Top Law Schools

.

WHY aren't you interested in retaking and reappling?

If you really want to work in the state of Washington, you should shoot for UW. If you want to work in Idaho, go to Idaho. But I wouldn't go to Idaho if you want to work in Washington.

I know what I would do but my advice won't be popular around here. You are attractive enough to Idaho that they are willing to give you a little money. Fine. Possess your soul in patience. Move to Idaho and work for a year as a paralegal or nurse's aid or lumberjack or storefront preacher or something for a year to establish residency then re apply to Idaho. The tens of thousands of dollars you will certainly save in student loans this way make the inconvenience more than worth it in the long run.

Failing that, if you a currently a resident of Washington State, (and I hate this every bit as much as you do), retake and do your absolute damnedest to get into UW. Neither of your current options is financially attractive enough to take the risk.

Whatever you choose, good luck!

.

From the TLS profile....

Gonzaga Law School, established in 1912 and located in Spokane, WA, recently dropped out of the top 100 law schools (as dictated by U.S. News and World Report). This by itself should not scare applicants; the rankings beyond a certain point (approximately the top 30) are extremely volatile, and schools can change twenty spots in the span of one year. However, other aspects of Gonzaga also seem to be weak. For instance, according to the school's most recent ABA data, only 85.4% of graduating students (with 96.9% reporting their employment status) found jobs within nine months after graduation. Of that 85.4%, only 51.9% found work at law firms, where most of the highest paying jobs are. Furthermore, the school's annual tuition and fees are quite high at approximately $32,780, so students need to find work soon after graduation if they want to pay back their loans in a timely manner. The school does have many positives going for it in terms of atmosphere and student cohesion, but it is questionable that these factors make up for the difficulties that most graduates will have with finding decent-paying employment

I'd go with Idaho. You could still probably tap into E Wash. with a degree from there without too much trouble. I'm in Seattle and work with an attorney who is an IU grad.

I am having a hard time understanding how it could ever be the case that one cannot afford to wait a year especially when waiting a well-engineered year will save such an enormous amount of money in the long run. Law school is a HUGE financial investment. If you are in such a hurry that you cannot properly plan that investment, the best advice I could give is, "Don't go at all."

Gonzaga. I'm from Eastern Washington and you'd be surprised at how much lay prestige Gonzaga carries. There are a lot of Gonzaga grads working in Spokane. If Washington is your kick, go to Gonzaga.

.

You're right, let's think about your partner for a minute. Assuming you two eventually get married / enter a civil union, he will end up sharing your debt, of which you will probably have 6 figures. If you are unable to find a job to pay off this debt, you are going to make life miserable for both you and your partner. This may sound harsh, but it's reality.

.

Then, given the situation in which you find yourself, my best advice is "Don't go." You are setting yourself up for decades of debt with little chance of earning enough return to make it worthwhile. But again, whatever you choose to do, I certainly wish you luck and a happy life.

for info about Idaho:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=149595

On another thread a student or former law student at Idaho shared some insights as to why he cautions others against Idaho. In your case, Gonzaga sounds like the better option.

Boggs wrote:Gonzaga. I'm from Eastern Washington and you'd be surprised at how much lay prestige Gonzaga carries. There are a lot of Gonzaga grads working in Spokane. If Washington is your kick, go to Gonzaga.

Also from Eastern Washington and very much agree with this. People worship Gonzaga in Spokane. I had never really heard of Idaho (as a law school) until I was actually applying this cycle.

.

Gonzaga, then? You will receive a perfectly good legal education there and in time, who knows, you could end up as the Governor of Washington State. Good luck and good health!

.