Top Law Schools

My choices are down to Kentucky and Penn State, and I have to decide by Friday (April 6) which school I will go to. I am completely undecided between the two. I have visited both schools, and both schools have their ups and downs.

Pros of Kentucky: Lexington is much cheaper for me, I liked the area, and the weather is much warmer.
Cons of Kentucky: Its law school reminds me of a high school that should have been demolished 30 years ago.

Pros of Penn State: Penn State has always been a school I wanted to go to, its campus is beautiful, and I loved its law building.
Cons of Penn State: Terrible winters and its in the middle of nowhere.

I am from Ohio, and I do not have direct ties to either state really. I have taken the LSAT three times already, so I am not going to be taking it again. My dream is to work at a law firm in a big city in the south (i.e. Atlanta or Miami). I realize, with the way legal hiring works, I will most likely not be working there immediately. However, I would like to work there some time during my career, and I understand I will have to do a lot of networking during my career. If anyone would be willing to give me some input, it would be greatly appreciated.

COA of Kentucky after scholarship: 15,300/yr (tuition) + 16,700/yr (living expenses + fees & books) = 32,000/yr
COA of Penn State after scholarship: 24,704/yr (tuition) + 20,966/yr (living expenses + fees & books) = 45,670/yr

Don't go.

You probably won't end up where you want to be.

What part of Ohio?

Northeast Ohio (Youngstown/Akron/Cleveland).. If you are familiar with this area, you would understand why I want to get as far away as possible haha

I see. Then Kentucky's probably not a good choice for youl. I don't know that Penn State would be either, that's kind of expensive.

Your profile shows acceptances & scholarship money from Nebraska, South Carolina & Cincinnati. Have you visited any of these three ?

Its very unlikely you'll land a job in Miami from either of those schools. I'd probably go to neither.

You will not get Atlanta from either as well. Sorry. Maybe sit out a year and reapply?

If you're from Ohio, why aren't you thinking of Cincinnati? Your best choices are either looking for regional schools where you're from (OSU/Cincy/Case) or looking at national schools -- which would require sitting out a year to retake.

I visited Cincinnati, and I didn't like it very much. I didn't feel like it would be a good fit for me. The only reason I applied to Nebraska was because I received a fee waiver. When I started applying, I did not realize how regional these schools were, and I have no desire to practice in Nebraska. I really considered South Carolina, but I found out on TLS that the South Carolina market is extremely insular.

Do you have ties to any big cities in the South?

cwboyzz34 wrote:but I found out on TLS that the South Carolina market is extremely insular.

And Kentucky isn't?

Don't go and retake or Cincinnati.

I was accepted to Ohio State today. With The Process of Legal Hiring, I feel like this is the best way for me to go. After reading around on here, I think I will be taking the June LSAT. If my score improves enough, I will probably take the year off and reapply. Any advice or suggestions on this?

Sounds like a good plan.

Given your goals, I don't think that you should choose either. Both Penn State and Kentucky are extremely regional in job placement. I'd wait a year and reapply next year.

I visited KY a few days ago & really liked it. I would say contact both schools Career Services & ask about alum & such in the Atlanta, Miami, southern city x areas. If you go into law school knowing that's what you want to do & start your networking from there you may be able to do it. I think your just going to have to be super proactive about it. Of course going to UGA, Emory, or a school closer to those cities would be easier so if your willing to sit out a year then sure.