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OK I got accepted to Drake, (16k per year scholly, 8.5 if i pass, 7.5 if top 1/3) I did the CLEO program at Drake.. great school, profs are legit... This is coming from someone who is pre 1L, but it seemed first class..

Then I got a call from Rutgers-Camden and they will accept me for next year--would be in state for me and where I would def like to go, but IDK what I could do for a year. I'd like to just get started I think, I think it would be the same from a monetary standpoint..

what should I do, Id rather stay east coast, but I am not completely against going to Iowa, I just want to make the best decision, also I have 20k debt from undergrad, so i would probably start having to pay that off if I take a year off??

Also I got accepted to Widener, full price.. thats def not good though

also I am non-URM and 156 lsat

do not go to either of these schools.

Do not go to these schools; otherwise, you will end up drowning in debt and with shitty job prospects.

Go to JD Underground and ask your question there to people that have already committed the same mistake; and please provide us a link.

Drake is an okay school. It's one of two law schools in Iowa, and it's located in the state capital, and really only significant legal market, Des Moines. That said, it's still a mediocre school at best. I would only go to Drake if you really want to work in Des Moines. It sounds like you want to be out East, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go there to me. The other schools would not give you a decent chance at solid employment prospects.

more responses?

Since you're from NJ, go to Rutgers and wait the year. Pick up a job, or even just volunteer at a small NJ firm. There are plenty of places that will take the fee labor, especially since they know you are going to law school in a year. It seems like that is where your connections are and where you would prefer to practice. Rutgers is not quite the abyss of jobs TLS makes it seem like, but you are not guaranteed anything either by attending. Use this year to get some experience, it will pay off in spades during your first year of law school and when looking for a job during and after school.

I def need to make money if I take off a year...

As a NJ resident myself, I'd agree that Rutgers is not as bad as the board tends to make them out to be. I know several people who have gotten BigLaw in Newark (all in the top 1/3 though). That being said, it's still ridiculous to bet that kind of money on the job prospects you will be looking at when you come out. I know it's the standard answer around here, but you should really consider working for a year or two and retaking the LSAT. People don't seem to realize that another 5-10 points on the test can completely change your future, and (for most people) those point changes are very achievable given enough time and effort.

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