Top Law Schools

My options are limited. I got into Catholic with $18.5k/yr scholarship and waitlisted at AU (and UMD). However, I've received an e-mail from AU wanting to know my "level of interest" before sending my app back to the admissions committee for review. I suppose this e-mail isn't really a true indicator of an upcoming offer, but since I hadn't really thought about the possibility of being moved off the waitlist (at AU or UMD) I'm now freaking out. What WILL I do if I get offered a spot at AU? Admittedly, UMD would be my best option (in terms of higher rank, lower tuition cost, slightly higher employment rate than both CUA and AU), but since I haven't heard from them at all, I am assumming my odds are even lower there.

In any case, thoughts on whether to go to CUA or, if admitted, AU?

What are your CoA from these options? From just reading your post it sounds like they will be way too high for these schools. What are your numbers? What do you want to do with your law degree? Are you committed to working in DC?

Here are the employment numbers for these schools:
http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=catholic
http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=american

Barely one-third get full-time long-term legal jobs. Please do not go to either of them.

Neither. Retake the LSAT.

Two awful, awful options that feed an over-saturated market and are doing students a disservice by remaining open. Do not go to these two law schools.

No.

Niether. Retake and reapply.

Your options aren't limited. You can retake and reapply next year.

Well, I took the lsat 3 times. 1st time in '08 and bombed it. Then in 10/2011 and got decent score, re-took it in 12/2011 and got same decent score. So, retaking is def not an option. As for applying again next year, I just can't wait any longer. My current job is killing me slowly and my brain cells are dying quickly. If I'm ever going to do it, it has to be this year. Thus, limited options. Perhaps I should start begging UMD?

meylanl wrote:Well, I took the lsat 3 times. 1st time in '08 and bombed it. Then in 10/2011 and got decent score, re-took it in 12/2011 and got same decent score. So, retaking is def not an option. As for applying again next year, I just can't wait any longer. My current job is killing me slowly and my brain cells are dying quickly. If I'm ever going to do it, it has to be this year. Thus, limited options. Perhaps I should start begging UMD?

Why is retaking not an option? Why can't you wait longer? Is there a bomb on a bus and if you don't go to any law school this year it'll blow? Because otherwise you have two bad options, with a third bad option as a long shot.

meylanl wrote:Well, I took the lsat 3 times. 1st time in '08 and bombed it. Then in 10/2011 and got decent score, re-took it in 12/2011 and got same decent score. So, retaking is def not an option. As for applying again next year, I just can't wait any longer. My current job is killing me slowly and my brain cells are dying quickly. If I'm ever going to do it, it has to be this year. Thus, limited options. Perhaps I should start begging UMD?

Hint: Your brain cells will die quicker when you are working that very same job in three years with 150K or more of debt because these schools are objectively terrible.

Don't go to law school.

Follow these instructions:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=206299

These schools are among the worst in the country for placement. Do not go to either, especially if you're taking on debt.

romothesavior wrote:These schools are among the worst in the country for placement. Do not go to either, especially if you're taking on debt.

i have to agree. their employment stats are abysmal. both will put you in deep 6-figure nondischargeable debt in one of the most competitive job markets in the country for legal jobs (quite possibly the most competitive).

i don't know what the cost of attendance would be at somewhere like UMD so i can't necessarily recommend it, but I'm sure with in-state tuition it would be a better option than one of these schools.

Law school isn't for everyone. Don't go.