Vanderbilt worth 150k? Forum

(Applications Advice, Letters of Recommendation . . . )
nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:10 am

I was just accepted off Vanderbilt's waitlist yesterday with a 20k per year scholly which puts tuition around 30k per year.

I have already accepted a full ride to Richmond but I'm wondering if I should consider Vanderbilt's offer.

My fear is that being 150k in debt g after graduation would be crippling if I didn't secure a very lucrative job (which means I would have to finish in the top % of the class). However, I love Nashville/Tennessee and I believe Vanderbilt would provide more opportunities than Richmond.

What do you think... Is law school worth this much money in the current legal market? Or should I just stick with my full tuition offer and make the best of a much lower ranked school.

Thanks for your help!

DportIA

Bronze
Posts: 250
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:18 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by DportIA » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:18 am

Probably not.

User avatar
OhBoyOhBortles

Gold
Posts: 2473
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:01 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by OhBoyOhBortles » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:19 am

In order to receive the best feedback in this forum, please provide as much of the following information in your original post as possible:

-The schools you are considering
-The total Cost of Attendance (COA) of each. COA = cost of tuition + fees + books + cost of living (COL) + accumulated interest - scholarships. Here is a helpful calculator.
-How you will be financing your COA, i.e. loans, family, or savings
-Where you are from and where you want to work, and other places where you have significant ties (if any)
-Your general career goals
-Your LSAT/GPA numbers
-How many times you have taken the LSAT

User avatar
rahulg91

Bronze
Posts: 427
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:30 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by rahulg91 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:21 am

Those can't be your only two options right? WUSTL should be offering near a full ride if Vandy is giving you $20k/year. Reapply if those are your only two options.

But yes, to service that debt, you'd probably need biglaw. To get biglaw from Vandy (non-URM) applicants will have to be top third. It's not impossible, but it's also not ideal.

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:35 am

162/3.91 (Only took LSAT once)

I had other offers that I turned down to attend Richmond. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to get into Vandy.

I could have gone to UGA for about 20K total, or IU-B on a full ride, or W&M with 18k per year. Looking back, I should have gone to Georgia, but that ship has probably sailed.

This entire time I've been so worried about debt that I think I may have limited myself to a mediocre law school with mediocre job prospects.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


CanadianWolf

Diamond
Posts: 11413
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by CanadianWolf » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:40 am

Although it's difficult to turn down a full tuition scholarship, your GPA is well within T-14 law school territory, but your LSAT is not. Consider retaking the LSAT. Even a few points higher should yield T-14 acceptances while still allowing for full tuition scholarship offers from other tier one law schools.

User avatar
Clemenceau

Silver
Posts: 940
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:33 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by Clemenceau » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:49 am

Dear god plz retake

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:52 am

I considered taking it again but didn't want to sit out a cycle to yield better offers. I was also worried that next cycle may see more applicants which could limit my scholarship offers. I would hate to be in a worse position this time next year.

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:53 am

Also, what would I do for an entire year? I feel like that could be a big waste of time.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


arklaw13

Gold
Posts: 1862
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:36 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by arklaw13 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:54 am

Vandy rising 3L here.

I generally don't recommend anything over $100k unless there are weird circumstances, which you haven't mentioned. TCR is retake.

User avatar
OhBoyOhBortles

Gold
Posts: 2473
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:01 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by OhBoyOhBortles » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:56 am

Do anything for a year. Get some work experience, travel, learn an instrument, do whatever alongside some heavy lsat studying. You have a great gpa, and if you add a higher lsat to the equation you could easily have a full ride at Vandy next year as well as some t14 options. Your gpa paired with a 168/169 this year might have earned you a Dillard, for example. Please retake, OP. Right now you think sitting out is wasting a year, but I think you'll be wasting four years of hard work to earn that gpa if you sell yourself short by accepting one of your current offers instead of retaking.

Gray

Platinum
Posts: 7003
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:02 pm

.

Post by Gray » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:57 am

.

Rigo

Diamond
Posts: 16639
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:19 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by Rigo » Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:28 am

nickt92 wrote:I considered taking it again but didn't want to sit out a cycle to yield better offers. I was also worried that next cycle may see more applicants which could limit my scholarship offers. I would hate to be in a worse position this time next year.
This is dumb.
Please retake. I did. You'll be much better off if you can raise that score even just to high 160's.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
chuckbass

Platinum
Posts: 9956
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:29 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by chuckbass » Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:32 am

Retake is TCR. I was in a similar situation as you and foolishly did not retake. I lucked out and landed biglaw, but I'll have similar/more debt and even with biglaw it's not ideal. And again, when you're not at a T14 (and even when you are) there is a lot of luck in who gets biglaw and who doesn't and it is definitely worth a year off to decrease debt and maximize your odds.

adil91

Silver
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:54 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by adil91 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:20 pm

I would stab myself in the eye for that GPA, retake(btw I'm going to Vandy for a little less than 100k and I'm not 100% thrilled by that, 150k is too much)

Traynor Brah

Silver
Posts: 776
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2015 10:23 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by Traynor Brah » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:48 pm

Best choice: retake.

Second-best choice: vandy.

Third-best choice: become prostitute or gigolo.

Fourth-best choice: Richmond.


You would be a fool not to retake with that GPA. If you literally sit on your ass and do nothing but increase your score to like a 168, at minimum, you'll have done wonders for your legal career, and made a ton of money. Again, you would be a total moron not to do this, but if you are a total moron, then Vandy with this much debt is probably better than Richmond. This is definitely too much debt to make vandy justifiable. It is an OK price to pay if you get good grades, but there is no way to know whether you will have good grades, and if you don't get a biglaw job you're going to be pretty much fucked.

Richmond only really make sense if you were born and raised in Richmond, won't have any debt upon graduation, and you have very modest goals for a legal career that do not involve working in places outside of Richmond. If that doesn't isn't you, see third-best choice above.

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:53 pm

I really do appreciate the responses.. It's nice to get come candid advice.

When I took the LSAT it's not like I just walked in and got a 162. I took testmasters online in the summer and spent several months preparing. That being said, I still think I can improve but a 170 isn't likely. Realistically 164-167 is my range for a retake with rigours preparation. However, things can happen and I could only improve marginally or not at all. If that's the case, would I be in a worse position next cycle b/c I'd have to apply to all the same schools and ask them to admit me again? Would they be less inclined after I've already turned them down once?

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

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


PoopNpants

Silver
Posts: 854
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2014 9:40 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by PoopNpants » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:55 pm

nickt92 wrote:I really do appreciate the responses.. It's nice to get come candid advice.

When I took the LSAT it's not like I just walked in and got a 162. I took testmasters online in the summer and spent several months preparing. That being said, I still think I can improve but a 170 isn't likely. Realistically 164-167 is my range for a retake with rigours preparation. However, things can happen and I could only improve marginally or not at all. If that's the case, would I be in a worse position next cycle b/c I'd have to apply to all the same schools and ask them to admit me again? Would they be less inclined after I've already turned them down once?
no

User avatar
OhBoyOhBortles

Gold
Posts: 2473
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:01 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by OhBoyOhBortles » Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:58 pm

nickt92 wrote:I really do appreciate the responses.. It's nice to get come candid advice.

When I took the LSAT it's not like I just walked in and got a 162. I took testmasters online in the summer and spent several months preparing. That being said, I still think I can improve but a 170 isn't likely. Realistically 164-167 is my range for a retake with rigours preparation. However, things can happen and I could only improve marginally or not at all. If that's the case, would I be in a worse position next cycle b/c I'd have to apply to all the same schools and ask them to admit me again? Would they be less inclined after I've already turned them down once?
Have you visited the lsat prep threads yet? http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=6 Self-study is the way to go. You can learn to do well on the lsat. Even 170 range.

The schools won't mind that you turned them down previously. They'll be busy salivating over your stats when you have an upper 160s or 170s lsat to pair with your great gpa. Even if you don't improve, you won't be in a worse position.

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:01 pm

Well there is no way in hell I could apply to Richmond again. If I go back on my commitment for a full ride.. Why would they give it to me again next year?

User avatar
OhBoyOhBortles

Gold
Posts: 2473
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:01 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by OhBoyOhBortles » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:04 pm

nickt92 wrote:Well there is no way in hell I could apply to Richmond again. If I go back on my commitment for a full ride.. Why would they give it to me again next year?
Because they want your stats to bring their medians up.

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!


Rigo

Diamond
Posts: 16639
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:19 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by Rigo » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:22 pm

Where are you even from & what kind of employment outcomes do you seek?

User avatar
TasmanianToucan

Silver
Posts: 604
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:16 am

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by TasmanianToucan » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:24 pm

nickt92 wrote:Well there is no way in hell I could apply to Richmond again. If I go back on my commitment for a full ride.. Why would they give it to me again next year?
Don't worry about Richmond. With another three points on the LSAT you'll be worrying about whether to go to WUSTL for free, Vandy for 50k or a T-14 at sticker.

The year off is not a waste, it is a gift. Judging from your answers so far you're a senior in college. If that's the case, you've been a student for your entire life. Work for a living. Get some perspective. It will be very, very good for you. I've never met you and don't know anything about you beyond what you've posted here, and I can still say with absolute certainty that taking some time away from academia and working is a smart move for you. (Because it's a smart move for anyone.)

User avatar
PrezRand

Gold
Posts: 1608
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:31 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by PrezRand » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:50 pm

I'm not an expert or have much knowledge on law school, but it seems like you are really worried about debt and you might just rush into debt, If law is your passion, why not reapply in a year after improving your LSAT? You might get into the school you actually want to go to at that point.

nickt92

New
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:01 pm

Re: Vanderbilt worth 150k?

Post by nickt92 » Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:52 pm

I'm from VA about an hour outside of Richmond. I wouldn't mind working in Richmond but don't know how big the market is there.. I've heard it's over saturated with lawyers. Would love to work and live in the south ideally Atlanta. But I'd go wherever the best job prospect is.

As far as what I want to do.. I'd like to make the most out of my investment so big law would be nice. But anything that pays reasonable is fine with me.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

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


Post Reply

Return to “Law School Admissions Forum”