Vandy v. SMU Forum

[Weber]

I want to work in Texas eventually, preferably DFW (my hometown). I received a $37,000/year scholarship from SMU, and I've been accepted to Vandy, with no news about scholarships yet. Considering my LSAT score, 165, I doubt I'll receive much financial assistance from Vanderbilt, despite a 3.97 GPA from UT-Austin. I know both place well in Dallas with generally high-paying firms. My concern about Vandy is the cost and the loss of connections, and my concern about SMU is essentially the education/prestige downgrade. Any advice to help me decide would be much appreciated.

[Doorkeeper]

Take down your name, then we'll discuss this.

[bk1]

No UT?

[red_owl]

Take down your name, then we'll discuss this.

+1

[franklyscarlet]

Edit that post, sweetie. This is the Internet. It's not nice here.

[Weber]

My bad, didn't think about that being an issue. UT wait listed me, so I'm not sure what to think.

[kalvano]

LSAT is probably too low for UT.

Given that you wan to work in Dallas and have a great scholarship from SMU, I'd lean towards SMU unless Vandy comes through with something nice. Vandy does well here, but not well enough to offset what is almost a full ride to SMU.

[red_owl]

Go to Vandy. Spend 3L as a visiting student at SMU.

[kalvano]

SMU requires a "compelling need" to be a visiting student.

And I don't think it would do much for you anyway.

[romothesavior]

Retake for UT. You just need another point or two with that GPA. Heck, they might even pull you off the WL this summer if you retake in June and improve a couple points.

[rad lulz]

See what Vanderbilt gives you, then come back. They are pretty liberal with the dollarz

[red_owl]

SMU requires a "compelling need" to be a visiting student.

And I don't think it would do much for you anyway.

I'm sure the "compelling need" is pretty fungible. Potentially spending both summers and 3L in Dallas while getting a Vandy degree at the same time FTW.