Top Law Schools

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What are your career goals and geographical preferences?

Since you have to wait 5 years, I assume you have taken the LSAT 3 times already, so scoring 170+ is probably unrealistic even then.

HAHA.. You are definitely right about the not being able to score a 170+. I thought I would throw in that option for the typical TLS response. LOL

I am a Louisiana resident but am willing to work in Texas or Louisiana. I would really like to land a Biglaw job; however, in this economy I would be happy to just secure a job period after law school. Dallas or Baton Rouge would be fine by me.

Plus, I would like to keep my financial debt to a minimum.

Thanks for the response!

You can check out my LSN page and see the status of my current law school cycle. (username= maxpayne).

If you really want biglaw, then get top 20% at SMU and hope for the best.

Thanks for the response. Any input helps. I have a tough decision.

Bump

SMU. I think your opportunities and prospects coming out of SMU will be better.

I am attending the ASD on April 19th at SMU in hopes of gathering a better feel for the school. I have been to LSU's campus on numerous occasions and remain quite impressed with their facilities in Baton Rouge. After the 19th I should have a better comparison-based preference of each school.

maxpayne wrote:I am attending the ASD on April 19th at SMU in hopes of gathering a better feel for the school. I have been to LSU's campus on numerous occasions and remain quite impressed with their facilities in Baton Rouge. After the 19th I should have a better comparison-based preference of each school.

Any stipulations on the scholarships? If so, pick the one with the most lenient requirement.

keg411 wrote:

maxpayne wrote:I am attending the ASD on April 19th at SMU in hopes of gathering a better feel for the school. I have been to LSU's campus on numerous occasions and remain quite impressed with their facilities in Baton Rouge. After the 19th I should have a better comparison-based preference of each school.

Any stipulations on the scholarships? If so, pick the one with the most lenient requirement.

The LSU full tuition scholarship remains in effect as long as I stay in the top 25%, while the SMU 80% scholarship states I must "remain in good standing."

SMU in that case, no question. Good job prospects in Dallas and a higher expected scholarship payout over the 3 years seem like TCR to me.

maxpayne wrote:

keg411 wrote:

maxpayne wrote:I am attending the ASD on April 19th at SMU in hopes of gathering a better feel for the school. I have been to LSU's campus on numerous occasions and remain quite impressed with their facilities in Baton Rouge. After the 19th I should have a better comparison-based preference of each school.

Any stipulations on the scholarships? If so, pick the one with the most lenient requirement.

The LSU full tuition scholarship remains in effect as long as I stay in the top 25%, while the SMU 80% scholarship states I must "remain in good standing."

Damn top 25%??? Forget that, SMU all the way!

kalvano wrote:SMU. I think your opportunities and prospects coming out of SMU will be better.

Agreed, but I might be a bit biased (I know I want to work in Dallas, and am 99% sure I'll be at SMU in the fall). Since you want biglaw and would not mind working in Texas, SMU seems like the right choice.

I'll see you at ASD in April.

EDIT: with LSU's scholarship requirements, SMU wins hands down.

SMU

not even close to a tough decision

That's why you ALWAYS ask about scholly stipulations. Enjoy Dallas, OP .

I received a huge informational packet from SMU today. Seriously impressive. The packet coupled with the TLSser's responses has positively impacted my perception of attending SMU. I am looking forward to the ASD in April and thank you all for your responses.

SMU as long as you got the scholly. I got waitlisted there but the odds of me paying sticker for that school are about -1000000000000000 percent. After UT-Austin, SMU is probably the best law school in Texas with apologies to Baylor. You've got a bigger market in Texas. Go to SMU.

Thirteen wrote:

kalvano wrote:SMU. I think your opportunities and prospects coming out of SMU will be better.

Agreed, but I might be a bit biased (I know I want to work in Dallas, and am 99% sure I'll be at SMU in the fall). Since you want biglaw and would not mind working in Texas, SMU seems like the right choice.

I'll see you at ASD in April.

EDIT: with LSU's scholarship requirements, SMU wins hands down.

I know I am biased...against Dallas. I can't wait to get out.

And even with that, I would still take SMU over LSU.

maxpayne wrote:I am attending the ASD on April 19th at SMU in hopes of gathering a better feel for the school. I have been to LSU's campus on numerous occasions and remain quite impressed with their facilities in Baton Rouge. After the 19th I should have a better comparison-based preference of each school.

I can tell you the SMU law school quad is very pretty, they have their own parking garage, and it's a bit off from the undergrad campus. It's very nice, very current, and the facilities are excellent.

It's also in a great section of Dallas, one of the nicest in the city.

I think you will be very impressed with them, and after reading the scholarship requirements, I don't think it will be much of a choice.

darknightbegins wrote:SMU as long as you got the scholly. I got waitlisted there but the odds of me paying sticker for that school are about -1000000000000000 percent. After UT-Austin, SMU is probably the best law school in Texas with apologies to Baylor. You've got a bigger market in Texas. Go to SMU.

I contemplated attending Baylor as I received a full tuition scholarship as most people did who applied there with only a requirement to stay in the top 2/3 of the class. However, the idea of living in Waco for three just does not sound appeasing. But, I have heard nothing but great things about Baylor.

After continuously sifting throught my SMU packet, I noticed housing will be very expensive but very nice. The on-campus options did appear promising.

I am definitely leaning towards SMU in a big way.

maxpayne wrote:After continuously sifting throught my SMU packet, I noticed housing will be very expensive but very nice. The on-campus options did appear promising.

Housing right next to the school will be fairly expensive, since it is such a nice area.

But you can easily go another 10 minutes out, still be in a nice area, and find cheaper housing.

I find it hilarious how 7 TLSers chose the option to wait five years and retake the LSAT. AHAHAHAH.

But seriously, if I had only taken the LSAT twice, I definitely would be sitting this cycle out and studying for a 170 and reapplying.

maxpayne wrote:I find it hilarious how 7 TLSers chose the option to wait five years and retake the LSAT. AHAHAHAH.

But seriously, if I had only taken the LSAT twice, I definitely would be sitting this cycle out and studying for a 170 and reapplying.

you could petition a school to let you take it a 4th time and take it in June. If you hit a much higher score than it would prob be worth waiting another year. I might try to do this.

I know this thread is old; however, just wanting everyone to know I have almost 100% chosen SMU. Thanks everyone.

maxpayne wrote:I know this thread is old; however, just wanting everyone to know I have almost 100% chosen SMU. Thanks everyone.

I'll see you there in August.