Top Law Schools

I was recently admitted to UT and qualify for in-state tuition and a few need-based grants, but unfortunately there is no merit scholarship available at this item. The financial aid office did indicate I could apply for scholarships as a 2L, but I'm not sure about the rank I would need to obtain or the scholarship I can expect to get. I would be incredibly appreciative if anyone on here has been in a similar situation and could provide some insight.

I currently have a full-tuition scholarship at SMU with a top 1/3 stipulation. UT is my top choice, but I'm not sure if I should give up the SMU offer to pay in-state sticker my first year or if I should possibly try to transfer in as a 2L.

If I do decide to transfer from SMU to UT, what class rank is needed for me to be competitive?

Well, what do you want to do?

Spoiler alert: just go to UT, that stip is awful

Ask SMU to reduce or remove the top one-third stipulation before deciding. UT is a lot to give up for a one-year scholarship for one wishing to practice in Texas.

tfleming09 wrote:Well, what do you want to do?

Spoiler alert: just go to UT, that stip is awful

That stip is horrific. I'd go to ut too.

This is garbage (the stip). You know, recently I've started recommending people strongly consider big scholarships at local schools over sticker debt at top 14's. But I didn't know how many regionals had these absurd stipulations. How many schools do this with their scholarships? Someone should compile a list of schools that do this.

Try and get that stip removed.

If SMU doesnt get rid of the stttip, I think you should pay in state sticker at UT. But see if you can get any money out of UT using the SMU full ride as leverage. It comes down to whether UT is worth 90k (assuming you get the stttip removed) more than SMU. IMO, it is.

LST;UT wrote:•69.9% of graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs. This figure includes no school-funded jobs..
•80.4% graduates were employed in long-term jobs.
•87.2% graduates were employed in full-time jobs.
11+: 31.4%
51+: 26.4%
251+: 20.9%
501+: 17.5%

--LinkRemoved--

LST;SMU wrote: •63.2% of graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs. This figure includes an unknown number school-funded jobs.
•75.7% graduates were employed in long-term jobs.
•76.5% graduates were employed in full-time jobs.
11+: 30.9%
51+: 22.0%
251+: 16.9%
501+: 10.3%

--LinkRemoved--

OP is a Sumner Scholar, which is the only way to get a full ride (plus a stipend, I think). SMU doesn't do stips on scholarships otherwise. And they won't waive it, it's part of the official program. But they will have tutoring sessions and stuff just for Sumner Scholars to help you keep it. I think it's pretty rare to lose it.

Either way, go to UT.

BruceWayne wrote:This is garbage (the stip). You know, recently I've started recommending people strongly consider big scholarships at local schools over sticker debt at top 14's. But I didn't know how many regionals had these absurd stipulations. How many schools do this with their scholarships? Someone should compile a list of schools that do this.

Lets see what TLS can collectively come up with,

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=189178

kalvano wrote:OP is a Sumner Scholar, which is the only way to get a full ride (plus a stipend, I think). SMU doesn't do stips on scholarships otherwise. And they won't waive it, it's part of the official program. But they will have tutoring sessions and stuff just for Sumner Scholars to help you keep it. I think it's pretty rare to lose it.

Either way, go to UT.

Do sumners get to keep part if they fall below top third?

I started a thread on this question (full ride(+) vs sticker at a top school). If you're interested you can quickly find it. The cliff notes: ask the school to put you in touch with 2010, 2011, 2012 sumner scholars (assuming this is what they are offering you), and use google to find out how sumner scholars from 2008 and 2009 did. There are a lot of schools where the students who get these type of high end scholarships tend to place as well as a random person at a T14, in which case there is a big incentive to accept since you have no debt. Personally, I wouldn't pay sticker for UT under any circumstances given the job placement and the state of legal hiring.

UT, easy choice.

Premier school, in state tuition, versus a stip that is turrble. Full-on, Charles-Barkley, Spelled-with-a-U, Turrble!

If you lost all or part of the stip after your first year, would the amount of the second two years be more than all three years at UT?

If OP loses the stip (which isn't likely with all the help he will get), then I believe it's full sticker, which would equal about $90K for two years.

kalvano wrote:If OP loses the stip (which isn't likely with all the help he will get), then I believe it's full sticker, which would equal about $90K for two years.

COA 2 yrs @ SMU: $120K+
COA 3 yrs @ UT: $150K+

My Texas based firm has 3 SMU JDs and 110+ UT JDs, if big law is what you're looking for. Disclaimer: Houston based but with Dallas office.