Top Law Schools

So I applied to law school this cycle and I fared just okay. The top contenders for going to law school are:

Boston University ($105K scholarship)
UC Irvine ($60k scholarship)
Cornell (no scholarship so Sticker)

My other option is to do Teach For America. I received my acceptance yesterday. If I do TFA, I will reapply to law school after finishing the program.

I'm already 4 years out of undergrad and have been working in education--school administration. I am interested in TFA because if I decide to pursue going up the ladder with school administration, I need to have teaching experience/teaching credential.

Going to law school has been my plan since college, but wanted to take time off. Good thing I did, otherwise I would've graduated when the economy was a real sh!thole. I'm interested in Public Interest, but I want to go to a school where I would be able to do big law if I decided to do that.

What do TLS's recommend?

TFA

TFA or BU with $105,000 scholarship.

TFA

Why the consensus TFA? Is TFA a soft that will get OP more money from Cornell/a better school? I am not being skeptical of your answers I am just curious about this

TFA is a strong soft.

If you have to ask, Cornell at sticker. If you do tfa after "considering" it, more than likely you will quit. A great experience but only doable for the fanatically committed.

LaRon James wrote:If you have to ask, Cornell at sticker. If you do tfa after "considering" it, more than likely you will quit. A great experience but only doable for the fanatically committed.

LaRon, trust me, I would not quit the corps. I already work in underprivileged schools that have TFA corp members and I know what they go through. Heck that's the environment I grew up in.

The reason why I ask if Cornell at sticker is worth not doing TFA is because I wanted to break into the T14 and I did. I knew I wouldn't get money from a T14 school because my numbers are not very "merit"worthy. Part of me just wants to go to law school, since I've already waited so long.

.

I don't know that TFA will do much for you in terms of getting into better schools/getting more money, even if it is a relatively strong soft. Maybe someone else could comment more on that or you could look up some threads that discuss TFA.

Some law schools reserve spots for TFA alum. NYU might be one that does, for example. Even though many TFA alumni may apply, it shows how highly regarded TFA among many law school admissions offices. I believe that Northwestern actually solicits TFA apps via fee waivers.

TFA+Retake is best. Or BU if you must go; Cornell at sticker is almost a quarter of a million dollars in debt.

LaRon James wrote:If you have to ask, Cornell at sticker. If you do tfa after "considering" it, more than likely you will quit. A great experience but only doable for the fanatically committed.

Eh. I taught in a lower-income school; not as part of a program, but we do now have TFAs there.

I think if you go in with realistic expectations, it's not too bad. What's crazy is the expectations that some ppl do in fact go in with: on the one hand you've got upper-middle-class-since-birth types who just don't get it at all (which is understandable), and on the other you've got people who think they're gonna be Edward James Olmos from Stand and Deliver.

TFA is one of the stronger softs, but it isn't going to work miracles. Also, it's increasingly a more common soft, so that in itself is watering down the boost it gives applicants. Especially in the higher score ranges, given the choice I'd take an extra point on the LSAT every day and twice on Sunday over TFA w/r/t law school admissions.

Why are you asking a bunch of strangers if you should be a teacher or a lawyer? Figure it yourself.

TFA. Best decision of my life.

Do TFA if you really, really want it.

Do law school if there's even a chance you'll start regretting TFA in your second year. A lot of people end up like that because they don't think past the first year.

I'm a TFA alum. Go to law school now. I would say TFA if you were one or two years out, but you have had 4 years out. Only do TFA if you decide you do not want to pursue law anymore. Go to BU over Cornell for the 150K differential (AND CORNELL, including cost of living will be more like $205K), I had a similar decision, except Cornell gave me more that 50K and I chose BU, over 100K. I am happy with my decision.

Nelson wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Why are you asking a bunch of strangers if you should be a teacher or a lawyer? Figure it yourself.

In the end the decision will obviously be mine. There is nothing wrong with getting other people's opinions and thoughts.

Wait. Either you want law school and go now or retake and go later. TFA will not boost you into a school not warranted by your numbers. Or you want to go into teaching or school administration where a JD is going to do wonders for you? What am I missing here...

I believe at least some schools (my T30) will let you defer your admission for two years for TFA. So, you can pick a school you like, ask them to hold your spot, teach, and decide if you want to matriculate.

Nelson wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Why are you asking a bunch of strangers if you should be a teacher or a lawyer? Figure it yourself.

yea, why ask advice about law school on an internet forum about law schools? What a retard.