Top Law Schools

Turn of events, got a call from William and Mary and was offered a spot off their wait list. Thank you for all the help...man this was one crazy cycle!

stipulations on those schollys?

i'd go with loyola right now, since you're aiming for socal.

POLL.
Also what are the stips. Regardless though, I think Hastings is out of the question especially since you want SoCal.

Does anyone know for Hastings vs. Loyola which one has better job prospects in So Cal? Will going to Loyola give me a better advantage for finding work in LA?

Lasers wrote:stipulations on those schollys?

i'd go with loyola right now, since you're aiming for socal.

This is terrible advice. Hastings has a far superior reputation in California, both northern and southern, despite the small ranking difference.

Also, assume you WON'T maintain your scholarship....since, after all, a majority of people do not end up in the top 1/3 of their class.

These are all pretty awful options.

Hastings is the best school by far but at sticker it is way too pricey. On the other hand Loyola is decent but the fact that a majority of the time (2/3 in fact) you are going to lose your scholarship means you are more likely to be paying sticker in years 2 and 3 than you are not.

The best option is to retake/reapply and aim for more money from Davis/Hastings/Irvine (because these schools don't have stipulations like Pepperdine/Loyola) or UCLA/USC/lowerT14 if you must pay sticker.

Out of these options I would take Loyola and pray to any deity you can think of to keep your scholarship, possibly dropping out if you lose your scholarship after your first year.

bk187 wrote:These are all pretty awful options.

TLS has warped your mind, bk. Awful is a awfully strong word. OP, all of these options are gambles. Gamble that you'll find a job, gamble that you'll keep your $$. If you've got a retake in you, u should try it out. Did you not get any need based $ from Hastings?

nematoad wrote:TLS has warped your mind, bk. Awful is a awfully strong word. OP, all of these options are gambles.

I think they are awful because they are sticker (Hastings) or close to it (Pepperdine/Loyola since OP has a higher chance of paying sticker in years 2/3 than not paying sticker due to top 1/3 stipulations) at schools where it is hard to justify going to them considering how bad of a gamble they are.

bk187 wrote:

nematoad wrote:TLS has warped your mind, bk. Awful is a awfully strong word. OP, all of these options are gambles.

I think they are awful because they are sticker (Hastings) or close to it (Pepperdine/Loyola since OP has a higher chance of paying sticker in years 2/3 than not paying sticker due to top 1/3 stipulations) at schools where it is hard to justify going to them considering how bad of a gamble they are.

I see your point but it's all relative. I would agree these aren't the best though. OP, if you're going next year for sure, I'd take Hastings. Bk is right that it is more likely than not that you will end up paying sticker in years 2/3 at Loyola and Pepperdine. And apparently Hastings has some name recognition, or something.

These are definitely not awful options. If anything they are risky. I say Loyola because even if you lose your scholarship after 1L it will probably still come out cheaper than Hastings sticker plus SF cost of living. If you want southern CA (especially LA), Loyola is definitely your best bet here. If you want bay area, then Hastings is the answer. I don't see Pepperdine coming out as the winner under any scenario here.

thegreatk wrote:

Lasers wrote:stipulations on those schollys?

i'd go with loyola right now, since you're aiming for socal.

This is terrible advice. Hastings has a far superior reputation in California, both northern and southern, despite the small ranking difference.

Also, assume you WON'T maintain your scholarship....since, after all, a majority of people do not end up in the top 1/3 of their class.

no it isn't. when i posted that, the stipulations weren't even posted yet, thus me asking if there were any. my advice was based on the fact hastings at sticker is not better than loyola with 69k (especially for socal).

however, with the top 1/3 stip, it's a much harder decision, because hastings is a better school in CA (like you said) and because it will be very hard to bank on fulfilling those stips.

Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.
See if you can bargain your way out of that stipulation.
How much is Hastings?

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.
See if you can bargain your way out of that stipulation.
How much is Hastings?

at sticker, in-state? about 60k total (tuition+living expenses) per year.

Cool, just got an email from Hastings saying that I'll be getting a 10k grant for school.

I'm a California resident btw.

edit: Loyola is about 46k tuition a year and Hastings is 38k~39k so w/the schollys my first year will be 23k for loyola and around 28k for Hastings. (Does Hastings offer USHIP waivers? that'll save me like 2k a year since I have health/dental insurance already)

chimp wrote:These are definitely not awful options. If anything they are risky. I say Loyola because even if you lose your scholarship after 1L it will probably still come out cheaper than Hastings sticker plus SF cost of living. If you want southern CA (especially LA), Loyola is definitely your best bet here. If you want bay area, then Hastings is the answer. I don't see Pepperdine coming out as the winner under any scenario here.

lol, yeah I've pretty much ruled Pepperdine out completely.

octneedy wrote:Cool, just got an email from Hastings saying that I'll be getting a 10k grant for school.

I'm a California resident btw.

edit: Loyola is about 46k tuition a year and Hastings is 38k~39k so w/the schollys my first year will be 23k for loyola and around 28k for Hastings. (Does Hastings offer USHIP waivers? that'll save me like 2k a year since I have health/dental insurance already)

I'd say Hastings then.

octneedy wrote:(Does Hastings offer USHIP waivers? that'll save me like 2k a year since I have health/dental insurance already)

Check the waiver requirements carefully before counting the $ since your coverage has to be better than SHIP in each respect.

That said, that small a difference wouldn't entice me to pick Loyola over Hastings, since UCH does have the better rep state-wide and the stipulation at Loyola is very risky (also I'm definitely a NorCal homer).

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.

It's not about how smart or how hard you work? Man, who's *beep* do I need to suck then!?

Bob.Loblaw wrote:

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.

It's not about how smart or how hard you work? Man, who's *beep* do I need to suck then!?

Well it's blind grading....so it'd be sort of a gloryhole-style anonymous suck!

reverendt wrote:

Bob.Loblaw wrote:

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.

It's not about how smart or how hard you work? Man, who's *beep* do I need to suck then!?

Well it's blind grading....so it'd be sort of a gloryhole-style anonymous suck!

Blind grading doesn't disregard intelligence or hard work to that extent. Someone's has got to be in the top 1/3. Purdy mouth or not, if my skills is the talk of the town I'm going to get ahead.

Why all the Pepperdine hate? Is it significantly worse than Loyola/Hastings? If so, why?

uzpakalis wrote:Why all the Pepperdine hate? Is it significantly worse than Loyola/Hastings? If so, why?

Loyola and Pepperdine are pretty similar and since Loyola would be cheaper, there is no reason for OP to choose Pepperdine. Even if cost was the same for both I would still choose Loyola though.

Bob.Loblaw wrote:

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.

It's not about how smart or how hard you work? Man, who's *beep* do I need to suck then!?

Yes, I am also curious as to y everyone believes it's impossible to score in the top 1/3 and maintain your scholarship.

octneedy wrote:

Bob.Loblaw wrote:

reverendt wrote:Top 1/3 is a mighty tough stipulation. The odds are firmly against you keeping your scholarship....I don't care how smart you are or how hard you plan to work.

It's not about how smart or how hard you work? Man, who's *beep* do I need to suck then!?

Yes, I am also curious as to y everyone believes it's impossible to score in the top 1/3 and maintain your scholarship.

it isn't impossible. you just simply can't bank on doing so.