Top Law Schools

Trying to determine what I should realistically expect out of this cycle/which all schools I should apply to. From Texas with ties in Dallas, and ideally want to do biglaw in Dallas upon graduation. 3.75/167 non URM with what I would consider strong softs (phi beta kappa, eagle scout, bilingual, taking this year off to volunteer with an ngo in central america) although from what I see on hear those have a negligible impact. I plan on applying to Texas, SMU, and Vandy for sure. Do I have a reasonable chance to get in at any of the T14 (including ED) or get $$$$ at T20-25 range? I realize I'm right on the floor with my numbers but I'm hoping that I'll be the special snowflake with my softs. I'd really appreciate any feedback.

You will get money ( in the range of 20-25k from BC/BU, for example ) from certain schools in that range. The top-14 is a long shot, but definitely worth applying because of your softs.

Your best T14 shots are Cornell and GULC. Definitely money from 20 down. http://myLSN.info/dispresults.php?sk=fopyr

http://lawschoolnumbers.com
http://mylsn.info/

No real chance at T14, throw apps to GULC, Cornell and Michigan though and pray. UT is your target given your goals and it is no sure thing but definitely in play. Should be in good shape for money from 19 down with perhaps one or two exceptions.

Honestly I think GULC part-time would be almost a sure thing. Other than that you are knocking on the door of the top-14, but still not into that nice comfort zone where you will be surely admitted.

As for 20-25 range I think you'll get some $. I would be surprised if you didn't.

Honestly UT might just be your best bet given that you want to live in Texas.

Hell toss in the applications and see where they fall. There will be no regrets as to whether or not you could have gotten into T-14 that way.

OP: Since you can peruse http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com as well as any of us, the real question that you're asking seems to be: "Will any T-14 admissions standards fall as the number of law school applications continue to decline ?"

Hard to predict the answer. While the top 6 are unlikely to offer admission based on your numbers, definitely apply to many T-14 law schools including Cornell & Michigan as well as to Georgetown's part-time & full-time programs. Maybe Penn. Chicago, a top 6 law school, may surprise you. Don't be shy as applications are expected to decline further next cycle.

I wouldn't ED anywhere, I think you're better off being able to negotiate.

my .02

JetsFan1990 wrote:You will get money ( in the range of 20-25k from BC/BU, for example ) from certain schools in that range. The top-14 is a long shot, but definitely worth applying because of your softs.

But there is no reason to go to BC/BU if you want to work in Texas. We don't have Texas firms coming to our OCI (last I checked).
I don't know the Texas market, so forgive me if this is wrong, but is SMU in Dallas, could you get significant aid there? Because if you didn't get UT, then I'd think that'd be better than going to a regional school on the other side of the country. Rank means nothing outside of the T14, and even within ... doesn't mean much.

Oh, you might want to target Vandy too.

Go to SMU with a nice scholly or try for UT. Those are 2 great options for what you want.

Bump. Thanks for all of the answers so far.

smustang wrote:Trying to determine what I should realistically expect out of this cycle/which all schools I should apply to. From Texas with ties in Dallas, and ideally want to do biglaw in Dallas upon graduation. 3.75/167 non URM with what I would consider strong softs (phi beta kappa, eagle scout, bilingual, taking this year off to volunteer with an ngo in central america) although from what I see on hear those have a negligible impact. I plan on applying to Texas, SMU, and Vandy for sure. Do I have a reasonable chance to get in at any of the T14 (including ED) or get $$$$ at T20-25 range? I realize I'm right on the floor with my numbers but I'm hoping that I'll be the special snowflake with my softs. I'd really appreciate any feedback.

Depends if you think Texas is T-14. I know it was last year.

I would be shocked if you got rejected from both Cornell and GULC. You should also apply to Northwestern and Duke and see what happens. I wish you the best of luck OP.

Gracias for all of the responses. Gonna canvass the mid-lower T14, teens, twenties, and SMU, keep my fingers crossed, and see what happens

You have a great shot at Cornell, especially if you ride the waitlist (http://cornell.lawschoolnumbers.com/app ... =6&type=jd).

Very unlikely to get acceped to the other T14s (excluding GULC PT) unless you retake.

You should get a decent amount of money within the T20.

You should probably retake if you think you can do any better. 2 points and I bet you get multiple T-14's, Vandy and Texas w/$$.

noleknight16 wrote:Go to SMU with a nice scholly or try for UT. Those are 2 great options for what you want.

+1

If you want Dallas biglaw, here's your answer.