Choosing from a bunch of choices! Forum

[Barthomeloi]

Hello,

I'm a prospective law student that's been admitted to roughly 17 schools so far. I'm having a hard time choosing between certain schools; that and deciding whether either savings on money or higher rank is worth more. I'd like to know your opinions

Here's the schools I've been thinking about:

Indiana-Bloomington Maurer School of Law - Out of state tutiton, $43, $10,000 scholarship. Conditions unknown as of now. I'm not sure if I can lift in-state tuition after a year; the guidelines seem kind of strict.
Chicago-Kent - $42k with a $18k scholarship, no conditions.
Loyola-Chicago- $38k with a $12k scholarship, no conditions
Rutgers-Newark - Out of state for first year, $36k, residency thereafter and a $12k scholarship, maintain 3.0.
University of Cincinnati - $22k in state tuition after GMR, $6500 scholarship, no conditions.
University of Houston- $26k in state due to residency waiver, $2.5k scholarship

Other schools I've gotten into:
DePaul- $40k, 25k scholarship no conditions.
Seton Hall - $46k, 25k scholarship
Cardozo - $47k, $20 k scholarship no conditions
Temple - instate, nadda.
University of Villanova - $36k, $15k scholarship, maintain 3.0.
Case Western, nadda.
As well as some other schools I won't really consider as they're either too low or I don't want to live there.

I'm waiting on:
University of Wisconsin
Ohio State
University of Iowa
University of Illnois - After the initial pass, they said they needed more time to decide whether to admit me straight out or waitlist me.
Some background:

I was born and raised, as well as currently live in, Philadelphia. I went to University of Pittsburgh for my undergraduate, where I graduated with a 3.2 (3.06 according to LSAC) GPA. I scored a 164 on the LSAT. While my GPA normally wouldn't get me into some of the above schools, I lifted 4.0s in my third year and 3.8s for my fourth year. I was a double major and a minor. As for ties, I don't really have many, even here in my hometown. I want to leave Philadelphia as I greatly dislike it here. Mid-west is preferable, I like Chicago a lot as well as several other states in the surrounding area. I do know some people in Chicago, some of which have lawyer friends that work in firms (not the Starbucks variety) that they say they'll introduce me to if I end up going to school in the mid-west.


Debt-wise, I have not a cent from undergraduate, so everything will be fresh for law school.

Thanks for the help in advance!

[llachans]

I'd say Rutgers looks like the best deal. But if you want to work in the midwest, that's not really an option. I'd avoid the Chicago schools though.

[JCFindley]

From the people I have talked to and from what I have read you can get in state tuition at RU Newark the first year. You just have to show them a signed 12 month lease from NJ.

Do your homework and make sure that is true, but would save you a bunch off that calculation.

JC

[dingbat]

If you want to live in the Midwest, go to school in the midwest.
None of these schools are particularly portable

[Samara]

What about a retake? Get up to a 168+ and you're looking at better schools with money. Get up to 170+ and you're looking at T14.

[justinp]

What about a retake? Get up to a 168+ and you're looking at better schools with money. Get up to 170+ and you're looking at T14.

With a 3.06 LSDAS GPA?

[03121202698008]

If you want to live in the Midwest, go to school in the midwest.
None of these schools are particularly portable

This. Chicago is tough as it is. Go to a midwestern school and enjoy living an hour or two outside of Chicago, at least. All of those schools place within their respective cities only and marginally at that.

[bk1]

What about a retake? Get up to a 168+ and you're looking at better schools with money. Get up to 170+ and you're looking at T14.

With a 3.06 LSDAS GPA?

Yes. NU if you have work experience, GULC, UVA (with ED), etc.

[Linsanity]

If you can go to Temple I'd highly recommend that. Going to a school with the hope that you MIGHT be able to establish in-state residency is not smart.

[CanadianWolf]

Try bargaining with the schools at the top of your list to see if you can get an offer of full tuition & fees.

[03121202698008]

If you can go to Temple I'd highly recommend that. Going to a school with the hope that you MIGHT be able to establish in-state residency is not smart.

But OP doesnt want Philly...the one market Temple places well into.

[Samara]

What about a retake? Get up to a 168+ and you're looking at better schools with money. Get up to 170+ and you're looking at T14.

With a 3.06 LSDAS GPA?

Yes. NU if you have work experience, GULC, UVA (with ED), etc.

+1 I'm 3.09/175 and I'm in at NU, waitlisted at GULC, UVa, and Penn. Plenty of people with lower GPAs than yours ED to UVa with a 170+ and get in. UVa ED is the splitter golden ticket.

[justinp]

What about a retake? Get up to a 168+ and you're looking at better schools with money. Get up to 170+ and you're looking at T14.

With a 3.06 LSDAS GPA?

Yes. NU if you have work experience, GULC, UVA (with ED), etc.

+1 I'm 3.09/175 and I'm in at NU, waitlisted at GULC, UVa, and Penn. Plenty of people with lower GPAs than yours ED to UVa with a 170+ and get in. UVa ED is the splitter golden ticket.

Today I learned...

[Samara]

Another soul saved by TLS?

[Barthomeloi]

Hey all, thanks for the advice.

Yeah, I heard the Chicago market is pretty tough and the schools I got into in Chicago aren't really placed high at all.

Retaking isn't really an option. I haven't been able to get a decent job after graduation and I'm only twenty-two; I don't want to sit around with a crappy job for another year.

I don't want to go to Temple or stay in Philadelphia, I really hate it here. Rutgers does seem like a good deal, I thought University of Cincinnati was decent as well. I'll look into seeing if I can get residency first year onwards.

As for bargaining, I'm not sure if I have much room. I don't fit the GPA profile for these schools as it is. I'll try though.


Is it worth paying 20k more a year for a much higher ranked school in the end? I'm not too worried about debt since I don't have any from undergraduate, but an additional 60k+ sucks.

Lastly, as for living costs: I can find great apartments for around $8000 a year with all utilities included in Bloomington and I wouldn't need a car. However, in most of the other choices, I'd need a car to get around except for Newark. However, in Newark, the apartment prices are really high for an apartment that's decent and either a 1BR or a studio. Does anyone have any experience in just how much living expenses in cities/high cost areas add up?

[bk1]

Retaking isn't really an option. I haven't been able to get a decent job after graduation and I'm only twenty-two; I don't want to sit around with a crappy job for another year.

You're not going to be able to get a "decent" job out of the schools you listed.

[Barthomeloi]

Hey all,

I got into University of Illnois - Urbana with $20,000.

As for jobs,

I can't get a decent job from schools in the middle of Tier 1? Indiana is around 23, same with Illinois.

Median salary is $100,000 at Indiana, $130,000 at Illinois for private sector starting. That seems pretty decent to me.

[071816]

Hey all,

I got into University of Illnois - Urbana with $20,000.

As for jobs,

I can't get a decent job from schools in the middle of Tier 1? Indiana is around 23, same with Illinois.

Median salary is $120,000 at Indiana, $160,000 at Illinois for private sector. That seems pretty decent to me.

[BearsGrl]

Hey all, thanks for the advice.

Yeah, I heard the Chicago market is pretty tough and the schools I got into in Chicago aren't really placed high at all.

Retaking isn't really an option. I haven't been able to get a decent job after graduation and I'm only twenty-two; I don't want to sit around with a crappy job for another year.

I don't want to go to Temple or stay in Philadelphia, I really hate it here. Rutgers does seem like a good deal, I thought University of Cincinnati was decent as well. I'll look into seeing if I can get residency first year onwards.

As for bargaining, I'm not sure if I have much room. I don't fit the GPA profile for these schools as it is. I'll try though.


Is it worth paying 20k more a year for a much higher ranked school in the end? I'm not too worried about debt since I don't have any from undergraduate, but an additional 60k+ sucks.

Lastly, as for living costs: I can find great apartments for around $8000 a year with all utilities included in Bloomington and I wouldn't need a car. However, in most of the other choices, I'd need a car to get around except for Newark. However, in Newark, the apartment prices are really high for an apartment that's decent and either a 1BR or a studio. Does anyone have any experience in just how much living expenses in cities/high cost areas add up?

Deleted.

[Barthomeloi]

Hey all,

I got into University of Illnois - Urbana with $20,000.

As for jobs,

I can't get a decent job from schools in the middle of Tier 1? Indiana is around 23, same with Illinois.

Median salary is $120,000 at Indiana, $160,000 at Illinois for private sector. That seems pretty decent to me.

Yeah, I was looking at the wrong numbers :S. I fixed it above.

[Barthomeloi]

Hey all, thanks for the advice.

Yeah, I heard the Chicago market is pretty tough and the schools I got into in Chicago aren't really placed high at all.

Retaking isn't really an option. I haven't been able to get a decent job after graduation and I'm only twenty-two; I don't want to sit around with a crappy job for another year.

I don't want to go to Temple or stay in Philadelphia, I really hate it here. Rutgers does seem like a good deal, I thought University of Cincinnati was decent as well. I'll look into seeing if I can get residency first year onwards.

As for bargaining, I'm not sure if I have much room. I don't fit the GPA profile for these schools as it is. I'll try though.


Is it worth paying 20k more a year for a much higher ranked school in the end? I'm not too worried about debt since I don't have any from undergraduate, but an additional 60k+ sucks.

Lastly, as for living costs: I can find great apartments for around $8000 a year with all utilities included in Bloomington and I wouldn't need a car. However, in most of the other choices, I'd need a car to get around except for Newark. However, in Newark, the apartment prices are really high for an apartment that's decent and either a 1BR or a studio. Does anyone have any experience in just how much living expenses in cities/high cost areas add up?

You'll need a car with IUB - not for the schooling, but because you'll want to travel to interviews and non-Bloomington activities. Let me know if you have any general questions about this school. Have you been to the school before? I went there for UG.

Hey,

Ah, I see. I already have an available car, I'll have to see about insurance. How is the public transit system? I'm planning on minimizing driving to save gas. I haven't been down to the school before but I'm planning to soon.

[wfudeacons2005]

For what's it worth...you can get RU-N at in-state tuition for your first year too. You just need to show a 12-month in Jersey lease before the first day of classes.