Peer Schools Forum

[skri65]

.

[ndirish2010]

GW, ND, UIUC, WUSTL, UMN, Fordham

[skri65]

.

[timbs4339]

"Peer schools" is somewhat inaccurate. BU/BC are peer schools because they place students into relatively the same jobs mostly *in Boston*. If you want to work in Boston, they are both better choices than Suffolk. But if you want to work in DC, BC is not a peer school with GW because it probably cannot place students into DC at the rate GW does, same with Fordham and NYC. It all depends on where you want to work.

EDIT: Though you seem to be focusing on scholarship negotiations. In that case whether USNWR considers a two schools peer is the proper inquiry. Carry on then.

[ndirish2010]

GW, ND, UIUC, WUSTL, UMN, Fordham

Thanks, would BC considered University of Indiana a peer school to the extent that if I got 10K-15K in scholly BC might budge?

A full ride from IU might intrigue them, but even then probably not.

[skri65]

.

[stillwater]

Schools probably care relatively little about rankings per se when considering peer schools, though by coincidence they may match up in some circumstances. Also, East bias will probably leave BC little impressed with IU scholarship because IU is largely seen as the redheaded stepchild of the T30 (is this a thing?).

[otnemem]

Yes, it's worth at least sending BC the offers if/when they roll in, along with the full rides you have from lower ranked New England schools. That being said, I would guess that you will not get much, although this cycle who knows.

FWIW, don't go to BC at sticker. A school like UConn for free would probably be a better option.

[skri65]

.

[otnemem]

Even something small like 10K from BC would help.

If you have other sources of funding then yeah, maybe. However, BC for 190k isn't really any different then BC for 225k, they are both debt amounts that require biglaw. Having an IP background makes this less crazy, but I'd still be wary.

[skri65]

.

[bluepenguin]

Your chances are non-zero, if not great. Can't hurt to try, it's not like they're going to rescind your acceptance. When they deny the request you just have to tuck your tail between your legs and crawl over to Newton (or wisely retake or whatever).

When another school gives you an offer that's strong enough to make you consider that school over BC, it is at that point that you may have sufficient leverage to ask for some "make my decision easier" money. I wouldn't try any of this "W&L gave me 15k" stuff until you want to throw a hail mary a week before the deposit deadline.

[ndirish2010]

Unrelated, but you should retake.

[skri65]

.

[The Rover]

GW, ND, UIUC, WUSTL, UMN, Fordham

Thanks, would BC considered University of Indiana a peer school to the extent that if I got 10K-15K in scholly BC might budge?

A full ride from IU might intrigue them, but even then probably not.

IU would normally be considered a peer school but IU gives out a shit ton of scholarship money, and I think other schools know this and are wary to match an offer from IU.

[thelawdoctor]

tough choice

wishing you the best with picking what works best for you

[BigZuck]

Unrelated, but you should retake.

Yes, but no, I've taken it four times and put law school off twice. To the guy two posts above, thanks for the on topic advice. Ill take any other thoughts if people have them.

The only real advice I can think of is retake. Put off law school for another year if you have to. This is my second cycle and I have had zero luck negotiating with any school, although I think in general I've tried too early in the process. And I am bad at it. Although every time I have increased my LSAT, my scholarship offers have magically increased. That's the best way to get a lot of schools to budge, at least for me.

I don't see you getting much of substance from Hastings/Davis with that GPA, despite an LSAT that is above and beyond. They are super stingy, at least in past cycles.

[danquayle]

GW, ND, UIUC, WUSTL, UMN, Fordham

If UIUC is a peer school, so is IU.

Honestly, when it comes to law schools, you don't lose too much in casting a wide net. The best answer for negotiation is always: worth a try.

But I have to agree with the above poster who said peer schools have a regional component. BC is competing mostly with other east coast schools for their students. So I would think a scholarship from a BU, Fordham,GW type school would force their hand more than one from Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana.

I also seem to recall that BC does not move much on scholarships. But hey, you can try. I small scholarship from an IU type school still gives better leverage than nothing.

[somewhatwayward]

Geez, I would kill to have majored in computer science (and you managed a 3.6!)...I am genuinely curious why you don't want to get a tech job, especially when your law school choices are going to be pretty mediocre with a 164.

[danquayle]

Geez, I would kill to have majored in computer science (and you managed a 3.6!)...I am genuinely curious why you don't want to get a tech job, especially when your law school choices are going to be pretty mediocre with a 164.

My nerd friends tell me that, much like Economics, the difficulty of computer science majors varies greatly. I agree though. His prospects are probably better not going to law school.

[skri65]

.