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Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:16 pm
by sflyr2016
Please help me choose! And no, I will not re-take simply because I have a 2.9 ug GPA and don't envision getting any better options. For those asking why my gpa suffered, it was due to familial circumstances that I rather not delve into on a law school forum.
Alright so a little about me: I am a Miamian through-and-through. I want to live and practice here. But, kind of itching for a chance to try somewhere new since I did not leave for undergrad. I am pursuing law in spite of the current state of the market, simply because, I have always wanted to --and still do-- be a lawyer. Trust me I've explored different options. My heart simply isn't in it.. So yes, I must accept debt and awful employment prospects as truths. Trust me, I get it.
Okay so here are my options: UM with a 75% scholarship, leaving total tuition at 30,000.00 an extra 25-30 in rent and living depending on whether I stay home or rent. I could stay with family to save money, but personally, I would lean on finding something cheap by campus. Then there is UF/FSU but I have not heard back as far as scholarships so they would likely come out to around 90,000 in total COA. Lastly, there's BC with a 1/3 tuition scholarship and I would leave with around 150,000 in debt, but also would have attended a significantly better school with a stronger alumni base and much better employment prospects. Oh yeah, and I can experience living somewhere new which I value highly.
Any input is welcome.
Thanks,
Joe
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:35 pm
by philosoraptor
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:54 pm
by sflyr2016
-Currently b/w UM or BC. Loved Boston, but also in a serious relationship so i'm hesitent to leave. Then again she will understand if
I do.
-COA is listed above
-Loans
-Born in Miami, have never lived anywhere else and hope to practice here. Very well connected to this area, since I have friends and family that work at some of the largest Fl firms in their Miami offices. They have made it crystal clear, however, that they cannot do anything for me unless I have the grades to show for it. If it means anything they have all told me to go to BC if I want biglaw.
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
-Scored a 161
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:07 pm
by TheNextAmendment
Your Total COA numbers are off. Remember...total coa includes interest. Therefore BC is more like $220k total COA and Im too lazy to research FSU/UF...so my vote is against BC and for a retake.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:08 pm
by philosoraptor
Would you pay $150K (plus a ton of interest) for a 25% chance at biglaw? Or $60K (plus a ton of interest) for a 7% chance?
You have not disclosed your LSAT score despite the forum rules that I posted, but I can pretty much guarantee that if you retook and improved, you could have way, way better options than these -- particularly if you have a good explanation for your GPA. Think about the serious debt that you would be taking on, plus the low chances of getting a job that gives you any chance at paying it back, then think about what it would cost you to take an LSAT class, wait until this fall, and reapply.
You should not take any of these options at these prices. If you really want to be a lawyer, do what's best for you and give yourself a fighting chance. Don't use "I want to be a lawyer no matter what" as an excuse for a potentially life-ruining decision.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:22 pm
by rad lulz
,
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:27 pm
by sflyr2016
rad lulz wrote:joeant wrote:
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
None of the above
Oh.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:29 pm
by patrickd139
rad lulz wrote:joeant wrote:
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
None of the above
This. You're not going to land those out of any of those schools.
Retake and go to a better school, or don't go to law school.
Also,
at picking a school to 'get out' and 'try something new.' Law school is about one thing: getting a job. It's professional school, not vacation school.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:45 pm
by sflyr2016
patrickd139 wrote:rad lulz wrote:joeant wrote:
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
None of the above
This. You're not going to land those out of any of those schools.
Retake and go to a better school, or don't go to law school.
Also,
at picking a school to 'get out' and 'try something new.' Law school is about one thing: getting a job. It's professional school, not vacation school.
Thanks for the advice. Any one else have any input other than this?
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:03 pm
by philosoraptor
joeant wrote:Thanks for the advice. Any one else have any input other than this?
You're not going to get any better input than what you've seen. TCR is to retake and reapply, regardless of how distasteful that sounds in the short term. In the long term, you'll be doing yourself the best favor of your life.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:06 pm
by Tekrul
I'm going to echo that it's professional school. Moving away from your comfort zone for the first time in your life in the same year when you'll be studying to earn the most important grades you'll ever receive is highly inadvisable.
BC is not worth the cost you are looking at with interest at repayment. Some people even question that kind of cost at T-14 and have very good grounds to do so. If you dig deep, study like mad, and retake that LSAT, you will be looking at better and cheaper options.
The law school you go to will largely determine the entire trajectory of your career. Don't let one test send you off in a direction you don't want to go especially when you have the opportunity to change it. By becoming a 'splitter', you will open many more avenues for yourself.
Edit:
TripTrip wrote:I had a 4.0 and a 168, retook because of TLS mantra and got 175.
I got a full scholly to a school I would not have even gotten into previously. Retaking ended up being a $154,000 decision.
So his situation isn't the same due to the GPA difference, but retaking the LSAT WILL get you into schools you weren't accepted to this cycle and it WILL get you more money.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=208084
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=208046
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:39 pm
by WokeUpInACar
You guys don't understand! Retaking the LSAT would be TOO HARD! He has to go to law school RIGHT NOW!!! It's not like 40 years of employment prospects could be drastically affected by one test!!!
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:53 pm
by Ti Malice
philosoraptor wrote:joeant wrote:Thanks for the advice. Any one else have any input other than this?
You're not going to get any better input than what you've seen. TCR is to retake and reapply, regardless of how distasteful that sounds in the short term. In the long term, you'll be doing yourself the best favor of your life.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:09 pm
by DaRascal
How did you manage to get a 1/3 scholarship to BC with 2.9/161?
I'm looking at sticker there. Damnit....
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:04 pm
by sflyr2016
DaRascal wrote:How did you manage to get a 1/3 scholarship to BC with 2.9/161?
I'm looking at sticker there. Damnit....
No worries man you got into a great school and at least have your mind made up. Perhaps I'll see you there in fall.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:19 pm
by WanderingPondering
URM? Please retake. You can get I to the T14 with a few extra points.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:34 pm
by romothesavior
joeant wrote:rad lulz wrote:joeant wrote:
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
None of the above
Oh.
He's right. You will have a marginal shot at those jobs from Boston, and virtually none from Miami.
I actually think Miami sounds like an alright choice in your situation, but you need to understand the limitations of the degree and be sure you are comfortable with the types of jobs you'll have available to you. Alternatively, you could retake the LSAT. It sounds like a few more points would change the game entirely for you.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:05 am
by sflyr2016
romothesavior wrote:joeant wrote:rad lulz wrote:joeant wrote:
-Biglaw, bigfed, in house
None of the above
Oh.
He's right. You will have a marginal shot at those jobs from Boston, and virtually none from Miami.
I actually think Miami sounds like an alright choice in your situation, but you need to understand the limitations of the degree and be sure you are comfortable with the types of jobs you'll have available to you. Alternatively, you could retake the LSAT. It sounds like a few more points would change the game entirely for you.
25% chance from BC isn't marginal. I would agree that Miami would be marginal.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:08 am
by romothesavior
Sorry, when I said marginal I meant more the in-house and bigfed route. BC has decent biglaw placement, but I think you're looking at too much debt for the degree.
I think you should go to UM if you are comfortable with the limitations of the degree. If you really want the types of jobs you're talking about, you need to retake.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:12 am
by qwertyboard
OP is AA for sure... 165 will get you into some t14
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:55 am
by DaRascal
joeant wrote:DaRascal wrote:How did you manage to get a 1/3 scholarship to BC with 2.9/161?
I'm looking at sticker there. Damnit....
No worries man you got into a great school and at least have your mind made up. Perhaps I'll see you there in fall.
True. Yeah, maybe.
I vote BC btw although I havent' casst my vote yet!
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:12 pm
by sflyr2016
qwertyboard wrote:OP is AA for sure... 165 will get you into some t14
Lol no. Hispanic.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:17 pm
by Rahviveh
joeant wrote:qwertyboard wrote:OP is AA for sure... 165 will get you into some t14
Lol no. Hispanic.
Probably Cuban? No boost then.
You need a 170+ score to get to a school that would fit your goals.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:25 pm
by sflyr2016
ChampagnePapi wrote:joeant wrote:qwertyboard wrote:OP is AA for sure... 165 will get you into some t14
Lol no. Hispanic.
Probably Cuban? No boost then.
You need a 170+ score to get to a school that would fit your goals.
BC does, just at a heavy price.
Re: Need help deciding!
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:39 pm
by Ruxin1
joeant wrote:ChampagnePapi wrote:joeant wrote:qwertyboard wrote:OP is AA for sure... 165 will get you into some t14
Lol no. Hispanic.
Probably Cuban? No boost then.
You need a 170+ score to get to a school that would fit your goals.
BC does, just at a heavy price.
out of 10 of your classmates, 3 will get the job you want...