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Within the next two weeks I will be putting down a second seat deposit like most of you. As much as I would like to retake the LSAT and break that 170 barrier I think attending one of the schools I have been accepted is the best option.

My question, is attending Notre Dame at half scholarship worth it?

I really like the University and I'm impressed by the law school. Although I would like to attend a higher ranked university that might offer me better job prospects, this is my best option. I think I can handle South Bend and the 11 months of winter there. In addition I am fully aware that I will have to be at least in the top 1/3 of my class for big law. So would it be worth it in the long run?

ENGINEERD wrote:Within the next two weeks I will be putting down a second seat deposit like most of you. As much as I would like to retake the LSAT and break that 170 barrier I think attending one of the schools I have been accepted is the best option.

My question, is attending Notre Dame at half scholarship worth it?

I really like the University and I'm impressed by the law school. Although I would like to attend a higher ranked university that might offer me better job prospects, this is my best option. I think I can handle South Bend and the 11 months of winter there. In addition I am fully aware that I will have to be at least in the top 1/3 of my class for big law. So would it be worth it in the long run?

It depends where you want to work, but yes. I ALMOST signed up for ND with a similar scholarship, but then Fordham came through with a scholarship and I want to work in NYC, so I ended up withdrawing. But ND has a bit of national reach, and usually does well in the midwest. I think it's still a sound decision, if you're 100% against retaking and waiting it out another year (as I was).

danidancer wrote:

ENGINEERD wrote:Within the next two weeks I will be putting down a second seat deposit like most of you. As much as I would like to retake the LSAT and break that 170 barrier I think attending one of the schools I have been accepted is the best option.

My question, is attending Notre Dame at half scholarship worth it?

I really like the University and I'm impressed by the law school. Although I would like to attend a higher ranked university that might offer me better job prospects, this is my best option. I think I can handle South Bend and the 11 months of winter there. In addition I am fully aware that I will have to be at least in the top 1/3 of my class for big law. So would it be worth it in the long run?

It depends where you want to work, but yes. I ALMOST signed up for ND with a similar scholarship, but then Fordham came through with a scholarship and I want to work in NYC, so I ended up withdrawing. But ND has a bit of national reach, and usually does well in the midwest. I think it's still a sound decision, if you're 100% against retaking and waiting it out another year (as I was).

I have decided retaking is not really an option. I have taken the test 3 times and my last score was the highest I had ever scored. I haven't looked at an LSAT in 6 months and the thought of devoting any more time to that test does not excite me. In addition retaking means finding a job for a year and some how working full time and studying while scoring higher than I did when I was not working. I honestly think I have a better chance of getting into the top 20%+ of my class and transferring than I do increasing my LSAT score by 3 points.

ND at 1/2 is Totally worth it, especially since you like the school! You will get plenty of job opportunities (although maybe not big law) out of ND. Just remember that you will likely be midwest bound at graduation.

I'm sorry and I know many will disagree with me on this, but this is kind of a stupid question. Notre Dame at half scholly? I mean, 95% of law students probably don't have better options than that.

Thank you for your responses,

I didn't mean to come off arrogant, I feel really lucky to have this opportunity! It is just frustrating to be so close to an LSAT score (170) that can possibly get me into schools like- UCLA/Cornell/Georgetown/Northwestern.

Also I would like to add that I never would have asked this question before joining TLS. Thank you people of TLS for completely warping my mind...

ENGINEERD wrote:Also I would like to add that I never would have asked this question before joining TLS. Thank you people of TLS for completely warping my mind...

That's basically what I meant by my post. The reality of TLS is not the reality of the real world. People on this site feel freaking bad and explain away the fact that they are going to be attending GULC or Cornell, lol.

bump...I would like to get a few more votes/thoughts on this

ENGINEERD wrote:bump...I would like to get a few more votes/thoughts on this

Enjoy your 3 years in South Bend.

so ~22k tuition + 15k (estimated) living expenses for the year = ~40k x 3 = 120k for a legal degree at ND?

That seems reasonable at face value; I have, however, read horror stories about ND's job placement capabilities this past year. Allegedly, many of the major Chicago firms pulled out of their OCI. So this 1/3rd biglaw assumption may be very generous.

What are your alternatives?

What are your other options?
Are you willing to share your three LSAT scores?
To answer your question as to whether or not attending law school at Notre Dame on a half tuition scholarship is "worth it", it certainly is compared to one attending law school at Notre Dame without any scholarship.

True big law is down, but Notre Dame has a really great loan repayment program and a good name for government and public interest jobs. Something to keep in mind.

I won't make a decision until I hear your other option(s) and what kind of career you want.

CanadianWolf wrote:What are your other options?
Are you willing to share your three LSAT scores?
To answer your question as to whether or not attending law school at Notre Dame on a half tuition scholarship is "worth it", it certainly is compared to one attending law school at Notre Dame without any scholarship.

Sure, I scored a 167. My other options are WUSTL at 10/yr and UCI. I have ruled out WUSTL and although UCI is more practical I don't want to go there. I have created other threads about my options so I was hoping this one would just focus on Notre Dame vs reapplying

ENGINEERD wrote: Sure, I scored a 167. My other options are WUSTL at 10/yr and UCI. I have ruled out WUSTL and although UCI is more practical I don't want to go there. I have created other threads about my options so I was hoping this one would just focus on Notre Dame vs reapplying

No 1/2 scholarship at UCI?

rad law wrote:

ENGINEERD wrote: Sure, I scored a 167. My other options are WUSTL at 10/yr and UCI. I have ruled out WUSTL and although UCI is more practical I don't want to go there. I have created other threads about my options so I was hoping this one would just focus on Notre Dame vs reapplying

No 1/2 scholarship at UCI?

Every student this year received a 1/2 scholarship

Many people would kill to have a half-scholly at a strong school like Notre Dame. In that sense, of course it's "worth it" for most prospective law students.

But I recall from previous threads that you were pretty concerned with the prestige-factor. Given that you've proven to be a great LSAT-taker, you can absolutely improve your score a couple of points and get yourself into a school that's a real name-dropper (unlike Notre Dame, which is a very good school but hardly the renowned law program you're probably looking for).

ENGINEERD wrote:

rad law wrote:

ENGINEERD wrote: Sure, I scored a 167. My other options are WUSTL at 10/yr and UCI. I have ruled out WUSTL and although UCI is more practical I don't want to go there. I have created other threads about my options so I was hoping this one would just focus on Notre Dame vs reapplying

No 1/2 scholarship at UCI?

Every student this year received a 1/2 scholarship

That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure. I'd agree ND is the place, and it's worth it, just don't count on biglaw.

Probably between Wash U and ND. Depends on how strong each school's placement is.