Top Law Schools

I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

Mqt wrote:I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

NU or GULC dude. Check out LSN, WUSTL was throwing money at 167 / 2.9s last year. UMN did the same for those right around the ~3.0 mark. Plus if you are at a 2.99, might as well tack on 1 community college credit or something to get that gpa to a 3. Or go enter the work force for a year, get some WE and send an application to NU.

TheThriller wrote:

Mqt wrote:I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

NU or GULC dude. Check out LSN, WUSTL was throwing money at 167 / 2.9s last year. UMN did the same for those right around the ~3.0 mark. Plus if you are at a 2.99, might as well tack on 1 community college credit or something to get that gpa to a 3. Or go enter the work force for a year, get some WE and send an application to NU.

I feel like my best move for my family is to apply this cycle, or I'd absolutely want to look into a year of WE for a better shot at NU. As far as this cycle is concerned, I'm feeling pessimistic about my chances. I have a reason for my GPA addendum that I've mentioned elsewhere, but my pessimism is what has led to my question. If I strike out at NU, GULC, Cornell, UVA and UM, and don't get the type of money I want the next tier down, am I making a huge mistake in attending law school?

Mqt wrote:

TheThriller wrote:

Mqt wrote:I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

NU or GULC dude. Check out LSN, WUSTL was throwing money at 167 / 2.9s last year. UMN did the same for those right around the ~3.0 mark. Plus if you are at a 2.99, might as well tack on 1 community college credit or something to get that gpa to a 3. Or go enter the work force for a year, get some WE and send an application to NU.

I feel like my best move for my family is to apply this cycle, or I'd absolutely want to look into a year of WE for a better shot at NU. As far as this cycle is concerned, I'm feeling pessimistic about my chances. I have a reason for my GPA addendum that I've mentioned elsewhere, but my pessimism is what has led to my question. If I strike out at NU, GULC, Cornell, UVA and UM, and don't get the type of money I want the next tier down, am I making a huge mistake in attending law school?

Possibly, depending on your future goals. But if it doesn't pan out this cycle, you will be forced to find a job, which will force you to get WE which will then allow you to have said WE on your application for next cycle.

Your best bet is to ED UVA, then ED GULC if things dont pan out. However, those deadlines are fast approaching no?

TheThriller wrote:

Mqt wrote:

TheThriller wrote:

Mqt wrote:I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

NU or GULC dude. Check out LSN, WUSTL was throwing money at 167 / 2.9s last year. UMN did the same for those right around the ~3.0 mark. Plus if you are at a 2.99, might as well tack on 1 community college credit or something to get that gpa to a 3. Or go enter the work force for a year, get some WE and send an application to NU.

I feel like my best move for my family is to apply this cycle, or I'd absolutely want to look into a year of WE for a better shot at NU. As far as this cycle is concerned, I'm feeling pessimistic about my chances. I have a reason for my GPA addendum that I've mentioned elsewhere, but my pessimism is what has led to my question. If I strike out at NU, GULC, Cornell, UVA and UM, and don't get the type of money I want the next tier down, am I making a huge mistake in attending law school?

Possibly, depending on your future goals. But if it doesn't pan out this cycle, you will be forced to find a job, which will force you to get WE which will then allow you to have said WE on your application for next cycle.

Your best bet is to ED UVA, then ED GULC if things dont pan out. However, those deadlines are fast approaching no?

My LORs won't be in for ED at either, so it's out of the option. My dream school is NU, so my current plan would be to hope like hell that they like my story enough to overcome my GPA.

My real concern is a lack of professional jobs in my area. I don't know that I could get any better job than the one I've had throughout UG. I excel at my job, but it's retail, which would not help me in any way. This is what's leading me to consider riding it out this cycle and taking the best chance I've got with my numbers as they stand. I just can't help but feel as though it's the wrong choice.

167/2.0 gets money at minnesota.

just apply and i'm almost positive you'll get decent money at those places. you could also throw one at Alabama (they give splitters close to full schollys)

UVA accepts ED apps until like March why exactly won't your LORs be together by then?

Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

Dont worry. Youll get your $$.

WUSTL Schollys last year:

169/3.3 60k
169/3.2 108k
169/3.3 75k
169/3.0 45k
168/3.4 105k
168/3.2 72k
168/3.0 60k
168/3.3 60k
168/3.4 75k

UMN:

169/3.3 60k
168/3.3 90k
168/3.3 72k
168/3.4 54k
168/2.8 81k
167/2.5 69k
167/3.0 69k
167/3.4 69k
167/3.3 72k
167/2.5 71k
167/3.4 60k
167/3.0 72k

Mqt wrote:My real concern is a lack of professional jobs in my area. I don't know that I could get any better job than the one I've had throughout UG. I excel at my job, but it's retail, which would not help me in any way. This is what's leading me to consider riding it out this cycle and taking the best chance I've got with my numbers as they stand. I just can't help but feel as though it's the wrong choice.

The type of work experience doesn't matter. Are you making enough to support your family? Then take the year to work.

Your family will be in a much worse situation for a longer period of time if you pull the trigger on what is an objectively bad financial move. Think long-term here.

timbs4339 wrote:

Mqt wrote:My real concern is a lack of professional jobs in my area. I don't know that I could get any better job than the one I've had throughout UG. I excel at my job, but it's retail, which would not help me in any way. This is what's leading me to consider riding it out this cycle and taking the best chance I've got with my numbers as they stand. I just can't help but feel as though it's the wrong choice.

The type of work experience doesn't matter. Are you making enough to support your family? Then take the year to work.

Your family will be in a much worse situation for a longer period of time if you pull the trigger on what is an objectively bad financial move. Think long-term here.

Not really, they've been busy slashing hours as it is. I could likely find a job that would pay the bills for a year, but just barely. If I struck out at T14, and didn't get some sort of solid money at these schools, I think my hands would be tied. Still, I'm concerned, to say the least.

For now, I suppose I'll just ride out the cycle and see what falls. Hopefully I get a miracle at UVA or NU and make this whole discussion irrelevant.

Nova, where can you find info like that?

scottyc66 wrote:Nova, where can you find info like that?

I just compiled it from http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com. Click the school tab at the top. Then click a school. Then click the applicants tab. Then click last year. For instance,

http://gulc.lawschoolnumbers.com/applicants/1112/

timbs4339 wrote: Your family will be in a much worse situation for a longer period of time if you pull the trigger on what is an objectively bad financial move. Think long-term here.

T30 with a scholarship is not an objectively bad financial move. In many instances it makes more sense than bottom T14 at sticker.

Mqt wrote:I'm likely jumping the gun a little bit with this thread, as I don't have my apps completed, but with my 171/2.88 (soon to be 2.99 if grades hold for my final semester) I don't feel confident in my ability to land T14. Further, I don't feel confident in my ability to land any significant money at places like WUSTL, Minnesota, UIUC or Indiana.

My question is whether attending law school at one of these institutions without at least some money is just a waste or not. I know these schools on a full scholarship or something close to it is a decent option for the debt-averse, but are the job prospects still good enough to attend at/near cost?

Pepper as many schools as you can afford to with applications. Like others have been saying, Wustl and Umn were handing out big scholarships for people with your numbers. I'd also throw an application at Alabama, they gave me a full ride with a 2.95/168 and a lot of schools were responsive to negotiation based on their scholarship. If you can ride out waitlists, there could be a lot of money available for splitters again.

Nova wrote:

timbs4339 wrote: Your family will be in a much worse situation for a longer period of time if you pull the trigger on what is an objectively bad financial move. Think long-term here.

T30 with a scholarship is not an objectively bad financial move. In many instances it makes more sense than bottom T14 at sticker.

Agreed. I am going to a low T14 at sticker on the "chase your dream"/"straight out of undergrad with plenty of time to pay off your debt rationale." If providing for a family is the driver go T-30, hell go T-50 with a full-ride at a strong regional and feel safe in at least 65-70k coming out if you work hard and graduate near the top.

Nova wrote:

timbs4339 wrote: Your family will be in a much worse situation for a longer period of time if you pull the trigger on what is an objectively bad financial move. Think long-term here.

T30 with a scholarship is not an objectively bad financial move. In many instances it makes more sense than bottom T14 at sticker.

I had virtually the same numbers. Got into GULC; negotiated 84K from WUSTL and 90K from Wake; got near-free rides at several TTs in my regions of choice. Relax, you'll be fine.