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Out of state at Maryland with grant of $10 000.. so tuition would cost abt 27 000 per yr + room, board, books etc.

Would go to American from home so I would save on rent, but no financial assistance from school.. so about 45 000 in tuition + books, transport, misc.

Any helpful thoughts?

American: Not worth it.

Maryland: Worth it potentially but only if you want to work in Baltimore.

Question- why can you commute to American but not Maryland? I grew up in Baltimore, the commute to DC is very doable. Many friends had parents who did it every day for work, and law school is like work. Can't you just get the train and ride into Baltimore? Penn station is not far at all from the law school.

I live in Virginia within the DC metro area. So AU itself would be a commute of about 45 mins by car and Baltimore about an hour and a half. Public transport would double the times for both.

Didn't realize you lived so far, got it.

Well, I can promise you that you could do Baltimore living pretty cheap and not be in the ghetto either. On the outskirts of Canton (towards Highlandtown) you could rent a rowhome with 3 bedrooms for 1800. Then you get roommates and it's all pretty affordable. Only 15 minute drive to school from there.

But what I said is true. You must want to practice in Baltimore. Or at least be okay with it. And I can't imagine why you wouldn't be. It's nice and not different at all from what you grew up with most likely

I see, I didn't realize Maryland is that regional. So not much chance of working in DC in the future?

Not in the near future. DC is like NY. Target market. Maryland is kind of like Seton Hall. Close by, but you don't crack that market unless you're at the top of your class

Right, and going to AU wouldn't help cracking the DC market either?

No, it could. But you're probably talking top 15-20% in order to get a job that would enable to pay off your crippling debt. That's why I advised against it.

What is your LSAT/GPA?
What are your career goals?

162/2.9

Would the same apply to Maryland? Top 15 to 20%?

Was this your first attempt at the LSAT?

I hate to just tell people "retake" but it really could be a good option in your shoes. If you're set on getting DC, 5-7 more points could get you GW since they are very splitter friendly from my understanding. And that same point increase gets you a scholarship at American and look at other area schools like William and Mary.

As for your question, it'd have to be higher than that to get DC I believe. Top 10%.....Look at it this way. 90% chance it WOULDN'T work out.

Yeah. I already took the LSAT twice and I think the pressure of nailing it the 3rd time round after delaying law school a yr would definitely make me crack. I figured that trying for a transfer after 1st yr would be a better option for me than waiting a yr and retaking. Of course since that is by no means guaranteed or even likely, I'm assessing each school assuming I stay.

futurejd123 wrote:Yeah. I already took the LSAT twice and I think the pressure of nailing it the 3rd time round after delaying law school a yr would definitely make me crack. I figured that trying for a transfer after 1st yr would be a better option for me than waiting a yr and retaking. Of course since that is by no means guaranteed or even likely, I'm assessing each school assuming I stay.

Well, as you said, never go to a school expecting to transfer. If you do, great. In fact, top 10% 1st year at Maryland and you have a very solid chance at Georgetown as a transfer.

Given that you're choosing between these two, I'd strong suggest Maryland. Once you're out of school, you can live in southern suburbs of Baltimore and be an hour or even less from home via car. No competition there, either. Maryland is far superior to U Baltimore and outside of the random people who grew up in Baltimore, went to a T14, and want to come back, they've cornered a relatively decent sized market

Okay, thanks for the advice! Definitely got a lot to think about.

Can you qualify for in-state tuition at Maryland for your second & third years of law school ?

Nope, unfortunately can't. If I could I would definitely be leaning a lot more toward Maryland.

In no universe is Maryland worth over 200k in debt. Same for American. Retake or don't go.

Neither.

futurejd123 wrote:Yeah. I already took the LSAT twice and I think the pressure of nailing it the 3rd time round after delaying law school a yr would definitely make me crack. I figured that trying for a transfer after 1st yr would be a better option for me than waiting a yr and retaking. Of course since that is by no means guaranteed or even likely, I'm assessing each school assuming I stay.

Transferring is absolutely not a better option.

abc12345675 wrote:Didn't realize you lived so far, got it.

Well, I can promise you that you could do Baltimore living pretty cheap and not be in the ghetto either. On the outskirts of Canton (towards Highlandtown) you could rent a rowhome with 3 bedrooms for 1800. Then you get roommates and it's all pretty affordable. Only 15 minute drive to school from there.

But what I said is true. You must want to practice in Baltimore. Or at least be okay with it. And I can't imagine why you wouldn't be. It's nice and not different at all from what you grew up with most likely

I agree with all of what you say except the necessity of working in Baltimore. There is Annapolis, Greenbelt, Frederick, and MoCo that have a lot of attorneys and take UMD grads.

Do not go to either of these schools. They are not worth the amount of money you would be spending.

Retake and reapply. Seriously.