Personal Conundrum regarding law school Forum
- luuma
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Personal Conundrum regarding law school
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Last edited by luuma on Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- dingbat
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I wish I could help you out with your situation. Life sucks sometimes, but if you tough it out, it'll get better
I think buffalo might be a better experience than Syracuse (and serves a bigger market) but, seriously ride that waitlist and hope for the best. Flipping burgers for a year sucks, but so does graduating with a useless degree
Have you sent LOCI's yet?
I think buffalo might be a better experience than Syracuse (and serves a bigger market) but, seriously ride that waitlist and hope for the best. Flipping burgers for a year sucks, but so does graduating with a useless degree
Have you sent LOCI's yet?
- catwomangirl
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Is there zero chance of you getting a job that makes you less miserable? I have no idea about the year off vs your options now, but if you take the year off, it would make a helluva difference to work elsewhere.
Does you college have any kind of alumni association? Try to network through there to get a paralegal job for the year--you'll make significantly more money.
Does you college have any kind of alumni association? Try to network through there to get a paralegal job for the year--you'll make significantly more money.
- commoner
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Dude, move to st louis MO. your rent will be around 500 a month or less in a good neighborhood (U city, etc.) I am serious. Save a bit and get the hell out of NYC. I've been to the Bronx. I know MANY people getting out of NYC because it can be a real hellhole. PM me if you want more details. You can get a job flipping burgers pretty much anywhere.
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- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Dude it's a total hell hole, thank you! And the Bronx is just.. well.. you know. It's a vicious cycle trying to get out too. Thanks for the Missouri advice.. I'll look into it. How's the job market in MO for paralegals?commoner wrote:Dude, move to st louis MO. your rent will be around 500 a month or less in a good neighborhood (U city, etc.) I am serious. Save a bit and get the hell out of NYC. I've been to the Bronx. I know MANY people getting out of NYC because it can be a real hellhole. PM me if you want more details. You can get a job flipping burgers pretty much anywhere.
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- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Thank youdingbat wrote:I wish I could help you out with your situation. Life sucks sometimes, but if you tough it out, it'll get better
I think buffalo might be a better experience than Syracuse (and serves a bigger market) but, seriously ride that waitlist and hope for the best. Flipping burgers for a year sucks, but so does graduating with a useless degree
Have you sent LOCI's yet?

- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Sorry for the triple response... On my phone.
Well in NYC the market is very competitive. I'm competing with ivy leagues. I've sent out cover letters and resumes to at least 100+ ads on craigslist. I wish I had the networking some schools like NYU have, but I went to a SUNY. I'm still trying, still applying.catwomangirl wrote:Is there zero chance of you getting a job that makes you less miserable? I have no idea about the year off vs your options now, but if you take the year off, it would make a helluva difference to work elsewhere.
Does you college have any kind of alumni association? Try to network through there to get a paralegal job for the year--you'll make significantly more money.
Last edited by luuma on Fri May 04, 2012 11:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- zozin
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
You could be trading one shitty year of burger flipping hell for a lifetime of burger flipping hell, is that worth it?
- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
That is exactly what I have been thinking in the back of my head. One more year of absolute hell, or coming back in my late 20's to eternal hell? Shit dude.. well sorted.zozin wrote:You could be trading one shitty year of burger flipping hell for a lifetime of burger flipping hell, is that worth it?



- catwomangirl
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I think it sometimes helps to actually talk on the phone. If there is even one alumnus from your school (there has to be, I would think), then ask for an informational interview on how to follow in their footsteps...once they meet you and see how courteous and professional you are, BAM job.luuma wrote:Sorry for the triple response... On my phone.
Well in NYC the market is very competitive. I'm competing with ivy leagues. I've sent out cover letters and resumes to at least 100+ ads on craigslist. I wish I had the networking some schools like NYU have, but I went to a SUNY. I'm still trying, still applying.catwomangirl wrote:Is there zero chance of you getting a job that makes you less miserable? I have no idea about the year off vs your options now, but if you take the year off, it would make a helluva difference to work elsewhere.
Does you college have any kind of alumni association? Try to network through there to get a paralegal job for the year--you'll make significantly more money.
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Is Syracuse offering $8,000 a year scholarship or will Syracuse cost $8,000 after scholarships are applied ?
- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Great point! I'll look into this.. Thank youcatwomangirl wrote:I think it sometimes helps to actually talk on the phone. If there is even one alumnus from your school (there has to be, I would think), then ask for an informational interview on how to follow in their footsteps...once they meet you and see how courteous and professional you are, BAM job.luuma wrote:Sorry for the triple response... On my phone.
Well in NYC the market is very competitive. I'm competing with ivy leagues. I've sent out cover letters and resumes to at least 100+ ads on craigslist. I wish I had the networking some schools like NYU have, but I went to a SUNY. I'm still trying, still applying.catwomangirl wrote:Is there zero chance of you getting a job that makes you less miserable? I have no idea about the year off vs your options now, but if you take the year off, it would make a helluva difference to work elsewhere.
Does you college have any kind of alumni association? Try to network through there to get a paralegal job for the year--you'll make significantly more money.

8k/a yr as a scholarship.. So 35k of loans per year.. for tuition. I would have gone in the blink of an eye if the tuition was only 8k a year.CanadianWolf wrote:Is Syracuse offering $8,000 a year scholarship or will Syracuse cost $8,000 after scholarships are applied ?
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Syracuse offers $27,000 a year scholarship to several with low 150s & GPAs around 3.2. Some are URMS & some are not. If you were admitted to Colorado, your numbers should be high enough to get a much higher scholarship (think $33,000 per year) to Syracuse. Have you asked Syracuse for an increased scholarship ? I am not recommending Syracuse unless you receive a near full tuition & fees scholarship. But Syracuse for free or near-free is better than getting stabbed in the Bronx.
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Colorado, Oregon & Lewis& Clark offer complete lifestyle changes. Buffalo offers reasonable tuition but total COA would still exceed $100,000. As you probably know, both Buffalo & Syracuse are a bit depressed economically, but surrounded by natural beauty if you venture out a bit. Where do you want to live & work after law school ?
In my opinion, Fordham, American & Albany are not worth sticker price.
In my opinion, Fordham, American & Albany are not worth sticker price.
Last edited by CanadianWolf on Fri May 04, 2012 11:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I did I called and spoke to them last week, I missed the cut off for $$$ by a mili point.CanadianWolf wrote:Syracuse offers $27,000 a year scholarship to several with low 150s & GPAs around 3.2. Some are URMS & some are not. If you were admitted to Colorado, your numbers should be high enough to get a much higher scholarship (think $33,000 per year) to Syracuse. Have you asked Syracuse for an increased scholarship ? I am not recommending Syracuse unless you receive a near full tuition & fees scholarship. But Syracuse for free or near-free is better than getting stabbed in the Bronx.
As for where I want to practice law, anywhere where the quality of living is good and international law prospects high.
Last edited by luuma on Fri May 04, 2012 11:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- commoner
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I don't know if it is very good but flipping burgers in a safe cool place like certain neighborhoods in St Louis sure beats the hell out of looking over your shoulder in the Bronx. You'll be amazed how much cleaner and more livable out of town can be. You can also save up for a test prep course like Testmasters or Powerscore and increase your score significantly. I would get the hell out of NYC I know the place is addicting I lived there for 4 years but you owe it to yourself to seek greener pastures.Dude it's a total hell hole, thank you! And the Bronx is just.. well.. you know. It's a vicious cycle trying to get out too. Thanks for the Missouri advice.. I'll look into it. How's the job market in MO for paralegals?
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Be patient. I bet that cut-off point will change soon. Otherwise, all of your other options are quite expensive, including Buffalo. Try calling every law school that accepted you & ask for scholarship money. A lot of funds are being freed up as acceptees withdraw to attend other schools in this down application cycle.
P.S. Have you considered deferring a year so that you can get Colorado residency & in-state tuition ? Same for Oregon--although resident & non-resident tuition differs by only about $4,500 per year ?
P.S. Have you considered deferring a year so that you can get Colorado residency & in-state tuition ? Same for Oregon--although resident & non-resident tuition differs by only about $4,500 per year ?
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- luuma
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I have considered moving to CO, to save on in state.. but ultimately I think Cornell is where my heart is. Which means either go to school and try transferring, or fighting for my life for another 15 months here.. I think its the one year and 3 months completely lost.. that bugs me the most.CanadianWolf wrote:Be patient. I bet that cut-off point will change soon. Otherwise, all of your other options are quite expensive, including Buffalo. Try calling every law school that accepted you & ask for scholarship money. A lot of funds are being freed up as acceptees withdraw to attend other schools in this down application cycle.
P.S. Have you considered deferring a year so that you can get Colorado residency & in-state tuition ? Same for Oregon--although resident & non-resident tuition differs by only about $4,500 per year ?
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
Those schools are too expensive for shitty job prospects. Even if your living situation sucks, don't go.
No school provides this.luuma wrote:international law prospects high.
- Lwoods
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Re: Personal Conundrum regarding law school
I know you qualified it by saying "certain" neighborhoods, but I'm not sure why you're selling St. Louis over the Bronx from a safety angle when St. Louis is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous while NYC is consistently one of the safest. It costs much less, sure, but there are safer cheap cities in flyover country.commoner wrote:I don't know if it is very good but flipping burgers in a safe cool place like certain neighborhoods in St Louis sure beats the hell out of looking over your shoulder in the Bronx. You'll be amazed how much cleaner and more livable out of town can be. You can also save up for a test prep course like Testmasters or Powerscore and increase your score significantly. I would get the hell out of NYC I know the place is addicting I lived there for 4 years but you owe it to yourself to seek greener pastures.Dude it's a total hell hole, thank you! And the Bronx is just.. well.. you know. It's a vicious cycle trying to get out too. Thanks for the Missouri advice.. I'll look into it. How's the job market in MO for paralegals?
OP, I definitely think you should take a year off, but I don't think you're limited to burger flipping. Continue to cast a wide net with your job applications, sign up with a temp agency. If you align with either of the major parties, see if you can get a low-level campaign job ( they're miserable and pay as little as burger flipping but look better on your resume.)
SUNY schools don't have the prestige points that NYU does, but they still have quite a few alumni in the city. That's a good network to work within. Check with your career services office to see if they know of any alumni who'd be willing to meet with you.
Best of luck! If you're seriously considering a move, I can tell you my thoughts on different cities, having had to research a number when I left NY (Bronx specifically, though a much different situation) 2 years ago.
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