Goal = Zero Debt...suggestions? Forum

[1898]

Relevant Info: 3.97/166/non-URM/strong softs and WE

As a poor standardized test taker, I was thrilled to see that I scored a 166 on the Oct. LSAT after getting a 160 in June. However, with this new score I'm overwhelmed by my options. My goal is minimal debt, not necessarily prestige. With my previous score, I was going to apply to the following schools:

Pepperdine
USD
Penn State
U Pittsburgh
U Denver
U Oregon
Seattle U
Michigan State

Now I'm thinking about adding:

William and Mary
U Washington
U Colorado

Other suggestions?

[Bildungsroman]

Keep in mind a couple things:

1. Very few schools offer stipends beyond tuition, so you'll have to cover living expenses through a source other than scholarships (e.g. loans, savings).
2. Many lower-ranked schools have stipulations on their scholarships that make them very hard to keep. Make sure to check those stipulations and factor into your consideration that you have a high chance of losing a scholarship with oppressive stipulations.

[Grizz]

Keep in mind a couple things:

1. Very few schools offer stipends beyond tuition, so you'll have to cover living expenses through a source other than scholarships (e.g. loans, savings).
2. Many lower-ranked schools have stipulations on their scholarships that make them very hard to keep. Make sure to check those stipulations and factor into your consideration that you have a high chance of losing a scholarship with oppressive stipulations.

This.

[CanadianWolf]

Indiana, Iowa & Illinois.

[HeavenWood]

Keep in mind a couple things:

1. Very few schools offer stipends beyond tuition, so you'll have to cover living expenses through a source other than scholarships (e.g. loans, savings).
2. Many lower-ranked schools have stipulations on their scholarships that make them very hard to keep. Make sure to check those stipulations and factor into your consideration that you have a high chance of losing a scholarship with oppressive stipulations.

This.

Sticker at UVA will still probably serve you far better than a full ride at Indiana.

Or if you're that concerned about debt, just retake.

Also, some of these schools (Penn State and Pitt in particular) don't offer full-tuition scholarships anyway.

[Blindmelon]

Where do you want to work?

[Blindmelon]

Keep in mind a couple things:

1. Very few schools offer stipends beyond tuition, so you'll have to cover living expenses through a source other than scholarships (e.g. loans, savings).
2. Many lower-ranked schools have stipulations on their scholarships that make them very hard to keep. Make sure to check those stipulations and factor into your consideration that you have a high chance of losing a scholarship with oppressive stipulations.

If you want to graduate debt-free, I strongly recommend working for a few years. You can save money like crazy, and build your resume for OCI, etc.

[Yeshia90]

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

[thexfactor]

You need to ask yourself why you want to minimize debt. Is it because you dont want biglaw?

Frankly, the legal market is terrible for all jbos, including PI. If you are really risk adverse, I wouldn't enter the legal market at all.

There is a huge difference in job placement between lower t14 schools ( something your numbers should be able to get you into) vs the schools you listed T1/T2 schools.

[Antilles Haven]

William and Mary is a public school, So I doubt you'll get anything close to a full ride, if debt is your #1 concern.

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

Thread title: Goal = Zero Debt

[03121202698008]

Keep in mind a couple things:

1. Very few schools offer stipends beyond tuition, so you'll have to cover living expenses through a source other than scholarships (e.g. loans, savings).
2. Many lower-ranked schools have stipulations on their scholarships that make them very hard to keep. Make sure to check those stipulations and factor into your consideration that you have a high chance of losing a scholarship with oppressive stipulations.

This. If you're that opposed to debt, don't go to LS. Taking on too much debt is stupid but not taking on $20K when you would to buy a car, etc is equally stupid.

[Yeshia90]

William and Mary is a public school, So I doubt you'll get anything close to a full ride, if debt is your #1 concern.

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

Thread title: Goal = Zero Debt

I'm an idiot, meant to say GWU.

[bport hopeful]

As dumb as this sounds, Pitt will only give you 14k a year.

[HeavenWood]

William and Mary is a public school, So I doubt you'll get anything close to a full ride, if debt is your #1 concern.

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

Thread title: Goal = Zero Debt

I'm an idiot, meant to say GWU.

I don't think the OP can land GW ED with those numbers.

[Yeshia90]

William and Mary is a public school, So I doubt you'll get anything close to a full ride, if debt is your #1 concern.

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

Thread title: Goal = Zero Debt

I'm an idiot, meant to say GWU.

I don't think the OP can land GW ED with those numbers.

Might be a bit of a reach, but if the other schools are safeties aiming for money, what's the harm?

[HeavenWood]

Nobody's going to suggest ED to WUSTL?

Thread title: Goal = Zero Debt

I'm an idiot, meant to say GWU.

I don't think the OP can land GW ED with those numbers.

Might be a bit of a reach, but if the other schools are safeties aiming for money, what's the harm?[/quote]
Mostly because OP will have wasted his ED. He'll probably get in RD... just at sticker.

[goop92]

If little to no debt is your only or main concern, apply to BYU.

[tennisking88]

Relevant Info: 3.97/166/non-URM/strong softs and WE

As a poor standardized test taker, I was thrilled to see that I scored a 166 on the Oct. LSAT after getting a 160 in June. However, with this new score I'm overwhelmed by my options. My goal is minimal debt, not necessarily prestige. With my previous score, I was going to apply to the following schools:

Pepperdine
USD
Penn State
U Pittsburgh
U Denver
U Oregon
Seattle U
Michigan State

Now I'm thinking about adding:

William and Mary
U Washington
U Colorado

Other suggestions?

ED to BU or NW.

[NYC Law]

William and Mary doesn't give full rides (according to the admissions officers at last year's ASW).
So debt-free from there isn't an option.

Your best bet is going to be IU-B.

[Yeshia90]

Might be a bit of a reach, but if the other schools are safeties aiming for money, what's the harm?

Mostly because OP will have wasted his ED. He'll probably get in RD... just at sticker.

But are there any other schools for which applying ED provides such a definitive scholarship boost?

[HeavenWood]

Might be a bit of a reach, but if the other schools are safeties aiming for money, what's the harm?

Mostly because OP will have wasted his ED. He'll probably get in RD... just at sticker.

But are there any other schools for which applying ED provides such a definitive scholarship boost?

BU. It's their first year offering such an option (much less ED in the first place), but it could be worthwhile.

[Yeshia90]

Might be a bit of a reach, but if the other schools are safeties aiming for money, what's the harm?

Mostly because OP will have wasted his ED. He'll probably get in RD... just at sticker.

But are there any other schools for which applying ED provides such a definitive scholarship boost?

BU. It's their first year offering such an option (much less ED in the first place), but it could be worthwhile.

Moreso than GWU¿

[HeavenWood]

Mostly because OP will have wasted his ED. He'll probably get in RD... just at sticker.

But are there any other schools for which applying ED provides such a definitive scholarship boost?

BU. It's their first year offering such an option (much less ED in the first place), but it could be worthwhile.

Moreso than GWU¿

Better biglaw placement, plus since it's the first year, just who will and who won't be accepted will be a bit unpredictable.

[1898]

Thanks for your suggestions. In response to your various questions: Yes, I'm debt averse; however, I'm willing to take on $50K of debt or so if it means significantly better job prospects. Also, I have enough savings to cover COL (even in an expensive area), so that's not a big concern to me.

Although a full-ride would be nice, I recognize that this is unrealistic. I just want to graduate with as little debt as possible and am unsure which schools would allow me to do that with my numbers.

[NYC Law]

Thanks for your suggestions. In response to your various questions: Yes, I'm debt averse; however, I'm willing to take on $50K of debt or so if it means significantly better job prospects. Also, I have enough savings to cover COL (even in an expensive area), so that's not a big concern to me.

Although a full-ride would be nice, I recognize that this is unrealistic. I just want to graduate with as little debt as possible and am unsure which schools would allow me to do that with my numbers.

Even if you don't get the full ride, you should be able to pull a fairly significant scholarship at BU, and it's one of the best schools outside of the T14, so I'd highly recommend that.

Best shots for little debts and decent prospects for you:
WUSTL
Emory
BC
BU
IU-B
Minnesota
UIUC
W&M

Though I acknowledge this list has a heave east coast bias, I don't know much about west coast schools.