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I've been admitted to the Florida Coastal School of Law with a $20,000 merit scholarship. I find it hard to believe that any of the other law schools I've applied to is going to come anywhere near matching that, but since this is my first attempt at applying I can't be sure.

I've applied to UF, Baltimore, and St. Thomas in Minnesota in addition to FCSL.

I have been told by many of the attorneys I currently work with that it doesn't matter where you go to school, it is what you do with your degree and the connections you make.

Both UF and Baltimore have reviewed my file with no decision reached. I emailed Baltimore and they told me they should have my decision in a couple of weeks. I just hate waiting to plan for the rest of my life. Should I just go ahead and accept FCSL's offer?

Kris31280 wrote:I've been admitted to the Florida Coastal School of Law with a $20,000 merit scholarship. I find it hard to believe that any of the other law schools I've applied to is going to come anywhere near matching that, but since this is my first attempt at applying I can't be sure.

I've applied to UF, Baltimore, and St. Thomas in Minnesota in addition to FCSL.

I have been told by many of the attorneys I currently work with that it doesn't matter where you go to school, it is what you do with your degree and the connections you make.

Both UF and Baltimore have reviewed my file with no decision reached. I emailed Baltimore and they told me they should have my decision in a couple of weeks. I just hate waiting to plan for the rest of my life. Should I just go ahead and accept FCSL's offer?

When's the deadline to accept?

Two things: I don't see the harm in waiting a few more months, possibly getting an unexpected acceptance/scholarship, and then putting the schools under the fire in terms of trying to get each of them to fight over getting you to matriculate. Secondly, though what the attorney said is true, one should recognize that the ability to "do" something with your degree and the to make "connections" correlates, if it doesn't equate in some way, to the higher quality of the school. You should attempt to make a calculation of the value of a UF or Baltimore education and the ability to do something with that degree with one of a Florida Coastal Degree with the scholarship. Legal employment is bleak, and if you're going to make the law school decision, risk-averse tactics are likely the better maneuvers to ensure you don't graduate jobless, with debt that you cannot discharge, and freaking out about life.

Why the hell wouldn't you wait? As far as I can tell, you have literally no reason except "I don't like waiting." I just don't get how this is even a question.

Also, if you do get scholarships from another school, you could possibly negotiate a higher one with FCSL.

Do you have one single reason why you shouldn't wait?

No, don't accept now.

Also, I hate to be the one to do this buuuuut:

Dude, you have a 3.8 GPA. Have you considered retaking the LSAT? It's not what you want to hear. It wasn't what I wanted to hear when I desperately wanted to go to law school rightthisminutethankyouverymuch even though I had a 156. Is there any reason that you won't consider waiting another year, doing a real study regimen and improving your score? If so you could get that same (or better) scholly at a much more highly ranked school.

I know people have lots of compelling reasons for not wanting to wait...or maybe you have taken it more than once, so if you don't want my advice don't take it.

oaken wrote:Why the hell wouldn't you wait? As far as I can tell, you have literally no reason except "I don't like waiting." I just don't get how this is even a question.

Also, if you do get scholarships from another school, you could possibly negotiate a higher one with FCSL.

Do you have one single reason why you shouldn't wait?

Because it isn't just myself that has a vested interest in where I'm going to school next year. I'm a single mother who currently lives in Maryland. In order to attend law school, I need the help and support of my family. If FCSL is where I am going, then plans need to be made to move an entire household to Florida.

I'm not worried about finding a job out of law school, as I have already been given two job offers in Maryland (one for the attorney I work for now, another for an organization I am associated with through a council I'm on) and am certain I can make new contacts where ever I decide to end up.

AlexanderSupertramp wrote:No, don't accept now.

Also, I hate to be the one to do this buuuuut:

Dude, you have a 3.8 GPA. Have you considered retaking the LSAT? It's not what you want to hear. It wasn't what I wanted to hear when I desperately wanted to go to law school rightthisminutethankyouverymuch even though I had a 156. Is there any reason that you won't consider waiting another year, doing a real study regimen and improving your score? If so you could get that same (or better) scholly at a much more highly ranked school.

I know people have lots of compelling reasons for not wanting to wait...or maybe you have taken it more than once, so if you don't want my advice don't take it.

I can't afford to wait another year, and the circumstances aren't going to change in prepping for the LSAT. Trust me, I've thought about retaking the LSAT but I don't believe anything is going to change in regards to preparation.

Kris31280 wrote:

oaken wrote:Why the hell wouldn't you wait? As far as I can tell, you have literally no reason except "I don't like waiting." I just don't get how this is even a question.

Also, if you do get scholarships from another school, you could possibly negotiate a higher one with FCSL.

Do you have one single reason why you shouldn't wait?

Because it isn't just myself that has a vested interest in where I'm going to school next year. I'm a single mother who currently lives in Maryland. In order to attend law school, I need the help and support of my family. If FCSL is where I am going, then plans need to be made to move an entire household to Florida.

I'm not worried about finding a job out of law school, as I have already been given two job offers in Maryland (one for the attorney I work for now, another for an organization I am associated with through a council I'm on) and am certain I can make new contacts where ever I decide to end up.

Ah, well, that's the sort of thing that it would have been good to put in the OP.

Still, I wouldn't accept now. Even if you've absolutely decided to go, you're guaranteed a spot, and that scholarship negotiation thing could still come into play down the road.

OK. I still would wait and see what you get. I'm a single mother of three. My youngest was 2 months old when I started law school so if you have any questions or need support feel free to pm me! I had to make decisions based on scholarships as well even though it meant going to a lower ranked school than some of the ones I did get into. I also, due to our custody agreement can not move the kids out of state, so that narrowed my options. I'd normally steer anyone far far far away from FC as it's a for-profit school with a pretty bad reputation and high price tag but if you have a scholarship and a job lined up you might be okay. Good luck with everything.

Still, see what a MD school will give you. It would be nice to be close to family and if you want to practice in that state they might teach more to the MD bar plus you could still do your summer internships in MD and build more connections with the legal community there.

With family and connections in MD i think you would be crazy to go to Florida esp. b/c the legal market is so saturated there.

AlexanderSupertramp wrote:OK. I still would wait and see what you get. I'm a single mother of three. My youngest was 2 months old when I started law school so if you have any questions or need support feel free to pm me! I had to make decisions based on scholarships as well even though it meant going to a lower ranked school than some of the ones I did get into. I also, due to our custody agreement can not move the kids out of state, so that narrowed my options. I'd normally steer anyone far far far away from FC as it's a for-profit school with a pretty bad reputation and high price tag but if you have a scholarship and a job lined up you might be okay. Good luck with everything.

Still, see what a MD school will give you. It would be nice to be close to family and if you want to practice in that state they might teach more to the MD bar plus you could still do your summer internships in MD and build more connections with the legal community there.

Thanks for the advice and I'm sure I will be asking for advice in the future. I know FC has not had the greatest rep but it has started to change in the past few years. Right now, for example, they have the #1 moot court team in the nation and their bar passage rate is higher than the state average. Mostly, honestly, I just want to live in St. Augustine.

I work for a lawyer who's family has a long history politically and legally, and my ex's family (whom I'm still friendly with) is the same. I am very well connnected in this area but am unsure Maryland is where I want to remain. I'm from Minnesota originally, but I long for warmer weather.

soitgoes9 wrote:With family and connections in MD i think you would be crazy to go to Florida esp. b/c the legal market is so saturated there.

I have connections in Florida too. My best friend's aunt is running for judge in Jacksonville.

Sorry, I must have read incorrectly. It looked like you have a job lined up in MD.

AlexanderSupertramp wrote:Sorry, I must have read incorrectly. It looked like you have a job lined up in MD.

I do, my current boss (I'm a legal assistant for a Personal Injury firm) offered to hire me out of law school.

Still i would wait and look into the stipulation on the 20k. I am under the impression that costal gives $$ and then forces people out with a crazy curve. And cost of living moving ect. But I have an anti florida bias they graduate far to many lawyers form man schools that are not that good.

Also moot court means nothing unless you are on the team. Florida Costal may be getting a less bad reputation but UBalt. is more established even if the education is comparable.

Don't accept yet.

Even if you decide you are going to Florida, you can still start moving and use the other acceptances and scholarships as bargaining.
Also, if you are going to practice in MD, it is a good idea to go to school there. I know you have a job offer from your boss, but things happen over 4 years.

Please don't go to law school

WSJ_Law wrote:Please don't go to law school

She seems to have a job lined up. You don't know what her alternatives are. I wouldn't be so quick to rule it out.

Thank you, everyone, for your advice. I appreciate it!

Kris31280 wrote: Mostly, honestly, I just want to live in St. Augustine.

Sounds like a great reason to attend law school there.

KMaine wrote:

WSJ_Law wrote:Please don't go to law school

She seems to have a job lined up. You don't know what her alternatives are. I wouldn't be so quick to rule it out.

Job lined up? Really?

Kris31280 wrote: I have connections in Florida too. My best friend's aunt is running for judge in Jacksonville.

Kris31280 wrote:I work for a lawyer who's family has a long history politically and legally, and my ex's family (whom I'm still friendly with) is the same. I am very well connnected in this area but am unsure Maryland is where I want to remain. I'm from Minnesota originally, but I long for warmer weather.

Kris31280 wrote:I'm not worried about finding a job out of law school, as I have already been given two job offers in Maryland (one for the attorney I work for now, another for an organization I am associated with through a council I'm on) and am certain I can make new contacts where ever I decide to end up.

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, especially with the ridiculous stips FCSL puts on scholarships. But hey, she wants warm weather and her friend's aunt might become a judge one day. Florida Coastal has to be the only option.

Kris31280 wrote: I can't afford to wait another year, and the circumstances aren't going to change in prepping for the LSAT. Trust me, I've thought about retaking the LSAT but I don't believe anything is going to change in regards to preparation.

Then give up. You won't have many opportunities to make the worst decision of your life, but you've come across one. Best of luck.

She'll be occupying south beach in no time.

Edit: Missed the part where you have a job lined up....... If you can wait to see what the other schools have to say, wait. If you absolutely can't wait, then I guess you should just accept (since you have a job lined up.)

NoleinNY wrote:Edit: Missed the part where you have a job lined up....... If you can wait to see what the other schools have to say, wait. If you absolutely can't wait, then I guess you should just accept (since you have a job lined up.)

Hardly seems like she has a job lined up. She's assuming she does, but it seemsnshe's banking on favors that may not happen (ex: ex's family laying their neck out for her, etc.)

I'd get that boss' offer in writing. And make sure Florida coastal isn't one of those schools that flunks out a third of its class like some of its peers

It was an honest question and obviously I'm new here. I didn't realize these forums were for people who lack common decency with their fellow man.

The stipulation on the scholarship is a 2.9 GPA must be maintained. In my entire school career I have never carried less than a 3.6.

My ex's father wrote me a glowing letter of recommendation AFTER his son and I had broken up, so I'm not worried about that relationship.

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