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2.95, 165

23k a year scholly, parents are picking up the COL tab. have a little bit of savings. total debt should be ~80k. I am not biglaw or bust. want to work in the southeast (have ties)/if i do well enough, I would throw my hat into the new york ring. Tell me its not the worst idea.

You should retake. You're spending too much time in the weight room.

I don't think it's the worst idea.

DaRascal wrote:You should retake. You're spending too much time in the weight room.

got heem.

BigZuck wrote:I don't think it's the worst idea.

Agreed. For your goals and at that debt level, Emory seems reasonable. With your low GPA, you can't expect much money higher up the rankings with an improved LSAT. The exception would be Vandy - with a 170+, you could get decent money, and it's in your target region. Yeah, the more I think about it, retaking and shooting for Vandy seems to be the way to go.

shifty_eyed wrote:

BigZuck wrote:I don't think it's the worst idea.

Agreed. For your goals and at that debt level, Emory seems reasonable. With your low GPA, you can't expect much money higher up the rankings with an improved LSAT. The exception would be Vandy - with a 170+, you could get decent money, and it's in your target region. Yeah, the more I think about it, retaking and shooting for Vandy seems to be the way to go.

I don't necessarily disagree but I wonder what the ceiling is on a Vandy scholarship for someone with a sub 3.0. 75K? More? At equal cost I would choose Vandy over Emory of course just kind of wondering how much better the OP could improve their situation even with a large jump.

Retake bro.

I actually think Emory isn't a bad deal here, vandy is far from a lock with that gpa regardless of lsat. If you have work experience nu is a shot with 172+. Gulc is possible, but sticker at these isn't necessarily the right call with your goals and alternative.

I'd go with Emory as well. I'm a 3.2/170 splitter URM and got 80k at Vandy. If they continue to operate the same way, I'm not sure it would be worth it for the OP unless he/she could score in the mid to high 170s. And if you're not aiming for biglaw taking on a huge amount of debt at a T-14 (the reality for us unfortunate splitters) doesn't make much sense when you have a solid option in the region that you want to work. New York is probably a long shot but you seem to recognize that reality.

BigZuck wrote:

shifty_eyed wrote:

BigZuck wrote:I don't think it's the worst idea.

Agreed. For your goals and at that debt level, Emory seems reasonable. With your low GPA, you can't expect much money higher up the rankings with an improved LSAT. The exception would be Vandy - with a 170+, you could get decent money, and it's in your target region. Yeah, the more I think about it, retaking and shooting for Vandy seems to be the way to go.

I don't necessarily disagree but I wonder what the ceiling is on a Vandy scholarship for someone with a sub 3.0. 75K? More? At equal cost I would choose Vandy over Emory of course just kind of wondering how much better the OP could improve their situation even with a large jump.

For what's its worth, Vandy's scholarship cap (not just for splitters, but for everyone) is 105k with the exception of a few (think 3-4) full rides. Then there's also the fact that's Vandy's scholarship awards are some of the least predictable in the T15. Given that 1) a retake would only buy 40k more under the best circumstances 2) lots of splitters get little (i.e. under 20k) to nothing, I don't think a retake is the right answer here.

If OP wants SE, Emory with $ is probably the best option. Duke with $ probably wouldn't happen because of the low GPA, UVA would probably require an ED at sticker, and like I said, Vandy is stingy and unpredictable.

Go to Emory unless you are k-jd. Then id spend a little time distancing yourself from the gpa and maybe retaking, but your current offer is solid

When you say SE, do you mean Georgia or like, Florida?

i didnt even look at the above. RETAKE

Why ? His current offer and debt load isn't bad for his goals...

sinfiery wrote:When you say SE, do you mean Georgia or like, Florida?

Really talking about georgia, nc, and va mostly but I would try florida too, although I know how much of a shitshow its supposed to be. No interest in sc outside of charleston.

also, my 165 was my second test and directly after taking the testmasters course. While I studied a lot, I wasnt able to put everything into it as I was hoping to because I was still busting my balls to get straight As for the gpa. But I still think it would be much more difficult for me to return to that level on my own. I'm sure a few points more is attainable but the amount of money I stand to gain, as yall have pointed out, wouldnt really outweigh the opportunity cost of me sitting out another year.

Yeah, I'm not sure how vandy works with splitters but that isn't a bad price to pay if your fine working in GA your whole life for Emory.



With your parents paying for COL, UVA would be about 150k COA. Do you prefer biglaw to not biglaw? You'd need a 170 for a chance at this tho. If the answer is you prefer biglaw, I would sit and retake if I were you. (If your pt high end range neared 170 that is)

Clearlynotstefan wrote:Why ? His current offer and debt load isn't bad for his goals...

We can safely ignore "advice" from people like stillwater who read nothing other than the thread title.

For your goals and your gpa, Emory at that price sounds pretty good. Have fun, man.

I'm usually all aboard the retake train, but Emory at that price level given your goals and GPA makes sense. A higher LSAT probably doesn't get you any more money at Emory and would only put you in play for NU at sticker, which is not ideal for your geographic preferences and GULC at sticker, which is objectively stupid.

Really appreciate all the help guys. I think im gonna go emory for the fall.

Reasonable decision

Good luck!

doyouevenlift wrote:Really appreciate all the help guys. I think im gonna go emory for the fall.

after reading the above, i endorse your decision. enjoy emory.

any other thoughts?

I'd still consider retake, ED UVA with a 150k COA if you prefer biglaw to nonbiglaw but Emory at this cost is still good.

doyouevenlift wrote:Really appreciate all the help guys. I think im gonna go emory for the fall.

congrats on your decision and good luck!