St. John's $$$ vs. ND Forum

[TracyLynn]

Hey all, already deposited at St. John's with full tuition scholarship (if you stay in the top 40% you keep the whole thing and there's a sliding scale from there) and recently admitted to Notre Dame off the waitlist..doesn't look like I'm getting any help at this point. I know ND at sticker sucks. Any advice for me? Thanks!

[09042014]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

[a5L]

SJU for free is a great deal!

[ndirish2010]

Ask NDLS for some money. Sticker is not great, but when the alternative is SJU?

[quixotical]

OP, you should add a poll to get more responses.

[quixotical]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

I think DF makes an important point-- if you don't get top 40%, you're in big trouble. There is a 60% chance you will lose some (or all) of your scholarship money. Do you know if SJU stacks its sections?

[09042014]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

I think DF makes an important point-- if you don't get top 40%, you're in big trouble. There is a 60% chance you will lose some (or all) of your scholarship money. Do you know if SJU stacks its sections?

It doesn't really matter if they stack their sections or not. Scholarship kids aren't going to do more than marginally better.

[ndirish2010]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

I think DF makes an important point-- if you don't get top 40%, you're in big trouble. There is a 60% chance you will lose some (or all) of your scholarship money. Do you know if SJU stacks its sections?

If OP isn't in the top 40% he/she is in big trouble regardless of scholarship situations from SJU.

[09042014]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

I think DF makes an important point-- if you don't get top 40%, you're in big trouble. There is a 60% chance you will lose some (or all) of your scholarship money. Do you know if SJU stacks its sections?

If OP isn't in the top 40% he/she is in big trouble regardless of scholarship situations from SJU.

With minimal debt, shit law won't be that bad.

[ndirish2010]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

I think DF makes an important point-- if you don't get top 40%, you're in big trouble. There is a 60% chance you will lose some (or all) of your scholarship money. Do you know if SJU stacks its sections?

If OP isn't in the top 40% he/she is in big trouble regardless of scholarship situations from SJU.

With minimal debt, shit law won't be that bad.

Yeah, true...the problem with sticker at T25s is that if you aren't top quarter (about), then you won't be able to pay off your debt. Therein lies the merit of the argument that full rides at TTTs are better than sticker T25s. Neither is really a great option.

[TracyLynn]

I'm sorry about the poll.. can anyone tell me how to add one? I've been told by SJU that they do not stack sections, but like some have said, it will be tough no matter what. I know ND at sticker is bad, but I keep thinking about the opportunities at ND compared to St. John's. I'm already in debt from undergrad, so I know taking out more than necessary is a bad choice. I guess ND is just my dream school and I'm looking for a way to justify it. Thanks everyone!

[bk1]

I'm sorry about the poll.. can anyone tell me how to add one? I've been told by SJU that they do not stack sections, but like some have said, it will be tough no matter what. I know ND at sticker is bad, but I keep thinking about the opportunities at ND compared to St. John's. I'm already in debt from undergrad, so I know taking out more than necessary is a bad choice. I guess ND is just my dream school and I'm looking for a way to justify it. Thanks everyone!

You can add one by editing your original post and scrolling to the bottom where the poll options are.

If you really want ND you should retake the LSAT and reapply so that you can get a scholarship to go there.

[ndirish2010]

I'm sorry about the poll.. can anyone tell me how to add one? I've been told by SJU that they do not stack sections, but like some have said, it will be tough no matter what. I know ND at sticker is bad, but I keep thinking about the opportunities at ND compared to St. John's. I'm already in debt from undergrad, so I know taking out more than necessary is a bad choice. I guess ND is just my dream school and I'm looking for a way to justify it. Thanks everyone!

I understand the feeling. As someone who wanted to go to ND my entire life, it's not hard to see where you're coming from. But I can't advise anyone to take out sticker for a 1/3 chance at a good job (that may even be a bit optimistic, but by 2014 it should be close to reality).

[TracyLynn]

Ok, got the poll up. I already spoke with the director of admissions who let me know that all their funds have been allocated. So no money.

[areyouinsane]

Avoid St. John's unless you want a "career" in insurance defense, landlord/tenant, or other low-paying gutter areas of law (that's if you're lucky, since probably 50% or more of the class end up structurally unemployed). Even with scholly, you're pissing away 3 years of COL expenses, studying, etc to end up with an also-ran JD that no legal or non-legal employer will have any respect for.

Better to bail on the law thing now than end up on Court Street in Brooklyn in 2014 making 35 K a year to defend Allstate fender-bender files.

[TracyLynn]

If you vote can you please post your reasoning? Thanks!

I've definitely considering doing public interest as well, which would make me eligible for loan forgiveness after 10 years in the field. I don't want to rely on that though, since I'm not totally sure what field I want to go into.

[ndirish2010]

I really would retake/reapply if you want ND. Get at least 18K. What are your numbers?

[TracyLynn]

159/163/3.8 Obviously I never thought I would get in! Especially with the great numbers out there! I do feel grateful, but now a little brokenhearted over the cost.

[ndirish2010]

Retake for sure!! You have a 3.8, don't waste it on SJU.

[Danteshek]

Go to ND. Don't subject yourself to the New York market.

[dresden doll]

If you have the fortitude to drop out of St. Johns if you don't get top 40%, you should go there.

THIS.

[ndirish2010]

Go to ND. Don't subject yourself to the New York market.

ND is arguably (or not so arguably) better for NY than SJU. You just need to do a lot of mass mailing, but I would imagine that the top 10% at ND would have a shot at NYC.

[Perch]

Retake for sure!! You have a 3.8, don't waste it on SJU.

[TracyLynn]

I agree the ND has decent placement in NYC, however I would be totally fine with the midwest/west. I'm not committed to one area. Just wanted to clarify since I know many people are NYC or bust.

[dresden doll]

Go to ND. Don't subject yourself to the New York market.

NYC is arguably the easiest market to crack ITE.