Top Law Schools

GetItRight23 wrote:Despite the conventional wisdom commonly purported on this forum, I am resigned to choosing between these schools. I intend to start law school this fall and feel the need to get my foot in the door at one of these locations. First and foremost I am from Miami and ideally intend to practice in South Florida. Due to the disparity in prestige between the schools that I have been admitted to, I find myself in an odd battle of prestige vs. location. Although I AM QUITE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF RE-TAKING, THIS OPTION HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.

I also have taken into account the possibility of transferring after my 1L year, and realize as well that only a few transfer students are admitted into each program per year. That being said, a contingency plan to transfer to avoid long term debt, and open up regional opportunities has been formulated. Yes, this has been planned knowing the difficulties of landing in the top 15% due to the curve, although I intend to achieve that goal, I believe the importance of this achievement to be somewhat diluted since the ideal transfer schools would be practically lateral in terms of prestige considering the 3 target schools are still Tier 2. The goal in mind after 1 L year is to either transfer to UM, UF, FSU, or if my 1L year grades merit or permit a T-25 location.


Hofstra (20 K) vs Syracuse (13K) vs. West Virginia vs Florida International University (full scholly)

GetItRight23 wrote:I find myself in an odd battle of prestige vs. location.

GetItRight23 wrote:there is still a difference in prestige between Tier 2 schools (Hofstra, Syracuse, West Virginia) and a Tier 4 (FIU) located in my desired region of employment

GetItRight23 wrote:@ tea drinker: stips include: Hofstra (20K) maintain a ranking within the top 66% of class
Cuse (13K) maintaining a 3.0
FIU (full scholly) good standing




@ Wholigan: Although I am not qualifying any of these schools as prominent or prestigious on an individual basis there is still a difference in prestige between Tier 2 schools (Hofstra, Syracuse, West Virginia) and a Tier 4 (FIU) located in my desired region of employment. You would be making the error of individually qualifying these schools prestige versus comparatively qualifying them in regards to each other.

Case2L wrote:I voted WVU, and I'll just advise to say screw South Florida. I know it's where you want to be, but if your REALLY want to be a lawyer, and these schools are your only options, employment HAS to trump location. WVU offers you the greatest chance for employment, albeit you will almost certainly have to remain in WV. WVU sounds like a good deal - a full ride at a school that dominates it's region.

snapdragon wrote:

Case2L wrote:I voted WVU, and I'll just advise to say screw South Florida. I know it's where you want to be, but if your REALLY want to be a lawyer, and these schools are your only options, employment HAS to trump location. WVU offers you the greatest chance for employment, albeit you will almost certainly have to remain in WV. WVU sounds like a good deal - a full ride at a school that dominates it's region.

I'm confused - I thought he meant he had NO money at WVU, not a fully scholly? He didn't list any stips for it..

GetItRight23 wrote:I find myself in an odd battle of prestige vs. location.

dpk711 wrote:

GetItRight23 wrote:I find myself in an odd battle of prestige vs. location.

I loled very hard

snapdragon wrote:Not sure if serious... but...

In the case that you're real and want to work in S. FL, take the full ride at FIU but if you lose the scholarship, I'd recommend dropping out.

Unfortunately, none of the schools you were admitted to have a prestige level that will make a noticeable difference. Hofstra and Syracuse are expensive T2s in an overcrowded market. West Virginia is probably good if you want to work in West Virginia, which you don't, and honestly, still expensive OOS (and I read on this board that it's nigh impossible to get in-state at WVU). None of these schools have a prestige level which would make any sort of difference for South Florida. If this was FIU vs. Duke, it might be a different story. If you must go this year, go to the cheap school that's in the region you want to practice.

Regarding the transfer thing, there's an 85-90% chance you will not be in a position to transfer after 1L. In the UNLIKELY circumstance you are, I strongly feel that any slight advantage in ranking that Hofstra/Syracuse/WVU would give you is not worth the greater tuition costs and sacrifice of reputation in the geographic region where you want to work.

patrickd139 wrote:

GetItRight23 wrote:there is still a difference in prestige between Tier 2 schools (Hofstra, Syracuse, West Virginia) and a Tier 4 (FIU) located in my desired region of employment

No there isn't.

rbgrocio wrote:

patrickd139 wrote:

GetItRight23 wrote:there is still a difference in prestige between Tier 2 schools (Hofstra, Syracuse, West Virginia) and a Tier 4 (FIU) located in my desired region of employment

No there isn't.

FIU is a T3 as of this year! =) not that it makes much of a difference... but just saying. If I were you, I would go to FIU. I'm a 3L there. I turned down UM and FSU.

GetItRight23 wrote: Yes, this has been planned knowing the difficulties of landing in the top 15% due to the curve, although I intend to achieve that goal, I believe the importance of this achievement to be somewhat diluted since the ideal transfer schools would be practically lateral in terms of prestige considering the 3 target schools are still Tier 2.