Top Law Schools

So here it is. Three days before deposits are due for both UNLV and UC Hastings, UNLV sent me my financial aid package. They are giving me full ride. Hastings only offered me a $7,000 grant. Full ride is awesome, but it has made my life difficult because I already settled on Hastings and massive debt.

Here are my thoughts and any advice would be most welcome. UNLV is only ranked in the 70's, but its legal writing program was ranked third in the nation and 12th for dispute resolution. So the school definitely has some good qualities. Also, I want to practice in Nevada, more specifically in Reno. I have no intention of ever living in California again. Cost of living is way better in the city of sin and I have friends down there.

Hastings is Hastings and is ranked well. They have a health care concentration, which I am considering. San Francisco is awesome.

Debt is a big factor for me as I am already well into the hole from undergrad. I have no idea what I should do.

"Also, I want to practice in Nevada, more specifically in Reno. I have no intention of ever living in California again."

I had to make the same decision...well not exactly the same. I had a full ride at UNLV and I grew up in Vegas but had no intention of practicing in Nevada. So, ultimately, I chose to go elsewhere. If you want to practice in Reno, then I would take the money and run! UNLV owns the Nevada market and there's no need to take out thousands of dollars in loans for Hastings when you don't have to. Good luck!

You're debt averse, already have UG debt, and know you want to practice in Nevada:

There is no reason to go to Hastings.

Take the full ride at UNLV.

Forget the rankings.

Remember the full ride and where you want to practice.

historyholly wrote:So here it is. Three days before deposits are due for both UNLV and UC Hastings, UNLV sent me my financial aid package. They are giving me full ride. Hastings only offered me a $7,000 grant. Full ride is awesome, but it has made my life difficult because I already settled on Hastings and massive debt.

Here are my thoughts and any advice would be most welcome. UNLV is only ranked in the 70's, but its legal writing program was ranked third in the nation and 12th for dispute resolution. So the school definitely has some good qualities. Also, I want to practice in Nevada, more specifically in Reno. I have no intention of ever living in California again. Cost of living is way better in the city of sin and I have friends down there.

Hastings is Hastings and is ranked well. They have a health care concentration, which I am considering. San Francisco is awesome.

Debt is a big factor for me as I am already well into the hole from undergrad. I have no idea what I should do.

*disclaimer* I'm on the Hastings WL, so I obviously have some interest in this decision.

I think the clear answer, like others have suggested, is UNLV. If you want to practice in Nevada, you'll be better served by UNLV, without debt and low COL. There is really no benefit to the high COL in the Bay Area, or the added burden of tuition, if you were to take the Hastings offer.

Past the top 20, and some would argue the top 14 (12?), all schools are largely regional.

missinglink wrote:*disclaimer* I'm on the Hastings WL, so I obviously have some interest in this decision.

I think the clear answer, like others have suggested, is UNLV. If you want to practice in Nevada, you'll be better served by UNLV, without debt and low COL. There is really no benefit to the high COL in the Bay Area, or the added burden of tuition, if you were to take the Hastings offer.

Past the top 20, and some would argue the top 14 (12?), all schools are largely regional.

I was going to disclaim that I'm on the Hastings WL too, but this question clearly has one answer.

UNLV either way, but I am curious to know if your scholarship carries a GPA contingency

I'm going to UNLV so am biased but as others have said, you gotta go where you want to practice, especially when the costs are this lopsided!

Cya there

General Tso wrote:UNLV either way, but I am curious to know if your scholarship carries a GPA contingency

+1

I'm curious too.

UNLV's full scholarships have a top 33% requirement. Relatively sure it is the same for all their scholarships.

Thank you everyone for chiming in. This forum has been a great resource. There is a GPA requirement of sorts, I have to stay in the top 33%, but to be honest I am not worried about it. And if i somehow get below that, sticker at UNLV is still a fraction of the cost of Hastings.

So, I think UNLV is the winner.

historyholly wrote:Thank you everyone for chiming in. This forum has been a great resource. There is a GPA requirement of sorts, I have to stay in the top 33%, but to be honest I am not worried about it. And if i somehow get below that, sticker at UNLV is still a fraction of the cost of Hastings.

So, I think UNLV is the winner.

yeah even if you lose it, you still got 1 year free. But read the Arrow guide and other TLS approaches to good grades. It's not that hard to stay in the top 33% if you study smart.

I was in a pretty similar situation and started a thread about it a few weeks ago. I think the best way for me to help is to link my thread. Most of the things that people said are are probably applicable to you as well. Best of luck with your decision!

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=114144

EDIT: I didn't read your entire post, so I missed the fact that you wanted to work in Nevada permanently. My situation was a little bit different because I wanted to work in NorCal. If I were you, I would take the full ride at UNLV without hesitation.

This isn't even close. Have fun in Vegas.

I'd also argue that as the only law school in Nevada, UNLV enjoys as isolation-from-competition bonus that makes it a little better than its ranking.

SoftBoiledLife wrote:This isn't even close. Have fun in Vegas.

I'd also argue that as the only law school in Nevada, UNLV enjoys as isolation-from-competition bonus that makes it a little better than its ranking.

This will probably be more and more true over time, but since UNLV's law school is relatively new, a lot of the older lawyers in NV are mostly from CA and surrounding states. So there might be a little more out of state competition than usual for NV. But all in all there's no question UNLV is the right choice for OP.

Thanks to everyone that joined in the discussion. I sent my deposit in this morning to UNLV.

That's good news--UNLV is happy to have you!