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I want to study environmental and energy law, hopefully work either at a boutique environmental law firm or in government (US Attorney's office, DOJ, EPA, etc). Eventually want to end up in politics. Columbia undergrad, originally from California, no idea where I want to live in the future.

Deposit is already in at BC but Tulane just upped the scholarship. COA now: BC ~ 60k a year, Tulane ~ 20k

Will be financed mostly by my family with some loans by myself (especially if I choose BC).

I would appreciate any and all feedback ASAP!

Can you retake?

I've taken twice, scored roughly the same each time (163). I know the mantra here is retake to go to T14, but I want to be at an urban campus with strong environmental law. I know I'm not going to get into Harvard/Columbia/NYU, and I did not like GULC when I visited. I don't know anything about Chicago.

Thoughts on the current options would be much appreciated!

Don't go to Tulane.

Most people will tell you to retake. BC isn't worth sticker and Tulane most likely won't get you where you wanna go.

Have you tried negotiating with BC?

Yea I tried using scholarships from W&M (half-tuition) and UW, plus Cardozo (80%). They weren't having it.

Haven't asked them with this new number from Tulane, but I doubt they'll care.

MattRenick wrote:I've taken twice, scored roughly the same each time (163). I know the mantra here is retake to go to T14, but I want to be at an urban campus with strong environmental law. I know I'm not going to get into Harvard/Columbia/NYU, and I did not like GULC when I visited. I don't know anything about Chicago.

Thoughts on the current options would be much appreciated!

You need to retake. 3-4 more points would save you 50k+ at BC.

Definitely retake. Your ties scream CA or NY, you need to go to a school that will get you to one of those two places

MattRenick wrote:Yea I tried using scholarships from W&M (half-tuition) and UW, plus Cardozo (80%). They weren't having it.

Haven't asked them with this new number from Tulane, but I doubt they'll care.

retaking is your best bet.

Your chances at an environmental law job are the same no matter where you go, so it's completely useless to look at a school's specialities.

You should be aiming for the cheapest possible school if you're not going to a T14. So if Tulane is only 20k a year (including COL) for you, then I'd take Tulane. 60k isn't terrible and you can bounce back if you don't find work in law.

Paying that kind of money for BC would be sheer madness. Re-evaluating your approach to studying for the LSAT and then retaking is the obvious correct answer here, but if you won't do that, then Tulane is the only option here. Don't fixate on utterly meaningless specialty rankings, either.