Full ride at Baylor or Sticker at BU? Forum

[Jarndyce&Jarndyce]

The subject line says it all. I still have more schools to hear about, but I'm curious for some input on this as things stand for me thus far. I have a 133k scholarship which i'm sure i could get increased to include a stipend at Baylor U and am also accepted to Boston U at sticker price. As things stand for me, I'd go to Baylor I believe over BU. Hard to turn down a free ride. Thoughts?

LSAT--taken once, 165
GPG---3.7

I'd prefer to practice law in either Texas or Boston. Even split for me.

[y2zipper]

Retake is your best bet because a 170 puts you in position for t-14 with money. Don't waste a 3.7 GPA.

If you have to go now and Baylor's 100% free, take Baylor but realize there's a 33% chance of striking out.

[WokeUpInACar]

If you retook and scored 3 points higher you would receive significant $$ at UT. Do that.

[patrickd139]

Are you from Texas or are you from Mass?

[empyreanrrv]

Baylor or retake.

[patrickd139]

Baylor or retake.

False. No Baylor unless OP is from Texas and wants to stay in Texas. And even then, no Baylor if OP wants biglaw.

[empyreanrrv]

OP didn't indicate if he wanted biglaw... if he did then TCR is to retake. If not, OP said he would be fine practicing in Texas. Full ride at Baylor is not a bad decision. OP doesn't need to be from Texas to decide to go to school there.

[elm84dr]

Biglaw outside of TX from Baylor will be impossible from Baylor. So if TX is what you want, go to Baylor.

[patrickd139]

Biglaw outside of TX from Baylor will be impossible from Baylor. So if TX is what you want, go to Baylor.

Statistically, biglaw anywhere from Baylor is almost non-existent.

In the class of 2012, LST says 8 people landed jobs at firms with more than 250 attorneys. 3 landed federal clerkships (an unusually high number, from what I've heard). That's a shade under a 5% shot. It goes up to barely over 6% if you assume all of the A3 clerks will end up in biglaw.

More people (15) were unemployed and looking for jobs. Even with a full-tuition scholarship, those aren't job numbers I'm comfortable with, assuming there's something else out there for OP.

[patrickd139]

OP didn't indicate if he wanted biglaw... if he did then TCR is to retake. If not, OP said he would be fine practicing in Texas. Full ride at Baylor is not a bad decision. OP doesn't need to be from Texas to decide to go to school there.

On the underlined: I agree completely.

On the bolded: I disagree (almost) completely. Sure, OP doesn't need to be from Texas to go to school at Baylor. But to get a job in Texas after s/he graduates, that's a different story. I'm obviously not saying that OP can't get a job in Texas as an out of state student. In fact, my mom did it, in the 80s, from Illinois, so I'll go ahead and provide you with the first anecdotal piece of data out there to throw back at me. However, Texas--especially the areas Baylor traditionally places its grads (East Texas and Central Texas)--are very parochial. You're going to be grasping at straws and settling when/if you strike out at biglaw.

[Doorkeeper]

Retake and reapply.

Any other decision is irresponsible.

[BigZuck]

Neither. Retake.

Where are your ties OP?

[jbagelboy]

assuming you aren't retaking, with 165/3.7 you would still have a couple other options on the table. anything from GW/USC/UMN? these would all have higher biglaw prospects, albeit still very regional. BU @ sticker is only advisable if your parents have a lot of money and don't care how they spend it

and as for the retake, for anecdotal reference, my first lsat was a 164 (did a few logic games & took only one untimed practice exam before the real thing and thought I'd do fine cause near perfect score on SAT, among the biggest mistakes of my life) and I have a 3.7 UGPA, basically your current stats. when I looked at my chances on this forum and LSN, I knew I would have struck out too if I applied, so I took the TLS wisdom and waited a year, I studied and retook for a 172+ and got in @ CCN and down w/ $ still coming in. so these people aren't just saying "retake" to be annoying.

[westphillybandr]

What is the third option?

[togepi]

Are you still waiting on SMU? I'm sure with those numbers you could get a pretty decent scholarship, also at Houston. Both schools with a good scholarships are fine if you have ties to Texas and want to remain there. SMU seems to be a lot better than Houston with financial aid.