serious help please :) california vs. the northeast Forum

[feminista]

I've been accepted into:

Atlanta's John Marshall
University of DC
New England
Thomas Jefferson
Whittier
California Western

I'm trying to find the 2010 bar passage rate and job placement stats upon graduation (or 6 monts therafter) but I'm finding it difficult to find accurate and up to date numbers.

I've also been waitlisted from:

American
University of Baltimore
New York Law School
Univerisity of San Francisco
Suffolk

The 6 I have been accepted into request initial seat deposits by early April. So I dont think I have time to hear back from my "waits." My GPA (Philosophy Major) was a 3.9. However, my LSAT was only a 150 (major anxiety). So this is what I ended up with. Any suggestions on which one to choose? California vs. Northeast. I appreciate any feedback.

PS- I want to get into politics. Specifically LGBT and women's issues.

Sincerely,

Anxiously Awaiting

[bk1]

If you want to get into politics I don't think a JD is necessarily the best option for you.

[joemoviebuff]

The resounding answer you will hear on this board is for you to conquer your anxiety and retake the LSAT.

[feminista]

i want to practice first. law school isn't up for debate at this point

[clone22]

Is retaking a possibility?

[bk1]

i want to practice first. law school isn't up for debate at this point

Then retake the LSAT and don't go to these schools as they are horrible investments considering they will cost you over $100,000 and leave you with dismal employment prospects.

[feminista]

I already took it twice. Retaking is not an option either. I dont mind not attending 1, 2, or even a 3 tier school. Especially since I am fairly confident to graduate at the top 5% at a 3/4th tier. I just really need some advice on the options that i do have. thank you <3

[Alex-Trof]

Don't go. Get some work experience. Retake the LSAT. I was hungover taking the LSAT and it helped me to deal with anxiety. You don't have to do that, but find something that works for you. IMHO, anything below 165 is a waste of your really good GPA.

[joemoviebuff]

I already took it twice. Retaking is not an option either. I dont mind not attending 1, 2, or even a 3 tier school. Especially since I am fairly confident to graduate at the top 5% at a 3/4th tier. I just really need some advice on the options that i do have. thank you <3

oooooooooh shit.

[buckilaw]

If you want a good picture of employment prospects of the schools you have listed check out
http://thirdtierreality.blogspot.com/.

Don't waste a 3.9 gpa. If you retook and score in the high 160's or above you would have a good shot at the best law schools in the country.

[crit_racer]

Talk to a doctor about some medications that could help with your anxiety and retake. Or pursue meditation or something. Whatever works for you. Don't go to any of those schools.

[Alex-Trof]

I already took it twice. Retaking is not an option either. I dont mind not attending 1, 2, or even a 3 tier school. Especially since I am fairly confident to graduate at the top 5% at a 3/4th tier. I just really need some advice on the options that i do have. thank you <3

oooooooooh shit.

joemvoviebuff is right. You never know. Many people that go to those schools do so becaause they get a full ride. To think that you going to score on law exams better than 19 other people taking it is very risky.

[buckilaw]

I'm trying to find the 2010 bar passage rate and job placement stats upon graduation (or 6 monts therafter) but I'm finding it difficult to find accurate and up to date numbers.

Keep looking. The only data you will find will be made up by the schools in question.

[bk1]

I already took it twice. Retaking is not an option either. I dont mind not attending 1, 2, or even a 3 tier school. Especially since I am fairly confident to graduate at the top 5% at a 3/4th tier. I just really need some advice on the options that i do have. thank you <3

My advice is threefold:

1. Everybody assumes they will do well in law school, but because it is curved they won't. 100% of the class thinks they will be in the top 10% before they start, 90% of them will be wrong.

2. Have you actually put all the possible effort you can into the LSAT? If not you should retake.

3. If you are committed to going to a bad school then go to the cheapest possible one with the easiest scholarship requirements in the area you want to work.

[HowdyYall]

Especially since I am fairly confident to graduate at the top 5% at a 3/4th tier.

This should not be assumed. first of all you said it yourself you have "major anxiety" when it comes to big tests. In most cases your final law school exam is 100% of your grade. also these law schools often get "smarter" people to go to their school by giving them full rides

[feminista]

Wow. A friend found this forum and thought it may help me make a decision. But the replies I have received thus far just seem so elitist. I really just want suggestions on the options I already have. I don't believe one must attend Harvard to obtain a job post graduation. Anyone else? Thank you in advance.

[bk1]

Wow. A friend found this forum and thought it may help me make a decision. But the replies I have received thus far just seem so elitist. I really just want suggestions on the options I already have. I don't believe one must attend Harvard to obtain a job post graduation. Anyone else? Thank you in advance.

We're not being elitist. The fact is that these lower tiered schools cost the same amount of money as the good schools yet their employment prospects are dramatically different. You're going to have to take $150,000 in loans out for many of these schools, how are you going to repay that if you end up in a smalllaw job that pays you 40k/year?

My serious advice is the same as before, if you absolutely must go to law school then pick the one that will leave you in the least amount of debt so that if you get a smalllaw job (which is basically the majority of jobs available at these schools) then at least you won't have a mountain of debt to pay back.

[buckilaw]

Wow. A friend found this forum and thought it may help me make a decision. But the replies I have received thus far just seem so pragmatic elitist. I really just want suggestions on the options I already have. I don't believe one must attend Harvard to obtain a job post graduation. Anyone else? Thank you in advance.

FTFY

[feminista]

FTFY???

[bk1]

FTFY???

It means "fixed that for you." And what he is saying is that we are being pragmatic rather than elitist (which is true).

[RockyIII]

Listen to everyone else.

[TheFactor]

--LinkRemoved--

Take a look at the schools you are willing to pay sticker for.

[Alex-Trof]

Why not get an MPA rather than JD? GRE is considered (at least by people I know) to be a much easier test than LSAT. Besides, if you really interested in politics rather than practicing law, it might open more doors in the field you wanna get into. And it is only 2 years of school/debt.

[Alex-Trof]

http://www.lawschooltransparency.com/clearinghouse/

Take a look at the schools you are willing to pay sticker for.

Bear in mind those are numbers prior to recession.

[Sinra]

Wow. A friend found this forum and thought it may help me make a decision. But the replies I have received thus far just seem so elitist. I really just want suggestions on the options I already have. I don't believe one must attend Harvard to obtain a job post graduation. Anyone else? Thank you in advance.

Giving you solid advice is not being elitist. You took the test twice and "retaking is not an option" after you did not do well the second time. Retaking is your only option if you want to actually work after law school is done. Good luck, OP, but I fail to see how you'll make the top 10% anywhere when you've already given up so easily on only one learn-able test.