Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School? Forum
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Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
It's very possible I will do this. Assuming nothing changes (more on why it might, but also might not, below), that would leave me with just shy of $200,000 in loans (the school is in the NYC metro area and thus the cost of living is high). That's simply staggering, I'm sure you guys would agree.
I've gone back and forth on this. The optimist in me says that the legal market will be better in three years, even if it's not as great as it once was, and that by doing well, I will either be able to get a good job--not necessarily at a T10 firm on the Vault list, but somewhere respectable that will give me a chance to pay off my debts--or transfer to a better school that will enable me to get a good job. If I end up doing well, perhaps I can get scholarship money (I'm not getting any right now) that will lessen the burden somewhat, but if I do well enough to transfer to a much better school (NYU, perhaps), perhaps the outsized cost will be worth it. If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
I'm going to meet with the financial aid people this week to talk about this. I get that I've worked for the past couple of years, but even living at home, I don't see why I got nothing in need-based grants. Maybe I can change that.
The pessimist in me says that I am either insane or a fool to take out that much in loans. (Maybe both?) I could go on about why this might be so, and so can and have many others here, but there's no point. We all know why that would be the case.
The way I see it is that I will simply drop out if I don't do well enough. No, that's not a good position to be in, but if after two semesters I am not doing well enough to justify either staying or transferring, it should be clear that the investment will not be worth it. It'll suck to be that much in the hole without a degree, but at the same time, in this worst case scenario, I would stop adding to the debt. To be clear, I am not going in with the intention of dropping out. It's just that I like to think I know when to cut my losses.
Anyway, is anyone in a similar position?
I've gone back and forth on this. The optimist in me says that the legal market will be better in three years, even if it's not as great as it once was, and that by doing well, I will either be able to get a good job--not necessarily at a T10 firm on the Vault list, but somewhere respectable that will give me a chance to pay off my debts--or transfer to a better school that will enable me to get a good job. If I end up doing well, perhaps I can get scholarship money (I'm not getting any right now) that will lessen the burden somewhat, but if I do well enough to transfer to a much better school (NYU, perhaps), perhaps the outsized cost will be worth it. If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
I'm going to meet with the financial aid people this week to talk about this. I get that I've worked for the past couple of years, but even living at home, I don't see why I got nothing in need-based grants. Maybe I can change that.
The pessimist in me says that I am either insane or a fool to take out that much in loans. (Maybe both?) I could go on about why this might be so, and so can and have many others here, but there's no point. We all know why that would be the case.
The way I see it is that I will simply drop out if I don't do well enough. No, that's not a good position to be in, but if after two semesters I am not doing well enough to justify either staying or transferring, it should be clear that the investment will not be worth it. It'll suck to be that much in the hole without a degree, but at the same time, in this worst case scenario, I would stop adding to the debt. To be clear, I am not going in with the intention of dropping out. It's just that I like to think I know when to cut my losses.
Anyway, is anyone in a similar position?
- megaTTTron
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
IN before this post gets shredded.b.j. wrote:It's very possible I will do this. Assuming nothing changes (more on why it might, but also might not, below), that would leave me with just shy of $200,000 in loans (the school is in the NYC metro area and thus the cost of living is high). That's simply staggering, I'm sure you guys would agree.
I've gone back and forth on this. The optimist in me says that the legal market will be better in three years, even if it's not as great as it once was, and that by doing well, I will either be able to get a good job--not necessarily at a T10 firm on the Vault list, but somewhere respectable that will give me a chance to pay off my debts--or transfer to a better school that will enable me to get a good job. If I end up doing well, perhaps I can get scholarship money (I'm not getting any right now) that will lessen the burden somewhat, but if I do well enough to transfer to a much better school (NYU, perhaps), perhaps the outsized cost will be worth it. If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
I'm going to meet with the financial aid people this week to talk about this. I get that I've worked for the past couple of years, but even living at home, I don't see why I got nothing in need-based grants. Maybe I can change that.
The pessimist in me says that I am either insane or a fool to take out that much in loans. (Maybe both?) I could go on about why this might be so, and so can and have many others here, but there's no point. We all know why that would be the case.
The way I see it is that I will simply drop out if I don't do well enough. No, that's not a good position to be in, but if after two semesters I am not doing well enough to justify either staying or transferring, it should be clear that the investment will not be worth it. It'll suck to be that much in the hole without a degree, but at the same time, in this worst case scenario, I would stop adding to the debt. To be clear, I am not going in with the intention of dropping out. It's just that I like to think I know when to cut my losses.
Anyway, is anyone in a similar position?
- scribelaw
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Don't do this.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
As someone who will be attending a T2... you are insane to take out $200k. Please, do yourself a favor and go to your state school if you can't get T14 - not some overpriced private that you will likely regret spending the $$$ on.
- megaTTTron
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
keg -- are you getting a phat scholly???keg411 wrote:As someone who will be attending a T2... you are insane to take out $200k. Please, do yourself a favor and go to your state school if you can't get T14 - not some overpriced private that you will likely regret spending the $$$ on.
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- General Tso
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
200k for a NYC T2 is not an option. you should either retake or rethink your career plans.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
The problem here is that there are at least 40 other people who think this, but only 40 of them can be there. They are just as smart and hard-working as you are. Some of them turned down higher ranked, and possibly much more competitive, schools for highly tempting financial offers. They, too, think they are going to be in the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I... If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
...
- megaTTTron
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Only 40? Try 350.Mr. Pablo wrote:The problem here is that there are at least 40 other people who think this, but only 40 of them can be there. They are just as smart and hard-working as you are. Some of them turned down higher ranked, and possibly much more competitive, schools for highly tempting financial offers. They, too, think they are going to be in the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I... If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
...
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
megaTTTron wrote:keg -- are you getting a phat scholly???keg411 wrote:As someone who will be attending a T2... you are insane to take out $200k. Please, do yourself a favor and go to your state school if you can't get T14 - not some overpriced private that you will likely regret spending the $$$ on.
Scholly + state school + don't need COL loans (or private loans at all) + massive legal connections in state (not BigLaw, but good enough that I will be employed at worst 9 months after grad) = win .
BTW, anything less than that, I would have just bagged the whole thing and stayed at my job. Realized about halfway through my cycle that spending $$$ and leaving my home market was a poor idea.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
I understand this.Mr. Pablo wrote:The problem here is that there are at least 40 other people who think this, but only 40 of them can be there. They are just as smart and hard-working as you are. Some of them turned down higher ranked, and possibly much more competitive, schools for highly tempting financial offers. They, too, think they are going to be in the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I... If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
...
- megaTTTron
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Enjoy what will undoubtably be a baller career. Well done.keg411 wrote:megaTTTron wrote:keg -- are you getting a phat scholly???keg411 wrote:As someone who will be attending a T2... you are insane to take out $200k. Please, do yourself a favor and go to your state school if you can't get T14 - not some overpriced private that you will likely regret spending the $$$ on.
Scholly + state school + don't need COL loans (or private loans at all) + massive legal connections in state (not BigLaw, but good enough that I will be employed at worst 9 months after grad) = win .
BTW, anything less than that, I would have just bagged the whole thing and stayed at my job. Realized about halfway through my cycle that spending $$$ and leaving my home market was a poor idea.
- megaTTTron
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Clearly not, if you did, you would realize that it is not "numerically easy" to get into the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I understand this.Mr. Pablo wrote:The problem here is that there are at least 40 other people who think this, but only 40 of them can be there. They are just as smart and hard-working as you are. Some of them turned down higher ranked, and possibly much more competitive, schools for highly tempting financial offers. They, too, think they are going to be in the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I... If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
...
K, done hijacking your thread.
- PLATONiC
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
If you're seriously interested in law, then a T2 could still prepare you to do what this guy did: http://www.startlawpractice.com/
I mean, it only costs like $3,000 dollars to start your own solo practice.
I mean, it only costs like $3,000 dollars to start your own solo practice.
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- jlnoa0915
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
I don't think I would pay sticker for any law school. (YH as possible exceptions)
- lostjake
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
This has to be a flame...PLATONiC wrote:If you're seriously interested in law, then a T2 could still prepare you to do what this guy did: http://www.startlawpractice.com/
I mean, it only costs like $3,000 dollars to start your own solo practice.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Dunno if it will be "baller" (as I'm not looking at anything prestigious by a long shot)... but it will be at least be "okay".Enjoy what will undoubtably be a baller career. Well done.
/end hijack
- T14_Scholly
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
1. You assume that your employment prospects will depend on the state of the economy three years from now, rather than one year from now.
2. You think you'll probably get a biglaw job (though "not in the V10" - I guess you're just going to settle for the V20?).
3. In the alternative, you think you'll be able to transfer to a top 10 school.
4. You think that being in the top 10% isn't that hard.
5. You claim to be willing to eat ~$60,000 in first-year cost of attendance if you don't do well your first year.
6. You think that you'll get scholarship money for doing well your first year.
In short, you're an idiot six times over, in all the quintessential ways an aspiring law student could be an idiot.
2. You think you'll probably get a biglaw job (though "not in the V10" - I guess you're just going to settle for the V20?).
3. In the alternative, you think you'll be able to transfer to a top 10 school.
4. You think that being in the top 10% isn't that hard.
5. You claim to be willing to eat ~$60,000 in first-year cost of attendance if you don't do well your first year.
6. You think that you'll get scholarship money for doing well your first year.
In short, you're an idiot six times over, in all the quintessential ways an aspiring law student could be an idiot.
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- sanpiero
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
+1T14_Scholly wrote:1. You assume that your employment prospects will depend on the state of the economy three years from now, rather than one year from now.
2. You think you'll probably get a biglaw job (though "not in the V10" - I guess you're just going to settle for the V20?).
3. In the alternative, you think you'll be able to transfer to a top 10 school.
4. You think that being in the top 10% isn't that hard.
5. You claim to be willing to eat ~$60,000 in first-year cost of attendance if you don't do well your first year.
6. You think that you'll get scholarship money for doing well your first year.
In short, you're an idiot six times over, in all the quintessential ways an aspiring law student could be an idiot.
I really hope this is a flame
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Just say no.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
LOLPLATONiC wrote:
I mean, it only costs like $3,000 dollars to start your own solo practice.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
5 seems to be the only rational way to pay sticker at a T2 if for some reason you really want to be a lawyer and don't have better options. It is of course a $60k gamble, but at least it isn't a $200k forfeiture so that one can do document review and one would be going in with their eyes wide.T14_Scholly wrote:1. You assume that your employment prospects will depend on the state of the economy three years from now, rather than one year from now.
2. You think you'll probably get a biglaw job (though "not in the V10" - I guess you're just going to settle for the V20?).
3. In the alternative, you think you'll be able to transfer to a top 10 school.
4. You think that being in the top 10% isn't that hard.
5. You claim to be willing to eat ~$60,000 in first-year cost of attendance if you don't do well your first year.
6. You think that you'll get scholarship money for doing well your first year.
In short, you're an idiot six times over, in all the quintessential ways an aspiring law student could be an idiot.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
You didn't hijack the thread.megaTTTron wrote:Clearly not, if you did, you would realize that it is not "numerically easy" to get into the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I understand this.Mr. Pablo wrote:The problem here is that there are at least 40 other people who think this, but only 40 of them can be there. They are just as smart and hard-working as you are. Some of them turned down higher ranked, and possibly much more competitive, schools for highly tempting financial offers. They, too, think they are going to be in the top 10%.b.j. wrote:I... If my school has around 400 students, being in the top ten percent, while not easy, isn't that hard, numerically speaking. No, the competition won't be easy, but it won't be as intense as if I attended Harvard.
...
K, done hijacking your thread.
I guess my thought wasn't clear. Maybe that's because it wasn't entirely sensible, but whatever.
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
What is flame? Me or the guy who made the suggestion involving $3,000?lostjake wrote:This has to be a flame...PLATONiC wrote:If you're seriously interested in law, then a T2 could still prepare you to do what this guy did: http://www.startlawpractice.com/
I mean, it only costs like $3,000 dollars to start your own solo practice.
- atlantalaw
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
i don't recommend this often, but you should really read jdunderground (google it). just...check it out. it could be you. very soon.
- creamedcats
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Re: Is Anyone Paying Sticker for a T2 School?
Don't do it unless you're so well connected that your school is really just a formality or there is literally no other path for you and you must be a lawyer no matter what, and this is the best school, by far, that you got into. Even then, you're making a terribly expensive decision. I'm going to a T2 and even though I like the school, I would not go without $$$$/other factors.
Dare I ask - did you get money at a T3?
Dare I ask - did you get money at a T3?
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
Now there's a charge.
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