Top Law Schools

So I am trying to decide between SMU and Emory. SMU offered a scholarship with full tuition and fees, but the with stipulations to be in the top 25% of the class. Emory offered $75k with no stips.

I am from Texas, and it would be great to come back and work here. But I also would not mind living in ATL. I just want to go wherever a job is available. I am shooting for big law/mid law and would like to work in IP or patent law. I also have a tentative summer associate internship at a V10 law firm.

I am retaking in June to see if I can get off the WL at some T14s, but I am hedging my bets in case that doesn't work out

Emory has the stronger name recognition, but it is so hard to turn down going to law school for free at SMU. I have to respond to the schools by this weekend, help me TLS!

for texas, I think this is a no contest.

Unless you are absolutely 110% committed to SMU, Emory is the obvious choice.

SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

aquyenl wrote:

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

tough decision because SMU at 42k is unjustifiable. i'd say top 25% isn't that bad and it could motivate you to work hard during 1L but w/ full tuition on the line, it might be too much pressure. just my opinion, but i'd go to emory. edit: or even consider sitting out this cycle. ur numbers are obviously really good.

emory great choice

Those stips are bullshit. Emory.

Emory, IMO. Those stips at SMU are scary, and Emory has great name recognition in Texas. Sounds like you already have some ties to (presumably) the TX market, so why not take the guaranteed $$ at Emory?

Also, if you are okay w/ working in ATL as well as Texas, that's another reason why Emory is the better choice.

aquyenl wrote:

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

That does sound like a BS scholly. Look at it this way:

If you lose your scholly then you'll be paying an equivalent of 28k/yr. I'd say that is a fair price for SMU. Is it worth better than paying 20/yr at Emory. I'd say so. ESPECIALLY for texas. SMU is still a no contest

excellent. go to emory great choice.

gbpackerbacker wrote:

aquyenl wrote:

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

That does sound like a BS scholly. Look at it this way:

If you lose your scholly then you'll be paying an equivalent of 28k/yr. I'd say that is a fair price for SMU. Is it worth better than paying 20/yr at Emory. I'd say so. ESPECIALLY for texas. SMU is still a no contest

if you lose your scholly, you'd be paying more than me (almost 2x), and i have way shittier numbers than you. that's such an unnecessary gamble and really an unfair stip.

seriously? emory PERIOD

aquyenl wrote:

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

Sadly, I vote Emory for that very reason. SMU is a beast but top 25% stips are unacceptable.

Wait...assuming your lose your scholarship for your 2/3 years, how much is the COA of each?

gbpackerbacker wrote:

aquyenl wrote:

bartleby wrote:SMU won't budge on the stips? u lose your entire scholarship if you fall out of top 25%? that seems pretty harsh.

yeah the dean said that she could not change the stips, but the scholly is guaranteed for 1 full year. if i fall out of top 25% then its full tuition for 2L and 3L.

That does sound like a BS scholly. Look at it this way:

If you lose your scholly then you'll be paying an equivalent of 28k/yr. I'd say that is a fair price for SMU. Is it worth better than paying 20/yr at Emory. I'd say so. ESPECIALLY for texas. SMU is still a no contest

no no no. The problem w/ stipulated schollies is that, if you lose them, you are doubley fucked. SMU does do well in Dallas no doubt. BUT, only the top of the class is gonna get Dallas big law. If you are outside top 1/4, SMU is absolutely NOT worth 28k/year, so it's a big risk. Too big of a risk, IMO.

Somebody please tell me how Emory is better at 20k/year than SMU at 28k/yr (or free!) IF the OP wants to return to TX?

Try to lessen the stips, but go to SMU either way.

Op said he doesn't care either way. emory has a deservingly bad rep but SMU guarantees you nothing. it isn't like he's picking between emory and UT.

gbpackerbacker wrote:Somebody please tell me how Emory is better at 20k/year than SMU at 28k/yr (or free!) IF the OP wants to return to TX?

Try to lessen the stips, but go to SMU either way.

See the post immediately above yours.

gbpackerbacker wrote:Somebody please tell me how Emory is better at 20k/year than SMU at 28k/yr (or free!) IF the OP wants to return to TX?

Try to lessen the stips, but go to SMU either way.

well when you add the stipulation "IF the OP wants to return to TX?" then yes, you are correct.

Unfortunately the op says

I am from Texas, and it would be great to come back and work here. But I also would not mind living in ATL. I just want to go wherever a job is available. I am shooting for big law/mid law and would like to work in IP or patent law. I also have a tentative summer associate internship at a V10 law firm.

sundance95 wrote:

gbpackerbacker wrote:Somebody please tell me how Emory is better at 20k/year than SMU at 28k/yr (or free!) IF the OP wants to return to TX?

Try to lessen the stips, but go to SMU either way.

See the post immediately above yours.

OP said he or she wants biglaw or midlaw. Also, once again, I am speaking for Texas. SMU > Emory for Texas... even at 8k/yr extra (or 20k/yr less).

DubPoker wrote:

gbpackerbacker wrote:Somebody please tell me how Emory is better at 20k/year than SMU at 28k/yr (or free!) IF the OP wants to return to TX?

Try to lessen the stips, but go to SMU either way.

well when you add the stipulation "IF the OP wants to return to TX?" then yes, you are correct.

Unfortunately the op says

I am from Texas, and it would be great to come back and work here. But I also would not mind living in ATL. I just want to go wherever a job is available. I am shooting for big law/mid law and would like to work in IP or patent law. I also have a tentative summer associate internship at a V10 law firm.

I think that SMU is even with Emory, or might even have an edge, for finding a j-o-b. While I am not completely familiar with SMU's employment stats, I know that Emory's are atrocious.

yeah, i think emory's stats are terribleee for what it was ranked and what people were paying for it. but SMU's stats are worse. i don't even know why i keep responding to this thread. both schools are pretty good, but if you end paying the same or less for emory, go there for sure.

bartleby wrote:yeah, i think emory's stats are terribleee for what it was ranked and what people were paying for it. but SMU's stats are worse. i don't even know why i keep responding to this thread. both schools are pretty good, but if you end paying the same or less for emory, go there for sure.

While I dont agree with this, do you think OP should go if it will either be 16k less to go to Emory or 60k more? The variable does makes it tricky.

EMORY