Top Law Schools

With careful consideration, I have narrowed down my school choices to Wayne State and University of Detroit-Mercy.

My end goal is to live and practice in Michigan. I always planned on attending Wayne throughout the entire application process. I went there for undergrad, and know the campus and how the "system" works. Also, it is the best law school in the state after UofM. Both schools are offering scholarships, UDM is offering more, which is really the only reason I am considering not attending Wayne in the fall. So, please provide your insight!


Wayne:
Annual Cost: $24,800
Scholarship Offered: 50%
Conditions: Maintain 3.25. If I lose scholarship after first year, it can be reinstated after second year if I achieve a 3.25

UD Mercy:
Annual Cost: $33,930
Scholarship Offered: 100% ~ $107,910 (I pay the difference if/when their tuition increases)
Conditions: Maintain 3.2. If I earn 3.0 - 3.2, scholarship goes down by 25%


Both schools allow me to live at home and commute, with very little living expenses.

I really appreciate your perspective on this! I've been lurking this site for a while, and actually value most of your opinions.

Thanks!

definitely not DM, they are almost as bad as cooley. wayne if between those two but did you try State to see how much they will give you?

9dash17 wrote:With careful consideration, I have narrowed down my school choices to Wayne State and University of Detroit-Mercy.

My end goal is to live and practice in Michigan. I always planned on attending Wayne throughout the entire application process. I went there for undergrad, and know the campus and how the "system" works. Also, it is the best law school in the state after UofM. Both schools are offering scholarships, UDM is offering more, which is really the only reason I am considering not attending Wayne in the fall. So, please provide your insight!


Wayne:
Annual Cost: $24,800
Scholarship Offered: 50%
Conditions: Maintain 3.25. If I lose scholarship after first year, it can be reinstated after second year if I achieve a 3.25

UD Mercy:
Annual Cost: $33,930
Scholarship Offered: 100% ~ $107,910 (I pay the difference if/when their tuition increases)
Conditions: Maintain 3.2. If I earn 3.0 - 3.2, scholarship goes down by 25%


Both schools allow me to live at home and commute, with very little living expenses.

I really appreciate your perspective on this! I've been lurking this site for a while, and actually value most of your opinions.

Thanks!

Wayne. It's not even close.

State is an option for you, but I'm not sure if you're really gaining anything going there over Wayne. In Detroit at least, Wayne still has the better rep. The only reason I see choosing MSU over Wayne is the potential for some mobility going forward.

I would not choose UDM under any circumstances. You can do ok out of there, but it's really hit or miss... even more so than Wayne.

I'd choose MSU over Wayne. Bigger national name, plus you already have wayne as UG.

I'm still waiting on a response from MSU.

Should I attempt negotiating with Wayne?

9dash17 wrote:I'm still waiting on a response from MSU.

Should I attempt negotiating with Wayne?

Never hurts to try, but they don't seem open to it.

What are you numbers, 9-17, if you don't mind my asking? I took the Feb. LSAT and am waiting to hear back from Wayne. Wondering what kind of scholarship I might expect if any with a 165, 2.9.

3.1 157 LSAT worked full time through undergrad

I hope you get the chance to attend MSU, but if Wayne or UDM are the only two choices, I would go with Wayne, hands down.

ATrotts wrote:What are you numbers, 9-17, if you don't mind my asking? I took the Feb. LSAT and am waiting to hear back from Wayne. Wondering what kind of scholarship I might expect if any with a 165, 2.9.

you should aim higher. 165 can get some T1

9dash17 wrote:I'm still waiting on a response from MSU.

Should I attempt negotiating with Wayne?

I would work hard on getting the stip removed or lessened. 3.25 is pretty high for a stip

jdfrisby wrote:

ATrotts wrote:What are you numbers, 9-17, if you don't mind my asking? I took the Feb. LSAT and am waiting to hear back from Wayne. Wondering what kind of scholarship I might expect if any with a 165, 2.9.

you should aim higher. 165 can get some T1

This is useless, as OP said he/she wants to live and work in Michigan. There are no lower T1's that are going to be better than Wayne or MSU in Michigan.

OP, Wayne is much better than UDM in general, and tends to do better than MSU in the Detroit area, but the gap is closing.

If you wanna work in Michigan, but OUTSIDE the Detroit area, definitely try to attend MSU.

Though at any of these schools, minimizing debt is gonna be important.

jdfrisby wrote:

9dash17 wrote:I'm still waiting on a response from MSU.

Should I attempt negotiating with Wayne?

I would work hard on getting the stip removed or lessened. 3.25 is pretty high for a stip

+1

jdfrisby wrote:

ATrotts wrote:What are you numbers, 9-17, if you don't mind my asking? I took the Feb. LSAT and am waiting to hear back from Wayne. Wondering what kind of scholarship I might expect if any with a 165, 2.9.

you should aim higher. 165 can get some T1

Would love to aim higher, but I have to stay in Michigan, as I own a (now worthless) home and business here. I don't have a shot at U of M, so Wayne is my next best option. I still haven't heard back from them yet, according to my application status my file is in review. If I'm not happy with their scholarship offer I will consider commuting to MSU, but it would be a 60-mile drive vs. 20 miles to Wayne.

If you're deadset on detroit specifically, wayne has the best rep of any michigan school (save um) in the metro area