Top Law Schools

AffirmativeOffense wrote:

redvelvetccake wrote:

maroe wrote:Is there anyone here who is choosing Stetson over FSU or UF and can explain why? I'm looking at going to Stetson with a half scholly or going to FSU, so tuition wise it's about even. I am in love with Stetson's campus and already live in the Tampa Bay area, but I am still having trouble picking them over FSU. Thanks for the input.

I took Stetson's offer over UF's, although technically I have not straight out told UF no yet. I completely fell in love with the Stetson campus and atmosphere. Everyone I have spoken to from students to professors and the administration has been so helpful and friendly. Dealing with UF was and up until today, when I finally had one good experience with someone from there, has been a nightmare.

[strike]UF also has, without a doubt, much better placement within the state of Florida. "Falling in love with the campus" is certainly a nice feeling, but this is a profession you are about to enter- a profession that has been contracting. If you want to practice in FL, UF is almost always the best choice unless you're getting a full ride to Stetson. Less emotion, more logic. Go t14, go state, or don't go to law school unless you're getting a full ride[/strike].

Unnecessary and unwanted

AffirmativeOffense wrote:

redvelvetccake wrote:

maroe wrote:Is there anyone here who is choosing Stetson over FSU or UF and can explain why? I'm looking at going to Stetson with a half scholly or going to FSU, so tuition wise it's about even. I am in love with Stetson's campus and already live in the Tampa Bay area, but I am still having trouble picking them over FSU. Thanks for the input.

I took Stetson's offer over UF's, although technically I have not straight out told UF no yet. I completely fell in love with the Stetson campus and atmosphere. Everyone I have spoken to from students to professors and the administration has been so helpful and friendly. Dealing with UF was and up until today, when I finally had one good experience with someone from there, has been a nightmare.

UF also has, without a doubt, much better placement within the state of Florida. "Falling in love with the campus" is certainly a nice feeling, but this is a profession you are about to enter- a profession that has been contracting. If you want to practice in FL, UF is almost always the best choice unless you're getting a full ride to Stetson. Less emotion, more logic. Go t14, go state, or don't go to law school unless you're getting a full ride.

Fwiw, I did choose Stetson over UF. Granted, it was a full ride versus no offer, so technically I fall into one of your categories, but I think Stetson has some pretty big advantages over Florida.

I have spoken with a lot of people from each school, many of which who are friends or friends of friends. Not a single person disliked Stetson while about 50% disliked UF. Yes, UF is the top ranked school in the state. But, Stetson really cares about their students and work hard to help everyone succeed. UF has an overwhelming attitutde of "you're lucky to be here, good luck."

For some people that wouldn't matter, for me it ultimately solidified my decision. I don't buy into the huge difference between UF and Stetson. I talked to several lawyers around Florida and the only advantage is in the intial first job hiring process. After that it's all about what you've done, not which law school you attended.

Edit: Or what trialjunky said.

Moose Thompson wrote:

AffirmativeOffense wrote:

redvelvetccake wrote:

maroe wrote:Is there anyone here who is choosing Stetson over FSU or UF and can explain why? I'm looking at going to Stetson with a half scholly or going to FSU, so tuition wise it's about even. I am in love with Stetson's campus and already live in the Tampa Bay area, but I am still having trouble picking them over FSU. Thanks for the input.

I took Stetson's offer over UF's, although technically I have not straight out told UF no yet. I completely fell in love with the Stetson campus and atmosphere. Everyone I have spoken to from students to professors and the administration has been so helpful and friendly. Dealing with UF was and up until today, when I finally had one good experience with someone from there, has been a nightmare.

UF also has, without a doubt, much better placement within the state of Florida. "Falling in love with the campus" is certainly a nice feeling, but this is a profession you are about to enter- a profession that has been contracting. If you want to practice in FL, UF is almost always the best choice unless you're getting a full ride to Stetson. Less emotion, more logic. Go t14, go state, or don't go to law school unless you're getting a full ride.

Fwiw, I did choose Stetson over UF. Granted, it was a full ride versus no offer, so technically I fall into one of your categories, but I think Stetson has some pretty big advantages over Florida.

I have spoken with a lot of people from each school, many of which who are friends or friends of friends. Not a single person disliked Stetson while about 50% disliked UF. Yes, UF is the top ranked school in the state. But, Stetson really cares about their students and work hard to help everyone succeed. UF has an overwhelming attitutde of "you're lucky to be here, good luck."

For some people that wouldn't matter, for me it ultimately solidified my decision. I don't buy into the huge difference between UF and Stetson. I talked to several lawyers around Florida and the only advantage is in the intial first job hiring process. After that it's all about what you've done, not which law school you attended.

Edit: Or what trialjunky said.

I also chose the full ride, so I may just be falling into the category. However, I had a decent scholarship offer from UF for being in-state. UF's attitude throughout the whole process (with the exception of one person) is what essentially turned me off from them, while Stetson's attitude is what made me like them even more.

Figured this would be the thread to post a couple Stetson questions. Please excuse me if it's not talking about whether I've been accepted/waitlisted/declined.

I live in the Tampa Bay area and not too far from Stetson.

I honestly think Stetson is a reach for me, but my questions are these:

1) Does ED help with the application process at Stetson?
2) I work with a woman whose used to teach there, would a LOR from her really help?
3) I'm planning on applying with the Full Time/Part Time options. A) Would ED apply to either or both if I check that box? B) Is the median LSAT/GPA lower for the Part Time admission? C) Know anyone whose taken the Part Time route at Stetson? If so, their thoughts?

Thanks for the help guys/girls.

TOMaHULK wrote:Figured this would be the thread to post a couple Stetson questions. Please excuse me if it's not talking about whether I've been accepted/waitlisted/declined.

I live in the Tampa Bay area and not too far from Stetson.

I honestly think Stetson is a reach for me, but my questions are these:

1) Does ED help with the application process at Stetson?
2) I work with a woman whose used to teach there, would a LOR from her really help?
3) I'm planning on applying with the Full Time/Part Time options. A) Would ED apply to either or both if I check that box? B) Is the median LSAT/GPA lower for the Part Time admission? C) Know anyone whose taken the Part Time route at Stetson? If so, their thoughts?

Thanks for the help guys/girls.

1.) ED helps your probabilities for admission at nearly every school. Admissions is a supply/demand excercise. Schools have a variety of responsibilities in terms of the makeup of the class. If you apply ED, you are more likely to generically qualify for one or several of their buckets and also, depending on your LSAT and GPA, there may be a smaller applicant pool to compare you stats to thus giving you an advantage.

2.) An LOR from a Stetson staff member (former or presently employed) would probably be viewed as gimmicky, particularly as a primary LOR choice. Admisisons literature strongly suggests that you approach a former professor who has experienced your academic performance and thus would be more qualified to speak to your potential academic performance in law school.

3.) a.) ED would apply to both

b.) The median for the PT program is slightly less than the median for the FT program. You are going to want to shoot for the mid-high 150's on your LSAT for the PT program (according to published paramaters) and mid 150's to low 160's for the FT program. There may be more latitude on the GPA for PT versus FT with respect to median GPA of admitted students.

c.) I know several people who have taken the part time program. I myself will be starting the PT program in August.
Many PT'ers move into the FT program after 4 semesters. Personally, I entered PT only because I have a full time Corporate job. You can finish in 3 years if you go the PT to FT route. Otherwise, PT program will run you 3.5-4 depending on how you stack your classes.

MMLAW wrote:

TOMaHULK wrote:Figured this would be the thread to post a couple Stetson questions. Please excuse me if it's not talking about whether I've been accepted/waitlisted/declined.

I live in the Tampa Bay area and not too far from Stetson.

I honestly think Stetson is a reach for me, but my questions are these:

1) Does ED help with the application process at Stetson?
2) I work with a woman whose used to teach there, would a LOR from her really help?
3) I'm planning on applying with the Full Time/Part Time options. A) Would ED apply to either or both if I check that box? B) Is the median LSAT/GPA lower for the Part Time admission? C) Know anyone whose taken the Part Time route at Stetson? If so, their thoughts?

Thanks for the help guys/girls.

1.) ED helps your probabilities for admission at nearly every school. Admissions is a supply/demand excercise. Schools have a variety of responsibilities in terms of the makeup of the class. If you apply ED, you are more likely to generically qualify for one or several of their buckets and also, depending on your LSAT and GPA, there may be a smaller applicant pool to compare you stats to thus giving you an advantage.

2.) An LOR from a Stetson staff member (former or presently employed) would probably be viewed as gimmicky, particularly as a primary LOR choice. Admisisons literature strongly suggests that you approach a former professor who has experienced your academic performance and thus would be more qualified to speak to your potential academic performance in law school.

3.) a.) ED would apply to both

b.) The median for the PT program is slightly less than the median for the FT program. You are going to want to shoot for the mid-high 150's on your LSAT for the PT program (according to published paramaters) and mid 150's to low 160's for the FT program. There may be more latitude on the GPA for PT versus FT with respect to median GPA of admitted students.

c.) I know several people who have taken the part time program. I myself will be starting the PT program in August.
Many PT'ers move into the FT program after 4 semesters. Personally, I entered PT only because I have a full time Corporate job. You can finish in 3 years if you go the PT to FT route. Otherwise, PT program will run you 3.5-4 depending on how you stack your classes.

Great. Thank you so much for such detailed advice.

smartin wrote:Withdrew yesterday. Hopefully someone from TLS can snatch up my spot and $10/k offer.

Thank you! I got some! whoohooo

Moose Thompson wrote:

GATORTIM wrote:did you make your decision Moose?

I did. I will be there in the fall, looks like we will be classmates.

I'm coming tooo!!!!!!

eupelia wrote:

Moose Thompson wrote:

GATORTIM wrote:did you make your decision Moose?

I did. I will be there in the fall, looks like we will be classmates.

I'm coming tooo!!!!!!

I'm slightly read: really jealous. I LOVE Stetson!! Damn the FinAid office for not giving me $$

I was in Boca Grande this past weekend and it really got me pumped up about moving back to FL and to the Gulf Coast (well at least until the oil arrives)

GATORTIM wrote:I was in Boca Grande this past weekend and it really got me pumped up about moving back to FL and to the Gulf Coast (well at least until the oil arrives)

I anticipate it hitting our shores on or around August 23rd.

Received orientation email today:
Session B
Tuesday Aug 17 and Fri Aug 20th from 8am-6pm

GATORTIM wrote:Received orientation email today:
Session B
Tuesday Aug 17 and Fri Aug 20th from 8am-6pm

See you then!

Hoping to have done well enough to at least get into their PT program. Full time, seems unreachable to me. Feelsbadman...

Did you apply for full time and get a part time offer? I've been on the wait list since November... they haven't even picked anyone off the WL from what I understand. I've been keeping in touch with Darren and he knows me by now and knows that Stetson is my first choice. I let him know yesterday that I would take a part time seat at this point just so that I know where I'll be living in a month. It's really getting down to the wire for living arrangements and my boyfriend has to inform his employer pretty soon (he works in the TB area already but will transfer if I don't get into Stetson).

Is part time the way to go??

Got an offer today off the WL at Stetson. PT program. Soooooo excited! Waitlisted since April . . . I'm sure I will be taking it. Yeh!!!!!

anyone else withdrawing?? i've been waitlisted twice now O_O first in 2009 now again. they said that ive been chosen for the second waitlist

I spent this afternoon looking for housing in Tampa (can't live in St Pete b/c of wife's job) and it was f'n stressful! I really like hyde park, but we have reserved an apt off 275 called Phillips International. Do any of you know about this area of town? It's really close to the International Plaza, but I don't know much at all about Tampa housing.

edit: let the apt go b/c I found an amazing place in Hyde Park; one block off Howard and within walking distance of Bayshore. It's about 24 miles from campus though

still on wwaitlist =/

bomedtheLSAT101 wrote:still on wwaitlist =/

Have you heard anything regarding the wait list? I called last week and they said they haven't gone to the list yet, but someone above said that they were offered a seat... Also, do you have a deposit somewhere else? Waiting is killing me because I have to be out of my apartment by the end of this month.

callofduty wrote:

bomedtheLSAT101 wrote:still on wwaitlist =/

Have you heard anything regarding the wait list? I called last week and they said they haven't gone to the list yet, but someone above said that they were offered a seat... Also, do you have a deposit somewhere else? Waiting is killing me because I have to be out of my apartment by the end of this month.

are you waiting for F/T or P/T?

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Congrats to all you Stetson folks on admission. I agree with TLS that it is a diamond in the rough. It might surprise you to know that Stetson is ranked number one in the US
for its advocacy program and number 6 for its legal writing program and is also top notch for its Elder Law offerings.

By the way, I am a Florida attorney and reviewed Stetson for my son. I walked away very impressed with the school. This was confirmed by a law professor friend, who actually is fairly famous and was a visit professor at Stetson, who felt that Stetson is a very "student-centric" school which is confirmed by the fact that they get very few people transfering out of the school. I also loved their campus. I think that you will be very happy there.

taxguy wrote:Congrats to all you Stetson folks on admission. I agree with TLS that it is a diamond in the rough. It might surprise you to know that Stetson is ranked number one in the US
for its advocacy program and number 6 for its legal writing program and is also top notch for its elder law offerings..

No one cares about being 1 for trial advocacy. Location is truly terrible for this school but I do agree its getting a better rep lately (even though it will never be a t1)

GATORTIM wrote:

callofduty wrote:

bomedtheLSAT101 wrote:still on wwaitlist =/

Have you heard anything regarding the wait list? I called last week and they said they haven't gone to the list yet, but someone above said that they were offered a seat... Also, do you have a deposit somewhere else? Waiting is killing me because I have to be out of my apartment by the end of this month.

are you waiting for F/T or P/T?

F/T, but I let Darren and Laura know that I would be willing to take a P/T position if one becomes available.