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Hastings vs. American

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:05 pm
by spamalot
Hi, everyone.
It's time to choose and I can't choose at all! I need your help.
LSAT 165 GPA 3.1
I got into Hastings and American and WLed at Minnesota, Wisconsin, W&M and UWashington.
So ignoring WL, I have two options in my hand. Both at sticker though. Haven't got any scholarship but it's okay, money is not a concern at the moment.

BigLaw seems hard with those schools so i'm gunning for mid law or governt jobs.
Working in SF and DC sounds fantasic to me, no preference whatsoever!

My biggest concern is job prospect in mid law or government job.
Retaking is not an option for I've already taken twice.

Please give me any advice and your reasons! Thank you all in advance.

Re: Hastings vs. American

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:07 pm
by Borhas
Hastings probably has better employment prospects overall

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more class of 2009 info http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=150681

I encourage you to look up previous years as well

Re: Hastings vs. American

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:50 pm
by spamalot
Thanks to those who voted but can I ask for your reason?
It seems like there isn't much gap in ranking between those two schools and I feel like there will be more government job/mid law available in DC then in California (with the state gov't going bankrupt) but the again I could be wrong.
Please enlighten me! Thank you all! :)

Re: Hastings vs. American

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:54 pm
by bk1
Pick whether you'd rather be in CA or DC and go to the corresponding school.

That being said, neither of these schools are worth sticker.

Re: Hastings vs. American

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:56 pm
by Borhas
bk187 wrote:Pick whether you'd rather be in CA or DC and go to the corresponding school.

That being said, neither of these schools are worth sticker.
For government work Hastings IS worth sticker.

Why? It has a f'n awesome LRAP

Starting in 2011, if you qualify for IBR, the PICAP will pay up to 90% of your IBR payment (and in like 3 years it'll cover up to 100%)

So if you are sure you want PI (and that you could get SOME PI/Gov't job) you will basically pay $0 on your federal loans. Course that means you have to dedicate your career (or at least 10 years of it) to PI/Govt work. But if you are unsure of the 10 year thing, or you don't qualify for IBR (but still have PI/Gov't work) you can use the traditional PICAP, which is still WAY BETTER than American's, and better than almost every school outside of the T-14 (and some in the T14).

I mean I get that most people want firm jobs, but when that's not the goal, let's not give out canned advice.

Re: Hastings vs. American

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:36 pm
by bk1
Borhas wrote:For government work Hastings IS worth sticker.

Why? It has a f'n awesome LRAP

Starting in 2011, if you qualify for IBR, the PICAP will pay up to 90% of your IBR payment (and in like 3 years it'll cover up to 100%)

So if you are sure you want PI (and that you could get SOME PI/Gov't job) you will basically pay $0 on your federal loans. Course that means you have to dedicate your career (or at least 10 years of it) to PI/Govt work. But if you are unsure of the 10 year thing, or you don't qualify for IBR (but still have PI/Gov't work) you can use the traditional PICAP, which is still WAY BETTER than American's, and better than almost every school outside of the T-14 (and some in the T14).

I mean I get that most people want firm jobs, but when that's not the goal, let's not give out canned advice.
I don't think that is a canned response in the least when 1/4 or so of Hastings grads are unemployed or working part time. Whether or not one wants PI, that is ridiculously high and why I feel sticker isn't justified.

It's not really anything against Hastings/Davis as schools but more that they are worse bets than their peers outside of CA at equal cost because CA employment is so shit.

www.top-law-schools.com

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:30 pm
by Borhas