Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!) Forum

(Rankings, Profiles, Tuition, Student Life, . . . )

SMU LAW OR EMORY LAW

SMU Law (Full Tuition & Fees Scholarship)
38
38%
Emory Law (75K Scholarship)
61
62%
 
Total votes: 99

User avatar
fathergoose

Silver
Posts: 852
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:36 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by fathergoose » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:03 pm

Talk to the people at SMU and see if you can get scholarship money through them and turn down the foundation.

User avatar
Noval

Bronze
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:33 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by Noval » Sat Apr 23, 2011 3:28 pm

Go to Emory, it's easy to say that you will work hard to go Top 25%, but it's still VERY risky and nothing is guaranteed.

So pick Emory, as it's not a TTT and try to work hard to get what you want.

That said, since 1L is free for you at SMU, if 2L-3L tuition is similar to Emory's total tuition, then you may feel free to decide, if not, tell them to fuck off and go to Emory.

FGCUguy123

Bronze
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:14 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by FGCUguy123 » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:28 pm

Time, she is up...OP....where did you pick?

aquyenl

Bronze
Posts: 154
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:57 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by aquyenl » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:49 pm

Coa for Emory is about 90k and coa for smu is about 30k assuming I don't drop out of 25%. I actually have about a day left to notify the schools, I fudged the time to decide slightly see if I could pull out more responses.

At this moment I am leaning towards Emory. Their nlj employment #s look higher and emorys reputation amongst firms seems a bit higher than smus'. Thanks so much for the responses so far, anyone out there have any inputs that can change my mind?

forty-two

Bronze
Posts: 434
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 12:33 am

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by forty-two » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:55 pm

aquyenl wrote:Coa for Emory is about 90k and coa for smu is about 30k assuming I don't drop out of 25%. I actually have about a day left to notify the schools, I fudged the time to decide slightly see if I could pull out more responses.

At this moment I am leaning towards Emory. Their nlj employment #s look higher and emorys reputation amongst firms seems a bit higher than smus'. Thanks so much for the responses so far, anyone out there have any inputs that can change my mind?
What would the COA be at SMU if you did drop out of the top 25% after your first year? I honestly think those are the numbers you should be comparing because you don't know for certain where you'll end up on the curve.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
Aberzombie1892

Gold
Posts: 1908
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:56 am

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by Aberzombie1892 » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:58 pm

aquyenl wrote:Coa for Emory is about 90k and coa for smu is about 30k assuming I don't drop out of 25%. I actually have about a day left to notify the schools, I fudged the time to decide slightly see if I could pull out more responses.

At this moment I am leaning towards Emory. Their nlj employment #s look higher and emorys reputation amongst firms seems a bit higher than smus'. Thanks so much for the responses so far, anyone out there have any inputs that can change my mind?
1. Did you ever give the COA assuming you lost the SMU scholarship?
2. There has generally only been a 5% difference in big law between the two schools. Assuming that SMU would about cost the same as Emory if you lose the scholarship, you would be making a questionable decision to go to Emory if you A) believe that Emory will offer you noticeably better employment outcomes than SMU and/or B) you want to work in Texas.

Now if you lost the scholarship and Emory would be $40,000 cheaper, Emory by far.
forty-two wrote:
aquyenl wrote:Coa for Emory is about 90k and coa for smu is about 30k assuming I don't drop out of 25%. I actually have about a day left to notify the schools, I fudged the time to decide slightly see if I could pull out more responses.

At this moment I am leaning towards Emory. Their nlj employment #s look higher and emorys reputation amongst firms seems a bit higher than smus'. Thanks so much for the responses so far, anyone out there have any inputs that can change my mind?
What would the COA be at SMU if you did drop out of the top 25% after your first year? I honestly think those are the numbers you should be comparing because you don't know for certain where you'll end up on the curve.
I'm glad I'm not the only one asking about this. I've asked like 3 times already.

nouseforaname123

Bronze
Posts: 343
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:32 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by nouseforaname123 » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:50 pm

aquyenl wrote:Coa for Emory is about 90k and coa for smu is about 30k assuming I don't drop out of 25%. I actually have about a day left to notify the schools, I fudged the time to decide slightly see if I could pull out more responses.

At this moment I am leaning towards Emory. Their nlj employment #s look higher and emorys reputation amongst firms seems a bit higher than smus'. Thanks so much for the responses so far, anyone out there have any inputs that can change my mind?
If OP loses scholly, SMU COA is probably going be around $100k.

Worst case scenario at either school is bad. If OP isn't top 25% material at SMU she isn't top 30% material at Emory. Nobody at either school wants to be outside of the top 25/30% at those respective schools.

Given that the worst case outcome is essentially the same at both schools I don't know that Emory's NLJ + Clerkship placement is worth the extra cost OP will pay if she is going to be competitive for those jobs. The NLJ + Art. III difference at Emory is about 6.5% over SMU's combined NLJ + Art. III percentage. If OP is good enough to be competitive for those positions at Emory, she'll be just as competitive out of SMU for $60k less. I would probably base this decision on geographical preferences.

jh60405

New
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:22 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by jh60405 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:02 am

I would be worried that SMU will be putting all the people with big scholarships in the same section. That would make it really hard to maintain your numbers and would allow SMU to save a lot of money. I wouldn't do it . . . that stipulation just sounds way to fishy. If they believe in you enough to offer you that kind of scholarship they should be confident you will do well, to put on a stipulation like that to me says that they don't want all of their scholarship people to do well because they are giving out more than they really have.

nouseforaname123

Bronze
Posts: 343
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:32 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by nouseforaname123 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:11 am

jh60405 wrote:I would be worried that SMU will be putting all the people with big scholarships in the same section. That would make it really hard to maintain your numbers and would allow SMU to save a lot of money. I wouldn't do it . . . that stipulation just sounds way to fishy. If they believe in you enough to offer you that kind of scholarship they should be confident you will do well, to put on a stipulation like that to me says that they don't want all of their scholarship people to do well because they are giving out more than they really have.
1. SMU doesn't load up scholarship kids in one section b/c SMU scholarships don't carry stipulations beyond remaining in good academic standing (2.0).

2. As has been established by the OP, the scholarship is coming from an outside foundation, not from SMU. SMU does not put stipulations on its scholarships. All scholarships funded by SMU require that a student remain in good academic standing (2.0).

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


aquyenl

Bronze
Posts: 154
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:57 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by aquyenl » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:08 pm

If I lose smu scholly coa will be around 110k

FGCUguy123

Bronze
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:14 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by FGCUguy123 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:01 pm

aquyenl wrote:If I lose smu scholly coa will be around 110k
SMU is NOT worth $110,000 in debt, especially over Emory for significantly less. IMO it is no question...Emory all the way. Futher, as it has been said, I think most people would agree with the sentiment that, had you posted, "If I fail to meet the required terms of the SMU stipulation, which is statistically more likely, I end up having to pay $110,000 (minus 1L)," more people would be inclined to vote Emory over SMU. I am, even further and after hearing the COA should you lose the scholly, in the firm belief that, in this situation, Emory > SMU.

Nobody

Bronze
Posts: 232
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:17 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by Nobody » Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:51 pm

Here's a question: At both of these schools, everyone agrees that you need to be in the top ten percent or so to have a decent shot at employment, right? That's what makes the SMU stipulation so bad--that it's a double whammy where he has to pay the most in the situation where he's least likely to find a job. At the same time, playing it safe and going to Emory doesn't seem much better if he graduates outside of the top of his class there too.

What's to stop him from doing a year at SMU and just dropping out if he doesn't make the top 25%? Sure, it's a wasted year, but it sounds like everyone agrees that law school would be a waste if he doesn't make the top 25% anyways, and this would at least give him the opportunity for a mulligan. Is there some reason that this is a stupid idea? Any stupider than pledging to go all three years at any law school where graduating outside of the top quarter is a really bad outcome?

User avatar
holdencaulfield

Bronze
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:12 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by holdencaulfield » Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:03 pm

Voted SMU before noticing the stipulations. Definitely go with Emory. Waaaaaay too much to risk.

Nobody wrote:Here's a question: At both of these schools, everyone agrees that you need to be in the top ten percent or so to have a decent shot at employment, right? That's what makes the SMU stipulation so bad--that it's a double whammy where he has to pay the most in the situation where he's least likely to find a job. At the same time, playing it safe and going to Emory doesn't seem much better if he graduates outside of the top of his class there too.

What's to stop him from doing a year at SMU and just dropping out if he doesn't make the top 25%? Sure, it's a wasted year, but it sounds like everyone agrees that law school would be a waste if he doesn't make the top 25% anyways, and this would at least give him the opportunity for a mulligan. Is there some reason that this is a stupid idea? Any stupider than pledging to go all three years at any law school where graduating outside of the top quarter is a really bad outcome?
Completely false.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


FGCUguy123

Bronze
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:14 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by FGCUguy123 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:31 pm

holdencaulfield wrote:Voted SMU before noticing the stipulations. Definitely go with Emory. Waaaaaay too much to risk.

Nobody wrote:Here's a question: At both of these schools, everyone agrees that you need to be in the top ten percent or so to have a decent shot at employment, right? That's what makes the SMU stipulation so bad--that it's a double whammy where he has to pay the most in the situation where he's least likely to find a job. At the same time, playing it safe and going to Emory doesn't seem much better if he graduates outside of the top of his class there too.

What's to stop him from doing a year at SMU and just dropping out if he doesn't make the top 25%? Sure, it's a wasted year, but it sounds like everyone agrees that law school would be a waste if he doesn't make the top 25% anyways, and this would at least give him the opportunity for a mulligan. Is there some reason that this is a stupid idea? Any stupider than pledging to go all three years at any law school where graduating outside of the top quarter is a really bad outcome?
Completely false.
Yeah. That's completely absurd. I know MANY Emory students at the median with more than decent employment. Law school isn't magic (apart from YHS), you need to work hard/network. That's the general consensus among law students I've spoken to.

Nobody

Bronze
Posts: 232
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:17 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by Nobody » Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:53 pm

Sorry, I don't mean to disrespect Emory or anything, I was just going with what I thought some people in this thread were saying. It was really more of a thought experiment, though. Immediately after posting it I was like "Oh geez I hope nobody takes this as advice, haha."

User avatar
holdencaulfield

Bronze
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:12 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by holdencaulfield » Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:11 pm

Nobody wrote:Sorry, I don't mean to disrespect Emory or anything, I was just going with what I thought some people in this thread were saying. It was really more of a thought experiment, though. Immediately after posting it I was like "Oh geez I hope nobody takes this as advice, haha."

wft is a "thought experiment"

FGCUguy123

Bronze
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:14 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by FGCUguy123 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:26 pm

holdencaulfield wrote:
Nobody wrote:Sorry, I don't mean to disrespect Emory or anything, I was just going with what I thought some people in this thread were saying. It was really more of a thought experiment, though. Immediately after posting it I was like "Oh geez I hope nobody takes this as advice, haha."

wft is a "thought experiment"
A way to put yourself in a situation to better understand a concept. Unfortunately, nothing Nobody said was a thought experiment. No offense lol.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


aquyenl

Bronze
Posts: 154
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:57 pm

Re: Emory 75K vs SMU Full (LESS THAN 72 HOURS TO DECIDE!)

Post by aquyenl » Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:51 pm

thank you all for your inputs. it looks like i'll be withdrawing from smu and heading to atlanta in the fall. overall, the 25% stipulation was too much of a barrier in choosing smu. atlanta also seems like a nice city to spend 3+ years at. THANKS TLS

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Choosing a Law School”