Everything has changed. Need advice.

[cclawer]

I've posted on here a few times asking about my chances to certain schools. But everything has just changed for me and I need some advice.

My husband just got a promotion and is relocating to Chicago at the beginning of the new year. I hadn't really even considered schools in Chicago before. He is in healthcare sales and his territory will be Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. But the base of his accounts will be around Chicago.

I have a 167 and a 3.67 from the University of Michigan. Now with the new job we are pretty much restricted to the schools that are in his territory:

Chicago
Northwestern
Illinois
Notre Dame (not in the territory but could work out)
Iowa

My question is this. Assuming I will get into Illinois, Notre Dame and Iowa, is it worth it to attend one of these schools? Or should I wait another year and try to improve my LSAT score for Northwestern? Also, with the decline in medians, is it worth taking a stab at Northwestern this year? And finally, is it even worth considering going to Kent or Loyola with the intent of transferring to Northwestern after one year?

Thanks so much for all the advice!!!

[Rahviveh]

Assuming I will get into Illinois, Notre Dame and Iowa, is it worth it to attend one of these schools?

Only if you get substantial scholarships, which is a possibility with the way apps are declining. By substantial I mean covering all or most of tuition

Or should I wait another year and try to improve my LSAT score for Northwestern?

If this is an option I would do it! No questions asked.

Also, with the decline in medians, is it worth taking a stab at Northwestern this year?

I think you're an auto-reject unless URM

And finally, is it even worth considering going to Kent or Loyola with the intent of transferring to Northwestern after one year?

No. You'll need to be in the top 5-10% to transfer to NW.

[rinkrat19]

You might get a waitlist at NU with your current numbers, but I'd be surprised if you got in. Of course, who knows what the medians are going to do this year.

Good news is, you really only need a few points on an LSAT retake to be in pretty solid position. My GPA was slightly lower than yours and I got money at NU with a 171.

I wouldn't bother with any schools besides Chicago and NU. You sound willing to take the extra year. Move here with your husband and enjoy the city for a year while studying. While it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that you could get into NU this year, you could get in with money next year (or into Chicago) with just a few more LSAT points.

[mr.hands]

I've posted on here a few times asking about my chances to certain schools. But everything has just changed for me and I need some advice.

My husband just got a promotion and is relocating to Chicago at the beginning of the new year. I hadn't really even considered schools in Chicago before. He is in healthcare sales and his territory will be Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. But the base of his accounts will be around Chicago.

I have a 167 and a 3.67 from the University of Michigan. Now with the new job we are pretty much restricted to the schools that are in his territory:

Chicago
Northwestern
Illinois
Notre Dame (not in the territory but could work out)
Iowa

My question is this. Assuming I will get into Illinois, Notre Dame and Iowa, is it worth it to attend one of these schools? Or should I wait another year and try to improve my LSAT score for Northwestern? Also, with the decline in medians, is it worth taking a stab at Northwestern this year? And finally, is it even worth considering going to Kent or Loyola with the intent of transferring to Northwestern after one year?

Thanks so much for all the advice!!!

If you're willing to take an extra year off, do it. There's nothing to be lost. Settling for Illinois, Notre Dame, or Iowa (with its TTT stips) is a bad idea. Just get a couple more points, stay in Chicago, and go to T14

Retake

[top30man]

I would seriously retake. Especially if your husband will be in Chicago long term, you want a school that can get you a job there. Iowa etc is not that place.

[RodneyBoonfield]

What do you want to do? Biglaw or bust?

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

If I were you I'd register to take the October and December LSAT and start studying now. If you hit 169/170 you should be in to UMich and Northwestern with money. Another thing i would consider is attending somewhere like Illinois with huge money (probably full ride).

[cclawer]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I really do appreciate it.

I am not Biglaw or bust. My husband has a great salary which can provide for both of us. I really just want to be able to leave law school without a lot of debt.

I would like more advice on attending a school like Illinois or Notre Dame on close to a full ride. I'm getting some conflicting opinions on that. Would it be worth it? Would one school be better than the other on a full ride if I want to end up in Chicago and don't necessarily want Big law?

Thanks everyone.

[TrialLawyer16]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I really do appreciate it.

I am not Biglaw or bust. My husband has a great salary which can provide for both of us. I really just want to be able to leave law school without a lot of debt.

I would like more advice on attending a school like Illinois or Notre Dame on close to a full ride. I'm getting some conflicting opinions on that. Would it be worth it? Would one school be better than the other on a full ride if I want to end up in Chicago and don't necessarily want Big law?

Thanks everyone.

If you truly don't mind not getting big law then I don't see anything wrong at all with going to a top 35 school with a close-to-full ride. I've got a friend who graduated from a T10 and works for a V50 who tells me to go that route anyway even if I want biglaw because there's nothing like graduating debt free. All things considered, that'd be a heck of a good deal in your situation. And it's not like you can't get biglaw from these schools, it's just harder. I'm not sure which of Illinois or Notre Dame is better for Chicago post-scandal, but I would still guess Illinois. If I were you, though, I'd study up for December and retake as well. At your current 167, every point you gain is worth thousands of dollars or possibly acceptances to Chi/NU.