Please take a moment to rip apart my D.C. dreams. (GW,W&M,W&L) Forum

[blerggggg]

If you wanna live in dc so bad just go apply for a paralegal position and live in dc. While you’re at it, retake the lsat to make law school cheaper. Going into debt just to live in dc makes no sense. I lived in dc for a couple years and this “I’ll go into six figure debt for dc” makes no sense to me: the food sucks, the metro is worse, and the people are bland. But you do you.

Retaking the LSAT is definitely something I want to do. My fear right now comes down to my undergraduate loans which are about to come calling, since I am now a graduate. I took three tests and scored far below my practice scores on each one. I was so exhausted after the third (and the rule was still as such) that I didn't think about taking another. Now, with the rule change, it is tempting. I worry that a couple extra points still won't be enough to get past my super-shit GPA. Mostly I worry about how to make payments.

Where are you living that you find better food than in D.C.? I know people are going to take this way too seriously, but having access to diverse ethnic foods is a serious lifestyle consideration of mine.

Also, it is definitely possible that I am one of those bland people, which is what makes it appealing. I don't know how I'd be able to tell.

Thank you very much for reading and for taking the time to respond. Obviously, I will "do me" but it is really fucking helpful to hear from people who are not laymen or lawyers decades separated from the experience of choosing a school.

Okay I hear you on the loan situation but deferring your loans just to take on more loans isn’t the only solution. If I were you, I would try to find a job in dc to pay off the loans. Even just paying the monthly minimum is better than taking out more loans for GW. While you’re working, keep studying for the LSAT! It is the worst thing ever but even gaining a couple points could result in a lot of money, which will benefit your debt burden later. You can do it, just be persistent, don’t take out more loans just to avoid paying off your loans.

Frankly, I’m just not a fan of the dc food scene but maybe I’m a brat. There’s a lot of good Ethiopian food. But frankly that’s about it. NW DC food < any other quadrant. Although most of the Jose andres places are delicious

I loved DC when I first moved there but it’s draining to live in. However, you might like it better than I do; everyone has their own opinion.

Yes, the Ethiopian is my go-to! Regarding everything else, you are completely right about deferring just to get more loans - god, what a situation. Any chance you would mind telling me where you are now? As for the LSAT, you're right, persistence is key. I have spent so long on this damn test... now that my goals are smashed to pieces, any opinion on taking a full-ride to a T50-100?

Ooo you should check out lalibella and dukem, both have amazing eithopian food.

Hmm that’s a good question. Assuming you get a good scholarship and cost of attendance is low, UMD wouldn’t be a horrible option. I’ve heard horror stories about American so I wouldn’t recommend it. UDC is weird because it can be really cheap but employment opportunities are weary; I do know a couple success stories though. If you are an ethnic minority, consider Howard. Their employment numbers go over their ranking because of their brand (but don’t be that white person who goes to Howard).

[mcmand]

OP are you K-JD?

Yes and no. I have not taken time off, but it has also taken me many more years than the average bear. I have also worked 100% of the time, which definitely gives me a perspective advantage (and interview advantage) over the K-JD, but yeah, because I have always at least been in one class, I am K-JD.

I'm not worried about you in that sense then. I just was concerned you were some 21 year old who was getting swept up in the desire to go to law school.

Sorry for snarking earlier, I get hostile in the morning before I've eaten breakfast.

Pay down your existing debt though, as much as you can. I'm in biglaw and the loan payments on law school loans hurt, even with the salary. There is no gain in compounding the problem with undergrad loans.

[cavalier1138]

I'm in the "get therapy" camp.

This entire thread is absurd. If you can be dissuaded but require a bunch of strangers on the internet to tell you things you already know in order to dissuade you, then it sounds like you have deeper issues. The drawbacks of going to GW at this price are obvious, and you already outlined them.

I'm not quite sure why some people are still humoring you, but this is just begging for attention at this point.

[somewhereclassof2021]

I'm in the "get therapy" camp.

This entire thread is absurd. If you can be dissuaded but require a bunch of strangers on the internet to tell you things you already know in order to dissuade you, then it sounds like you have deeper issues. The drawbacks of going to GW at this price are obvious, and you already outlined them.

I'm not quite sure why some people are still humoring you, but this is just begging for attention at this point.

Maybe they are still posting because they have something constructive to say and would rather help a stranger than put them down. You, however, I cannot explain. Good luck with that, because it comes back around. I am begging for attention. Isn't that literally the purpose of posting on this forum? If I didn't need attention, what the fuck would the post be for?

Thanks to everyone else who has humored me and given me the attention I do desperately desire. I am leaning more and more towards taking a year and retaking the LSAT a fourth time, as long as I can find a way to be making payments on my undergraduate debt. I realize that, although I'm not young, I'm not old either, and taking one more year in the grand scheme of things could offer a multitude of benefits down the line.

[somewhereclassof2021]

OP are you K-JD?

Yes and no. I have not taken time off, but it has also taken me many more years than the average bear. I have also worked 100% of the time, which definitely gives me a perspective advantage (and interview advantage) over the K-JD, but yeah, because I have always at least been in one class, I am K-JD.

I'm not worried about you in that sense then. I just was concerned you were some 21 year old who was getting swept up in the desire to go to law school.

Sorry for snarking earlier, I get hostile in the morning before I've eaten breakfast.

Pay down your existing debt though, as much as you can. I'm in biglaw and the loan payments on law school loans hurt, even with the salary. There is no gain in compounding the problem with undergrad loans.

Not at all, and I appreciate your apology. I also should not get upset by internet strangers, but this is certainly an emotional and stressful time. I'm going to see what I can do about securing work to pay off my undergraduate loans for at least a year while I retake the LSAT. I was so much luckier than I thought I would be this cycle, I don't see why I should have worse luck next cycle, and another year of WE and an even higher LSAT would obviously help and not hurt. If I get another score around my other three, well, hell, at least I can prove consistency.

Thanks so much for all of your help.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I'm in the "get therapy" camp.

This entire thread is absurd. If you can be dissuaded but require a bunch of strangers on the internet to tell you things you already know in order to dissuade you, then it sounds like you have deeper issues. The drawbacks of going to GW at this price are obvious, and you already outlined them.

I'm not quite sure why some people are still humoring you, but this is just begging for attention at this point.

This is a little much. A lot of people find it helpful to talk out issues with others, and may not have a lot of people in their lives who know anything about law schools. There’s nothing wrong with this thread.

[Rigo]

Yeah I think OP is fine.
A tad misguided, but also more aware than the average poster new Choosing poster.

[Rigo]

I think you really need to consider how important D.C. is for you. Unfortunately a good D.C. feeder for a good COA is going to be tough with that GPA.

A couple more point and you'll get some solid WUSTL money. Not that that will be particularly helpful for D.C., but it's probably your best shot at minimal debt from a solid school.

[Rigo]

If you were to do one of these three: Get W&L down more and I don't think that's completely nuts, if you have realistic expectations (with both jobs and geography). I don't think the value of GW is $100k more.

[vwhorley]

Why don't you take a couple years to work in DC? A lot of DC schools will appreciate the experience in the city so you know how everything works. I'm currently looking to apply to DC area schools for 2019 admission, but I have been working here two years already. Also, have you looked at George Mason? It's very close to DC and much cheaper- especially if you can get in state in VA

[somewhereclassof2021]

I'm in the "get therapy" camp.

This entire thread is absurd. If you can be dissuaded but require a bunch of strangers on the internet to tell you things you already know in order to dissuade you, then it sounds like you have deeper issues. The drawbacks of going to GW at this price are obvious, and you already outlined them.

I'm not quite sure why some people are still humoring you, but this is just begging for attention at this point.

This is a little much. A lot of people find it helpful to talk out issues with others, and may not have a lot of people in their lives who know anything about law schools. There’s nothing wrong with this thread.

Thanks for this defense. I have been reading these threads for a long time and I knew where to come to get good advice. I am more than happy that I posted.

[somewhereclassof2021]

UPDATE: I have decided to wait a year. I will figure out what to do with my undergraduate debt, and find a way to work on paying that off while I study for the LSAT. I am not young, but I am plenty young enough to spend another year on this and try my shot at securing better options. I want to see how it feels to pay on my undergraduate debt, and take that time to consider how much more debt I truly feel is necessary. At the same time, I know I am capable of a much higher LSAT score and so I can only increase my chances of graduating from a better school with less debt by waiting a year. I feel very good about this decision, and I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this thread. It definitely helped to hear it, no matter how many threads I read about other almost-identical situations. All of my decisions landed me some significant probability of regret, but this plan does not. Thank you again, and I hope to hear from you again with a better set of options next cycle.

[Br3v]

Good choice, good luck OP. Keep us posted.

[rowdy]

UPDATE: I have decided to wait a year. I will figure out what to do with my undergraduate debt, and find a way to work on paying that off while I study for the LSAT. I am not young, but I am plenty young enough to spend another year on this and try my shot at securing better options. I want to see how it feels to pay on my undergraduate debt, and take that time to consider how much more debt I truly feel is necessary. At the same time, I know I am capable of a much higher LSAT score and so I can only increase my chances of graduating from a better school with less debt by waiting a year. I feel very good about this decision, and I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this thread. It definitely helped to hear it, no matter how many threads I read about other almost-identical situations. All of my decisions landed me some significant probability of regret, but this plan does not. Thank you again, and I hope to hear from you again with a better set of options next cycle.

See you next year, somewhereclassof2022