Gtown vs. TT NY Schools with $$ Forum

[cogitoergosum]

Relevant decisions:

GULC: IN
W&M: IN with $72k
Fordham: WL
Cardozo: IN with $75k
Seton Hall: IN with $105k

My dilemma is caused by the fact that my wife works in NYC at her dream job (making very good $$ btw). If I do Gtown we either split up for the LS years, or move to DC together and borrow full tuition/COL while she looks for work in DC (she works in a niche industry and so probably wouldn't find anything like her current job). If I take one of the NY schools, we are financially in a really good position, but I'm not a t-14 grad.

I hate the idea of splitting up during law school, I hate the idea of borrowing 70k/year, and I also hate the idea of going to a TT. Don't know what to do.

[Mr. Pancakes]

Relevant decisions:

GULC: IN
W&M: IN with $72k
Fordham: WL
Cardozo: IN with $75k
Seton Hall: IN with $105k

My dilemma is caused by the fact that my wife works in NYC at her dream job (making very good $$ btw). If I do Gtown we either split up for the LS years, or move to DC together and borrow full tuition/COL while she looks for work in DC (she works in a niche industry and so probably wouldn't find anything like her current job). If I take one of the NY schools, we are financially in a really good position, but I'm not a t-14 grad.

I hate the idea of splitting up during law school, I hate the idea of borrowing 70k/year, and I also hate the idea of going to a TT. Don't know what to do.

I needs pics of this broad to give you advice.

[Nelson]

I hate the idea of splitting up during law school, I hate the idea of borrowing 70k/year, and I also hate the idea of going to a TT. Don't know what to do.

Given these options, don't go to law school next year. Unless you're funemployed, I would stay wherever you are now.

ETA: Fordham is your best (not good) option. Try to beg some scholarship money and with COL covered it's not as brutal as it would be normally.

[Doorkeeper]

You were just WL at Penn right? Maybe that's the middle ground if you get in. You commute back and forth during 1L and then take electives so that you only need to be in Philly for like...TWTh and be in NYC the rest of the time studying and such. Barring that, maybe you get into Fordham and use W&M to leverage $$?

Georgetown would be a tough go of it, but you could do the same thing as I suggested above for Penn...Georgetown is right next to Union Station and you could work on the Amtrak up to NYC. Plus, I don't know what her hours are, but she could also come down for weekends after work on Friday. Long distance sucks, but it's definitely doable.

What are your career goals? If you want biglaw you have to consider Georgetown, Penn, or Fordham.

Also, note your situation in any LOCI you send to schools that you're waitlisted at. I know they can be ruthless, but law schools don't like breaking up couples, so if you say "Due to my significant other working in NYC, I would absolutely attend if accepted," it can go a long way in getting you off the WL.

Also, if T14 is your goal, aka Penn, NYU, or Columbia...maybe Nelson is right.

[bk1]

Honestly you don't really have any "good" decision in the sense that any one you choose requires some sacrifice. Your LSDAS GPA also pretty much precludes you from CLS/NYU so it's not like retaking will change anything. The situation really isn't going to change waiting a year. She will have her niche NYC job and you won't be able to get into a good school much closer (you're likely not getting much if any $ from Fordham, you might be able to get UPenn or Cornell but you would probably still be living apart even if you were closer to NYC).

Why would you have to borrow 70k/year? If your wife makes "very good $$" why can't she cover it or dip into your savings rather than having to take out loans.

I also don't think anybody can tell you what you should do. This is really a decision between you and your wife. My opinion is that both of you moving to DC is probably the worst idea if she can't get a comparable job there. I'd probably accept being apart for 9 months a year for the next 3 years and take GULC rather than go to a NYC TT, but I could definitely see an argument for Fordham at sticker if you got it or an NYC TT with a scholarship. (Seton Hall and W&M seem like summarily awful ideas for you.)

[Mr. Somebody]

Yeah you should be able to get off the Fordham WL if you tell them you're still interested. Sorry about the Penn WL dude but don't give up on it!

[cogitoergosum]

Regarding this:

Why would you have to borrow 70k/year? If your wife makes "very good $$" why can't she cover it or dip into your savings rather than having to take out loans.

If we split (and she keeps her job) we wouldn't have to borrow (much) money for Gtown. The borrowing is only if she quits and we move together.

Regarding doorkeeper's comments, you're right, Penn would be perfect, we could even make the commute work without separating. I did make known to Penn that this was a factor, and will express in my LOCI that because of this I will attend if admitted. I am currently held at HLS, and pending at Yale (I know), NYU, and deferred from ED at Columbia, so there are still some options that could pan out, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.

Oh yeah, and regarding this:

I needs pics of this broad to give you advice.

There are no words...

[Doorkeeper]

Regarding doorkeeper's comments, you're right, Penn would be perfect, we could even make the commute work without separating. I did make known to Penn that this was a factor, and will express in my LOCI that because of this I will attend if admitted. I am currently held at HLS, and pending at Yale (I know), NYU, and deferred from ED at Columbia, so there are still some options that could pan out, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.

Well I don't know about your chances at Yale, HLS, Columbia and NYU...you might have a shot at NYU, as it looks like they have very rarely accepted people around 3.0-3.2 with 170+ LSATs.

Otherwise, make sure you make it crystal clear about both your situation and that you will attend if accepted in your LOCI and hope for the best. Maybe when I withdraw from Penn I'll make a note to admit you. haha. Did you also tell NYU about your situation? They might have enough high GPAs to let you slide in after they get their enrolls in.

[cogitoergosum]

Regarding doorkeeper's comments, you're right, Penn would be perfect, we could even make the commute work without separating. I did make known to Penn that this was a factor, and will express in my LOCI that because of this I will attend if admitted. I am currently held at HLS, and pending at Yale (I know), NYU, and deferred from ED at Columbia, so there are still some options that could pan out, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.

Well I don't know about your chances at Yale, HLS, Columbia and NYU...you might have a shot at NYU, as it looks like they have very rarely accepted people around 3.0-3.2 with 170+ LSATs.

Otherwise, make sure you make it crystal clear about both your situation and that you will attend if accepted in your LOCI and hope for the best. Maybe when I withdraw from Penn I'll make a note to admit you. haha. Did you also tell NYU about your situation? They might have enough high GPAs to let you slide in after they get their enrolls in.

Thanks, yeah, I will be sure to make the situation plain for adcomms. I did tell NYU, but will reiterate in LOCI after I get WL'ed (assuming I get WL'ed).

[bk1]

I personally think you overshot with your CLS ED, you should have gone either NYU or Penn. That being said, neither of NYU/Penn admitted anybody with a GPA that low on LSN last cycle. If apps are dropping you might be able to snag one of them next cycle with an ED but that isn't a guarantee.

[cogitoergosum]

I personally think you overshot with your CLS ED, you should have gone either NYU or Penn. That being said, neither of NYU/Penn admitted anybody with a GPA that low on LSN last cycle. If apps are dropping you might be able to snag one of them next cycle with an ED but that isn't a guarantee.

Yeah, well my app's kind of weird. ugpa is 4.0, LSAC GPA is 3.1 (haven't earned a non-A in over 5 years). Maybe I was stupid for believing all the talk about LS admissions not being about two numbers....

[justicefishy]

I personally think you overshot with your CLS ED, you should have gone either NYU or Penn. That being said, neither of NYU/Penn admitted anybody with a GPA that low on LSN last cycle. If apps are dropping you might be able to snag one of them next cycle with an ED but that isn't a guarantee.

Yeah, well my app's kind of weird. ugpa is 4.0, LSAC GPA is 3.1 (haven't earned a non-A in over 5 years). Maybe I was stupid for believing all the talk about LS admissions not being about two numbers....

Write a kick-butt LOCI for Penn is the best advice I can give. They take a ton of people off the WL every year (what I've heard) and I think (well, hope really ) you won't have too much trouble given your situation.

[tennisking88]

You'll prob get off the Fordham WL but you won't get much $ because you are a splitter.

I would not go to SH or Dozo with those scholarships.

I would not go to GULC at sticker, especially if it causes hardship on your marriage.

I would write a genuine LOCI and wait it out for CNP. Nothing much else you can do.

Edit: Didn't realize you were only deferred at C, and still waiting on N. And were held at Harvard. Dude, you are panicking too early. Just wait and see what happens.

[asdflawyer]

Relevant decisions:

GULC: IN
W&M: IN with $72k
Fordham: WL
Cardozo: IN with $75k
Seton Hall: IN with $105k

My dilemma is caused by the fact that my wife works in NYC at her dream job (making very good $$ btw). If I do Gtown we either split up for the LS years, or move to DC together and borrow full tuition/COL while she looks for work in DC (she works in a niche industry and so probably wouldn't find anything like her current job). If I take one of the NY schools, we are financially in a really good position, but I'm not a t-14 grad.

I hate the idea of splitting up during law school, I hate the idea of borrowing 70k/year, and I also hate the idea of going to a TT. Don't know what to do.

I needs pics of this broad to give you advice.

Mr. Pancakes- that was the greatest response ever!! haha

[Mr. Pancakes]

Mr. Pancakes- that was the greatest response ever!! haha

True story bro.

[cogitoergosum]

I needs pics of this broad to give you advice.

Mr. Pancakes- that was the greatest response ever!! haha

True story bro.

You guys are idiots. It's okay though, I was once an idiot too, and eventually grew out of it.

So I'm holding out hope for you guys. Good luck!