coal industry? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the coal industry a very large source of income for thousands of families? Why do you want to do that?

Its funny...a large part of deciding what school to attend revolves around job opportunities and yet your goal of destroying the coal industry would destroy thousands of jobs.
Last edited by JD Janitor on Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:48 am, edited 2 times in total.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


User avatar
Tom Joad

Gold
Posts: 4526
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:56 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Tom Joad » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:33 am

Invent cold fusion if you really want to take down coal.

User avatar
bjsesq

Diamond
Posts: 13320
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:02 am

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by bjsesq » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:39 am

JD Janitor wrote:
Samara wrote: :lol: That plan is actually more likely to slow down the coal industry than political action.
You want to hamper the coal industry? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the coal industry a very large source of income for thousands of families? Why do you want to do that?

Its funny...a large part of deciding what school to attend revolves around job opportunities and yet your goal of destroying the coal industry would destroy thousands of jobs.
How could you not notice they were screwing around?

User avatar
JD Janitor

Bronze
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:19 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by JD Janitor » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:45 am

bjsesq wrote:
JD Janitor wrote:
Samara wrote: :lol: That plan is actually more likely to slow down the coal industry than political action.
You want to hamper the coal industry? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the coal industry a very large source of income for thousands of families? Why do you want to do that?

Its funny...a large part of deciding what school to attend revolves around job opportunities and yet your goal of destroying the coal industry would destroy thousands of jobs.
How could you not notice they were screwing around?
Sorry...I meant to quote the OP. Here is the intended quote:
Younks wrote:I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).
He seems serious about getting rid of the coal industry and thus destroying jobs. Did I miss the joke?

User avatar
bjsesq

Diamond
Posts: 13320
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:02 am

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by bjsesq » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:51 am

JD Janitor wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
JD Janitor wrote:
Samara wrote: :lol: That plan is actually more likely to slow down the coal industry than political action.
You want to hamper the coal industry? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the coal industry a very large source of income for thousands of families? Why do you want to do that?

Its funny...a large part of deciding what school to attend revolves around job opportunities and yet your goal of destroying the coal industry would destroy thousands of jobs.
How could you not notice they were screwing around?
Sorry...I meant to quote the OP. Here is the intended quote:
Younks wrote:I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).
He seems serious about getting rid of the coal industry and thus destroying jobs. Did I miss the joke?
The misquote is what threw me off. I thought the taking over the national guard bit was pretty funny.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


User avatar
Samara

Gold
Posts: 3238
Joined: Wed May 11, 2011 4:26 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by Samara » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:54 am

JD Janitor wrote:Sorry...I meant to quote the OP. Here is the intended quote:
Younks wrote:I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).
He seems serious about getting rid of the coal industry and thus destroying jobs. Did I miss the joke?
Some people think that not ruining the planet is more important than propping up a dying industry. HTH

User avatar
JD Janitor

Bronze
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:19 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by JD Janitor » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:55 am

The misquote is what threw me off. I thought the taking over the national guard bit was pretty funny.
Yes that was my fault. I hope the National Guard thing was a joke haha.

But my original point is that the OP wants advice on what school to go to. He wants the best opportunity to get a good job yet if he accomplishes his goal he will destroy thousands of jobs for others.

User avatar
fatduck

Gold
Posts: 4135
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:16 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by fatduck » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:55 am

a proposal:

anyone who talks about "destroying jobs" or "creating jobs"

should be killed

thoughts?

User avatar
JD Janitor

Bronze
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:19 pm

Re: Tier3FullTuition with Connections OR Buncha Debt@Tier2

Post by JD Janitor » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:56 am

Samara wrote:
JD Janitor wrote:Sorry...I meant to quote the OP. Here is the intended quote:
Younks wrote:I have been quite active down here fighting the coal industry, and have been published in the local newspaper several times speaking strongly against the coal plant on campus to my school's administration, and thus feel my softs may be enough (along with a high 160s or above retake on the LSAT) for Berkeley or Madison. The main fuck up I had was failing Army ROTC and Intro to Dance in one semester, along with a Withdraw-Fail in Trigonometry (though I intend retaking Trig at community college in a year off for my own edification).
He seems serious about getting rid of the coal industry and thus destroying jobs. Did I miss the joke?
Some people think that not ruining the planet is more important than propping up a dying industry. HTH
lol. I like your false premise.

Coal is very very useful. If it wasnt, noone would be buying it and the industry would collapse. Also, proping up an industry is far different than tearing an industry down.

You assume coal mining is destroying the planet. There is no proof that permanent damage results from coal. Only theories.

WV is a very poor area of the country. Taking away any jobs from these people would be inhumane. Yet you care more about the idea that coal is destroying the world than people's lives. Coal doesn't destroy the planet but not having a job can surely ruin your life.
Last edited by JD Janitor on Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:06 am, edited 3 times in total.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Choosing a Law School”