I have a BSW from a large public university. After spending a few years in the field I learned that I am much more interested in public interest law than in getting a MSW and counseling. If a few years go by after graduation and I still cannot land a PI job, I'll go back and get my MSW. I just believe that I owe it to myself to try to pursue my dream career first.
I've seen a lot of negativity on these forums but I am assuming it's because most law students are looking for that big paycheck and that opportunity to work for Biglaw. I could be totally wrong though.
I'm interested in PI and only PI.
I have no real preference on exact location but I do know that I'd like to be in North Jersey, NYC, or Nassau County.
I would be perfectly happy living in any of these areas for the rest of my life (most of family lives in these areas).
I have a UGPA of 3.3 (although LSAC insists it's a 3.1) and an LSAT score of 159. Also, I'm Hispanic but not generally considered a URM.
Here's how my cycle played out:
- -Columbia (Denied)
-NYU (Denied)
-Fordham (Denied)
-Cardozo (Waitlisted)
-Brooklyn (Admitted)
-Rutgers Newark (Denied)
-Hofstra (Admitted)/Full Scholarship
-St. John's (Admitted)/After negotiations: 8k/yr Scholarship
-NYLS (Admitted)/Full Scholarship
-CUNY (Denied)-My PS was about PI but specifically mentioned places I've volunteered that are pretty conservative and my LORs were from people at these places (except one from a professor). Perhaps that contributed to their decision? I hear they're very liberal. I don't know, but regardless, I was quite surprised by this rejection.
-Touro (Admitted)/Half Scholarship
That leaves me leaning toward either Hofstra or NYLS. I'd have to stay in the top 40% to keep the scholarship at Hofstra whereas I'd have to maintain a 3.25 at NYLS (I don't know what percentile that is).
I've seen plenty of "Hofstra v. NYLS" threads but it seems to me like they're a little outdated and/or are directed towards OPs that are praying for that one-in-a-million shot at a Biglaw career. (Okay, so maybe it's more like one-in-a-thousand, but you get my point.) I've also seen plenty of "Neither." responses, but I'm definitely starting law school this fall and I'd like to compare these schools to one another as opposed to schools I didn't get into like Columbia and NYU. I know I'll be competing with graduates from those schools for jobs, but not everyone can get into those schools and I beating myself up over something that I can't go back in time and fix is pointless. I need to try to focus on the decisions I can make now and focus on the present and future.
I know that neither of these schools are well-reputed, but I'd rather go to the school that has the better reputation of the two.
I don't have any family members or close family friends that I can ask for advice, so I really need your help making this important decision.
Which school do you recommend I attend?
Thanks a bunch for your help!